Chapter 44: A Bitter Brew and a Fierce Loli’s Fury

Despite her grumbling, Hua Mu’ai swiftly changed into a hoodie, then grabbed a handful of cash from a drawer and stuffed it into her pocket before locking the shop door with a decisive click.

Xia Xingyan stood quietly beside her, observing her every move, and it seemed as though something subtle had begun to melt on her perpetually icy face.

****

The two walked side by side along Lin Hai City’s most bustling commercial street.

Here, amidst the throngs of people, Xia Xingyan naturally gravitated to Hua Mu’ai’s outer side, using her tall stature to shield her from the surging crowd.

Hua Mu’ai, however, continued to complain, “Hey, I’m talking to you! Do you think having long legs makes you superior? Why are you walking so fast?”

Upon hearing this, Xia Xingyan slowed her pace, adjusting to match her companion’s stride.

They first headed into a bubble tea shop.

Xia Xingyan glanced at the menu, then turned her head to ask, “What would you like to drink?”

“Whatever.”

Without further inquiry, she walked directly to the ordering counter.

Soon, she returned, holding two drinks, and handed one to Hua Mu’ai.

Hua Mu’ai, without even a glance, inserted the straw and took a large, vigorous gulp.

Immediately, her adorable little face crumpled into a scowl.

“Pfft, bleh bleh bleh! What in the world is this? It’s so bitter!”

She looked down to see the label on the cup read ‘Black Coffee, No Sugar.’

During her time as Gu Qing, she had been quite fond of iced Americanos, but things were different now.

She simply couldn’t tolerate this bitterness.

‘This woman must be doing it on purpose!’

‘She clearly investigated me before and knows I like sweets now!’

Hua Mu’ai was utterly fuming, turning to throw the coffee into a nearby trash can.

But just as her wrist lifted, it was stopped.

Xia Xingyan instantly moved closer, snatching the black coffee from her hand.

“Let me taste it.”

Under Hua Mu’ai’s astonished gaze, Xia Xingyan took a sip using the very straw Hua Mu’ai had just used, her expression utterly unchanged.

Then, she calmly remarked, “The taste is quite good.”

Hua Mu’ai’s face flushed crimson, and she bristled entirely.

“You, you, you… What are you doing? Who told you to drink that!” She glared at Xia Xingyan, her voice trembling with shock.

‘Wasn’t that an indirect kiss?’

‘This woman is absolutely doing this on purpose; she must have planned it!’

Just as Hua Mu’ai’s heart pounded and she stood bewildered, an arrogant voice cut through the air.

“Xia Xingyan! What the hell do you mean? I asked you out, and you dare to stand me up? You won’t answer calls or reply to messages; what kind of high-and-mighty act are you putting on?”

Both women turned their heads at the sound.

A young man, accompanied by several lackeys, strode aggressively towards them. He was dressed in designer brands, his hair slicked back and gleaming, yet his face bore a sickly, drained appearance.

Passersby were drawn by the commotion, casting curious glances their way.

Xia Xingyan’s voice was frigid. “We’re not familiar.”

“Not familiar?” The young man was so incensed by her attitude that he laughed. “Fine, Xia Xingyan, I’ve given you too much leeway, haven’t I? Let me tell you, you’re coming with me today, or don’t blame me for being impolite!”

With that, he winked at the lackeys behind him.

“Take her away!”

Two lackeys immediately reached out, aiming to grab Xia Xingyan’s arms.

“Hey!”

Hua Mu’ai darted forward, placing herself in front of Xia Xingyan.

Though small in stature, her aura was anything but weak. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Even as a pink-haired loli now, her combat instincts and skills were more than sufficient to handle a few hooligans.

The young man finally noticed the small pink-haired figure beside Xia Xingyan, sizing up Hua Mu’ai with a face full of disdain.

“Where did this midget come from? This has nothing to do with you; scram!”

‘Midget?’

Those three words instantly ignited Hua Mu’ai’s fury.

She absolutely loathed it when people commented on her height.

“Who are you calling a midget!” Hua Mu’ai retorted, head tilted back, hands on her hips.

“I’m talking about you,” the young man waved his hand impatiently. “Don’t block the way, or I’ll deal with you too!”

Hua Mu’ai was genuinely enraged.

‘Good, very good.’

‘Today, this young lady will show you why flowers are so red!’

“With just a few crooked melons and cracked dates like you?” She dismissively crooked a finger. “Come at me, all of you. This young lady is in a hurry.”

Her arrogant demeanor infuriated the young man.

“Get them! Rip that little girl’s mouth open!”

The two lackeys exchanged a glance, then advanced on Hua Mu’ai with sneering grins.

As the lackey on the left swung a fist the size of a sandbag, Hua Mu’ai dipped her body, nimbly darting into his embrace.

This was the optimal distance for close-quarters combat, and Hua Mu’ai immediately delivered an elbow strike to his side.

The lackey’s heart seized with alarm; before he could react, a sharp pain shot through his armpit!

He let out a yelp, his entire arm instantly feeling numb, its strength largely drained.

But that wasn’t the end of it; Hua Mu’ai spun her body with the momentum, driving her elbow with maximum force into his side waist.

The lackey’s face turned green with pain, his mouth agape but unable to utter a sound.

The other lackey, both shocked and furious, launched a sweeping leg kick.

Hua Mu’ai seized the moment, lightly leaping in place, and her right foot, without missing a beat, stomped down hard on his ankle.

“Crack!” The sound of bone fracturing reached everyone’s ears.

The second lackey collapsed, clutching his foot and writhing in agony on the ground.

In a mere few seconds, two seemingly tall and burly lackeys were defeated just like that.

The surrounding onlookers were stunned.

‘This pink-haired loli is too amazing!’

The young man was also dumbfounded; he hadn’t expected this seemingly frail little girl to be so ruthless!

Hua Mu’ai slowly walked towards him, a devilish smile gracing her lips.

“Now, it’s your turn.”

The young man stumbled backward repeatedly, terrified. “You… don’t come any closer. I’m telling you, my dad is Li Tianxiong, the deputy mayor of Guangqi City! If you dare touch a single hair on me, my dad will definitely not let you off!”

“Oh? Deputy mayor, you say?”

Hua Mu’ai’s smile grew even sweeter. “What a big official, I’m so scared.”

The words had barely left her lips when she suddenly lunged forward, and amidst the young man’s terrified expression, delivered a swift, accurate, and vicious kick to his groin.

“Awooo—!”

A shrill, inhuman scream echoed through the sky.

The young man clutched his crotch, tears and snot instantly streaming down his face as he convulsed in pain on the ground.

Hua Mu’ai had no intention of letting him off.

She stepped closer and began slapping the young man’s face, left and right.

“Slap! Slap! Slap!”

The crisp sounds of slaps rang out incessantly.

“That’s for your foul mouth!”

“That’s for calling me a midget!”

“That’s for trying to pressure this young lady with your dad!”

Hua Mu’ai cursed and struck, giving the other party no chance to breathe.

This continued until the young man was weeping profusely, snot and tears mingling, begging for mercy repeatedly.

“Grandma, I was wrong! I was truly wrong! Please stop hitting me!”

Hua Mu’ai finally ceased her assault, looking at the pathetic wretch on the ground and spitting dismissively.

“Trash.”

With that, she grabbed the somewhat dazed Xia Xingyan beside her.

“Let’s go!”

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, the two quickly rushed out of the throng.