Around five in the afternoon, Jun-Yu was standing on the ground floor carrying his university bag on his shoulder and several plastic bags containing walnuts, almonds, tomatoes, guavas, and strawberries.
It seemed that he had stopped by a supermarket on his way home from university and bought some groceries.
When the elevator arrived on the ground floor, Jun-Yu was about to press the button when his eyes landed on the number "3," and he began to think—
"Shi-Han lives on the 3rd floor, but where is she? I haven't seen that little witch for just one day, yet it feels like I haven't seen her for ages. Did she move out of the apartment because of what I said? Or is she still angry at me for slapping her in the public bar and doesn't want to face me?"
Lost in thought, Jun-Yu accidentally pressed the button for the 3rd floor instead of the 4th floor. When the elevator stopped on the 3rd floor, he thought again—
"Is there something wrong with the elevator? I was going to the 4th floor, so why did it stop on the 3rd? I was the only person inside."
While thinking these things, Jun-Yu rang the doorbell of Shi-Han's apartment. However, even after ringing it several times, Shi-Han didn't open the door. Since his hands were full of groceries, he didn't wait any longer and returned to his own apartment.
As soon as Jun-Yu left, Shi-Han opened the door. She looked around in every direction, searching for someone, but finding nobody, she locked the door again.
The moment Shi-Han locked her apartment door, her phone rang. Without checking who was calling, she answered, and a stern voice came from the other side—
Chen-Yu: Gaming Queen Shi-Han, are you alright?
The moment Chen-Yu called her "Gaming Queen Shi-Han," memories flooded back into Shi-Han's mind. She remembered all the hardships she had endured at the beginning of her gaming career because of Vern Club's director, Jun-Hao. During those difficult times, Chen-Yu had always been by her side.
Chen-Yu had constantly encouraged Shi-Han in gaming. In fact, it was Chen-Yu who had given her the title "Gaming Queen." Even now, Shi-Han still carried that title, but the person who had given it to her was no longer the same.
Although Chen-Yu had once encouraged her gaming career, it was gaming itself that eventually caused their relationship to break apart. Hearing him call her "Gaming Queen" again made Shi-Han furious. Irritated, she said—
Shi-Han: Chen-Yu! Why are you calling me? Weren't you always the one who wanted me to stop gaming? Your wish has finally come true. Did you call just to rub salt into my wounds?
Chen-Yu: Gaming Queen, calm down a little. I've been wondering why the police tried to arrest you but ultimately didn't. Is it because your new boyfriend comes from an even wealthier family than mine?
Shi-Han: Would it make you happy if I were imprisoned, Chen-Yu?
Chen-Yu: Unfortunately. But if you had remained imprisoned by me, none of this would have happened.
There was a strange implication hidden in Chen-Yu's words. Shi-Han's eyes widened in shock. It was as though she had lost the ability to speak.
"Was Chen-Yu actually Shin-Yan's boyfriend? Chen-Yu is a wealthy and handsome man. Did Shin-Yan mistake Jun-Yu for Chen-Yu while she was drunk? No... I can't think clearly anymore. I need to know the truth."
Suspicious of Chen-Yu's words, Shi-Han suddenly suspected him of being responsible for the bar incident and blurted out—
Shi-Han: Chen-Yu! Wait a minute! Does that mean you're behind all of this? So many women have come into your life, but what harm have I ever done to you? Why are you trying to send me to prison? Answer me, Chen-Yu! Chen—!
Before Shi-Han could finish speaking, she heard the sound of the call disconnecting. On the other side of the phone, Chen-Yu ended the call, and a mysterious smile appeared at the corner of his lips. That smile seemed to reveal just how deeply he had planned to frame Shi-Han.
The moment Shi-Han realized that Chen-Yu genuinely wanted to harm her, her hands and feet began to tremble. She couldn't believe that the man of her dreams would one day wish such misfortune upon her.
Just as Chen-Yu ended the call, the doorbell rang again.
Shi-Han: So you've been following me around just to hurt me, Chen-Yu? Today I'll show you that Shi-Han isn't just the Gaming Queen—she's also the Martial Queen!
The phone call and the ringing doorbell had happened almost simultaneously. Since the doorbell had rung shortly after the call ended, Shi-Han assumed that the person who had rung her bell earlier must have been Chen-Yu. Convinced that he was repeatedly ringing her bell just to annoy her, she grabbed a broom used for cleaning the floor, opened the door, and swung it with all her strength at the person standing outside—
Jun-Yu: Miss Little Witch, here's some walnu—
Shi-Han: Chen-Yu, today I'll— ... Jun-Yu? Jun-Yu! JUN-YU?!
The moment the door opened, Jun-Yu and Shi-Han spoke at the same time.
In reality, after returning from university, freshening up, and eating some walnuts, Jun-Yu had come to visit Shi-Han. As soon as she opened the door, he had tossed a walnut toward her and begun speaking.
But Shi-Han had mistaken him for Chen-Yu and struck him before he could finish. The poor Jun-Yu didn't even understand what had happened before he collapsed weakly onto Shi-Han's shoulder.
Shi-Han immediately dropped the broom and grabbed him tightly.
Shi-Han: Jun-Yu! You zombie, open your eyes! Xiao-Tong! Bring a glass of water! Jun-Yu, you're so heavy!
With great difficulty, Shi-Han dragged Jun-Yu to the sofa and sat him down while calling out for Xiao-Tong. But Xiao-Tong didn't respond.
Shi-Han: That girl must have gone back to the dormitory. But I didn't even hit Jun-Yu that hard. Did he really lose consciousness from just that?
Shi-Han said it very casually. In truth, the one delivering the blow never knows how hard they are striking. They don't know how much pain the other person has to endure. They never know whether the person being hit can actually withstand the impact. Shi-Han thought she had only hit Jun-Yu lightly, but only Jun-Yu knew how much it had hurt.
After saying that, Shi-Han took out her phone and began tapping on the screen while saying—
Shi-Han: Ugh, who would've thought Mr. Zombie came to see me? But ever since I was little, I've endured far worse injuries than this. I've never lost consciousness from such a small hit. Anyway, I need to take Jun-Yu to the hospital now. I'd better call an ambulance.
As Shi-Han muttered those words and was about to call an ambulance, Jun-Yu suddenly spoke from the sofa behind her, pressing one hand against his head and raising the other hand.
Jun-Yu: "No need, Miss Shankchunni. Could you give me some water? My head is spinning badly, and I feel nauseous."
As soon as Jun-Yu spoke those words in a half-broken voice while panting, he lowered his hand. Seeing that Jun-Yu was conscious, Shi-Han forced a smile and quickly handed him a glass of water.
Shi-Han: "Sorry, Jun-Yu. I'll get it right away. Here, have some water."
Jun-Yu took the glass from Shi-Han with trembling hands, took a sip, then let out a long breath and said—
Jun-Yu: "If you stay this reckless with your hands and feet, one day you'll end up in jail for murdering me, Shankchunni. And that day, I won't be alive to prove your innocence."
Jun-Yu's words seemed to lighten Shi-Han's mood a little. In a playful tone, she said—
Shi-Han: "Jun-Yu, do you really consider me that close to you? If I actually killed you and you had the chance to forgive me, would you forgive me?"
Perhaps Shi-Han asked that because of the hidden feelings she carried for Jun-Yu. But the moment she finished speaking, Jun-Yu said nothing. He simply pressed his lips together tightly and sat there in silence.
Seeing Jun-Yu's condition, Shi-Han changed the subject and said with a smile—
Shi-Han: "Sorry, sorry. I'll explain everything later. If you're feeling really sick, the bathroom is over there. I'll help you."
The moment Shi-Han said that, Jun-Yu removed his hand from his mouth and replied while panting—
Jun-Yu: "I'm fine, Shi-Han. But do you know that these days I always have headaches? Especially after waking up from sleep. And after what you just did, I can't even explain how much my head hurts."
Shi-Han: "Jun-Yu, I'm still asking nicely. Come to the hospital with me. If something happens to you like it did that day, I won't be able to face you ever again."
Jun-Yu: "Miss Shankchunni, listen. I came here to apologize to you."
As soon as Jun-Yu said that, Shi-Han remembered what had happened that day. She truly felt too embarrassed to face him. She had insulted Jun-Yu, and Jun-Yu had slapped her in public at the bar because of it. Shi-Han had been carrying a mountain of resentment toward him. Although she had stayed by his side for a while and forgotten about it temporarily, once things calmed down, she had quietly started avoiding him.
Jun-Yu: "Actually, it's been two days since I've seen you. And my mother has been staying with Shu-Yang for the past two days. I was thinking of bringing some healthy food for Mom and Shu-Yang, and after returning from the hospital, I'd take you out somewhere."
Before Jun-Yu could continue, Shi-Han interrupted him and said—
Shi-Han: "I'm sorry for what happened just now. Actually, I was a little disturbed. If you want, I can hold my ears and do sit-ups as punishment, but please forgive me, Jun-Yu. I owe you so much."
After saying that, Shi-Han sadly grabbed her ears in front of Jun-Yu. No matter how much resentment she carried toward him, she knew she had done something wrong by hurting and humiliating him. Jun-Yu raised his hand and said—
Jun-Yu: "No need. And the question of forgiving you doesn't even arise, Miss Shankchunni. Since the day I became your friend, I've been your punching bag. You were disturbed, and besides, I slapped you in public at the bar, while you hit me on the head. Let's call it even. But I'm giving you one last chance—change yourself. Don't make yourself look like someone worthless in front of other people."
Shi-Han: "Sorry, Jun-Yu, I—"
Jun-Yu: "You don't need to say sorry. I actually came here to apologize for what happened at the bar. That's why I wanted to take you out tonight. We can do that later. I don't know your background, but I'll tell you this much—earning respect and keeping it is extremely difficult. People won't respect you; they'll respect your talent. The moment they see even the slightest misuse of your abilities, the respect you've earned will turn into a kingdom of quicksand. And in a single moment, all your honor will shatter into pieces and be destroyed, or be washed away by the raging waves of the sea."
After saying that, Jun-Yu stood up from the sofa and took two steps forward before stopping again. Shi-Han had martial arts training, so her body could endure pain better than an average person. But Jun-Yu was the complete opposite. Besides, the head is the most vulnerable part of the body. Jun-Yu stood there holding his head, looking as if his entire world was still spinning.
Thinking about how Jun-Yu kept suffering because of her mistakes again and again, Shi-Han felt as though her heart was being torn apart. She didn't know what to say to him. Remembering everything Jun-Yu had done for her since they met, she thought—
"What have you done, Shi-Han? Do you really love Jun-Yu, or do you want to kill him? How much more must Jun-Yu suffer because of you?"
As Shi-Han asked herself these questions and found no answers, tears threatened to burst from her chest. Somehow she composed herself and asked—
Shi-Han: "Jun-Yu, should I walk you home?"
Jun-Yu lowered his hand from his head, gestured toward Shi-Han, and said—
Jun-Yu: "No, it's fine."
After saying that, Jun-Yu left Shi-Han's apartment. Once he was gone, Shi-Han punched the wall and cried as she said—
"Shi-Han, you're a demon. Grandma was right. You'll never be able to build a good relationship with anyone. Jun-Yu, I am sorry. Why am I always responsible for everything, Jun-Yu? How can I make you understand? I never wanted to hurt you."
—★★★
Sorry for the delayed update. I was having some internet connection issues.
Anyway, if you enjoyed the story, I would really appreciate it if you could save it to your library.
Thank you for your support!