The next afternoon, Shen Lang got a message from Xia Shuyi.
She asked him to drive to the Guoyue Hotel downtown to pick her up and then help her buy some summer clothes for Mengmeng.
Lately, Xia Shuyi had been busy finding a property manager for the Yulong Bay neighborhood, so they hadn't had much chance to meet up, except for chatting a lot on WeChat.
Xia Shuyi's favorability towards Shen Lang had reached a solid 90 points.
Only 10 more points, and Xia Shuyi would become the first woman Shen Lang had managed to get to a 100 favorability rating with.
Shen Lang planned to get those last 10 points today and earn an extra treasure chest!
As Shen Lang was about to head out, he ran into Li Liusi leaving her apartment. She was carrying a plastic bag and a thermos.
Li Liusi was still dressed simply, in an old high school uniform, slightly worn light pink sneakers, and hairpins on her braided hair that even looked a bit rusty.
Despite her plain attire, it didn't hide her tall figure and delicate face.
After a half-month military training, Li Liusi's once fair skin had turned a sun-kissed brown, which looked quite good on her.
As a girl, Li Liusi was quite tall, over 170 cm.
With such top-notch looks and figure, but a shy and submissive personality, her eyes always carried a trace of hidden meekness.
After locking her door, Li Liusi turned around and met Shen Lang's gaze.
She froze for a few seconds, awkwardly fidgeted with the trash bag in her hands, and said softly, as if apologizing, "I'm going to throw out the trash, then I need to go to the hospital to see my grandma."
"I know."
Shen Lang couldn't help but laugh. Throwing out the trash was no big deal; why mention it?
As Shen Lang went to the hallway to call the elevator, Li Liusi stood behind him, quietly observing this kind neighbor.
She remembered how this guy had enthusiastically helped her move in when she first arrived, even sold his own bottle to her for money.
When Shen Lang turned around and looked at her, Li Liusi quickly shifted her gaze away, nervously staring at the trash bag she was holding.
Shen Lang said, "The elevator's here."
"Okay."
Li Liusi, as if commanded, hurriedly moved closer with her things.
She waited until Shen Lang was in the elevator before nervously following him, instinctively pressing herself into the corner of the elevator, as if trying not to touch Shen Lang.
Shen Lang started the conversation, "I heard from the landlord that you're still in college, Zhuhai University, right?"
"Mm."
Li Liusi nodded but didn't say anything more.
"Um, how's your grandma doing? Is she okay?"
Hearing this, Li Liusi's brows showed sadness, and she shook her head almost imperceptibly.
"I see."
Shen Lang wasn't sure what else to say. This girl was either nodding or shaking her head; she was definitely a conversation ender.
After leaving the first floor, Shen Lang went to the underground parking lot on the B1 level to drive.
"Damn, it's really hot today."
The glaring sun was making Shen Lang irritable, so he quickly put on his dark sunglasses.
As Shen Lang was driving out of the community, he saw Li Liusi standing by the roadside.
Under the blazing sun, Li Liusi was walking towards the bus stop, frowning and carrying a thermos, her tall figure showing a sense of unspoken determination.
Shen Lang initially planned to turn around and pick her up for the hospital, but seeing a bus approaching her, he decided against it.
Not long after, Shen Lang noticed in the rearview mirror that Li Liusi hadn't gotten on the bus; she was still walking under the scorching sun, holding the thermos.
"Seriously?"
Shen Lang couldn't believe it. After a few minutes of turning around, he drove up behind Li Liusi.
"Aren't you going to the hospital?"
Shen Lang took off his sunglasses, honked a few times, and rolled down the window to shout, "Why aren't you taking the bus?"
Li Liusi wiped the sweat from her forehead and said weakly, "I... I want to walk."
Shen Lang was stunned and asked, "Which hospital is your grandma in?"
Li Liusi thought for a moment, "Xiehe Hospital."
"Damn, are you okay? Xiehe Hospital is more than ten kilometers away, walking there would take at least two hours. Are you running a marathon?"
Shen Lang was shocked and quickly opened the passenger door, saying, "Get in. I'll drive you there."
"No, no need."
Li Liusi was taken aback and shook her hands, saying, "I can take the bus back. No need to trouble you."
Shen Lang shook his head and said helplessly, "That's your soup, right? It'll be cold by the time you walk there."
Li Liusi explained indifferently, "The nurse said they could reheat it for me. Really, don't bother."
"No, why are you so stubborn?"
Shen Lang didn't understand why she was so set on walking. "Is the bus fare really a big deal? It's so hot out, and if you get heatstroke, who will take care of you and your grandma?"
Li Liusi was silent, holding the thermos and saying nothing.
The blazing sun beat down on her, and sweat dripped from her forehead onto the concrete, quickly evaporating.
"Get in. I'll drive you. It's on my way anyway."
"Really don't need to..."
Shen Lang was getting impatient, "Hurry up, will you?"
"Don't, don't be angry."
Li Liusi shivered, her delicate face showing some emotion, her eyes red as if she was about to cry.
Still hesitating to refuse, she saw Shen Lang's slightly stern expression and, trembling, moved over and got into the passenger seat.
Once inside, Li Liusi instinctively curled up, trying not to move much, afraid of damaging anything in the car.
She even slightly lifted her bottom, worried she might ruin the seat cushion.
"Don't know why you're being so stubborn."
Seeing her drenched in sweat, Shen Lang turned the air conditioning down a bit and reminded her, "Fasten your seatbelt."
"Seatbelt..."
Li Liusi hurriedly put the soup by her feet, glanced at Shen Lang's seatbelt, and then reached behind her to pull the seatbelt, trying to fasten it on herself.
"Please fasten your seatbelt!"
Hearing the voice assistant's prompt, Li Liusi nervously glanced at Shen Lang, afraid he might scold her.
In her panicked state, Li Liusi's mind went blank, and her hands were sweating, making it hard for her to fasten the seatbelt properly.
"You're really something."
Shen Lang chuckled and sighed, undoing his own seatbelt and leaning over to help Li Liusi fasten hers.
[Ding! Li Liusi's favorability towards you has increased by 5 points, now at 15 points. Keep it up!]
Hearing the system's notification, Shen Lang looked curiously at Li Liusi.
She was gazing at him with a soft, almost pleading look in her slightly red eyes.