166: Chapter 166 Bae Suzy: Are you even a man?

Liu Zijun leaned over and asked three times, but Bae Suzy didn't answer. Her whole body was as soft as a boneless marshmallow, slumping against him after only a few steps of being supported, while she mumbled unintelligible drunken words.

Liu Zijun let out a low sigh, resigned to his fate. He turned around, squatted on the ground, and picked Bae Suzy up on his back.

The girl's weight was very light, carrying a faint scent of alcohol and the fresh fragrance of shampoo. Mixed together, it didn't smell unpleasant; instead, there was a strange sense of softness.

Liu Zijun stood up steadily, supporting her thighs with both hands to make her lie more securely.

Bae Suzy's head naturally rested in the crook of his neck, her warm breath brushing against his ear with a slight post-drinking warmth.

"Hold on tight."

He reminded her softly, stepping towards the direction of the apartment.

The streetlights stretched their shadows very long, overlapping and swaying together.

Bae Suzy seemed soothed by the swaying rhythm. Her mumbling mouth gradually closed, but her hands tightened around his neck, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing against his collar.

Liu Zijun could clearly feel the soft touch of the girl on his back, as well as the slight itch of her hair brushing against his shoulder.

He deliberately slowed his pace, trying to walk as steadily as possible to avoid waking her with any jolts.

But at that moment, he didn't notice a very faint smile coming from the crook of his neck—a smile that was subtle yet carried a hint of successful cunning.

It vanished in an instant.

Liu Zijun shook his head and smiled. This girl, perhaps she wasn't completely drunk?

He carried her across two streets. The security guard downstairs at the apartment building saw this scene, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes, but he tactfully didn't ask much, only respectfully raising his hand in greeting.

Once in the elevator, Bae Suzy's head rubbed against his cheek with the slight swaying of the lift, like a clingy little rabbit.

Liu Zijun stiffened for a moment, then raised his hand to gently press the back of her head, preventing her from leaning so close.

Opening the apartment door, the living room was silent.

Liu Zijun tiptoed while carrying Bae Suzy towards the guest room, trying not to make a sound.

He gently placed her on the soft large bed. Just as he was about to let go, Bae Suzy seemed to sense it; her brows furrowed, she mumbled "don't go," and her hand still tightly gripped the corner of his clothes.

Helpless, Liu Zijun had to lean over and pry her fingers open, his movements so gentle he was afraid of waking her.

Bae Suzy rolled over and curled into a ball. Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows under her eyelids, and her face still held a lingering flush. She looked well-behaved and harmless, completely unlike her prickly self on the roadside earlier.

He covered her with a thin quilt and placed a glass of warm water on the bedside table before turning to take out his phone.

Opening the chat box with Choi Sulli, he took a photo of Bae Suzy's sleeping profile and a quick shot of the guest room environment, then sent a message.

"Ran into Bae Suzy on the way. She was drunk and had no one to take her home, so I brought her back to settle her in. She's in the guest room."

The next morning, Liu Zijun woke up right on time.

He got up quietly and, after washing up, went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Bae Suzy woke up naturally.

Her head was incredibly groggy as a hangover headache hit her. She rubbed her temples and sat up, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings. It took her a while to realize she had been brought back by Liu Zijun last night.

The guest room was decorated simply and cozily.

She looked down at the dress she was wearing—it was the same one from last night. The neckline was neat, the hem wasn't messy, and aside from a faint smell of alcohol, there was nothing unusual about her body.

A surge of nameless anger instantly welled up in her heart.

Bae Suzy bit her lip in frustration. Why did she fall asleep last night?

And this Liu Zijun—Choi Sulli can openly cling to him, and Im Yoona can get his favoritism, so why is he such a "gentleman" when it comes to her?

This dog man, is he even a man!

He doesn't even know how to seize an opportunity delivered right to his door!

She indignantly threw off the quilt and got out of bed, rushing out of the guest room and straight to the kitchen with light steps.

Upon entering, she saw Liu Zijun with his back to her, focused on flipping fried eggs in a pan with a spatula. The morning light outlined his tall, straight back; even the way he cooked was so handsome.

She took a deep breath as if having made a monumental decision and stepped forward quickly.

Just as Liu Zijun was about to step aside, she reached out to press down on his wrist holding the spatula, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him directly.

The girl's lips were soft and warm, carrying a hint of lingering alcohol and a faint fragrance as they covered his lips without warning.

Liu Zijun's whole body stiffened, and his pupils contracted.

Almost simultaneously, he raised his hand and firmly pushed Bae Suzy away.

As they pulled apart, Bae Suzy's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes held a hint of stubbornness and grievance, along with a bit of desperate boldness.

She looked at Liu Zijun, her breathing somewhat hurried and her lips trembling slightly, seemingly waiting for his reaction.

Liu Zijun raised his hand to wipe the corner of his lip. His face was expressionless, and his tone was calm yet serious.

"Suzy, don't do this."

Bae Suzy's voice carried a hint of a sob, yet she still kept her back straight.

"Why? Choi Sulli can, Im Yoona can, and Yejin Unnie can, so why can't I? How am I inferior to them?"

Liu Zijun looked at her reddened eyes and said in a softened tone, "It's not a matter of who is inferior to whom."

"My relationships with Sulli and Yoona didn't form overnight; there's too much complex history involved.

And you, you deserve a purer affection, not something based on a momentary impulse or an unclear beginning like this."

Bae Suzy hurriedly retorted, her voice rising several notches.

"I'm not being impulsive! I've been interested in you since I saw you at Choi Sulli's birthday party!

I know they are around you, but I just can't help it!

The thing with Lee Seung-gi made me see clearly—if you don't seize some opportunities, they're gone. I don't want to have regrets!"

She approached Liu Zijun step by step, her eyes shining with stubborn light.

"I just wanted you to take me back, to see if you would do anything to me.

And the result? You just threw me in the guest room and ignored me, without even touching my clothes!

Liu Zijun, are you even a man?"

Liu Zijun looked at her agitated state and sighed helplessly. "Whether I am a man or not doesn't need to be proven this way."

He looked at Bae Suzy seriously and said, "Bae Suzy, I admit you are excellent—beautiful, talented, and the Nations First Love in many people's hearts.

But I'm not the kind of man who can't walk straight when he sees a beautiful woman, and I won't just go with the flow because you take the initiative.

Feelings are mutual and require respect. I respect you, and I hope you can respect yourself."

Bae Suzy sneered. "Respect? Keeping your distance from me is respect? You only know how to say these trivial things, and that's respect?"

Liu Zijun paused.

"Bringing you back last night was because I was worried about a girl being unsafe on the roadside.

If you feel that this caused a misunderstanding, I apologize.

But I must make it clear—I will not change my principles because of this misunderstanding."

Bae Suzy looked at his determined eyes. The grievance and anger in her heart felt like they had been doused with cold water, gradually subsiding into a deep sense of loss.

She knew Liu Zijun was right, but that sense of unwillingness still wouldn't go away.

She bit her lip, turned back to the guest room to grab her bag, but was called back by Liu Zijun: "Wait. Do you want to eat breakfast before you go?"

Bae Suzy stopped in her tracks without turning around, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"Joon oppa! I won't give up just like this!"