Love Has Fireworks - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: I Am a Decent Person

With the Spring Festival fast approaching, the annual world's largest migration of mammals was about to begin. Qian Fei, a self-proclaimed expert at securing free items on Taobao within seconds, unexpectedly failed when it came to purchasing train and airplane tickets.

Seeing that she was on the verge of not being able to return home, Li Yifei surprisingly stepped in and saved her at the critical moment. Qian Fei began to feel that besides his vanity, love of showing off, and vicious tongue, Li Yifei actually possessed quite a bit of capability. There had already been several things she wanted to do but couldn't achieve herself, yet they seemed effortless whenever he took them on.

When Qian Fei received the plane ticket, she was so happy that she lost her head a little, blurting out, "Li Yifei, I've decided to look at you with a bit more respect from now on!"

Li Yifei asked expressionlessly, "How were you looking at me before then?"

Qian Fei had listed his "special traits" in her mind so many times that she didn't even need to organize her words, letting them fly out of her mouth instantly: "Vain, showing off, vicious-tongued, picky, high-maintenance, gluttonous, lazy, arrogant, proud with a huge temper, and so on."

Li Yifei blew his top. "The moment you open your mouth, you rattle off nine adjectives and even follow it up with a backstabbing 'and so on'! Sanitary Pad, give me back the ticket! Since that's exactly the kind of person I am in your heart, forget it. I don't need you to look at me with respect anymore. I need to live up to my reputation so I don't disappoint your 'and so on'!"

As he spoke, he lunged forward to snatch the plane ticket back.

Qian Fei hopped right onto the sofa, holding the plane ticket high above her head as she shouted, "Don't be like this! Calm down! Give me a chance to rephrase, okay?"

Li Yifei raised an eyebrow and looked at her. "I'll give you exactly one more chance!"

Qian Fei hopped down from the sofa, forcing her eyes into an expression of absolute sincerity. "Actually, although you are vain about your looks, you really are incredibly handsome, so it's only right for you to show off a bit. Who asked you to be blessed with such stunning features!

"And although you love to show off your high status, the way you pull it off is actually very pleasing to the eye, stylish, and high-class. It would be a disservice to your high-caliber foundation if you didn't show it off!

"As for your vicious tongue, it just proves you have excellent eloquence. If others wanted to be so sharp-tongued, they wouldn't even have the wit to pull it off!

"Being picky shows that you treat life with absolute seriousness and refuse to settle for less. You are a truly responsible person!

"When it comes to being high-maintenance, well, that... ah, it shows you are someone who values quality of life! You know what you want and what you wish to enjoy, and you work hard to obtain that enjoyment. You are practically the embodiment of positive energy!

"As for being gluttonous, speaking of this, I should actually be happy. Isn't this your validation of my culinary skills!

"And being lazy—you are someone destined to achieve great things, so how can you be bound by trivial matters like housework? If you were truly a master of chores, maybe you wouldn't have had the capability to secure this plane ticket for me today, right!

"As for being arrogant and proud, oh, I only added that to make it rhyme. Just refer back to the high-maintenance point from earlier!

"Lastly, regarding your bad temper—what on earth was I thinking by adding that? Yes, you used to fight constantly with your ex-girlfriend, and your words were incredibly harsh when you clashed, but you've never fought with me like that! How could I stand from the perspective of a bystander and point that out so righteously when I've never personally experienced it myself, right!"

Listening to the first part, Li Yifei felt she was twisting things fairly well, managing to spin those flaws into "pseudo-virtues." However, when he heard her mention the last point, he could no longer bear it and decided to give her a real taste of his "bad temper" based on the facts.

Taking advantage of the moment while Qian Fei was prattling on enthusiastically and off her guard, he swiftly and decisively snatched the plane ticket from her hand.

"Don't go home then. Just stay here and spend the Lunar New Year with me! If I don't teach you a lesson, you'll never learn what it means to be profoundly wrong!"

Qian Fei let out a wail, throwing herself onto his arm. "Young Master, I was wrong! I was truly wrong! I have never seen anyone as exceptionally handsome as you! Please forgive me, I was completely blinded by your spectacular beauty, causing my logical nerves to paralyze and making me spout utter nonsense! I already know what it means to be profoundly wrong! Forget about engraving it in my bones—it's already engraved right onto my teeth! Hurry up and give me the ticket, it's my literal life!"

Li Yifei was torn between tears and laughter by her shameless pleading, and he tossed the ticket back to her.

Qian Fei didn't notice that the tips of Li Yifei's ears were secretly turning red. She simply assumed her persistent grinding had worked, sitting back on the sofa in high spirits to crack melon seeds while cradling her ticket.

Li Yifei shook his arm.

When that dead girl had lunged forward to shake his arm just now, his forearm had accidentally brushed right between a pair of soft mounds, causing his mind to wander uncontrollably for a moment.

Sensing a subtle change in his body, Li Yifei walked into the bathroom without showing any emotion.

Inside the bathroom, he braced both hands against the wall mirror, waiting for the physiological reaction to subside and disappear.

Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he felt a bit bewildered.

How on earth could he have a reaction toward that tomboy...

● ︶ 3 ︶ ●

While Li Yifei was calming his body down in the bathroom, he received a phone call from Da Jun.

Da Jun's complaining firepower was unprecedentedly high: "I say, Li Yifei, you are way too unfair! On what grounds do you get to just move your mouth while leaving all the legwork for me to figure out? Even if we're tight, you shouldn't bully a guy like this! It was clearly me who poured out my heart and soul to secure that plane ticket for your tomboy landlord, so why are you the one getting all the credit in front of her! No way, I'm not taking this lying down. You absolutely must introduce her to me! I admit it, I've taken a liking to a tomboy, and I'm even willing to risk it all and get married if it comes to it! I want to be friends and date her!"

Li Yifei let out a scoff. "You dare to touch someone on my territory? Are you tired of living? Have you forgotten who rescued you back in middle school when a crowd of girls surrounded you and pulled down your pants? It doesn't matter if you forgot, I have the photos archived right here to remind you of my immense benevolence and grace!"

Da Jun shrieked over the line, "Holy crap, Li Yifei, you are such a bastard! Is that what you call benevolence and grace? That's blatant oppression and blackmail! Do you have any idea how much effort it took for me to get a single plane ticket! If you're so capable, why don't you make up with your old man and have him get one for you!"

Li Yifei let out a cold laugh, saying ominously, "You dare bring up that stinking old man to me? I reckon you don't want to do that export deal to Japan anymore. I'll turn right around and call Lu Ze in Dalian to tell him to return all your cargo!"

Da Jun immediately went down on his knees over the phone, "Brother! I was wrong, Brother! Go ahead and ask your landlord what brand of tea leaves she likes, I'll go top up her phone data right away!"

With a smug, cold chuckle, Li Yifei hung up the phone.

Then, he pondered for a moment why he was chuckling so "smugly." After thinking it over for a while, he figured it out.

He had successfully defended his sovereignty over the tomboy, preventing that fellow Da Jun from laying a finger on her.

Facing his reflection in the mirror, the corners of his mouth curled up as he continued to chuckle "smugly."

● ︶ 3 ︶ ●

Qian Fei had requested two days of leave from the company in advance. The day she headed home was a Thursday, which was a standard working day across the nation. In the morning, when she carried her luggage toward the door, she was surprised to find Li Yifei still at home.

"Why haven't you gone to work?" Qian Fei asked him, dragging her suitcase.

"Aren't you going home today?" Li Yifei answered righteously.

"Me going home means I don't have to go to work. What does that have to do with you?"

Li Yifei walked over and snatched the suitcase handle into his own hand. "Don't be ungrateful! Logically speaking, when this young master takes the initiative to see you off at the airport and carry your luggage, you should be weeping with gratitude and kneeling to thank the heavens! Your current reaction is completely wrong. Adjust your emotions and give me a proper reaction again!"

Qian Fei looked completely dazed. "You... want to see me off at the airport?" She pointed at her own nose as she asked Li Yifei.

"Young Master, what kind of phase are you going through? Do you have something you need to beg me to do? Actually, if there's something, just say it straight. Please don't act so incredibly attentive. This isn't your style, and your sudden surge of humanitarian care makes my liver tremble with anxiety!"

Li Yifei narrowed his eyes and looked down at her. "Should I use those two words to describe you right now?"

Qian Fei knew he was referring to "asking for abuse." Rolling her eyes, she said, "Keep them for yourself, they suit you much better than me!" She then tried to wrestle the suitcase back. "I've guessed what you want to talk to me about. Do you want to bring your girlfriend over to the apartment for the Lunar New Year? If you want to bring her, just bring her. There's no need to find it so hard to open your mouth. I've managed to tolerate even you for so long, so what else could possibly be non-negotiable! But just one thing—whatever you two do, try to keep it as neat and tidy as possible. Don't leave behind those gelatinous substances containing countless life forms. Of course, if you can clean it up yourselves afterward, then feel free to discard them as you please without minding me. But if I have to come back and clean it up, let me tell you, I will fly into a rage the moment I see it!"

It took Li Yifei a moment to process what exactly she meant by "gelatinous substances." Once it clicked, his face turned entirely black as he jabbed his finger forcefully into her forehead. "Are you even a woman? How do you dare say absolutely anything to me? Do you view me as a breeding stallion!"

Qian Fei's head was poked askew by his finger. As she straightened her head and rubbed her forehead, she muttered under her breath, "I view you as the king of breeding stallions!"

Li Yifei raised his hand and jabbed her again, using so much force that Qian Fei ended up rubbing her forehead through the entire journey.

"So wicked, using deadly force even when playing around!"

Inside the taxi, Qian Fei couldn't help but grumble.

Li Yifei didn't sit in the front passenger seat. Instead, he sat right next to Qian Fei in the back row. Glancing at her sideways, he complained while shaking out his wrist, "What on earth did you pack in that suitcase? It's so heavy! This young master's wrist is practically broken!"

Qian Fei couldn't resist mocking him, "Wow, with your delicate Prince and the Pea physique, what else can you actually do? Complaining and whining about being tired from carrying such a tiny bit of luggage—if you were transported back to the 1960s, wouldn't you starve to death several times over!"

Li Yifei snorted coldly, "Let me tell you, don't be ungrateful. This young master has never carried luggage for anyone else in his life!"

Without reading too much into her own words, Qian Fei offered some exaggerated praise, "Young Master, you are truly amazing! Young Master, you possess incredible character! Young Master, look at my eyes—they're practically blinded by tears of gratitude! Young Master, feel free to bring your girlfriend over to mess up the apartment as much as you like. If the landlord dares to object, watch me slap her!"

As they engaged in their shameless bickering in the back seat, the driver kept looking at them through the rearview mirror, completely mystified.

What exactly was the relationship between these two characters? He was completely baffled by what he was hearing...

Li Yifei glanced at Qian Fei, and after staring for a while, he said, "On New Year's Eve, all my buddies and friends will be spending it at their own homes, so I'll definitely be left hanging solo. Therefore, if she doesn't return to her hometown, I might indeed let her come over to the apartment. But it will just be to accompany me for a meal and some television to ring in the New Year. We won't be messing around." Looking at Qian Fei's completely stunned expression, he thought it over and added, "This young master is a self-respecting and decent person!"

Qian Fei felt that if she had a bottle of mineral water in her hand right now, she would absolutely take a sip and spray it right into Li Yifei's face to properly convey her shock.

"Haha, no, don't make it sound like I'm interfering in your private affairs! Haha, whatever you do is your own freedom, there's no need to request permission or report to the landlord!" Qian Fei said while scratching her cheek.

Li Yifei shot her a sideways glance. "Look at that idiotic expression of yours." Shaking his wrist, he continued, "I heard you talking to your dad on the phone before, and he seemed to enjoy a little drink. A friend gave me two bottles of Wuliangye that I don't care to drink, so take them back for your dad." He kicked the bag by his feet.

Qian Fei recalled that he had been carrying this bag in his hand ever since they left the apartment. She had originally assumed it contained documents, never imagining that the contents inside were meant for her.

Leaning over to peer into the bag, she gave a mischievous grin and said, "This is so embarrassing! Look at you—I only asked you to act along with me over the phone for my dad, yet you're treating it as if we're turning the fake act into reality! How many years has this liquor been aged?"

Li Yifei replied flatly, "It's just a fifty-year aged blend. Things were a bit rushed this time, so tell the old man to just settle for this for now."

Qian Fei's movements froze as she peered into the bag. Working in investment banking, eating out with corporate executives was a regular occurrence, and after joining so many dinners, she had naturally gained some understanding of fine liquors. A fifty-year aged Wuliangye would easily cost at least ten to twenty thousand yuan per bottle.

Slowly straightening her body, she looked at Li Yifei with a dazed expression and said, "Young Master Li, hurry up and tell me this liquor is a high-grade counterfeit! Otherwise, I won't dare take it!"

Li Yifei snorted coldly with a sideways glance, "Counterfeit your sister! If this liquor is fake, I'll take your last name, Qian!"

Qian Fei felt her heart thumping wildly with anxiety, "Big brother, this gift is a bit too extravagant, I don't dare accept it!"

Li Yifei looked at her with pure disdain, curling his lip. "A tiny thing like this counts as an extravagant gift? I see you really haven't seen much of the world."

When they arrived at the airport check-in counter, Qian Fei trembled with hesitation while holding the bag containing the two bottles of liquor.

"I still feel it's inappropriate for me to accept these two bottles of liquor! You should take them back!" She shoved the bag right into Li Yifei's arms.

Li Yifei grew impatient, "Cut the crap! Stop wasting time and being so wishy-washy. Take a look at how many people are waiting in line behind you!" He directly handed the bag over to the check-in staff.

Watching the staff member attach the fragile tags to the liquor, Qian Fei said anxiously, "After accepting these two bottles of liquor from you, you won't coerce me into doing something atrocious for you, will you?"

Li Yifei let out a scoff, "It's fine to flatter yourself for a moment, but don't carry on endlessly! Did I ever say from start to finish that this liquor was for you? I made it perfectly clear it was for your dad, didn't I!"

Qian Fei looked on guard, "Then you won't coerce my dad into doing something atrocious for you, will you?"

Li Yifei didn't say a word. He simply mustered every ounce of strength he possessed and gave Qian Fei's forehead another vicious jab.