Chapter 495: Good Name
With a loud crash, Su Man and Lu Yuwen both tumble into the green belt, the branches and leaves of the shrubs scraping their skin while also shielding their bodies!
If they hit a wall or an electrical pole at this moment, broken ribs would be the least of their worries!
Even so, the impact leaves Lu Yuwen bewildered, disoriented, and dizzy!
Su Man, who is much stronger than Lu Yuwen, quickly gets up. She helps Lu Yuwen to his feet and drags him away from the green belt.
Looming overhead, a glass window of a building nearby sways precariously. Just after the pair move away, it crashes to the ground, shattering to pieces!
Su Man carries Lu Yuwen and flees, running until they reach a wide, open meadow. Once assured that there are no risks of falling objects nearby, Su Man finally puts Lu Yuwen down.
“Hey! Hey?!” Su Man slaps his face, “Lu Yuwen! Are you okay?!”
Lu Yuwen, feeling groggy, struggles to open his eyes, “…How did you know my name?”
“That’s what they were calling you.” Su Man explains, simultaneously pressing on his chest and arm.
Lu Yuwen, weakly and breathlessly, asks, “Why are you… poking around…”
Su Man says with a serious tone, “I’m checking to see if you’ve broken any bones.”
“…” Lu Yuwen is at a loss for words as he lies on the ground, gasping, “Even if they’re not broken, you’re going to finish the job.”
Su Man quickly withdraws her hand and asks him anxiously, “Does it hurt badly? Where does it hurt? I brought some medicine for injuries. I can apply it for you.”
Lu Yuwen waves her off, “Let’s get out of here first.”
Su Man scans their surroundings and nods vehemently. “You’re right. This place is too strange. Let’s get moving!”
With that, she tries to lift Lu Yuwen up again.
Upon seeing her efforts, Lu Yuwen quickly grabs her arm, “Wait, wait a minute! I’m too heavy. This isn’t appropriate… ”
“There’s nothing inappropriate about it.” Su Man replies, “I’m strong, don’t worry! I won’t drop you!”
Lu Yuwen thinks to himself: I’ve already experienced your strength, but whether or not you drop me isn’t the point!
He then suggests a compromise, “Can you carry me on your back instead?”
“Sure.” Su Man furrows her eyebrows and supports his arm over her shoulder, slightly discontented. “I’m not embarrassed. Why should you be? The important thing now is to get out of here. What’s the difference between carrying or piggybacking? Who are you pretending for?”
Lu Yuwen’s mouth twitches. He doesn’t want to argue, “… Yes, you’re right.”
Su Man hoists him onto her back and starts walking.
After a while, she feels a strange sense of unease, like something is off.
It takes her a moment to realize what’s wrong. She’s used to getting snappy responses from Li Li when they talk. So much so that she’s adapted to speaking bluntly and aggressively.
Now that she’s suddenly getting agreement, she doesn’t know how to handle it…
Deep down, she knows that men have their pride, and being carried around by a woman isn’t really dignified.
Su Man thinks about what to say to remedy the situation. After all, she still needs him to find their way out of the labyrinth…
“What should I call you?” the man on her back asks.
“Su Man,” She replies, “Su as in Suzhou, and Man as in vine.”
“Nice name,” Lu Yuwen says, “It reminds me of a verse from the Book of Songs, ‘In the wild fields, sparkle the dew-drops shed, There is a beautiful lady, pure and fair.’
There are more engrossing lines to the verse, but Lu Yuwen chose not to speak them for now.
Anyway, they’ve just met. Starting with small talk is a good way to work towards deeper conversation.
Su Man seems not to understand the remark, and replies flatly, “Really? I’ve always thought my name was a bit old-fashioned. When I was in school, I always met people with the same name. Zhang Man, Li Man, He Man… Eventually, I added a ‘grass’ character to my name.”
Suddenly feeling that the conversation just died a death.