CHAPTER 1229: CHAPTER 1229: EXTRA STORY OF THE EEL 66

Wu Xinghai bolted out of the room like a gust of wind, as if he couldn’t get away from Su Man fast enough.

Su Man stared at his retreating figure in disbelief and shouted, "Where are you going?"

"To deal with another brawling buddy!" he hollered back, quickly disappearing from sight.

Su Man: "..."

She clasped the card in her hand, pressed her lips together, and turned to enter the elevator.

Swiping the card, the elevator went straight to the 20th floor. She located Room 2001, punched in the code, and stepped inside, finding Li Li lying on the living room sofa.

The living room of the apartment was unusually large, very much in line with Wu Xinghai’s preferences—a perfect space for hosting his gang of misfit friends.

Su Man walked over to Li Li and noticed the bruising circling his eye and the dried blood beneath his nose, clear signs he’d been beaten up. She wondered if there were injuries elsewhere.

Every time she’d thought about his past behavior, she’d been so angry she could barely stand it. But now, seeing him in this state, her heart softened despite herself. He looked rather pitiful.

Li Li partially opened his eyes to glance at her and muttered, "I thought you wouldn’t come."

Su Man sighed and sat down beside him, a little exasperated. "Why are you still the same as before? If someone’s out to hit you, can’t you run? Or tell them who your dad and mom are? If nothing else, you could call Wu Xinghai to help you."

Li Li turned his face to the sofa, away from her. "Too drunk to care about any of that."

Su Man frowned and asked, "Who hit you? What’s their name?"

"Even if I told you, you wouldn’t know them," Li Li said irritably. "Can you not act like my parents and play twenty questions? Besides, I hit them too! It was a fight, not a beating!"

Su Man stayed silent.

She thought back to their school days when Li Li often got bullied.

He’d always been so arrogant—skipping grades from a young age, labeled as a top student, a prodigy, a genius. With so many accolades and coming from a privileged background, he developed a lofty attitude. Skipping grades also made him the youngest and scrawniest kid in the class.

Unlike adults who might avoid provoking someone powerful, kids didn’t care if your parents were someone important. If they got annoyed with you, they’d hit you first to vent their anger.

Su Man had stepped in to help him fight countless times across grade levels when they were younger.

Now, looking at Li Li before her, she felt a complicated mix of emotions. Knowing he was proud, she asked softly, "Do you really not want to go to the hospital?"

"No broken arms or legs, so why bother with a hospital," Li Li said with a frown. "Not to mention, is there a hospital where my parents don’t know someone on staff?"

Su Man sighed again. "So you’re not going home for the next few days. How are you going to explain that to your parents?"

Li Li was silent for a moment before replying, "I’ve already taken leave from the research institute. I’ll just tell my parents I’m traveling. I’ll head back in two or three days."

"That excuse is way too flimsy," Su Man said, unable to hold back. "You didn’t even pack any luggage. Does that look like you’re going on a trip?"

After hesitating for a moment, Li Li said, "Can you go to my place and talk to my mom? Bring me a few changes of clothes. It’s only two or three days; I don’t need much. Once the bruises on my face heal, I’ll head back."

Su Man thought for a moment and reluctantly agreed, "I guess that’s the only option."

She glanced at the time and said, "Should I go grab your clothes now?"

"First help me... pour a glass of water," Li Li said, frowning in visible pain. "My leg’s still hurting a bit; I can’t walk too far. When you go out later, buy me a cane."

"Can’t walk? Is it that bad?" Su Man grew anxious, bending down to inspect his leg. "Which leg hurts? Don’t joke about this. We should really go to the hospital!"