Less than two hours’ drive from Zhen’nan City lay Bishui City. On Xi’an Street—a place where all kinds of people mixed together—countless migrant workers and longtime residents lived side by side.
This street was close to an upscale villa district.
So for many young people on Xi’an Street, their lifelong dream was simple:
To move into that neighborhood that was so close—yet impossibly far away.
Xi’an Street had its own boss.
He was born and raised here. As a teenager, he frequently clashed with Brother Qiang, the local thug who once dominated the street. At fifteen, he fought Brother Qiang alone and won. Though both were badly injured, Brother Qiang’s influence mysteriously declined afterward, and eventually he disappeared entirely.
This fearless fighter attracted many young admirers and naturally became the street’s unspoken leader.
They never bullied the weak or extorted protection fees.
Instead, they opened an auto repair shop and often helped locals fix their vehicles. When outsiders came looking for trouble, they stepped forward to protect the street.
Many shop owners were grateful, and would voluntarily bring them “protection fees”—though in reality, it was just extra payment given out of appreciation.
That boss was no longer on Xi’an Street.
He was now in a hotel in Zhen’nan City.
He had just collapsed face-down onto the bed, supporting himself with one hand on his sore waist.
He picked up his phone and opened his pinned conversation.
To the contact named “Little Pear,” he typed:
“I’m here.”
The reply came quickly.
“Okay.”
Then another message from her:
“By the way, you took it out, right?”
“……”
“?”
“You think I’m stupid? Of course I took it out already.”
In truth, he hadn’t.
He had walked all the way to the school gate with it still inside him, limping awkwardly. Only when he noticed the strange looks from others did he realize how ridiculous he must seem.
He had wanted to find a public restroom to remove it, but he had nothing to store it in.
So he took a taxi back to the hotel, squirming the entire ride like he was sitting on fire.
He hadn’t had the chance to deal with it yet.
Li Zi replied with a sarcastic smile emoji.
Li Zhenting put his phone aside.
He removed his clothes and awkwardly tried to push it out.
He didn’t dare pull it forcefully.
Though he acted tough in front of Li Zi, his body had already endured enough for the day.
It was too deep, and for certain reasons, the exit was tighter than usual.
It wasn’t easy.
He had no choice but to squat on the floor and try again.
His phone chimed.
He picked it up.
“Idiot,” she wrote. “Look at the bedside cabinet.”
Did she install cameras in here?!
Before he could reply, another message arrived:
“I ordered anti-swelling medicine for you. It’ll arrive in about ten minutes. Apply it.”
“…Oh.”
He opened the cabinet.
Inside was the same lubricant they had used earlier that day.
He squeezed some onto his fingers and carefully applied it.
It worked.
With a quiet effort, the thing that had tormented him for two hours finally came out.
His phone buzzed again.
“Wash my tool properly.”
He stared at the message in disbelief.
How did she even know the timing so precisely?
He really began to suspect there were cameras.
Then he hesitated and typed:
“Should I bring it to you tomorrow?”
“呵呵.” (Heh.)
His face darkened.
“What are you laughing at?”
“You keep it,” she replied. “Bring it with you next time you come.”
“…You mean I keep it?”
“Yes. Take good care of it.”
Li Zhenting held his phone, stunned.
His heart, which had been uneasy all day, suddenly bloomed.
If she wasn’t taking the tool with her, that meant she wouldn’t use it with anyone else.
She could always buy another, but she wouldn’t settle for inferior quality.
Which meant…
She still chose him.
Lying beside the bed, he smiled foolishly.
Meanwhile, Li Zi lay on her new pillow.
Even without a reply, she could imagine exactly what expression he wore.
She smiled faintly.
“Idiot.”
After school started, Li Zi became extremely busy.
Her packed schedule, extracurricular activities dragged her into by roommates, and mandatory freshman clubs meant she spent less than three hours a day on her phone.
Two of those were before sleep.
Their chat log became fragmented.
7:00
Li Zi: Good morning. I’m heading to class.
8:00
Li Zhenting: Just woke up. Going to eat breakfast. Did you eat?
11:01
Li Zi: Break between classes. I ate. Forecast says it’s raining at home today. You brought an umbrella, right?
11:10
Li Zhenting: ……
Li Zhenting: Of course I brought one! You think I’d leave without checking the weather?!
At noon, Li Zhenting stared at his silent phone.
Outside, heavy rain poured.
He sighed.
“Xiao Liu, did you bring an umbrella?”
He asked the young man working under a car.
The man rolled out on a mechanic’s board.
“I did.”
Then asked,
“Boss Li, didn’t you bring one? You can borrow mine.”
“No need.”
Li Zhenting squatted at the entrance, watching the rain.
He muttered to himself,
“I didn’t bring in the clothes either… if she finds out, she’ll definitely laugh at me.”
“Huh? Boss Li, what did you say?”
“I wasn’t talking to you!”
“Oh…”
The young man scratched his head.
Boss Li had been moody lately.
After a pause, he said,
“Boss, next month my dad has to go to Zhen’nan Central Hospital. I need to take leave.”
His name was Liu Yan.
His Alpha mother had died years ago. His Omega father refused to remove his mating mark or remarry, leading to unstable pheromones and poor health.
Fortunately, Liu Yan was a strong Alpha.
He worked tirelessly to support his family.
After being cheated out of wages once, Li Zhenting helped him recover the money.
Since then, Liu Yan followed him loyally.
Next month…
“I’ll be going to Zhen’nan too,” Li Zhenting said.
“We’ll go together.”
He hadn’t seen Li Zi in a long time.
12:30
Li Zi: Finished lunch.
He immediately replied.
“Go rest. You have a full afternoon, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to eat too. And I brought an umbrella!”
“Overcompensating.”
Li Zi laughed softly as she read his message.
12:35
Li Zi: Open the cabinet under the front desk.
She closed her phone, smiling faintly.
At university, she remained low-profile.
Yet somehow, she had already become a topic of quiet fascination.
Her roommates too.
Though she didn’t know it yet.
She only knew—
The man at home was probably panicking again.
“What cabinet?”
Li Zhenting walked to the counter and opened it.
Inside lay a pink umbrella with tiny flowers.
His ears immediately turned red.
14:00
Li Zhenting: Finished eating. The umbrella is ugly.
Too girly.
Everyone stared at him when he used it.
Li Zi returned to her dorm at 9:05 PM after a full day.
She replied:
21:05
Li Zi: Okay. You’re very manly.
