After speaking, the girl no longer glanced at Lin Hai, stubbornly biting her red lips as she walked toward the cubicle.
At this moment, her silhouette seemed very lonely, exuding an indescribable desolation that faintly tugged at the heartstrings.
"Little Scorpion..." Lin Hai suddenly froze, that silhouette... overlapped in an intangible way with the shadow in his memory, sealed by countless chains.
"I'll help you!" Lin Hai suddenly spoke up.
The woman's advancing body abruptly paused, her head turned, her eyes showing deep surprise.
This construction worker wasn't afraid of the men in black suits outside?
Maybe she was wrong earlier; perhaps he was a man of substance?
Then, the woman shook her head, observing Lin Hai's drunken state. Even with the intent to fight, it seemed unlikely he could reverse the situation—after all, there were at least twenty people outside.
"Thank you for your kindness, but it's better if you don't get involved in my affairs." The woman smiled apologetically at Lin Hai, gently declining, her tone slightly frigid.
This time, it was Lin Hai's turn to be stunned.
From her gaze, he clearly saw that she was reluctant.
Reluctant about what? Perhaps fearing that he would soon be beaten to the point of vomiting blood and begging for mercy.
"Um, why?" Lin Hai still asked.
"There are more than twenty people outside, all of whom have undergone some training. Each can easily handle a few ordinary people barehandedly. I appreciate your kindness, but I don't want you to get involved."
The woman paused, then added, "I'll remember your kindness. If there's a chance to meet again, I will thank you."
This girl, aside from her looks, truly resembled her in silhouette and character, especially the way she spoke, so much like her from back in the day, but unfortunately, she...
Lin Hai remembered something she once said: to be a good person, let go of hatred and everything else, not seeking great wealth but hoping to live in peace.
Vivid memories made him take a deep breath.
He suddenly felt that he needed to help, not because of the woman's beauty or because she thought he was useless. After all, he had wanted to merely scrape by upon his return.
His decision to help was entirely because she resembled her, perhaps also as a compensation for the inability to change past events deep within his heart.
"Beauty, get ready," Lin Hai smiled as he spoke.
"Ready? Ready for what?" The woman looked at Lin Hai bewildered. The noise outside got closer, but from his face, she could not see a trace of fear.
At first, she thought it was his pride as a man trying to show strength before her, but now it seemed that his somewhat weathered eyes held only calm and truly no fear.
"Get ready to thank me properly, you just said it yourself, you'll thank me later," Lin Hai said seriously.
The woman's eyes immediately flashed with deep disdain, thinking he had genuinely intended to help but realizing it was for a reward.
However, the woman soon resigned herself to understanding—such a worker would naturally be profit-driven especially when she was dressed brightly, appearing wealthy to anyone.
A tiger fallen flat is still intimidated by dogs; this idiom need not apply only to men. There are many in the world who would watch you fall and then seize the opportunity to exploit you ruthlessly—perhaps this man harbored such thoughts.
"No, thank you for your kindness."
"Beauty, if I said I'd help you, I definitely will, and I'll await my reward for thanks," Lin Hai smiled.
These words merely solidified her previous thoughts about him, and her gaze at Lin Hai gained a few more traces of contempt.
The woman suddenly grabbed Lin Hai's arm just as he was about to leave.
"What's the matter? Beautiful." Lin Hai turned his head in surprise and asked curiously.
The woman shook her head, her tone extremely cold, and she even refused to look at Lin Hai's face, speaking in a chilly voice: "The people looking for me from the opposite side are not weak, they can make a person disappear mysteriously at any time without leaving any evidence."
After a pause, feeling that she had not frightened Lin Hai, the woman added: "Moreover, by helping me this time, you'll be dragged into my troubles. You may have to deal with endless problems in the future, and even if you hide anywhere in Huaxia, they might find you. Think carefully about it."
"Oh my, is it really that thrilling?" Lin Hai's eyes widened, this beauty indeed was involved in some big troubles. Judging by her serious tone, those people outside could very well be from a formidable force.
Lin Hai quickly thought about how he could knock down the opponent swiftly without revealing his identity.
Now that he had returned to Huadu, if he exposed his techniques and strength, he might leave clues for some unresolved enemies from the past.
Besides, there was that power that had been lying dormant in the dark, contending with him for seven years. If it sensed that he was alone in Huadu, it might send various experts to hunt him down.
"Indeed, he still hesitated and was scared," the woman sighed disappointingly, let go of Lin Hai's arm, leaned weakly against the wall, and limped towards the restroom at a snail's pace, not looking back at Lin Hai again, her figure exuding a stubborn vibe.
"I've thought it through. I'll help you to the end!" Lin Hai suddenly spoke again, this time with a very firm tone.
"Are you really sure?" the woman asked tentatively.
Lin Hai displayed a clean smile and nodded: "I'll help, definitely. I was just joking earlier, I don't need any thank you fee."
The dislike in the girl's heart lessened, and her impression of Lin Hai suddenly improved.
"Come, let me help you to the stall. Your ankle is sprained, rest a bit first. Once the trouble is dealt with, I'll lead you out."
Lin Hai helped her into the cubicle and supported her as she sat on the toilet.
The woman's face turned slightly red; obviously, it was her first time ever to be in such a bizarre situation in a men's restroom.
"Okay, lock the door after I leave," said Lin Hai seriously.
"They're quite fierce, you better leave quickly," the woman felt a bit of pity.
"Really? I used to be nicknamed Little Fierce, and I was the most formidable fighter among the kids on our street, never lost a fight."
The woman's eyes slightly brightened. If this man took off his worn-out clothes, there were quite a few commendable aspects about him.
Lin Hai just stepped forward, then suddenly remembering something, turned back.
"Beautiful, here's my phone, remember to return it later. I have no money on me, can't afford a new one."
Lin Hai handed the phone into her delicate hands.
When their fingers touched, he clearly felt the woman shiver a bit.
"Such soft hands, tsk tsk," someone thought to himself.
The woman looked at Lin Hai in astonishment and asked, "Why are you giving me your phone?"
"Cough cough, giving you the phone is a second way out. In case I can't withstand them later and get beaten badly, you can use the phone to call the police."
Having said that, Lin Hai smiled and turned to leave without any hesitation, as if there were no vicious thugs outside, his silhouette carrying a bit of free-spiritedness and determination.
Only then did the woman realize that the man before her was not as she had imagined; even though he was dressed shabbily, his eyes were clear and his whole demeanor was spirited, much more so than those white-collars in suits every day.
"Thank you, my name is Su Wanjing. If you ever face any difficulties in Huadu, you can come to me."