novelraw Chapter 865: A Guest
Chapter 865: A Guest
The alley was cleared by Xu Ke, leaving only an unconscious man and a woman still in a daze.
Only when Xu Ke spoke to her did the woman finally snap back to reality, realizing what had happened. She looked at Xu Ke with gratitude in her eyes, "Thank you so much for what you just did. If it weren’t for you stepping up to help, I don’t know what horrible thing might have happened. But could you please not tell anyone about what happened just now? Even though they were in the wrong, the town is small, and if this gets out, I would be the one unable to face anyone." As she spoke, the woman’s eyes reddened, hidden from Xu Ke’s view.
This world is truly unfair to women. Clearly, she was not the one at fault today. She was the victim, yet she didn’t even have the courage to call the police and have them arrested. She could only keep it all bottled up inside, unable to tell anyone. If others found out, they would just point fingers at her. They wouldn’t say she was the victim, only spew nonsense like ’it takes two to tango’ or ’there’s no smoke without fire.’
Though she didn’t want to admit it, the fear of gossip was too much pressure for her to bear.
"Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about this. I’ll act as if nothing happened," Xu Ke assured the woman.
"Do you need me to accompany you home, or can you go on your own?" Xu Ke asked.
Before looking up, the woman quickly wiped away her tears and then sheepishly said to Xu Ke, "Could you please walk me home? I feel a bit uneasy about going alone, although I’m embarrassed to ask." She knew such things were unlikely to happen to her twice in one day, but just in case, having just experienced such an ordeal, she was now deeply rattled and couldn’t handle any more scares.
"Sorry to trouble you," she added politely.
"No need to be so formal. There’s an old saying, ’A good deed must be done to the end’, and besides, I have nothing else to do. Walking you home won’t be any trouble. Lead the way, I’ll follow behind you," Xu Ke said.
Hearing Xu Ke agree to walk her home, the woman felt a mix of embarrassment and relief, finding a sense of safety arise from Xu Ke’s high combat power being by her side, making it hard to believe anyone could harm her.
Walking one behind the other, neither said a word, but the sound of footsteps from behind offered the woman an inexplicable sense of security.
Soon, they arrived at the woman’s home.
"I’m home," the woman turned, looking gratefully at Xu Ke.
"Thank you so much for today. If you hadn’t appeared suddenly, I don’t know how I’d bear to live. I don’t have much to repay you with, but I am a decent cook. Would you like to try my cooking?" As she finished speaking, realizing it might sound ambiguous, she hurriedly added, "It’s almost dinner time now, my husband will be back soon, and after all, you saved me, so you’re like a benefactor to our family. I’d like to introduce you to my husband."
Xu Ke hesitated for a moment after hearing the woman’s invitation but eventually agreed under her repeated insistence, thus entering the home of Sun Li with Xu Ke.
The woman didn’t see it when she turned, but Xu Ke’s eyes changed for a split second, signaling the success of some hidden intention. Though his face remained expressionless, if she had seen that look, her hair might have stood on end.
"Please, sit for a while. We don’t have much to offer. I don’t know if you like green tea, but my husband is fond of Tieguanyin. I’ll make some for you," the woman said while sorting through the cupboards, taking out a box of tea to show Xu Ke, smiling.
"No need for all that trouble, I don’t fancy such things. Just a glass of plain water will do," Xu Ke quickly shook his head, modesty tinged with just the right touch of shyness and sincerity on his face.
It was then that the woman realized Xu Ke looked much younger than she initially thought. He could easily pass for a college student, and so she didn’t insist further.
"It makes sense. Kids your age tend not to like tea as much. Tea is something us older folks enjoy. It’s a shame my husband and I don’t have a son or daughter, or they might be your age now, and we’d have more snacks around the house for you. Sorry for the lack of much to offer. What do you like to snack on? My husband hasn’t returned, so he could get some on his way back," she warmly suggested.
"No, thank you, I don’t like snacks. They’re not good for one’s health," Xu Ke said, waving his hand in refusal, somewhat awkwardly.
"Is there any dish you like? I could make it for you," the woman offered.
"Meat, I like meat. Any kind is fine, I’m not picky," Xu Ke scratched his head, appearing a bit foolish, betraying no trace of the domineering presence he had earlier.
Yet it was precisely this innocent demeanor of Xu Ke’s that softened the woman’s gaze, making her treat him like her own child. Afraid Xu Ke might be nervous, she began to engage him in conversation, while Xu Ke remained shy and reserved, allowing only her gentle voice to echo through the room.
When the time came, the old drunk returned home with a large amount of chicken, duck, and fish as his wife had asked, and seeing Xu Ke sitting on the sofa, he froze in place, his face showing surprise, as if not expecting to see Xu Ke in his home.
"Honey, you’re back! Did you get all the things I asked for?" the woman gleefully greeted her husband upon hearing the door open.
"Everything you wanted is here. Who is he? And why is he in our home?" The old drunk’s eyes lingered on Xu Ke briefly before asking.
"It’s a long story. Help me get dinner ready first, I’ll explain the whole story at the dinner table later. But be nice to him. He saved me today; he’s my lifesaver," the woman playfully reproved her husband with a glance and then pulled him into the kitchen, not forgetting to tell Xu Ke to make himself at home before entering the kitchen.