C13 A Young Man Full of Vitality
Lu Bai had a tough personality due to his upbringing, so much so that he never had a single friend. But Ark was the only one willing to get close to him, more like a brother than a friend.
“It was you who got him killed.”
“My legs may be paralyzed, but my ears work just fine. Last night, you claimed the explosion had nothing to do with you, but you gave yourself away. Now you think I’ll let you off? Keep dreaming!”
Xue Ning, never good with words, was struck speechless, momentarily at a loss.
Lu Bai sneered coldly, “Kneel.”
Seeing the man about to take action himself, Xue Ning’s instincts kicked in. She jumped up, using all her strength to shove the wheelchair downhill, ignoring the angry shouts behind her, and sprinted like a rabbit out of the cemetery.
The push was hard, and the cemetery, perched on a hill, had steep paths. The wheelchair careened uncontrollably down the slope, terrifying the bodyguards and driver, who rushed to help, unable to spare a thought for Xue Ning.
The wind whipped past, carrying the intense heat typical of early summer, prickling her skin like tiny needles. Outside the cemetery lay the main road, where a bus was just about to pull away.
Xue Ning rushed onto the bus just as the doors were closing. By the time the bodyguard and driver managed to steady the wheelchair, Xue Ning was nowhere to be seen.
The two glanced at Lu Bai's face, which was a mix of red and white, clearly showing his anger and embarrassment. They quickly looked down, not daring to breathe too loudly, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.
After a long pause, Lu Bai finally ground out a word through clenched teeth, "Go back."
He wasn't worried about Xue Ning running away. The Xue family was eager to secure the project, and despite her nonchalant words, he didn't believe her for a second.
The bus rattled its way toward downtown, its gentle swaying lulling passengers into drowsiness. With only a few people on board, Xue Ning rested her head against the window, lost in thought, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Convincing Lu Bai, that stubborn mule, was proving to be more difficult than she had imagined. Still, seeing him flustered was oddly satisfying.
Xue Ning chuckled to herself for a moment, but her smile soon faded. Right now, she was starving. She hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch. The real issue was: she was broke!
After paying the bus fare, the last two dollars she had from buying materials yesterday were gone. Now, she was completely penniless, her pockets emptier than her stomach.
Returning to the Bai family meant facing endless greed and resentment. Going back to the Lu family was like a foolish rabbit running into the hunter's trap. She had no friends, and in this vast world, there wasn't a single place where she could grab a bite to eat. Was there anyone worse off than her?
As the bus approached the university area, the aroma of food wafted through the air. A few students stood up to get off, and Xue Ning couldn't help but swallow hard, instinctively following them onto the street.
It was lunchtime, and students, having just finished their classes, gathered in small groups around the various food stalls lining the bustling street. The lively scene was filled with vendors selling everything from cold drinks and noodles to fried skewers and stir-fried rice, along with shops offering milk tea and desserts. The air was thick with the inviting scent of food.
Young men and women, full of energy and dressed in bright, youthful clothing, laughed and chatted, some flirting, unable to hide their youthful exuberance. Xue Ning couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
