Super Soldier in the City
Chapter 86: Leave No Illusions

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Leave No Illusions

Li Yifei had really never before encountered such a persistent girl. With those like Little Li or other little troublemakers, Li Yifei could easily get rid of them, but Chu Xiaoyao wasn’t malicious in her intentions. Her behavior was merely one of admiration, but her relentless attention left him feeling quite restrained.

He stopped in his tracks and with a stern face, Li Yifei said to Chu Xiaoyao, "If you want me not to dislike you, you’d do well to behave yourself. Your flamboyance only makes me dislike you more, and I hope not to see you again in the future."

Chu Xiaoyao pouted and said, "Uncle, it’s just that I like you."

"You liking me is your business, but I don’t feel the same. What I dislike the most is girls who bring trouble my way every day. Only gentle girls like Yiyi are the ones I would like."

Chu Xiaoyao glanced at Su Yiyi and pouted even more, saying, "I got it now. I won’t be naughty anymore. Uncle, can you please take me to your house?"

"No can do," Li Yifei replied with finality.

Chu Xiaoyao stomped her foot in frustration and asked, "Uncle, do I make you that disgusted?"

"Originally, I didn’t dislike you that much, but the way you acted just now really pushed me to dislike you," he replied.

Chu Xiaoyao showed a face full of grievance and said, "Can’t I change? Besides, seeing you fight so impressively earlier got me really excited."

Seeing that Chu Xiaoyao was finally behaving more modestly, Li Yifei softened his tone and said, "Alright then, go straight home now. If you behave well, I might still pay attention to you in the future. Otherwise, I’ll never bother with you again."

"Uncle... I’ll listen to you, but... don’t shoo me away, I’m really bored today. I just want to go to your place for a bit, I promise not to make trouble!" she said.

As Li Yifei said nothing, Chu Xiaoyao tugged at his arm with a pitiful expression and said, "Uncle, just agree, please? I’ll behave, I really will."

"Brother Li... just agree to her," Su Yiyi chimed in, unexpectedly taking Chu Xiaoyao’s side just as Li Yifei was about to refuse.

Chu Xiaoyao immediately lit up and said, "Sister Yiyi, you are such a good person. I’ve decided, from now on we are comrades in the same trench, following Uncle together."

Su Yiyi and Li Yifei were at a loss for words, but since Su Yiyi had agreed, Li Yifei did not refuse. With a girl like Chu Xiaoyao, the more you refuse her, the more persistent she might become. By showing her that he was just an ordinary employee, without money or power, and hardly any other interests, Li Yifei guessed that it wouldn’t take long for Chu Xiaoyao to lose interest.

They hailed a cab, with Li Yifei sitting in the front and Chu Xiaoyao and Su Yiyi in the back. Chu Xiaoyao chattered away, obviously trying to ingratiate herself with Su Yiyi, and although Su Yiyi wasn’t much of a talker, she managed to converse with Chu Xiaoyao.

Shortly after, the three of them reached Li Yifei’s house. Chu Xiaoyao toured the place, then expressed her surprise, "Uncle, how can you live in such a small house?"

Li Yifei smiled blandly and said, "I’m just renting this place. Without money, naturally I can only live in a small house."

Chu Xiaoyao uttered an "Oh," then blinked and said, "That’s not too bad. A small home is cozier. Living in a big house wouldn’t be very meaningful."

Li Yifei didn’t want to continue this topic with Chu Xiaoyao, so he said to Su Yiyi, "Yiyi, keep Xiaoyao company. I’ll go buy some groceries."

Su Yiyi hurriedly said, "Brother Li, let me do the shopping."

Li Yifei waved his hand and said, "No need. I’ll cook something nice for lunch." Without waiting for Su Yiyi to get up, he had already left the house.

When Li Yifei came back, Su Yiyi and Chu Xiaoyao came to greet him. Su Yiyi took the groceries from his hand, while Chu Xiaoyao looked at him with a beaming smile. She then bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle and also brought slippers to him, saying, "Uncle, welcome back."

Li Yifei felt like he had seen this situation somewhere before. After a moment of thought, he realized it was reminiscent of a Japanese custom; after the husband returns home, this is typically how he is greeted. Although, in modern Japan, many women work and this traditional scene is mostly found among the homemakers.

However, he couldn’t deny that it gave a man a sense of achievement and a majestic feeling of being the head of the household—an experience he had indeed witnessed during his time in Japan.

"Uncle, you must be tired, please sit down. I’ll pour you some tea," Chu Xiaoyao offered with eagerness, playing the part well.

Li Yifei managed a half-smile, half-groan, saying, "Enough, don’t start with all that. I can’t handle it."

Chu Xiaoyao giggled mischievously, then suddenly jumped onto the sofa beside Li Yifei, kneeling and resting her hands on his shoulders, saying, "Uncle, can I rub your shoulders for you?"

Li Yifei pushed her hands away and said, "No need, I still have to cook. Otherwise, we’ll all be hungry by noon."

"Isn’t Sister Yiyi the one cooking?" Chu Xiaoyao pointed towards the kitchen.

Su Yiyi was indeed busy cooking in the kitchen. Li Yifei promptly said, "Yiyi, take a break. I’ll do it." At his house, Su Yiyi washed his clothes and tidied up the rooms; Li Yifei didn’t have the heart to let her cook as well.

Su Yiyi turned and gave Li Yifei a sweet smile, saying, "Brother Li, take a rest. I can handle it."

Li Yifei stood up and said, "Then let’s do it together." He didn’t want to be alone with Chu Xiaoyao—that girl was just too clingy.

"Uncle, can you also cook?" Chu Xiaoyao followed him and tilted her head as she looked at Li Yifei.

"Of course, I can cook. I can’t afford to eat out all the time; otherwise, I’d die of hunger," he said.

Chu Xiaoyao immediately said with excitement, "Uncle, you’re really too cool."

Li Yifei said, both irritated and amused, "I’m cool just because I can cook?"

"Definitely, there are too few men who can cook nowadays. If I were with you, wouldn’t that mean I’d never have to learn how to cook?"

Li Yifei said with annoyance, "Sorry, I don’t want to raise a freeloader."

Chu Xiaoyao immediately said seriously, "I’m not a freeloader. When you cook, I can chat with you. I can embrace your waist while you’re cooking, so you can feel the sweetness of cooking." As she spoke, she reached out to hug Li Yifei’s waist.

Li Yifei immediately jumped away, glaring at her, "Watch yourself."

Chu Xiaoyao giggled, "Uncle, you’re too old-fashioned."

Li Yifei glared at her and said, "I am an old-fashioned person, and I certainly won’t play any of that romantic nonsense with you."

"Hehe, an old-fashioned uncle is handsome. It’s those smooth talkers I really can’t stand."

"How am I handsome again?" Li Yifei was truly exasperated. No matter what, in Chu Xiaoyao’s eyes, he always came off looking good.

Su Yiyi chuckled, which only added to Li Yifei’s frustration. "Yiyi," he said, "I’m your boyfriend, and now when someone else is after me, you still can laugh."

Su Yiyi’s face blushed as she whispered, "As long as Brother Li is happy."

Chu Xiaoyao immediately said proudly, "See, Sister Yiyi has accepted me. What do you have to say now, Uncle?"

"Out of the way, this has nothing to do with you." Li Yifei’s gaze questioned Su Yiyi, who only revealed a bitter smile, clearly troubled by Chu Xiaoyao’s persistence.

"Get out, stop messing around here, or you won’t get anything to eat." Li Yifei resorted to his final move, glowering as he chased Chu Xiaoyao out of the kitchen.

"Yiyi, put on a stern face and say something to her, drive her away," Li Yifei said to Su Yiyi in a somewhat frustrated tone.

Su Yiyi also spoke softly, "Brother Li, I can’t speak like that. Besides, I know that Brother Li doesn’t like her. She’s the only one with feelings, so I have even less to say."

Li Yifei’s forehead creased with frustration, "You’re really too gentle, you’ll suffer for it sooner or later."

Su Yiyi smiled apologetically, "I’m sorry, Brother Li, I really can’t be mean."

Li Yifei shook his head, "Alright then, I won’t trouble you further."

The two of them cooked together, and Su Yiyi kept smiling. When her gaze occasionally met Li Yifei’s, she would shyly look away, but her face remained flushed, and her smile grew even more radiant.

Watching Su Yiyi, Li Yifei suddenly realized a serious problem. It was like driving the tiger at the front door only to welcome a wolf at the back door. Just now, he had been so focused on dealing with Chu Xiaoyao that he neglected Su Yiyi. And now in using Su Yiyi as an excuse, he feared her feelings for him had deepened even further.

He cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "Yiyi, I’m sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have said you were my girlfriend."

Su Yiyi’s expression changed. She was not one to hide her feelings, and the look of distress on her face made Li Yifei’s heart ache, and he began to regret what he had just said.

"I know," Su Yiyi answered softly, then brushed back her hair and still managed to show Li Yifei a smile, bitter as it was.

Li Yifei sighed internally, offering no comfort but pretending not to notice as he said, "Haha, if you don’t mind, that’s great."

Su Yiyi bit her lip and spoke softly, "Brother Li, I really don’t mind. I’m happy to do anything that can help you."

Li Yifei nodded, pretending not to see the tears welling up in Su Yiyi’s eyes.

Su Yiyi discreetly wiped her eyes, and then finally offered Li Yifei a beaming smile, "Brother Li, you don’t have to worry, I won’t cling to you like Xiaoyao. I just want to help you to the best of my abilities, and if you find a girlfriend you like, I’ll definitely not interfere."

Li Yifei felt like a scoundrel, hurting such a delicate girl. But such things had to be done, he absolutely couldn’t let Su Yiyi harbor any illusions.