Chapter 71 Shameless Scoundrel

As long as he had promised something, Li Sicheng would never go back on his word.

So, after spending most of the morning in the classroom of Class Three, Grade Ten, Li Sicheng finally left as noon approached, mounted his worn-out electric scooter, and headed toward Ronghe Hotel, where Liu Wei’s family had invited him for a meal.

Ronghe Hotel was a well-regarded restaurant in Yongcheng, known for both its atmosphere and cuisine. The Liu family’s choice to host the banquet there truly showed how much they valued and appreciated Li Sicheng.

Their gesture was well-intentioned, but for Li Sicheng, it was just another complication.

He could only comfort himself silently: “Ah, I’ve already agreed, what else can I do? I can’t possibly ask Liu Wei’s family to switch the banquet to some cheap eatery, can I? Even if I’d like that, they’d never agree. They might even misunderstand my intentions...”

He resolved that at lunch, he would ask the hotel to prepare two of the simplest vegetarian dishes, trying his best to minimize any sense of “enjoyment” or privilege.

The journey from Nanshan High School to Ronghe Hotel was quite a distance. Even riding his scooter, Li Sicheng spent more than half an hour on the road.

After finding a place near his destination to park and lock his scooter, he walked toward the hotel. From afar, he could see Liu Wei standing at the entrance, scanning around, clearly having waited a long time.

She spotted him at that moment, hurried over with a bright smile, and said, “Li, you’re finally here!”

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Senior,” Li Sicheng replied politely. “You really didn’t need to stand out here for me. I would have called you when I arrived.”

Liu Wei shook her head with a smile. “You saved my life. Of course, I should be here waiting.”

After a brief exchange, Liu Wei made a welcoming gesture. “Let’s go in, Li. My parents have been eager to meet you. If they hadn't been worried about interfering with your classes, they would have come to the school to thank you in person these past few days.”

When Liu Wei’s parents learned about her near-fatal suicide attempt, they were terrified and immediately dropped everything to rush over from the neighboring city of Jinyang.

Initially, they feared their daughter might suffer emotional instability after such a traumatic event. Unexpectedly, they found her much more mature and understanding than before. Only after asking did they realize that Li Sicheng had not only saved her life but also guided her out of her emotional despair.

Under these circumstances, Liu Wei’s parents were filled with gratitude and curiosity toward Li Sicheng.

“Let’s go,” Li Sicheng nodded. He had just taken a couple of steps when he noticed Liu Wei’s smile suddenly freeze, her expression darkening.

“What’s wrong?” Li Sicheng asked, following her gaze to the left front, where he saw a young couple.

The boy looked about seventeen, tall and slender, with a delicate face and long hair, giving off the aura of a K-pop idol, more effeminate than masculine. The girl appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen, pretty but still childlike.

Liu Wei withdrew her gaze, took a deep breath, and forced a smile. “Nothing, just saw someone I’d rather not see... Come on, let’s go in.”

Li Sicheng understood. “Is that the jerk who drove you to attempt suicide?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Liu Wei nodded. “Yes, that’s him.”

Indeed, his looks could easily sway an inexperienced girl.

As they spoke and walked toward the hotel, the young couple also noticed them.

The boy’s eyes lit up instantly. He strode over and blocked their way, sizing up Li Sicheng and sneering, “Well, Liu Wei, you’ve got some nerve, sneaking around with another man behind my back! Hmph, I knew you were unfaithful, and now I’ve caught you red-handed!”

“Wang Lei, have you no shame?” Liu Wei was fuming. She couldn’t believe this guy could be so brazen! He was the one flirting with multiple girls, playing with her feelings and nearly costing her her life, yet here he was, shamelessly twisting the truth.

“What, so you’re allowed to hang out with other guys, but I can’t say anything?” Wang Lei scoffed, ignoring her anger. “Honestly, your taste is getting worse. This guy is nothing compared to me. Why would you even like him? Whatever, if you want to move on, I can’t stop you. Just give me five thousand yuan as compensation for wasting my youth.”

Liu Wei laughed in disbelief. “What? You want me to pay you for your lost youth? You’ve got some nerve!”

“Why not? Enough talk, Liu Wei, hand over the money. My sweetheart and I are heading to a hotel.”

With that, Wang Lei bent down to kiss the girl in his arms.

She, too, had no regard for those around them, kissing him back passionately.

When they were done, the girl looked Liu Wei up and down with disdain. “Oppa, is this your ex? Why would you like such a worn-out old woman? You were right to dump her!”

“You—!” Liu Wei clenched her fists, itching to teach these two a lesson.

But before she could act, Li Sicheng stopped her.

He glanced at Wang Lei, then at the girl in his arms, and said with a laugh, “A scumbag and a foolish girl... yes, you two truly deserve each other.”

Liu Wei let out a surprised giggle, her anger and frustration dissolving in an instant.

Wang Lei, however, was enraged. “Alright, you adulterer! Not only do you refuse to apologize for being caught, but you dare call me a scumbag? Fine, besides the five thousand for my youth, you owe me another—no, two thousand for emotional distress! You insulted me and traumatized my spirit!”

A crisp slap rang out.

Li Sicheng swung his hand and landed a resounding slap on Wang Lei’s face.

Wang Lei’s left cheek instantly swelled and reddened. He stared in shock, mouth agape, and stammered, “You... you dare hit me?”

“What’s done is done. Why wouldn’t I dare?” Li Sicheng sneered coldly.