"When I came over, I saw you standing by the tree. The stump was fresh; who else but you could have broken this tree? You need not evade it any longer; it was you," the girl sneered, blinking her eyes and pointing at Lin Yu.
"Alright, even if it was me who broke it. What method do you think I used to break this tree?" Lin Yu nodded, solemnly inquired.
"Well..." The girl was again at a loss for words.
Indeed, even if Lin Yu broke it, how did he manage? Such a robust tree, unless a car hit it with considerable force, it seemed impossible to topple.
"I don't care how you did it; you admitted it was you who broke it, so you should compensate," the girl argued with determination. To fail to offer an explanation equated to conceding in this argument. She refused to lose to this unreasonable ruffian.
Lin Yu found it somewhat amusing. This girl argued much like a child.
"I'd like to inquire, what do you do? What qualifications do you have to manage whether I break a tree or not?" Lin Yu gazed at her amusingly, diverting the girl to another topic without showing any change in demeanor.
Yesterday she claimed to be a journalist. Today, she might come up with another profession to suit her narrative.
"I am a member of the Green Plant Protection Volunteer Association. If I see anyone harming plants, it's my duty to intervene. It's our obligation and responsibility," the girl huffed, flashing a badge before Lin Yu.
"Interesting background indeed. But I'm curious, I reckon your volunteer association is merely a civil organization, lacking administrative enforcement rights? Well then, find a comfortable place to rest if you may, I've got things to do and no time to entertain you. Wait till you become a staff member at the Parks Department," Lin Yu brushed her off, walking towards his car, uninterested in engaging further.
"Hey, you, wait!" The girl got anxious, rushing over and grabbing the back of his car, unwilling to let him leave.
Lin Yu got a bit annoyed; playful banter was fine, but the girl's irrational persistence was crossing a line.
Moreover, even if he did break that tree, it was already dead, essentially a withered trunk. Even if it were alive, it served little purpose, at best a barren structure. Why was she fixated on this issue? Did she truly consider herself easy to bully?
"Do you have something else to say?" Lin Yu eyed her, slightly aggravated, which unintentionally amplified his tone.
The girl noticed his initially friendly demeanor turn stern within moments, and those eyes, suddenly exhibiting an inexplicable coldness, made her feel uneasy. She couldn't help but step back, nervously biting her lip, "Why are you glaring at me? I, I just wanted to thank you."
"Thank me?" Lin Yu raised a brow.
"Yes, you saved me yesterday, today, and just now. You've saved me three times. Though you're a freeloader, a gangster, and an unscrupulous rogue, I still want to thank you," the girl said while biting her lip.
Lin Yu found her words amusing and exasperating. "You thank me while mocking me? Is that your idea of gratitude?"
He didn't wish to continue this entanglement with the girl, waving his hand, "Fine, I appreciate your gratitude. Let's part ways here, perhaps never to meet again."
"Hey, you can't just leave! I haven't finished thanking you..." The girl, seeing Lin Yu leaving, became anxious and hurriedly ran beside his car, repeatedly asking.
This time, she didn't grab the back of Lin Yu's car, fearing further irritation. She was afraid of the icy glint in his eyes. Just a glance was enough to make her feel faintly uneasy.
"How do you want to thank me?" Lin Yu rode leisurely on his bicycle, turning back with a smirk.
"I... How about inviting you for a meal? I'm someone who repays kindness. If I don't thank you, I'll feel uneasy. To resolve the debt in my heart and attain peace, let's have a meal. Afterward, we can part ways without any lingering debts, and I'll feel more at ease," the girl panted while running alongside his car, sweat glistening on her forehead. Meanwhile, her cultural shirt's loose fit unveiled the contours of her chest, impressive and eye-catching – of course.
"A meal to clear debts? Do you think I'm a glutton? No need, I understand your gratitude, you needn't bother with a meal. You won't owe me anything after this," Lin Yu callously increased his speed a bit, causing the girl's majestic chest to bounce more prominently. It incited a feeling of a rush of blood to his head.
Unexpectedly, such opportunities to create scenery at close range were rare. He cherished every moment.
"No, I don't want to owe someone like you; it'll make me uncomfortable. I'm being sincere," the girl earnestly replied, making Lin Yu feel like he might cough up blood. What was this chaotic situation?
"Alright, let's stop with this useless chatter. I won't eat. You can leave; your mom is calling you home for lunch," Lin Yu waved, unwilling to waste more time with her.
"My mom's working overtime at noon, won't come home," the girl replied earnestly, unaware of the sarcastic tone, wiping her sweat. Meanwhile, her chest, usually concealed by the oversized shirt, finally revealed its true magnificence, swaying up and down – indeed, a captivating sight.
"Then, is your dad calling you home for lunch?" Lin Yu changed his approach.
"My dad and mom work in the same office and are working overtime too," the girl divulged her family's schedule.
"In that case, my mom is calling me for lunch. It's already noon, I'm really hungry, need to go home. No time to keep bantering with you. Goodbye." Lin Yu left a final comment, then forcefully pedaled his bike. With a swoosh, his bike shot off like an arrow, disappearing into the distant woods, leaving her behind.
The girl, unable to catch up with Lin Yu, stopped in frustration. Stamping her foot hard, she protested, "Lin Yu, your name is Lin Yu! I remembered it yesterday. Humph, wait, I will find you... You've bullied me like this; I'll make you regret it."
However, she suddenly remembered the inexplicable stick that was there when he held her earlier, making her face flush. She shyly covered her face with a "ya" sound, then peered through her fingers after a while. Biting her lip, her breath came in short gasps, an odd sensation creeping up from where they'd touched. Tingly and strange, she couldn't define the feeling, but it made her blush and feel a bit excited – an unfamiliar sensation.