Being "Crushed" - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Everything happened too fast.

The moment she saw him suddenly collapse toward her without warning, Song Yuhan cried out in panic.

Though her mind hadn’t fully processed what was happening, her body acted instinctively—she reached out with all her strength across the shelf between them and caught the man falling directly toward her!

Thankfully, Lu Sifang still had enough sense to fall forward. If he’d fallen backward, he might’ve ended up seriously hurt—or worse, turned into a complete idiot from a head injury.

Hearing the commotion, a store clerk quickly rushed over to help. Once he understood what had happened, he looked at Song Yuhan with visible surprise—he hadn’t expected this icy beauty to have such quick reflexes and strength…

If she hadn’t stepped in, the outcome could’ve been disastrous.

The clerk helped Lu Sifang to the ground and patted his face gently, calling out:

“Sir! Wake up! Are you okay?”

Relieved to be free from holding him up, Song Yuhan nearly collapsed herself—catching him had taken all her strength. But she didn’t stop. Though her steps were unsteady, she hurried around the shelf, half-kneeling beside him, her face full of panic:

“Lu Sifang, what’s wrong? Wake up!”

She called and gently patted his face several times, but the man lying there didn’t respond—his breathing was shallow…

Seeing this, the store clerk began to panic. If something happened to this guy in his store, he was done for! Just his luck—he finally landed a decent job, and now this?

If worst came to worst… was mouth-to-mouth resuscitation the only option?

But he was a man! How was he supposed to give another guy mouth-to-mouth?! He really couldn’t bring himself to do it—

Just as he was having a meltdown, Song Yuhan appeared beside him like a goddess descending from the heavens, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, her expression full of compassion. She radiated a soft, holy glow.

In the clerk’s eyes at that moment, she looked like a living Bodhisattva.

“Miss! Do you know this gentle—!!”

Before he could finish, Song Yuhan saw through his dilemma instantly. She knew this was a matter of life and death. Without a second’s hesitation, she bit her lip and lowered herself toward Lu Sifang

—and began administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

In this emergency, she didn’t have time to think about their awkward history or how strange their relationship was now.

As their lips met, her expression was focused, brows furrowed with worry. After each breath, she quickly moved on to chest compressions. She didn’t even notice how the muscles under her palms were tense from nervousness.

The clerk was so shocked he covered his mouth, screaming internally: Oh my god, an actual angel!

As for Lu Sifang—though he did briefly lose consciousness, the moment she cried out his name for the last time, he had already woken up…

Just as he was thinking of how to exit gracefully, he cracked his eyes open slightly—and saw that delicate face from his dreams magnified before him—then felt soft lips press against his. Her unique scent filled his nose, and even his tongue tasted a familiar sweetness…

The moment felt like a dream. He didn’t want to open his eyes at all.

But when she leaned in again, his heartbeat—loud and wild—began thundering through his chest, betraying the man who was pretending to be unconscious.

She instantly froze.

A blush spread across her cheeks as anger surged in her eyes. Without a word, she raised her fist and punched him hard on the arm.

“You bastard—were you faking it?!”

The sudden burst of violence left the clerk once again stunned and speechless.

Still drunk on the fantasy, Lu Sifang could no longer pretend. With a dramatic groan, he sat up halfway. His face still showed traces of daze, and he unconsciously licked his lips, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Beneath the brim of his cap, a faint, satisfied smirk played at the corners of his mouth.

When he looked at Song Yuhan, his gaze was murky and unreadable—something long suppressed flickered in his eyes. The shadows from his cap split his face in half—his features carved and dangerously beautiful. His deep-set eyes hid in darkness, making his face look almost predatory, wild, and intense.

Song Yuhan had seen this look before—many times. And she knew exactly what it meant.

Panic flashed in her eyes. Like a rabbit spotting a wolf, she turned and fled.

Lu Sifang instinctively moved to chase after her—only to be yanked backward by something.

He looked down.

Turns out, someone had unzipped his leather jacket earlier to help him breathe, and the clerk’s knees were now pinning the hem of the jacket to the floor…

Still lost in shock, the clerk hadn’t noticed a thing. Seeing Lu Sifang turn to glare at him, he awkwardly chuckled—then gave him a big thumbs-up.

“…?”

Awkward beyond belief, Lu Sifang didn’t care about dignity anymore. He yanked his jacket free with force, shoved a wad of cash into the clerk’s hands, and rushed out of the store.

As for the medicine he was supposed to buy for Zhou Shangqing? That had been completely forgotten.

Meanwhile, back at the hotel, Zhou Shangqing—already drained from food poisoning—staggered out of the bathroom. Clutching the wall for support, he groaned in agony:

“Bro, where are you…? Are you ever coming back…?”

Then his eyes widened as if sensing something ominous. With a dramatic spin worthy of an action movie, he bolted straight back into the bathroom.

Outside, Song Yuhan stormed out of the pharmacy, furiously scrubbing her lips while muttering angrily about Lu Sifang’s shameless behavior. He was still the same scoundrel from high school!

So infuriating!
She never should’ve helped him.
Should’ve just let him faint there!

Absolutely mortifying!!

Wrapped in a fluffy white shawl, stomping in silver 8cm heels, she marched down Zhonggang Street like a storm.

Her cheeks were flushed—either from embarrassment or fury—blazing red. Against her naturally pale complexion, the blush crept down her neck, her skin now tinged with soft pink hues. It softened her usual cold elegance, making her look even more alluring.

In her rush, the small pharmacy bag tied around her wrist swung back and forth with every step.

If someone nearsighted happened to glance her way, they might mistake her for a glamorous celebrity out on a promotional walk, swinging a high-end designer handbag.

Everywhere she passed, heads turned. She carried a trail of fragrance behind her. Wherever she went, she was the center of attention.

Lu Sifang followed a few steps behind, hands in his pockets, watching her effortlessly steal the gaze of half the street.

He couldn’t help but scoff:

“Still such a show-off.”

His words were sharp, but his heart… felt bitter.

Clicking his tongue, he stretched out a finger and gently tapped the forehead of a young guy about to bump into him—stopping the kid just in time. If not, the guy might’ve tripped over the curb.

“Watch where you’re going.”

“Ah! Sorry, sorry!”

The kid bowed apologetically, then glanced back longingly at Song Yuhan before walking off, muttering:

“Wow… what a goddess…”

Lu Sifang’s temple twitched. He exhaled sharply and stuffed his hand back into his pocket, trailing after Song Yuhan again—subconsciously playing bodyguard.

It was so natural that he didn’t even realize: it had been five years since they’d last spoken.

At this point, the two of them were practically strangers—strangers who had just shared a kiss…

There was a whole ocean’s worth of men lining up to protect a woman like her. Who the hell did he think he was?

Yet no matter how aware he was of all this, his damn legs just wouldn’t listen. They kept moving toward her, step by step, without stopping.

But the closer he got, the more something felt… wrong.

This direction—

Wait, could it be…?

Just as this ridiculous thought popped into his head, Song Yuhan confirmed it—because she was now striding straight toward the same five-star hotel he was staying at.

Lu Sifang tilted his head, speechless.

This whole situation was too absurd. Was fate playing a joke on him?

And yet, why did it make him secretly happy?

Raising an eyebrow, he picked up his pace. With a few long strides, he closed the distance between them. His footsteps—originally hesitant—now rang out confidently.

He timed it perfectly. As the elevator doors were about to close behind her, he stuck out a hand to stop them.

Sure enough, he was rewarded with a terrified look from Song Yuhan. Her wide eyes reflected only one person—him.

He suddenly smiled in satisfaction.

But in Song Yuhan’s eyes, his smile was full of menace.

“Are you following me?”

She looked even angrier now, fists clenched, eyes full of suspicion. But under his looming presence, she had no choice but to back up, step by step—until she was pinned against the elevator wall, nowhere left to retreat.

Lu Sifang stood calmly in front of her, just one step away. Watching her like a hunted little animal, her cheeks flushed and breath quickening, his eyes flashed with a mix of dominance and nostalgia.

It felt… like they’d never been apart.

But her sharp question brought him back to reality. His gaze dropped, lips curling into a bitter smile.

“You really haven’t changed at all. Get a little close, and you still blush like crazy… Just like a shy little mimosa.”

Song Yuhan, now trapped, noticed the elevator hadn’t moved at all—neither of them had pressed a floor button. In desperation, she shoved him hard, hoping to slip away while he was pushed back.

But the moment her hands hit his firm chest, she knew she was in trouble…

Why is he so much stronger now?!

She couldn’t even budge him! And worse—he grabbed her wrist, holding it tight. With one pull, she stumbled forward straight into his arms.

She crashed into a warm, broad chest, overwhelmed by the familiar scent of sea salt and lemon—it was the exact smell she remembered from when they were young: clean and refreshing.

It was so familiar, so nostalgic, that she froze—memories flooding back, making her forget to resist.

Until his teasing, slightly domineering voice sounded in her ear:

“Why are you running? Are you really that scared of me? You see me and take off…”

Enraged again, Song Yuhan punched him in the chest.

“Of course I’m running! Who wouldn’t run from a stalker like you?!”

Neither of them had pressed a floor button, so the elevator had remained on the ground floor—and just then, someone else called for it. The doors slid open…

Song Yuhan was still glaring at the shameless man who wouldn’t let go, trying to scare him off with her fiercest glare. But Lu Sifang seemed to sense the door opening—he turned slightly, revealing half his face to the newcomer.

Standing outside was a bald, middle-aged man—frozen in place. When he saw Lu Sifang looking back at him, he blushed and very tactfully pressed the “close door” button for them.

Clicking his tongue and shaking his head in awe, he muttered:

“Young people these days… really know how to play…”

It wasn’t until the elevator door fully closed that the man suddenly realized—

The guy inside was the very target of his business trip to Zhonggang!

This… was going to be interesting.