Rebirth: He Decides to Lie Flat
Chapter 371 - 371 366 Sense of Security

Chapter 371: Chapter 366: Sense of Security Chapter 371: Chapter 366: Sense of Security The noodle bowl was halfway finished when the space in front of Qi Lihong suddenly darkened, but she didn’t look up, continuing to eat at a leisurely pace until she had finished all the noodles and the soup. Only then did she set down the bowl and pull out a tissue to wipe her mouth.

She raised her eyes to Si Tian sitting opposite her, her face calm.

“You’re quite pleased with yourself?” Si Tian glared at her.

If this had happened before, Qi Lihong probably would’ve just kept her head down and let Si Tian give her a hard time without daring to say a single word. But now, since she had half a year’s experience working at the shop and endured Mu Jiawen’s “harsh treatment,” she was able to calmly retort when others provoked her.

“What have I got to be pleased about? Isn’t it just what you all wanted—with me breaking up with Liu Wenhui? What more do you want?”

“You…”

“Don’t forget what I told Liu Wenhui’s mother, I agreed to break up, but you must stay away from me. Otherwise, I might just get back together with him.”

“You wouldn’t dare?”

Si Tian banged the table as she stood up, glaring at her.

Qi Lihong’s demeanor remained calm, and her words were equally unruffled, “This is the first time. If you bother me again, you can try and see if I dare. After all, Liu Wenhui has been waiting for us to get back together.”

Having said that, she stood up, picked up her noodle bowl, and walked to where the dishes were returned.

Si Tian stood behind her, clenching her fists, her face darkened.

She had a fierce temper and wouldn’t have given someone like Qi Lihong the time of day before—she would’ve resorted to physical confrontation without a second thought.

But things were different now. Not to mention that Liu Wenhui’s mother had warned her not to trouble Qi Lihong again, even Liu Wenhui himself… Si Tian could sense he was very angry lately, and while unsure whether it was because of the breakup with Qi Lihong, she instinctively felt that if she laid a hand on her, he probably wouldn’t let her off the hook.

In the end, she could only watch powerlessly as that woman walked away.

Qi Lihong went to the specialty shop and as soon as she entered, she saw Mu Jiawen sitting bored next to her seat, flipping through a book. It was one of their computer science textbooks she left there to read when she had spare time.

“Why did you come along too?”

Normally, Mu Jiawen wouldn’t come over at this time. Either she would be at the library or resting in the dorm, she was hardly ever in the specialty shop.

Mu Jiawen looked up and jerked her chin towards the second floor, “He said he felt insecure and insisted on me coming with him.”

“Pfft!”

Qi Lihong couldn’t help but burst into laughter, while deep inside, she felt a profound envy for their relationship.

She was about to say something when her phone, which had been quiet in her pocket for a long time, suddenly rang.

Qi Lihong was startled; the phone was a gift from Liu Wenhui, and when they broke up, she wanted to return it, but he refused, so she kept it. Generally, very few people called her, usually just Liu Wenhui, and hardly anyone else.

However, she had left this number with an auntie from the sanitation department who was close to her mother, telling her if there was anything wrong with her mother, she could call her.

At this thought, she swiftly took out her phone. Seeing the caller ID, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly pressed the answer button, “Hello?”

“It’s me, Lihong.”

“Aunt Wang, is there something wrong with my mom?”

Aunt Wang sighed on the other end of the line, “Lihong, don’t panic, and there’s no need for you to ask for leave to come back. I’m calling to give you a heads-up so you can prepare in advance. You should bring your mom with you to Beijing during the winter break.”

Qi Lihong stepped out of the boutique with her phone, and whispered in a secluded spot outside, “Did he hit her again?”

“Sigh, your mom, she forbids me to tell you, but she’s over forty now, and her body isn’t as resilient as it was when she was young. It used to take two days to recover from a beating, but now, she can barely walk without discomfort, let alone work. I had to take her to the hospital for a check-up by force, and even the doctors said it could be fatal if this goes on. They suggested I report to the police, but she refused, and there was nothing I could do. So after a lot of thought, I think if you’re capable, you should take her away when you come back for winter break, and then the two of you should never come back again.”

Qi Lihong listened to the other side, biting her lip, guessing that her mother’s injuries must be very serious this time. But she couldn’t voice it; if she was beaten, she just had to endure it in silence.

Indeed, as Aunt Wang had said, when you’re young and in good health, you recover quickly even if you’re hurt. But now, after years of accumulated injuries and advancing age, old wounds haven’t healed before the new ones are added; some injuries just don’t seem to heal at all.

During the National Day holiday, she took a day off to go home. That night, when she arrived home, that man was drinking and threw an empty bottle at her as soon as he saw her. Luckily, she dodged quickly; otherwise, she would have definitely had her head split open.

Then he demanded money from her. She had left her backpack at Aunt Wang’s house before entering the door, determined not to give him a single penny.

He grabbed her arm, intending to hit her, but her mother, as always, leaped forward to stop him. Despite that, her body took several punches and her arms turned purple with bruises…

Endure!

How long must she endure?

Qi Lihong took a deep breath and said in a heavy tone, “I understand, Aunt Wang. Actually, I wanted to bring my mom here last time I went home, but she wasn’t willing…”

“Not willing? So she’ll just stay there for that beast to beat her?” Aunt Wang’s voice was raised several notches with anger, “By doing this, your mom is just dragging you down. Tomorrow, I must talk to her seriously. No matter what, she has to leave with you during the winter break.”

“Thank you, Aunt Wang. Please help me look after my mom for a bit longer. I’ll be able to take a break in less than two months. If there’s ever a shortage for her medical expenses, just let me know, and I’ll send it to you.”

“The wages of our team are managed by me. I’ll just deduct it directly; there’s no need for you to send anything. Besides, if I don’t deduct it, it’s just sparing that beast of your father.”

But this method would work only once or twice before he noticed, and then he would go make a fuss at the sanitation department. Despite having one lame leg, he was very shrewd and would occasionally inquire about salary increases or changes to the bonus system.

He knew exactly how much her mother should receive in monthly wages and bonuses—down to the last cent, and the slightest shortage would result in a round of punches and kicks.

After saying a few more words to Aunt Wang, Qi Lihong hung up the phone, took two deep breaths, and rubbed her face before turning around and going back to the store.

She had to work twice as hard; otherwise, how would she have the confidence to support the two of them?

Mu Jiawen saw her come back, stared at her face for two seconds, and asked, “Xiaoqin, are you okay?”

“No…”

Qi Lihong initially wanted to say she was fine, but stopped after letting out only one word. She thought for a moment, then said softly, “Jiawen, if, I mean if, you had a senior family member who often beat and kicked you, what would you do?”

Mu Jiawen replied without hesitation, “If they’re beating and kicking me, how are they still a senior? Since they’re not, I don’t need to be polite. If they kick me, I’d definitely return it double, not a bit less!”