C10 I Have a Lot of Luck with Women

The long-distance bus continued its journey through the night. Changshun tried to force himself to sleep, but every time he closed his eyes, the haunting images of those who had perished in his village flooded his mind.

He was too afraid to sleep, so he did his best to stay awake. Xiuxiu, on the other hand, probably due to the bus's jolting and her own exhaustion, was sound asleep.

At first, Xiuxiu was just leaning against the seatback, but gradually she ended up resting on Changshun's shoulder.

This wasn't unusual; it's common for passengers on a bus to end up leaning on one another.

However, when the bus hit a particularly rough patch, Xiuxiu's head ended up on Changshun's lap.

Changshun, concerned that Xiuxiu might roll onto the floor, instinctively reached out to steady her. In doing so, she turned slightly, her face now close to Changshun's...

Because she was curled up, Xiuxiu, seeking a comfortable position, subconsciously pressed her face forward, rubbing against him. Changshun had never experienced anything like this before.

Growing up poor, no girls had ever shown interest in dating him. Even after years of working away from home, he had only ever hung out with the rough men on construction sites.

Now, here was a beautiful girl lying across his lap, her lovely face near his little soldier. No matter how strong Changshun's self-control was, the provocative image sent his mind racing and his heart pounding.

He felt an itch in his nose, followed by a trickle.

His little soldier, too, was quick to stand at attention, the bulge nearly touching Xiuxiu's face.

Unable to stand it, Changshun hastily covered his nose with his hand to prevent any blood from dripping.

As for his little soldier, all he could do was tug at the hem of his shirt, hoping to cover it up somewhat.

"Big guy, you've got some luck there. With such a fresh-faced girl lying on you, if I were in your shoes, I'd hardly be able to contain myself..."

While Changshun was flustered, a sleazy voice piped up from behind him.

Turns out, a man in his thirties was seated right behind him.

The man was leering at Xiuxiu's behind with a lecherous look, tilting his head in a way that made Changshun's blood boil. Xiuxiu was like a sister to him, and he couldn't stand to see her disrespected like that. Without a second thought, he draped his coat over her to shield her from those prying eyes.

"Show some respect," Changshun demanded.

"What's with the hostility? It's just a look. I didn't lay a hand on her. Why are you so worked up?" the man retorted.

Changshun was itching to throw a punch. He'd dealt with his fair share of ruffians during his years working away from home, but he generally avoided physical confrontations. Yet, this time was different; someone was trying to harass Xiuxiu, and he couldn't let that slide.

"Watch your mouth," he warned.

"Oh, getting all worked up, I see. Fine, I won't look. But with her figure, swaying and curving, it's obvious she's the type who enjoys attention. You better watch out, or you might end up wearing the cuckold's horns," the man sneered.

Changshun was seething with anger, but he knew better than to start a fight in the car. He had to swallow his rage. Thankfully, the man fell asleep later in the night and didn't stir up any more trouble.

By the time four in the morning rolled around, Changshun was completely exhausted and fell into a deep sleep. He dreamt he was in a place shrouded in white mist, unable to see the path ahead. He groped his way forward, calling out, "Is anyone there?" not realizing it was all a dream.

As he fumbled along, his hands encountered something soft. Driven by curiosity, his hands kept moving upward. Initially, he thought he had found a soft, cushiony pillar, but as he felt the contours, he grabbed onto something.

"White steamed buns?" he mumbled, his hunger influencing his dream.

Suddenly, a sharp slap landed across his face. "You pervert, I had no idea you were this kind of man, daring to take advantage of me," a voice scolded him.

Startled awake by the scolding, Changshun's eyes flew open. Xiuxiu, who had been resting on his lap, was no longer there, and he heard a rustling sound from behind him.

Xiuxiu was being forcibly held by a ruffian-looking man, who was trying to press her against the car seat in an inappropriate manner.

The curse that had been heard was actually Xiuxiu's own. But she had been concerned about being overheard, so she kept her voice low, audible only to Changshun in the front row.

Unable to contain his fury any longer, Changshun rose to his feet and yanked the scoundrel up. Having worked in labor-intensive jobs all year, Changshun had considerable strength in his hands. The man, on the other hand, appeared rather frail, as if he had indulged excessively in pleasures of the flesh.

Regardless, the man suddenly bellowed for help, claiming he was being attacked. His cry startled everyone awake.

The driver, focused on the road and some distance from the commotion, hadn't noticed the altercation. Now, with the unfolding drama, he was forced to pull over.

"Help! This man is a thief! He's trying to steal my money, and when I refused, he attacked me," the man falsely accused.

"That's a lie! You were the one who took advantage of Changshun being asleep to harass me," Xiuxiu retorted, straightening her disheveled clothing and speaking through tears.

With the situation escalating, Xiuxiu resolved to confront the issue head-on. But the ruffian was not about to back down.

"Don't believe their lies," he insisted. "They're working together. He had her seduce me, then jumped out demanding money. You must believe me. Look how skinny I am; how could I possibly rob this strong woman?"

It seemed as though the crowd was swayed by the ruffian's words, casting suspicious glances at Changshun. For the sake of passenger safety, the driver, without seeking the truth, ejected Changshun and Xiuxiu from the vehicle.

As the bus pulled away, the ruffian stuck his head out, smirking maliciously at them.

Xiuxiu, wiping away tears, apologized, "Brother Changshun, I'm sorry. It's my fault. If only I hadn't been so deeply asleep."

"No, it's my fault for not protecting you well enough. There are many dangers out there; we must be more vigilant in the future."

Xiuxiu had previously studied away from home, so she was well aware of the dangers that lurked outside. Yet, with Changshun by her side, she let her guard down, a testament to the deep trust and reliance she placed in him. They still had a ways to go to reach the city, and after being forced off the vehicle, Changshun and Xiuxiu had no choice but to make the journey on foot. Luckily, both were accustomed to the rigors of mountain life, so the walk was hardly a challenge for them.

After several hours of travel, they managed to reach Anewood just before noon. Anewood was a third-tier city undergoing rapid development, with demolition and construction happening all around, making the presence of construction crews crucial. Any man willing to endure hardship and who possessed physical strength could find work on these sites. And, if fortunate enough to encounter a conscientious boss or foreman, he could expect to receive his full wages. However, for those less lucky, it was all too common to toil without pay.

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