Chapter 30: Men Will Only Lower My Survival Rate

Ling Xiaoli lowered her head and examined herself, discovering that her tracksuit was neat enough to be seen in public.

She walked to the door, took a deep breath, unlocked it, and quickly stepped backward.

The door was gently pulled open the next second.

A man walked in and casually closed the door behind him.

Ling Xiaoli really wanted to say:

Big brother, coming in is one thing, but why did you close the door?

Her slender, jade-like finger hovered over the little green phone icon.

This Zhou Yan really was quite good-looking.

His fashion sense wasn’t bad either. He wore sneakers, jeans, and a light-gray crew-neck sweater, paired with a black leather jacket. The jacket was unzipped, revealing a pendant hanging around his neck.

He looked rather dashing.

She just didn’t know whether he was cold.

After all, the weather forecast for C City showed a low of minus ten degrees Celsius that day.

He hadn’t lied, either. He really was carrying dry-pot bullfrog in his hand.

Zhou Yan placed the dry-pot bullfrog on the entryway cabinet and walked toward Ling Xiaoli.

But just as Ling Xiaoli was about to retreat, he stopped at exactly the right moment.

He looked at Ling Xiaoli, countless emotions swirling in his eyes.

Zhou Yan simply gazed at her in silence for a long time before speaking.

His lips moved twice, but no words came out.

Only on the third attempt did he finally manage to speak.

“A-Li, I’ve missed you so much…”

The final syllable stretched out, filled with indescribable longing.

Ling Xiaoli shuddered, and her finger nearly pressed the little green phone icon.

With such a deeply affectionate appearance, the original owner might truly have wavered.

But the person standing here now was Ling Xiaoli.

All she wanted was for this big brother to leave immediately.

This is fucking cheesy.

Ling Xiaoli kept her face taut.

“You’ve seen me. Isn’t it time for you to leave?”

Zhou Yan excitedly took one step forward.

Ling Xiaoli decisively took one step back.

“You really aren’t willing to give me another chance?”

“If you want to talk, we can have a proper conversation tomorrow at three in the afternoon at Mufeng Coffee. But it’s already late. It wouldn’t look good for an unrelated man and woman to be alone together. I hope you’ll leave immediately.”

Zhou Yan stared fixedly at Ling Xiaoli’s exceptionally bright eyes.

They had known each other for so long, yet this was the first time he had seen her like this.

She was clearly trying to sever all ties with him, but for some reason, that only made him more attracted to her.

“Okay. See you tomorrow, then. I’ll leave first. Remember to eat the bullfrog while it’s still hot.”

Zhou Yan no longer lingered. After saying that, he turned and left.

Hearing the front door close, Ling Xiaoli was a little surprised.

She hadn’t expected this big brother to be so straightforward. It seemed she really had been judging a gentleman by her own petty standards.

Ah, tomorrow I’ll make everything clear to him. From then on, we’ll each go our own way.

She was a woman determined to survive until the ending. She had no time for romance.

With that time, wouldn’t it be better to sing two more songs or act in another show?

What are men, anyway? Men will only lower my survival rate!

Ling Xiaoli looked at the bullfrog on the entryway cabinet and left behind some unworthy drool.

Big brother, you wronged the original owner. So it wouldn’t be unreasonable for me to eat one serving of bullfrog on her behalf, right?

Slurp—

………

The next day, the weather was clear and sunny—at least much better than the day before.

The afternoon sunlight felt warm against her body. There was nothing more comfortable in winter.

Ling Xiaoli casually pulled out a black down jacket and paired it with a white hoodie and black trousers. She slipped on her combat boots and went out.

Lunch was once again handled through delivery.

Actually, they could have arranged to meet for lunch directly, but Zhou Yan would most likely have paid.

Since she intended to sever ties with him, she didn’t want to take advantage of him at a time like this.

Not even for one meal.

Mufeng Coffee wasn’t far from where Ling Xiaoli lived. She had learned about the café through the Ele.me app.

Ling Xiaoli lowered her head to check the navigation, then looked up at the road.

Hmm, she was almost there. She just had to cross the street at the intersection ahead and turn right, right?

She raised her leg…

【Bang! Squeal—】

“Ah—!”

“Oh my God!”

“There’s been a traffic accident!”

“Call an ambulance!”

“Whoa—!”

A human body flew into the air, then dropped vertically back down.

Bright red liquid spread across the crosswalk, glaringly vivid beneath the winter sunlight.