Chapter 5 Cut Down On Smoking
Lucius leisurely pulled out a pack of cheap Lucky Strike cigarettes that cost three fifty, lit one, and said, “I know there are three of your accomplices among the bystanders. Whatever you're planning, I can handle it. But here's a friendly reminder—I can break your leg, and I can just as easily break theirs too.”
After a pause, Lucius smiled cheekily and added, “I suggest you quit while you're ahead today. If this escalates, it won't end well for you. Also, tell your friends to get you to the hospital quickly to treat that leg. If you delay any longer, I can't guarantee you won't end up with some permanent damage.”
With that, Lucius flicked the ash off his cigarette, mounted his uniquely shabby tricycle, and rode off in style.
As soon as he left, three young men emerged from the crowd and surrounded the scammer. “Boss, are we just letting this slide? Say the word, and we'll follow him to some deserted place and finish him off.”
“Shut the h*ll up and get me to the hospital!” the scammer wailed. “There's always another day. I'll settle this grudge later.”
Hepham, though a second-tier city in Clusia, had a cultural and historical depth that was beginning to surpass first-tier cities. The saying “Hepham is a heaven on Earth” refers to the region's beauty.
The city was home to the picturesque Lake Gilrial, heart-wrenching mythological love stories, and an air of elegance unique to this locale.
If Hepham were a woman, she would undoubtedly be a paragon of grace, refinement, and gentle sophistication.
Hepham University was one of Clusia's top ten universities. Studying there marked one as elite, especially in academics.
Of course, such prestigious institutions were also hotspots for the offspring of politicians and business tycoons.
However, none of this mattered to Lucius. At that moment, he was squatting beside his rickety tricycle, puffing on a cigarette while admiring the passing students.
Tsk tsk, look at those youthful long legs—so slender, so fair. And those fresh, delicate faces—they're practically a feast for the eyes.
He felt he could stay there all day and skip dinner entirely.
While Lucius was feasting his eyes, a uniquely striking girl appeared at the grand gates of Hepham University.
What set her apart was that she was in an electric wheelchair. Her appearance instantly drew countless stares—not just ones laced with disdain, but more with a kind of involuntary admiration.
The girl wasn't particularly stunning; her looks would barely score an eighty-five, far from breathtaking. Yet, she possessed an extraordinary aura—serene, reserved, and imbued with a surprising confidence. This aura was intoxicating, the kind of charm that lingered and captivated.
As soon as Lucius saw her, he quickly stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and exhaled sharply to ensure the smoke smell wasn't too strong before eagerly running over to her.
Although he'd only been out of prison for half a month, rain or shine, he came to pick her up every day without fail.
“Lucius, you should cut down on smoking,” Phoebe Seelye told Lucius. Her tone wasn't coquettish but rather carried a caring authority.
“Sure, sure. I'll cut back, I'll cut back,” Lucius replied. This killing machine, who had taken countless lives, was utterly docile in front of this girl. He listened to her every word, his smile genuine and without the slightest hint of reluctance.
Phoebe, the only surviving member of the Seelye family, was the one person in the world who could command Lucius's absolute loyalty and affection.
If the distant woman in Jexburgh, famed as the most beautiful lady but cold-hearted, could score a ninety five in Lucius's heart, then Phoebe would undoubtedly score a perfect one hundred.
No embellishments. No exaggeration. She was the only perfect woman in his eyes.
A scruffy, unkempt man with a dilapidated tricycle and a paralyzed genius in a wheelchair—this duo was truly a sight to behold. Every passerby turned their heads for a second look.
Neither Lucius nor Phoebe paid any attention to the stares.
“Hold on tight,” Lucius said as he bent down, effortlessly lifting Phoebe and her wheelchair, which together weighed dozens of kilograms. He then placed them in the tricycle bed with ease.
He hopped onto the tricycle, released the brake, and began pedaling. The smoothness of his actions was almost poetic, but no matter how cool his movements were, they couldn't change the fact that he was riding a run-down tricycle, drawing more disdainful glances.
“Your Professor Gutierrez called me today. He was furious. I heard you debated him on philosophy in class and left him speechless?” Lucius chuckled. “He cursed you out, saying you were arguing for the sake of it.”