Echoes of Lotus District | Chapter 29 | You Have Good Taste | Novela.app

Qi Lian followed her, shielding her on his left while he walked on the street side. "Was it good?" he asked. Yu Mo stared straight ahead at an older woman, noticing that one of the woman’s bra straps had slipped down her shoulder. She didn't want to talk to him. Oh, she remembered something. She quickly took out her phone and transferred fifteen yuan to Qi Lian. Qi Lian glanced at his phone, clenched his jaw, and tucked the device away, pretending he hadn't seen the notification. "If you like it that much, I’ll pack it up and bring it back for you next time. Don't come here to wait in line by yourself. The crowd here is too mixed. I don't want you running into people like those guys today ever again." Yu Mo clutched her bag and turned her head to retort, "I could run into people like that no matter where I go. Are you saying I shouldn't leave the house at all?" Qi Lian was momentarily choked for words. "If I don't see it, that's one thing, but when I do, I can't help but worry." He continued, "I have to go out of town for work in a couple of days; I won't be in Jinning. I’ll send you a phone number. If there’s an emergency, call that number—it’s a friend of mine, and he’ll look after you. If it’s not particularly urgent, just call me. Don’t go looking for people you barely know for help, do you hear me?" The mere thought of her assuming the best of everyone kept him on edge. "Why would I need someone else to look after me? I can take care of myself. You aren't anyone to me, so there's no need to be so considerate." She turned away and added, "I just finished eating and want to walk slowly to digest. You walk fast, so go on ahead." Just as she finished speaking, an electric scooter came rushing toward them. She wasn't looking at the road and didn't know to move out of the way. Seeing that she was about to be hit, Qi Lian grabbed her arm and yanked her aside. While Yu Mo was still reeling from the shock, Qi Lian spoke with a hint of irritation, "No matter what time it is, watch the road! Watch the road! How many lives do you think you have? You need to fix that rotten habit of not looking where you're going." As he spoke, his tone became uncontrollably agitated. He had always felt that his father’s death in a car accident hadn't affected him—it didn't affect his own driving, at least. But since Yu Mo appeared, the trauma had manifested as a delayed reaction. The thought of a traffic accident terrified him. Yu Mo was indignant. "Since when do I have a 'rotten habit'? Don't go pinning labels on me." "Think about it. Last time, you managed to crash into an electric scooter that was perfectly parked." Yu Mo narrowed her eyes. She remembered that day; he had acted cold and indifferent, not even sparing her a glance. "How did you know about that?" "Never mind how I know. Didn't you say you could take care of yourself? Do that properly first, then we'll talk." Yu Mo hadn't wanted to deal with him in the first place, and now she wanted to speak even less. As they talked, the gate to District 1 came into view. From a distance, they could see the gatekeeper stretching his arms and legs. Qi Lian put his phone into his pocket, pulled it out, and put it back again, looking uncharacteristically awkward as he struggled to find an opening. "The girl sitting across from me today... I ran into her by chance." He glanced down at Yu Mo and added, "We were once engaged." Yu Mo looked up in surprise. She hadn't expected it to be *that* girl. After a moment, she said, "You have good taste." Qi Lian stopped in his tracks and studied her expression. What did she mean by that? "What do you mean 'good taste'? That was a lifetime ago. If you hadn't mentioned wanting those rice noodles, I wouldn't have stepped foot in that shop today. I haven't seen her in years." "I didn't say anything, Qi Lian. Your business is not for an outsider like me to comment on. She clearly seems like a good girl; even I felt a bit sorry for her when I saw the look in her eyes. Actually..." "Actually nothing," Qi Lian interrupted urgently, sensing the conversation was heading in the wrong direction. "But if I didn't care whether she lived or died, I wouldn't be human. I bear some responsibility for how things turned out. My feelings toward her are probably similar to what you felt when you saw her." Yu Mo didn't respond. Their past was not her place to discuss. "Yu Mo, do you know why I'm telling you all this? Hmm? Last time, when you ran into me on the street with Jiang the Fourth's younger sister, you had that beaming look like you were just watching a show. I was so frustrated I wanted to kick myself. Now it’s happened again, and there’s no guarantee it won't happen in the future. I have to make it clear to you: there is no one else but you." "Don't panic. Even if I see you with another girl next time, I won't rush up to expose you." "What kind of nonsense is that... You..." Before Qi Lian could finish venting his frustration, they reached the main gate. The gatekeeper looked as if he wanted to glue his eyes to Yu Mo. She quietly shifted to the other side of Qi Lian. Qi Lian’s anger flared. He raised his voice and barked, "Jiang Laizi! Where the hell are you looking? See whose woman this is first. If I catch you ogling again, don't blame me for being impolite." The gatekeeper, Jiang San, was also from Qi Lian’s village. He had been a troublemaker since childhood, and the villagers had given him a derogatory nickname. After the demolition and relocation of the village, he had lived large for a few years until he squandered all his money, eventually slinking back to work as a gatekeeper. Jiang Laizi was a shameless rogue with skin as thick as a tire; he couldn't distinguish a threat from a greeting. He didn't take it to heart, merely grinning lewdly. "Isn't this little Qi Lian? This is your woman? You've got quite the luck with the ladies, quite the luck." Qi Lian trailed a step behind Yu Mo. Out of her sight, his brows knit together as he pointed a warning finger at Jiang San. Jiang San knew he meant business. He was thick-skinned, but he knew how to read the room. He wiped the lewd grin off his face and turned back into the security booth. Qi Lian caught up to Yu Mo in a few strides. "If he ever stares at you like that again, just scold him. Don't be afraid. With me around, he won't dare do anything to you." He paused, realizing it was unlikely she would ever actually scold someone. "Forget it, just ignore him. If he makes you uncomfortable, tell me. I'll handle him." As they walked side-by-side, a little boy in open-crotch pants came wobbling toward them from the opposite direction. He wore the mischievous grin typical of a child, followed by a plump woman chasing him with a bowl of food. She called out, "Slow down, baby! Wait for Grandma!" The child giggled and dashed about recklessly, nearly colliding with Yu Mo. She hurriedly stepped back, almost tripping. Qi Lian was quick to steady her, catching her by the arm. A faint, sweet, milky scent unique to her wafted into his nose, making his head feel a bit light. Realizing he was covered in sweat and might smell of it, he immediately took a step back. The woman chased her precious grandson into the distance. "Qi Lian, go find a girl and have a proper relationship." "Fine, I'll find one tomorrow. Yu Mo, did you think that kid just now was annoying?" "Huh?" "Wasn't he incredibly annoying? Relying on his family's indulgence to act lawless. If you caught him and gave him a few swats on the behind, he'd surely change. But if you went to that lady and told her to discipline her grandson, she'd definitely say you were meddling and that she enjoys spoiling him." Qi Lian spoke with total gravity, his face devoid of any extra expression. Night fell, and the air drifted with the scent of firewood smoke unique to the evening. Older men who had finished their dinners early came out in small groups to enjoy the cool air. Another sweltering day was finally coming to an end.