Chapter 13 — Don't Run Anymore, Hua Tri Hoa

I was startled and let go of Luong Nghien Chu, almost hitting my head against the wall. Luong Nghien Chu closed his eyes, the tip of his tongue pushed his molars. Tran Mat put on an innocent face: "Did I come at the wrong time?" I covered my face, I just wanted to crawl into the hole. Luong Nghien Chu looked at me, a smile hidden under his eyes.

“When you wake up tomorrow, don't deny it.”

* 【Chapter 8】 When I woke up the next day, my head hurt like a math teacher had been tapping on it all night. Last night's images, frame by frame, danced in my brain. I held his sleeve. I said I couldn't bear to run away. I almost leaned completely into his arms. I pulled the blanket over my head, wanting to suffocate myself. The phone vibrates. Luong Nghien Chu sent a text message. 「Are you awake yet?」 I pretended to be dead. A minute later, he texted again. 「Hua Tri Hoa, it's obvious that you didn't answer after reading it.」 I glared at the screen and typed. 「I got drunk last night, it doesn't count.」 He replied very quickly. 「Which sentence doesn't count?」 I bit the corner of the blanket. 「Everything doesn't count.」 「Even 'I can't bear to run away' doesn't count?」 I threw the phone straight down at the end of the bed, my whole body felt hot like it was smoking. Outside the door, my mother called out: "Tri Hoa, Tieu Luong is here." I jumped up from the bed like it was on a spring.

“Mom!”

When I rushed out, Luong Nghien Chu was already sitting in the restaurant, with breakfast in front of him. My mother smiled so brightly that she couldn't close her mouth: "Tieu Luong said he would take you shopping today to get ready for school." I glared at him: "Who borrowed it from you?" He took a sip of soy milk, his tone was light: "You asked me to give it to you." My mother nodded repeatedly: "It's your first time coming to Shanghai, I don't know it well. Tieu Luong knows the way, let me come with you to see it for you." My father stood next to me and added another stab with the knife: "Don't spend other people's money, you bought your own furniture." Luong Nghien Chu nodded: "Don't worry." I didn't have a single chance to refuse. The air conditioning in the shopping center is very cold, and the shiny floor can clearly reflect people's silhouettes. I pushed the cart, only taking the cheapest personal items. Luong Nghien Chu walked next to me, his eyebrows furrowed more and more. He picked up a towel: "This is too thin." I snatched back: "Just dry it and it's fine." He picked up a desk lamp again: "The dormitory is better off using this type." I glanced at the price and immediately put it back: "No need." He stared at me.

"Hua Tri Hoa, if you still treat necessities as luxury items, I will buy them all and send them straight to your house."

I glared at him: "You dare." He raised his hand to call the salesperson. I quickly grabbed his hand and pressed it down.

“Luong Nghien Chu.”

He lowered his eyes and looked at me. My hand pressed on the back of his hand, the lights of the shopping center shone down, his eyelashes cast a faint shadow on his cheek. As if I was electrocuted, I quickly withdrew my hand.

“I bought it myself.”

He said: "I don't forbid you to buy it yourself."

“So don't interfere.”

He was silent for a moment, then put the table lamp back on the shelf.

“Okay.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. As a result, when it was time to pay, the cashier scanned the bar code halfway then suddenly looked up: "This bill has been paid." I turned my head back. Luong Nghien Chu stood two meters away, holding the phone, with a calm expression. I pushed the cart and rushed forward: “Just now I just promised not to interfere!” He said: "I don't interfere when you choose clothes." I was so angry I wanted to bite him. People were busy passing by in the shopping center. I lowered my voice: "How much money, I will transfer it to you." He bowed his head: "Okay." I was stunned. He showed me the payment screen. The amount of money is not excessive, but for me it is also an amount that has to be saved for a long time. I gritted my teeth and moved half forward.