178 - I Don’t Want to Be Turned Into the Female Protagonist by the System
**Chapter 178: Keep Going, There's More** The driver was incredibly professional, at least in Su Qi's eyes. Not long after Zhang Ru mentioned getting some food, the car swiftly entered a service area on the highway, commonly known as a rest stop. Rest stops are indispensable facilities along highways, providing necessities like restrooms, convenience stores, and gas stations. Officer Zhang Ru, who frequently responds to incidents, often visits these rest stops. However, Su Qi found it somewhat novel. For the longest time, trains were her only means of long-distance travel! To Officer Zhang Ru, this rest stop seemed quite upscale, positioned as it was on the prosperous route between Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. The GDPs of these cities were notably high, echoing the saying that economic foundations determine the superstructure—it's no wonder the service stations were excellent. Guided by Officer Zhang Ru and the driver, Su Qi headed to the restroom. Though calling it guidance was somewhat redundant, as the large restroom sign was quite conspicuous. Closer inspection revealed the restroom was unexpectedly clean. The floors gleamed, it was odorless, and there was a hint of air freshener that smelled even better than the men's dormitory she lived in. Most impressively, the exterior restroom door had an LED light indicating occupancy. Officer Zhang Ru joked that with this setup, they wouldn't need to worry about door issues during use. Su Qi wondered why that would even be a concern—using the toilet should be a quick affair, right? That's when she realized she was being led into the women's restroom by Officer Zhang Ru. How did she notice? The absence of urinals gave it away instantly. Su Qi finally understood what Officer Zhang Ru meant by “banging door incidents.” They commonly occurred in men's restrooms. Imagine being engrossed in your phone while taking a seat in the stall, enjoying a rare moment of peace. Suddenly, in bursts someone, particularly someone impatient, rattling each door. Old wooden doors might creak open slightly, leaving you awkwardly locking eyes with the intruder. Most awkward of all was when the lock completely failed, leaving the door wide open! Men generally enjoyed a biological advantage, enabling them to use the facilities quickly, so they rarely needed all the stalls. Women were different; they all had to squat. Consequently, the probability of someone opening a wrong door was considerably higher. This thoughtful design enhanced the restroom’s safety and comfort. “Um, Little Su Qi, can you manage on your own?” asked Officer Zhang Ru, eyeing Su Qi's long flowing hanfu with a skirt sweeping the ground, only revealing a glimpse of exquisitely embroidered shoes. Officer Zhang Ru thought that without those slight heels, the skirt would surely drag on the ground. Perhaps this was the price of looking so ethereal? Hearing Officer Zhang Ru's suggestion, Su Qi instinctively followed her gaze and realized her skirt was impractically long! Considering asking Officer Zhang Ru for help meant holding up her hanfu to avoid it touching the ground while Zhang Ru helped with her underwear... Or having her hold the dress up... too embarrassing. Su Qi blushed and said, “I don't need to go,” before clicking away in her embroidered shoes, swiftly exiting the restroom. With a sigh of relief, Officer Zhang Ru watched Su Qi tread carefully across the slick tiles, thankful the young girl didn’t slip; indeed, a little girl who inspired worry. Nonetheless, Officer Zhang Ru reasoned that Su Qi probably didn't need to go, considering she'd used the facilities before departure, shed a few tears on the road, and hadn't drunk any water. She let it be and entered an empty stall herself. Waiting near the restroom entrance, Su Qi anxiously watched for Officer Zhang Ru. In her innocent and well-behaved manner, coupled with the hanfu giving her an ethereal aura, she quickly attracted much attention! It was then that Su Qi noticed a young man with dyed yellow hair approaching her. He sat on the chair beside hers. Catching a whiff of the cigarette scent on him, a scent she disliked due to her smoke-free dorm and family, Su Qi wrinkled her nose and silently moved to another seat, clutching a corner of her hanfu. Huang Shan, seeing Su Qi didn’t loudly reprimand him, felt he had a chance. From watching dramas, didn’t all creeps begin with subtle advances, leading to the damsel falling into his arms at last? Judging by her naive appearance, she probably wouldn't call out, which to him meant he had luck on his side today. Inching closer, he was about to claim the seat Su Qi vacated when a large forceful hand gripped his shoulder! A burly policeman in uniform, with a smile, indicated to the nearby police office, stating, “I think we should have a chat!” This police intervention wasn't random—it was orchestrated by Officer Zhang Ru. Although she was also a police officer, she thought uniformed personnel would be more intimidating. Thus, this scene unfolded. Inside the police office, Huang Shan recounted the recent events. “A biology teacher once said, if you smell someone's natural scent without perfume, it means your genes have chosen them.” The male officer noted this, then looked up at Huang Shan, prompting, “Keep going, there's more.” After the incident, Su Qi felt incredibly safe with Officer Zhang Ru, her eyes even hinting at admiration. Though Officer Zhang Ru appreciated the gratitude, she sighed nonetheless. This young girl clearly watched too many dramas where the trope of the hero saving the damsel in distress never fails. While cliché, it proved highly effective on someone fresh out of school, like Su Qi! She thought she'd have to keep a closer eye on this naive girl—hadn't she just been scammed by her falsely caring brother and mother without realizing it? Officer Zhang Ru felt even more concerned. Adjacent to the restrooms were convenience stores and a few restaurants. Though having restaurants next to restrooms seemed odd, the service area wasn't vast, so it made sense upon consideration. They finally chose a beef noodle restaurant. Upon entering, Su Qi was awed—not by anything else but by how large the bowls were. It seemed one could fit her entire face in one and still have room to spare. The server, seeing two stylish women enter a place frequented mostly by long-haul truck drivers, was momentarily taken aback. The bowls were chosen to ensure these robust men could leave feeling full. Seeing two elegantly dressed women walk in was quite out of the ordinary. Especially the young girl in hanfu stood out amongst the rugged men like a fairy descending into the mortal world. Not only the servers but many truck drivers also turned their attention to this young girl. While they watched her, Su Qi also observed them. Their burly appearances reminded her of a saying: "No matter how skilled a fitness trainer is, he can't beat a truck driver!"