My Demon Friends

Li Daimao: "There's an old saying: 'If you're not disciplined for three days, you'll be tearing the tiles off the roof.' That perfectly describes you right now!"

Zhou Li: Makes sense.

Zhou Li long-pressed the message and tapped 'Recall'.

A pop-up window read: Messages sent more than two minutes ago cannot be recalled.

With a blank expression, Zhou Li tapped 'OK,' then continued to long-press the message, select 'Recall,' and frantically repeat this operation.

Pop-up, OK, Recall, pop-up...

After repeating this more than a dozen times, Zhou Li finally gave up.

Junk software.

"Sigh..."

Zhou Li didn't know if there was still time to explain to Brother Nan that this was all a misunderstanding.

「Two minutes later.」

He finally accepted reality and numbly opened the remaining two voice messages—

Li Daimao: "Alright, I'll satisfy you."

Zhou Li: Mhm, mhm.

Li Daimao: "Hey, Zhou Lili, you're really quite tough today! Have I been too gentle with you recently, making you cocky?"

Zhou Li: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Li Daimao: OK.

Just as he finished listening to the messages, Brother Nan sent another voice message, which Zhou Li casually played.

Li Daimao: "I'm already at the entrance to your apartment complex."

Zhou Li was terrified.

He typed with trembling hands: I'm in the dorm.

Li Daimao: Alright, I'll head back now. /smile

Zhou Li thought for a moment, then sent: I'll be back soon, wait for me at the apartment complex entrance.

After pausing, he quickly corrected himself: Wait upstairs instead. Huai Xu is home; he'll open the door for you if you knock.

Li Daimao: I'll just wait for you at the apartment complex entrance.

Zhou Li: Fine.

Zhou Li figured the apartment complex entrance would definitely have less foot traffic than the student dorms, and besides, he wouldn't run into anyone he knew there.

He came out of the bathroom, washed his hands, splashed some water on his face, and composed himself. Then he said to his roommates, "I'm heading out."

Calm and composed.

Zhou Li had high resistance; Brother Nan probably couldn't break his defense, but getting hit was still unpleasant.

Zhou Li didn't want to get hit.

So, on his way, he pondered all kinds of strategies, with at least dozens of plans flashing through his mind. From admitting his fault as soon as he saw Brother Nan, to flat-out denial; from framing others to shirking responsibility; to honestly telling Brother Nan that he hadn't listened to her voice messages and that she had guessed that he'd done something like this in the past; he even thought about turning the tables and beating up Brother Nan instead... He swore the last one was just a fleeting thought, lasting less than a second. But in that very instant, as if to persuade him, a pit large enough to trip a fast-riding bicycle suddenly appeared out of nowhere on the ground.

「About fifteen minutes later.」

Zhou Li arrived at the entrance to the apartment complex.

There, a mountain bike lay against a flower bed. Brother Nan stood with one foot on the flower bed, left hand in her pocket, right hand clenched into a fist—Zhou Li could imagine she'd probably been clenching that fist for over an hour now.

"Ahem, hi Brother Nan."

Zhou Li stopped his bike but didn't dare get any closer.

Brother Nan turned around and glared coldly at him. "Hi my ass! Why are you standing so far away? Get over here!"

"No."

"Aren't you acting all tough? Come here, then!"

"Brother Nan, let me explain."

"There's room to explain?" Brother Nan actually laughed. "Alright, I'll listen to your explanation! Stand closer, I can't hear you from there!"

"Those messages were sent by Huai Xu." Zhou Li raised his voice a bit but refused to approach. "He sent them using my phone. If you think about it calmly, you'll realize it. I'm not that bold."

"I've already asked Huai Xu." Brother Nan smiled.

"..."

"Let's set that matter aside for now. Was it also Huai Xu who incited others to confess their feelings to me?" As she spoke, Brother Nan walked towards Zhou Li and pulled a black extendable baton from her pocket. It snapped open with a flick, and she swirled it randomly, making a WHOOSHING sound.

"Hm?"

Zhou Li appeared unfazed, but he recognized an opportunity to turn the situation around from Brother Nan's current expression and tone—

Brother Nan was very angry when she said this, exceptionally so, which indicated that the main reason for her anger lay here.

Indeed, the more critical the moment, the less one should panic.

Brother Nan grabbed Zhou Li by the arm and began hammering his chest with her fists. Although she held the baton, its primary function seemed to be intimidation and for show—to make her look fierce and scare Zhou Li, rather than to be used as an actual weapon.

As for Zhou Li, he stood tall and straight, as if resigned to his fate. "That was indeed my doing."

Just then, a large red heavy motorcycle passed by on the road outside and suddenly screeched to a halt. The rider turned to look at Zhou Li and Brother Nan, apparently stunned.

"Zhou Li, what's going on here..."

"Scram!" Brother Nan snapped, turning her head.

"Sure!"

The motorcycle revved and sped off again.

Brother Nan turned back to Zhou Li—

"Was that fun for you?"

"Not fun, but when he came to ask, I couldn't possibly give him sincere advice, could I?" Zhou Li said.

"Hm? What do you mean?" Brother Nan's fists suddenly stopped.

"It means I didn't want him to succeed in pursuing you. I knew you would hit him if he did, and that would be the end of his chances." This is all just a stalling tactic, Zhou Li told himself.

"Why would you do that?"

"Think about it, Brother Nan. If you got into a relationship, would we still be able to hang out like before? What about the car we crowd-funded to buy together..." Before Zhou Li could finish his sentence, Brother Nan punched him again, and he was forced to swallow his remaining words.

Apparently, he hadn't said what Brother Nan wanted to hear.

At this moment, Zhou Li caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye and saw several passersby sneaking glances at them. He felt his face flush with embarrassment and quickly said, "Brother Nan, can we go home to settle this? There are so many people out here..."

"Oh! You care about your image now? So many people? Are there more people here than at the orientation gala in the auditorium?"

"No, it's not about my image. I just think that getting physical in public isn't good for *your* image, Brother Nan. It's not a big deal for me..."

"You... sigh! Let's go!"

"Alright!"

Zhou Li hurriedly bent down to pick up Brother Nan's bicycle and handed it to her before pushing his own.

He walked ahead to open the access gate.

After locking their bikes, they headed to the elevator.

Brother Nan frowned, her initial anger already subsiding. "So you were really trying to 'sabotage' him?"

"I'm sorry."

Zhou Li apologized first, then paused before adding, "Obviously, I wouldn't dare push you into a fiery pit just for the thrill of watching the drama. I wouldn't push anyone into a fiery pit, let alone you. Besides, that's not in my character."

Brother Nan considered this. "That's true."

DING. The elevator doors opened.

"After you, Brother Nan!"

"So considerate!"

"Winter Solstice is in a couple of days. I wonder if the lamb soup here is as good as the one back home."

"Definitely ours back home... Stop changing the subject!"

"You're misunderstanding me," Zhou Li said earnestly. "I was thinking of having lamb soup with you on Winter Solstice, but I don't know any good places."

"Leave that to me. You just take care of the bill."

"That's great."

"Bring the topic back!"

"Alright!"

As they reached the door, it suddenly opened.

Huai Xu looked at Brother Nan in surprise. "Brother Nan, you're here."

Brother Nan just hummed in response.

Huai Xu was taken aback. He glanced at Zhou Li's expression, then at Brother Nan, sensing that something was off.

And so... he immediately became excited.

The drama that followed did not disappoint him—

Zhou Li and Brother Nan walked into the living room together, even ignoring Tuanzi rolling on the floor, which was a rare sight. Then Zhou Li poured a glass of water for Brother Nan, offered it respectfully, and asked, "Would you be happy if I started dating?"

Huai Xu's eyes widened instantly. He hurriedly grabbed a bag of chips from the fridge, tore it open, and sat down to the side.

Even Tuanzi stopped rolling, turned her head, and looked at the two with confusion.

"I'd be happy," Brother Nan replied.

"..." Huai Xu's mouth twitched. He then turned to look at Zhou Li.

"Why?" Zhou Li asked.

"I'd be happy for you," Brother Nan answered again.

"That doesn't count," Zhou Li said.

"Oh, then no, I wouldn't be happy." Brother Nan paused and hurriedly added, "Because then I'd have lost a loyal Little Brother."

"..." Huai Xu's mouth twitched again.

"So there you have it!"

Zhou Li spread his hands and looked at Brother Nan.

Brother Nan nodded, seemingly half-understanding. She placed the baton on the coffee table and asked, "Then tell me, what was with your replies to my messages?"

"I knew you were angry and wanted to make a joke to cheer you up."

Zhou Li said, sighing, "Unfortunately, I've always been bad with words and rarely chat with people, so it had the opposite effect."

Brother Nan blinked twice, hesitating for a long time before responding, "Alright, fine. I accept that answer, and I'll spare you the 'execution'. But you're still going to get hit, since I came all this way…"

"Fair enough. But wait a moment."

Zhou Li looked at Huai Xu and then at Tuanzi, who was perched on the TV cabinet, staring unblinkingly at them. "The following scenes may contain violence and are not suitable for children..."

Huai Xu understood and immediately stood up, walking towards Tuanzi.

Tuanzi sensed danger all of a sudden.

WHOOSH! She jumped down from the TV cabinet and ran to the middle of the living room.

Huai Xu continued to walk towards her.

Tuanzi bolted without a sound, turned, and performed a 'wall-running' display for everyone, leaping directly onto the upright air conditioner. Only then did she settle down, squatting and continuing to watch Brother Nan and Zhou Li from her high vantage point, her face serious.

POOF! Suddenly, Huai Xu had grabbed Tuanzi and covered her eyes. He then nodded to Zhou Li and Brother Nan.

"Okay, you can start."

"Release Lord Dumpling!" Tuanzi struggled ferociously in Huai Xu's arms. "Take your hands off Lord Dumpling's eyes!"

"Lord Dumpling wants to see!"

"Let Lord Dumpling have a look!"

"Lord Dumpling also wants to see Zhou Li get hit!"

"Cursed Huai Xu! Let go!"

"Lord Dumpling heard Zhou Li begging for mercy! What's happening to Zhou Li? Quick, let Lord Dumpling see!"

"I'm begging you~~"

「About three minutes later, Huai Xu released Tuanzi.」

Tuanzi instantly quieted down, landed on the floor, and agilely hopped onto the coffee table. She immediately craned her neck, looking first at Brother Nan, then at Zhou Li sitting beside her. The two sat upright, their clothes still neat, their expressions calm, as if nothing had happened and the pleas Tuanzi thought she heard were just her imagination.

Tuanzi tilted her head, and many question marks seemed to appear above it in puzzlement.