Serves You Right to Be Single

"I can't leave until I get my bag," Li Zhiyu insisted.

"What do you want me to say? Why don't you understand? We've been working the night shift and just want to sleep. How can we rest with you here?"

"I really have nowhere else to go," Li Zhiyu said, her eyes turning red, on the verge of tears.

Ye Chen paused, his anger dissipating instantly. First, because she said she had nowhere to go, and second, probably because she was a girl.

"Alright, you can stay here for now," Ye Chen said, resigned.

He didn't understand why Li Zhiyu claimed she had nowhere to go, but he assumed there must be a reason he didn't know.

Ye Chen checked his phone; it was already past eleven. "Get ready, we're going to eat."

"Okay!" Li Zhiyu nodded.

While Li Zhiyu got ready, Ye Chen went to find Captain Li Gang and the others.

They had woken up, probably because it was almost lunchtime.

When Ye Chen approached, the captain quickly stood up and asked, "So, has she left?"

"No." Ye Chen shook his head with a bitter smile and explained the situation.

After listening, the captain patted Ye Chen's arm. "I see. Well, let her stay for now."

"Captain, should we call the police? Let them handle it," Wang Yong suggested.

"Call the police? Don't forget what our job is."

"Oh, alright."

"Captain, how about this: let's talk to another team and see if we can rest in their dorm in the afternoon," Ye Chen proposed.

"That's a good idea. I'll talk to Team Five during lunch."

Ye Chen's team worked the night shift, and except for Team Eighteen, other teams worked during the day, meaning their dorms were empty.

"Alright, I'll go call her for lunch. I just hope she doesn't act like she did this morning, wanting to try everything."

"Ye Chen, she's a girl. You need to be more accommodating," Captain Li Gang said.

"Okay, got it," Ye Chen nodded.

After Ye Chen left, Zhao Peng stepped forward. "Captain, she's taking up our dorm. Why do you still want Ye Chen to be nice to her?"

Captain Li Gang turned to Zhao Peng and said, "Serves you right to be single."

Then, without looking back, the captain walked away. Zhao Peng, stunned, turned to Fu Zhu. "What does he mean? How does this relate to me being single?"

Fu Zhu didn't answer, but with his bear-like hand, he patted Zhao Peng's shoulder. "The captain's right. Serves you right to be single."

The heavy pat nearly knocked Zhao Peng off his feet, judging by his grimace.

After Fu Zhu followed the captain, Wang Yong walked over to Zhao Peng. "Why do you think the captain brought us here to sleep? Do you think he couldn't make her leave?"

Wang Yong left after shaking his head, leaving Zhao Peng to chase after him. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing much. You'll understand in time."

It was simple: security dorms had rules. No one outside the security team was allowed to stay, especially not a girl.

When Ye Chen returned to the dormitory, he didn't see Li Zhiyu, which scared him. Just as he was about to go out and look for her, he noticed a basin missing from under the bed.

Realizing she must have gone to wash up, he waited in the dormitory. Twenty minutes later, Li Zhiyu returned with the basin, now dressed in her own clothes.

Seeing her looking like a fairy, Ye Chen hesitated. He wasn't sure if he should take her to the cafeteria, knowing the security team was like a monastery.

Over a hundred security guards were akin to monks, including married ones like the captain. Security dorms weren't private; everyone lived together, so marriage didn't change much.

"Is there something on my face?" Li Zhiyu asked, touching her face as Ye Chen stared.

"No, it's very clean. But why did you change clothes?"

"You said we were going to eat. I can't wear your clothes."

"Alright, let's go," Ye Chen said, taking the basin from her and putting it under the bed.

"Okay!"

Outside, they drew a lot of attention, making Ye Chen very uncomfortable. It was the first time he felt so noticed.

Even though he knew people weren't actually looking at him, walking with Li Zhiyu made him feel like they were.

Finally, they reached the cafeteria. Ye Chen thought he could relax, but it got worse.

The bustling cafeteria fell silent as they entered, with everyone staring at them.

The cafeteria served not just the security team but also the cleaning crew and mall staff.

While the security team, cleaning crew, and mall staff had separate sections, it was all one big hall.

Ye Chen regretted coming to the cafeteria, thinking they should have just grabbed a bite outside.