Taboo Mage - Chapter 14 - Stirring Desires

For about half a month, I lived in a state of dejection. Other than my daily visits to the hospital to see Mother, I spent all my remaining time hiding at home.

Half a month later, senior year of high school students finally faced the college entrance exam.

According to past experiences, there are usually heavy rains during the days of the college entrance exam. Worried about Li Mi, I specially opened the door early this morning.

Though I wasn’t sure why, I felt that the always shy Li Mi needed some encouragement from me.

Sure enough, just after I opened the door, Li Mi stepped in behind me. She wasn’t wearing her usual plain and ugly school uniform today. Instead, she was in a short skirt and a white T-shirt that perfectly outlined her recently matured figure.

I glanced at her briefly, quickly turned my head aside, and busied myself pouring water for her. Taking advantage of no one watching, I discreetly wiped the nosebleed that had trickled down to my chin.

Unexpectedly, Li Mi had such a great figure.

“Brother Gu, I have my exam tomorrow. Please help me check if this life amulet won’t cause any problems,” Li Mi said warmly, sidling up to me and pulling out the life amulet from underneath her white sleeves.

I nodded absently and grasped the amulet, feeling its warmth. It seemed the life amulet had integrated well with her eight characters.

Upon hearing my words, Li Mi jumped for joy, claiming that since she started wearing the amulet, her grades had skyrocketed like a rocket.

Her improvement was so significant that she became a school celebrity, with even the principal praising her during assemblies.

Li Mi’s excited expression was infectious. I instinctively reached out and ruffled her hair. Watching the blush quickly spread up her neck, I pursed my lips.

Just then, a sudden cough at the door interrupted the slightly ambiguous atmosphere between us.

Annoyed, I shot a glare toward the door. Fatty Ling stood there wearing nothing but a pair of large shorts, his greasy, chubby body exposed.

He was standing in the doorway, grinning suggestively.

“Brother Gu, who’s this? Never seen her before. Girlfriend?”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” I frowned, instinctively denying it.

Fatty Ling didn’t seem to find anything wrong about exposing himself in front of a young girl. He swung his towel around as he walked in, and as he passed by Li Mi, a quick, lascivious look flashed in his eyes.

Li Mi, frightened, hid behind me, her face returning to its usual shy expression.

“What are you doing here?” I asked protectively, glaring at Fatty Ling.

Fatty Ling chuckled and gave me a hearty slap on the shoulder, saying he didn’t mean to disturb my good time, and then he turned and left.

I watched Fatty Ling leave, feeling a mix of confusion and disgust. If I hadn’t been desperate at the time, I would never have partnered with Fatty Ling.

Even at my lowest, I knew Fatty Ling was no good. While he might not have had blood on his hands like Liu Yineng, he was no stranger to sneaky thefts and assaults.

Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but want to slap myself. Knowing full well that Fatty Ling was bad news, I had still turned to him for money.

In the end, I wasn’t a good person either.

I gave Li Mi some more reminders of what to watch out for and then sent her on her way.

Her college entrance exam was tomorrow. Even with the life amulet for protection, she needed a good night’s rest to perform her best.

As she was leaving, Li Mi turned back to ask me if she could come to visit after the exam, just as a free summer job.

I had initially wanted to refuse, but looking into her big eyes with those long eyelashes, I inexplicably agreed.

Sure enough, as soon as the college entrance exam ended, even before the scores were out, Li Mi was already stationed at my shop every day.

During this time, Xu-Jie also came by a few times, usually bringing clients for me to help with. This time, remembering my lesson, I refused each one.

Fatty Ling initially thought I was prioritizing love over friendship, but after seeing me refuse Xu-Jie several times right in front of him, he didn’t make a fuss anymore.

One day, as I was taking Li Mi out for a meal, we turned the corner at the entrance to the alley. From a distance, I saw a crowd gathered in front of my shop.

Curious, Li Mi attempted to charge forward, carrying the takeout.

My heart tightened; this scene was eerily similar to when Liu Yineng came to cause trouble before!

I caught up to her and pulled her back, leading her through the back door instead.

Thankfully, the back door was a well-kept secret, known only to me, so we made it in without incident.

Once inside, I set Li Mi up with her meal and grabbed a stool to sit by the front door, listening to the commotion outside.

“Fatty Ling! Didn’t you say you had a brother? Where is he? If you’re so tough, get him out here!”

Sure enough, it was Fatty Ling getting beaten up outside.

“Old Gu! Brother Gu! Gu Qingshu! Come save me!”

Fatty Ling’s pitiful wails reached me through the closed door. I couldn’t help but chuckle, covering my mouth.

Fatty Ling was used to bullying people around, but the second he stepped outside his turf, anyone could take him down.

Li Mi tossed her takeout container aside and brought over my portion. Seeing my amused expression, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter as well.

I frowned and shook my head at her.

Sure enough, the next moment, there was an intense pounding on the door. I sighed, realizing trouble was inevitable and decided to open the door.

Fatty Ling, his face bruised and swollen, stumbled in. His already chubby face was now so distorted that it was hard to tell where his nose ended and his eyes began.

“Gu Qingshu! You were just inside the whole time and didn’t bother saving me!”

Fatty Ling squinted at me, then awkwardly scrambled up from the floor and lunged at me.

I deftly dodged him and snorted, “I was eating; didn’t hear you.”

Fatty Ling waved his arms as if to hit me, but suddenly, the noisy scene outside fell silent. Turning to the doorway, I saw a man in tailored sleeves, impeccably dressed in a suit with an air of aristocracy.

“Is this Mr. Gu?” he asked coolly.

I nodded, studying the man in front of me with curiosity.

Fatty Ling sidled over to the man, grinning obsequiously, much like a lapdog recognizing its master.

“Mr. Du, this is Gu Qingshu. If you have any problems, just ask him. I guarantee he can solve them for you!”

Fatty Ling’s presumptuous tone annoyed me greatly.