America: I came here to study, not to show mercy.

Chapter 186 We're in the same boat

"Shall we go for a stroll, or rest for a bit first?"

Turning around, Li Xiaoen looked at Su Feier, who was still waving with a smile beside him.

"It's too hot outside, let's take a rest first."

Sophie shook his head and turned to walk back to his room.

Li Xiaoen had no objection. He locked the door before returning to the room, where he saw Su Feier lying on the bed with his photo album in her arms.

"Take your time and look at it."

Li Xiaoen yawned, moved the fruit plate to the edge of the table near the bed, and then turned on his computer to continue working on his model.

In a way, this project is like freelancing. He can be exempted from major courses during the semester, but whether it's during the semester or during holidays, he has to spend time on this project—while other students are already enjoying their holidays, he still has to continue investing time in it.

For example, Suffer is now eating fruit while looking at his photo album with great interest, and sometimes he even takes out his phone to take pictures.

Li Xiaoen: “???”

"Hey……"

Only then did Li Xiaoen realize what was happening and asked in confusion, "You looked, so why did you take a picture?"

"If you find it interesting, shouldn't you take a picture?"

Sophie looked up, put half a grape in her mouth, and answered with a mischievous smile.

Are you treating my photo album like a tourist attraction?

"Well, although this attraction is a bit disappointing, I'll still make do with it."

Sophie answered casually, waving her hand dismissively.

"..."

"As you wish."

Shaking his head helplessly, Li Xiaoen focused his attention back on the computer screen. "I need to finish my thesis quickly so I can make you wear a maid outfit."

As soon as he finished speaking, a kick came from the side of the bed. Li Xiaoen quickly caught it, and also caught the other kick with his other hand.

"I didn't agree to any of your lewd requests."

After struggling slightly but failing to break free, Sophie had no choice but to give up and let out a cold snort.

“You agreed to it back then, so don’t try to deny it. Even though you’re an American, I still hope you can at least keep your promise.”

Li Xiaoen tilted his head and smiled at Su Feier, then casually placed the girl's legs on his thighs and looked up at the screen.

He used one hand to operate the mouse and check the relevant data in the paper before finally typing on the keyboard with both hands.

Seeing the young man get engrossed in his activity again, Sophie rolled her eyes, didn't pull her foot back, and instead lay down on the young man's bed.

Why do I feel drowsy as soon as I lie down?

Lying down, looking through the photo album page by page, even though she didn't usually take a nap, Sufi felt her eyelids getting heavier and heavier, and unconsciously pulled the blanket next to her over herself.

Composing herself, she glanced down at the young man sitting on the chair by the bed and put her foot on his shoulder.

"Hey……"

Li Xiaoen realized what was happening and quickly took him down, saying, "Don't go too far."

"Is it too much?"

Sophie looked back meaningfully, and reluctantly put her foot back on, saying, "You put it on there willingly before."

"Cough cough..."

Unable to suppress a dry cough, Li Xiaoen still reached out and took it away. "The situation is different, okay?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the girl raise her leg and kick straight at his face. He stopped her and hugged her tightly.

Facing the young man's narrowed eyes and blank gaze, Sufiel did not struggle. Instead, she arched her legs, which were trapped in his arms.

"I'm sleepy..."

"..."

"Then let's take a nap."

Hearing this, Li Xiaoen paused for a moment, then felt a little sleepy. He turned off his computer, drew the curtains, and lay down on the bed, hugging the girl's long legs.

Come to think of it, this was the first time he had ever held a girl and lay down on the bed in this room where he had lived since he was a child. Li Xiaoen was a little sad, but then he saw that Su Feier's legs were already wrapped around his waist, and she was pressing forward with her waist twisting.

Taking a deep breath, Li Xiaoen leaned forward and met those full, red lips.

There's no need to dwell on the feeling of being abandoned by the world when you wake up after sleeping all afternoon. After a vigorous workout, you fall into a deep sleep, and when Li Xiaoen opens her eyes again, all she can see is the thin darkness of night shining through the gaps in the curtains.

Li Xiaoen pulled his arm away from the girl on top of him, first brushing aside the few strands of hair that were covering her face, before picking up the phone on the table to check it.

The sudden bright light seemed to startle Suffer. She frowned, groaned, and lifted her head from the young man's neck.

"What time is it?"

Why does this remind me of this morning?

Li Xiaoen paused for a moment, looked at his phone and replied, "Six o'clock in the afternoon, Suffer. The whole afternoon has passed for no reason, and we've been abandoned by the whole world."

"..."

After a moment of contemplation, Suffer finally understood what the young man meant. She raised her hand and patted the young man's shoulder, sat up, swept her long hair behind her back, and began to tidy her disheveled hair with her arms.

Looking at the scenery from below, Li Xiaoen was stunned. He sat up straight, his breathing quickened, and hugged the girl in front of him again.

"Hey……"

Suffolk slapped away the young man's hand that was rubbing against her, and glared at him. "Hurry up and get ready, your mother will be back soon."

"Ok."

Li Xiaoen took a deep breath, nodded helplessly, and quickly dressed before noticing the message notification popping up on her phone.

"It's time for our reservation at the restaurant on the upper floor of Yuecheng Tower. Let's go there now."

"Oh, good."

Sophie nodded, still with mixed feelings, and tossed her clothes in front of the young man, "Help me put them on."

"You did it on purpose, right?"

Li Xiaoen was both amused and exasperated, but still helped Su Feier put on her clothes, and couldn't help but complain, "Thinking about it now, it's really unfair."

"I've given you what you wanted every time, but if I want something in return, I'll have to see if you'll agree."

"Ha ha……"

Sophie smiled, looking very happy. Seeing the young man put on his clothes, she pushed him away and dressed herself. "I want it, but you don't have to give it to me. It depends on your mood. It's very fair."

"But can you refuse?"

"..."

He had such an arrogant face, extremely confident in his own charm, and the thing is, he really couldn't resist him.

Li Xiaoen thought to himself, avoiding Su Feier's mischievous gaze, and shrugged.

"It seems that the maid outfit is urgently needed."

After saying that, ignoring the fierce look she was getting, Li Xiaoen pushed her out the door, saying, "Alright, don't delay any longer, the restaurant has already sent a message urging us to hurry up."

"Of course, you don't have to go. It's your trip, and your happiness and comfort are the most important things."

"Yes, of course I'm going."

Upon hearing this, Su Feier turned around abruptly and glared at him, "I've been in Yuecheng for two days, and I haven't properly explored a single place!"

"It's your own fault for wanting to stay in the room because you felt hot."

Li Xiaoen rolled her eyes, then laughed in exasperation. She raised her hand and pinched the girl's fair cheek. "You were always sleeping in and shopping in the shopping street. How dare you say such things?"

"You dare pinch me?!"

Suddenly frozen in place, Suffer stared wide-eyed at the young man in front of her, unable to react for a long time.

"Ah……"

Li Xiaoen snorted coldly, "It's not just pinching you, I'm telling you very clearly, you're about to have to change into a maid outfit."

As soon as he finished speaking, he frowned and hissed.

"Sophie, if you're using so much force, don't force me to use it too."

"come……"

Gritting her teeth, Suffer let out a cold snort through gritted teeth.

So, the two bickered as they went downstairs and got into the brand-new Mercedes sports car with the temporary license plate, leaving passersby in awe.

After squeezing through the rush hour traffic and being followed by the astonished gazes of passersby, Li Xiaoen drove to the foot of Yuecheng Tower, parked the car, and then led the curious child, who was looking around with wide eyes, into the restaurant's private elevator to the tower.

As he rubbed his lower back, Li Xiaoen couldn't help but let out a long breath. He turned his head and met Su Feier's cold gaze.

"I see you're a tourist here, and I don't want you to be in pain. It wouldn't be good if you cried."

"Humph……"

Suffer did not answer, but just snorted, which made Li Xiaoen glance over again.

Li Xiaoen raised his leg and approached Su Feier.

"What do you want to do?"

Frowning, Suffer took a half step back. As if remembering something, she quickly raised her hand and covered her lips.

"Ha ha……"

Only then did Li Xiaoen grit his teeth and manage a smile, immediately beckoning the girl to extend her hand.

"Alright, we've arrived at the restaurant."

Grasping the small hand that had repeatedly caused him pain, Li Xiaoen looked at Su Feier and raised his arm.

Reluctantly giving up, Sophie rolled her eyes but still put her hand on the young man's arm.

The elevator doors opened with a click, and the two stepped into the dark-colored Lutes French revolving restaurant.

Lutes French Revolving Restaurant, located on the 105th floor of Yuecheng Tower, is one of the landmark high-altitude restaurants in Yuecheng and one of the highest French revolving restaurants in the world. The price is relatively high, but it is still not as good as the White Swan Hotel.

The two people, dressed in elegant and obviously expensive casual wear, simply walked into the restaurant from the elevator. Their outstanding appearance and excellent temperament made them look like a perfect couple, immediately attracting everyone's attention.

No one could have imagined that they had just been childishly fighting to the death in the elevator.

"Good evening, are you Mr. Li?"

A middle-aged man in a suit walked over, his admiring gaze sweeping back and forth between the two of them. He nodded and asked.

"Yes, we should have made it to our appointment time, right?"

Li Xiaoen nodded in response.

"Just in time. Here, your reserved window seat is over here."

The manager smiled and nodded, leading the two to a corner seat by the window.

"It's still spinning down there?"

Knowing beforehand that it was a rooftop Western restaurant, Suffer exclaimed in surprise as she watched the illuminated night view of Yuecheng CBD slowly move across the glass window.

"This is a revolving restaurant."

Li Xiaoen explained, "This is what the night view of Yuecheng looks like. It can't compare to Manhattan. Are we going up there later?"

"Go up."

Looking at the young man with a meaningful smile, Suffer nodded, "Since you're here, you might as well take a look."

"I suspect that you're acting this way towards me, not at the night view."

Li Xiaoen's face darkened.

"Hehe... Your feeling is right."

Sophie let out a laugh that sounded like wind chimes.

That makes perfect sense; the portion size of a set meal at such a Western restaurant is simply not enough to fill you up—even the most expensive one.

There were various appetizers before and after, such as lobster and steak, but they were still small portions. Li Xiaoen ordered an extra portion before he was finally about 70% full.

On the contrary, Sophie thoroughly enjoyed her set meal.

Not intending to eat too much, after paying the bill, Li Xiaoen took Su Feier to the top of Yuecheng Tower.

As night deepened, the warmth of the daytime sun gradually faded, and the evening breeze, carrying the chill of winter, tousled his hair. Li Xiaoen couldn't help but open his mouth wide and stretch, raising his arms in a lazy yawn. Having grown up in Yuecheng, he had only brought relatives from out of town here once before. Now, coming back again was a completely new experience. He reached out and put his arm around the girl's slender waist.

"call……"

Sophie let out a breath, turned around and looked around curiously, as well as in the distance, at the foot of the tower, at a cluster of buildings lit up with thousands of lights.

"Cold?"

Feeling the cool touch on the girl's arm, Li Xiaoen asked a question, already pulling her into his arms.

"It wasn't so bad when we came out, but it's surprisingly cold here..."

Feeling the warmth emanating from the young man's embrace, Suffer took a deep, gentle breath.

"Ha ha……"

Li Xiaoen couldn't help but laugh out loud upon hearing this, "There's nothing I can do, Su Feier, that's just how Yuecheng is."

There's a saying here, I don't know if you've heard it before?

Holding the girl in this environment, Li Xiaoen suddenly felt a strange sense of accomplishment and a desire to protect her spreading through his heart.

"what?"

Suffer looked up with her big, light blue eyes, which made Li Xiaoen gasp. He lowered his head and kissed the girl's cool, red, and full lips.

As expected, this earned him an eye roll, and Li Xiaoen then looked at the night view below the tower and laughed.

"Here, the weather is like a capricious young girl, unpredictable. Mornings are like winter, noon is like summer, evenings are like autumn, and nights are like winter again."

As she spoke slowly, Suffer, who was in her arms, looked up and narrowed her eyes slightly.

Are you referring to someone?

"What do you think?"

Li Xiaoen lowered his head, smiled, and blinked.

She couldn't help but take a deep breath. Suffer was about to tighten her grip on the young man's arms again when he smiled, lowered his head, and kissed her lips again.

"Sophie, I want to tell you that even so, I still love Yuecheng."

Li Xiaoen smiled meaningfully, "Although its weather is always highly variable and unpredictable..."

Staring blankly at the handsome face of the young man chatting and laughing, Sufiel snorted softly, turned her head, and looked in one direction.

"Let's go queue up to ride the Ferris wheel."

Li Xiaoen suggested.

The Ferris wheel on Yuecheng Tower is actually a flat rotating Ferris wheel located on the outside of the top floor of the tower, tilted at different heights. It is one of only two entertainment projects on the top floor - the other is the drop tower, which is built on top of the tower and has deterred many tourists.

Ahead were two young women dressed in light clothing, embracing each other tightly, occasionally turning around to cast surprised and curious glances.

"The Ferris wheel has four cabins per person. You can have a good look around once you're inside."

Li Xiaoen couldn't help but smile and raise his chin.

"what……"

Upon being discovered, the two girls exchanged a glance, then nodded shyly and apologetically, saying, "Sorry."

"Um, can we take a picture together?"

A girl mustered up her courage.

Li Xiaoen did not answer, but looked down at Su Feier in his arms.

"As long as you don't upload it to the internet casually, it's fine."

Suffer smiled slightly and nodded, and Li Xiaoen casually translated it.

"Don't worry, we're just doing this as a memento."

The girl quickly waved her hand, and the four of them then took a group photo on her phone camera.

"Oh, right. Let them take pictures of both of us too."

The girl in his arms patted Li Xiaoen's chest again.

……

As expected, there wasn't much to see at Yuecheng Tower. After riding the Ferris wheel once, the two didn't choose to go on the drop tower. They simply admired the night view of Yuecheng from various places on the top of the tower, took a few photos, and then lost interest in staying any longer, taking the elevator downstairs.

They probably wouldn't have chosen to climb to the top of the tower in the first place if they hadn't come here to eat.
Looking at Suffer beside him, whose expression remained unchanged, Li Xiaoen couldn't help but think to himself—come to think of it, he had never seen the Manhattan night view before.

After getting off the elevator, while driving away, Suffer suddenly asked him to stop on the side of the road in a commercial area.

"what happened?"

Following the girl's suggestion, Li Xiaoen couldn't help but glance at Su Feier, who had already unbuckled her seatbelt.

"I'm going to buy something, wait for me a moment."

With a smile and a nod, Suffer opened the car door and walked towards the commercial area.

"What are you buying?"

Watching Suffer walk into a convenience store, and looking around at the roadside that clearly didn't belong to the parking area, Li Xiaoen reluctantly got out of the car and waited to the side.

The square was bustling with people, including many young girls dressed in revealing clothes and flamboyant attire passing by in groups. Li Xiaoen leaned against the car, bored out of his mind, and used the [Character Lens] to observe the 3D data of individual pretty girls one after another.

None of them had a charm value of 14, and there were very few with even 13 points. As he quickly scanned through them one by one, Li Xiaoen couldn't help but reveal a strange smile.

As he admired the scenery, the people in the scenery were also looking at him. Gradually, he realized that he had unknowingly attracted the attention of passersby. Just as he was about to return to his car, two figures quickly walked up to him.

"Hello, handsome, are you alone?"

The sweet and coquettish voice sounded like the tattered strings of an erhu being pulled, and Li Xiaoen couldn't help but feel a chill upon hearing it, so he turned around to look.

Standing before me were two young women with heavy makeup and sexy bodycon skirts. Even on such a cold night, large expanses of their fair skin were exposed. They huddled together tightly, their fingers adorned with various decorations, barely managing to grasp the enormous iPhones.

"..."

"Handsome, are you alone?"

Seeing that Li Xiaoen did not react, they glanced at the brand-new Mercedes sports car behind him, and then smiled and nodded in greeting.

"Two people."

Li Xiaoen answered, though a strange feeling lingered in his heart.

"Is that so?"

Slightly surprised, the two girls blinked and exchanged a glance. They then woke up their phones and waved them at him. "Can we add each other on WeChat? Let's chat sometime, or maybe hang out sometime?"

"Well, although adding one of us is equivalent to adding two of us, let's be on the safe side and add both of us, shall we?"

Another girl also spoke up in a high-pitched, playful voice, her intonation fluctuating as if hinting at something.

Did this cause him to encounter such a thing?

Li Xiaoen was both amused and exasperated, but she composed herself, shook her head at them, and while they were still in a daze, lowered her voice and spoke again.

"The flood washed away the Dragon King Temple; we're in the same business, after all."

"..."

"Huh? What?"

The two women were stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and it took them a while to realize what he meant. They stared blankly at Li Xiaoen's handsome face and the sleek, imposing Mercedes sports car behind him. "You mean..."

"To be honest, I'm waiting for my husband."

Li Xiaoen patted the sports car beneath him and casually raised his chin. "This was a gift from her. She's going inside to collect rent from the shops. I'm waiting for her."

"Ah... my husband?"

The two women gasped in surprise, exchanged a glance, and felt a pang of resentment towards Li Xiaoen for saying they were colleagues. They immediately wiped the smiles off their faces.

Looking Li Xiaoen up and down, his tall figure and handsome face, they felt a chill run down their spines. Just as they were about to speak, a cold voice came from behind them, in English, which made them shiver.

"What are you talking about?"

Turning around abruptly, they were greeted by the other person's tall figure. They couldn't help but look up and see that stunningly beautiful oval face that made them feel no jealousy whatsoever. The cold and domineering aura emanating from her face left them momentarily at a loss.

"that……"

With no one to translate the girl's words, they became even more anxious. Looking around, they could only nod slightly, support each other, turn around, and flee in panic.

"What exactly did you say to them?"

Turning back from watching the two women leave, Suffer shifted her cold gaze to the young man leaning against the car.

"what?"

Li Xiaoen paused in his laughter, then waved his hand dismissively, "It's nothing, they just asked for my contact information, and I told them that you bought this new car for me."

It's funny to think about it. For gold diggers, Sophie, this arrogant young lady, is a complete rip-off. She crushes them in every way, and her haughty and domineering aura is perfectly suppressed. If it were Victoria, she might just say something calmly and tell them to leave, nothing more.

"Did you give them your contact information?"

"Of course not, why would I add these people's contact information?"

Nodding seriously, Sophie's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at the young man.

"You must have said something else."

"It's just a difference in how it's phrased."

Li Xiaoen shrugged, lowered his gaze, and saw the few cans of beer in the transparent shopping bag in the girl's hand. He couldn't help but shake his head and tease her.

"Sure enough, it's not a big deal. If you break the law in your own country, everyone will want to try it when they come abroad."

"When you go to America, won't you also be thinking about shooting?"

Rolling her eyes, Suffer shoved the bag into the young man's hand, took out a bottle, opened the cap, and took a sip right there in the bustling square.

Guns are banned in China but not in the United States; instead, young people under the age of 21 are prohibited from drinking alcohol.

No one is allowed to drink alcohol in the street, but they can smoke tobacco.

The story is so surreal, and there's a long story to tell about the reasons behind it.

"It's a pity I have to drive, otherwise I would have had a drink with you."

Sensing the girl's exhilaration and sense of freedom as if she had escaped her cage, Li Xiaoen smiled and raised his chin.

"Let's go back. Let's go back to the hotel for a drink."

Upon hearing this, Suffer nodded eagerly, already impatient to get started.

……

"You actually said I'm old?!"

An angry exclamation rang out from a luxurious king-size bed room at the White Swan Hotel. Fortunately, the room was very soundproof and did not disturb the cleaning lady who was pushing a cart outside.

Sitting on the bed, Sufiel, her face flushed, glared at the young man in front of her, repeatedly punching him.

Under the bed were empty cans of beer that the two had finished, intending to drink until they were completely drunk. After returning, they bought a lot of imported German beer from the hotel. Li Xiaoen was also a little drunk at this time and his reactions were a bit slow.

"Just kidding, it's just a joke, okay?"

Seemingly caught off guard by the girl's hammer blow, Li Xiaoen, having been tested, helplessly spread his hands and explained earnestly, "Every place has people who want to take shortcuts. I'm just scaring them, trying to get them back on the right path and establish correct values."

"Oh...a savior?"

Sophie rolled her eyes, gritted her teeth and snorted coldly, then nudged the young man's shoulder, "Sean, what month were you born?"

When they first met, she did some research on Lee Siu-eun, but at that time she only remembered that he was the same age as her, without paying attention to the month.

"July, what month are you in?"

The system only displayed age, not birthday information. Li Xiaoen asked again, which stunned Su Feier.

It's June, after all.

Staring blankly at the tall, upright young man in front of her, Sufi felt a strange sensation spreading through her heart.

In that case, Li Xiaoen is younger than her—although it's only about a month apart.

Driven by her drunkenness, Sophie did not answer and lunged at the young man.

“Hey… Sophie…”

Startled, Li Xiaoen finally came to his senses, brushed aside the girl's biting lip, and then spoke, "You're not answering, are you older than me?"

Seeing the girl pause for a moment, he looked at the bright white ceiling and chuckled.

(End of this chapter)