Chapter Nine

"You're Zhou Mo?"

Zhou Mo looked at the boys in front of her. They were unfamiliar faces, and their clothes didn't look like those of students at the school. They were so blatant in entering the school that someone must have pulled some strings for them.

Fortunately, she's still at school; if she can't outrun someone, she can call for her teacher.

"You've mistaken me for someone else. I'm not Zhou Mo." Zhou Mo thought to herself, she wasn't that stupid. What if these people didn't recognize her?

One of the boys took out his phone, opened the photo album, and compared it with Zhou Mo's. "Third Brother, it's her."

"Well, little girl, you dare to fool our Third Brother? You must be courting death."

Seeing that she couldn't avoid it, Zhou Mo sighed softly, "I just want to focus on my studies. Is there something you need?"

Zhou Mo's unexpected reaction piqued the interest of the boy called Third Brother. Unlike the previous thugs who were vulgar and started talking nonsense and fighting right away, he was still a thug, and there was a hint of ferocity in his eyes.

"Come with us, we'll take care of something, and then we won't bother you anymore."

What a joke! Even a fool could tell Zhou Mo that she couldn't go with them.

Third Brother saw through her thoughts and asked, "Do you want to leave on your own, or should I ask you to leave?"

Zhou Mo thought to herself, after all this time, this usually bustling road was deserted. She figured that the chances of her shouting for help to escape were slim. These people would probably just carry her away the moment she shouted.

When the "run away when you can't win" strategy doesn't work, you need to use another approach.

Those who understand the times are wise.

"I'll go with you, but can I ask you a question before I leave?"

Third Brother: "Go ahead and ask." Perhaps it was because Zhou Mo was pretty, or perhaps it was because her words pleased Third Brother, but he was still being amiable.

"Who sent you?"

Third Brother didn't speak, but one of his underlings sneered, "Our Third Brother is the tyrant of the north of the city. Who can order him around? Hurry up and come with us, don't waste time."

Third Brother of the North City?

That's the third thief that the thug mentioned before, who found a good student to date.

Zhou Mo secretly sized up her third brother; he was quite handsome.

She followed the group of people out of the school. Construction was proceeding in an orderly manner. Several large cracks had been filled with new asphalt. The difference between the old and new colors was evident across the land, and the sky that had been cleared was divided into square sections by scattered iron frames.

Time flies so fast; everything is under construction.

Her life, however, remained a mess.

Zhou Mo didn't completely surrender. Before her phone was confiscated, she secretly sent Zhang Xing a text message. If she hadn't needed to call Zhang Xing, she probably would have gone straight back to the dorm to check on the girls' work on correcting their mistakes, and she wouldn't have been stopped by Third Brother and his group. So this time, she felt perfectly justified in sending the message.

The phone was put away and then turned off. Zhou Mo felt a little scared, wondering if Zhang Xing would still be able to find her this way.

The third brother didn't make things difficult for Zhou Mo along the way. The place they took Zhou Mo to wasn't far, just a small courtyard in an alley next to the school.

As soon as Zhou Mo entered the courtyard, she was drawn to the arrangement. The flower racks filled the entire courtyard, and it was clear that they were newly placed, but the marks on the ground indicated that they had been arranged like this for many years. Most of the flowers would not bloom again this season, except for a few small blue-purple flowers blooming sporadically on the vines near the entrance, swaying gently in the breeze.

The owner of this courtyard must really enjoy life.

"Go in."

Zhou Mo was still a little scared to enter the unfamiliar room, but her third brother had already spoken, so even if she refused—no, she had no right to refuse.

Zhou Mo mustered her courage and walked towards the door leading into the house. When she pushed it open, there was no bloody scene that she was afraid of. There was only a man curled up on the ground whose face she could not see clearly. The man was wearing an orange jacket and looked somewhat familiar.

Is it Yu Xi?

Did he get beaten up again?

Why does this person always seem to attract these dangerous individuals?

Won't he call the police?

He's definitely a problem.

In an instant, Zhou Mo thought of many things. Footsteps sounded behind her. Zhou Mo subconsciously turned around and looked, but a hand that had been reaching out from a blind spot that she had not noticed pulled her into the house. She heard a faint panting sound in her ear.

She instinctively tried to scream, but a cold hand covered her mouth.

Shh, it's me.

Yu Xi?

Who is that lying on the ground?

"He's one of the third brother's men."

"Yu Xi, teach us what you know, and we'll be even."

Third Brother pushed the door open and came in. The light shining in from the doorway illuminated Zhou Mo and Yu Xi's posture in front of everyone. Some nosy thugs whistled at the two's overly intimate actions.

"Third Brother was absolutely right. If we bring this little girl here, he'll be in a lot of trouble."

"As the saying goes, a drop of water in need should be repaid with a spring of water. We people of the martial arts world value repaying kindness the most. This little girl saved Yu Xi's life, and Yu Xi will not abandon her."

The third brother, with one person on his left and one on his right, started telling stories.

Zhou Mo finally understood that Yu Xi was targeted by this group of thugs because she took something she shouldn't have, and she herself was just an innocent girl who was caught up in it.

Yu Xi noticed Zhou Mo's struggle. He didn't say anything, but silently let go of her hand. However, he raised the hand that was behind his back, as if to prevent Zhou Mo from suddenly slipping away from him.

But Zhou Mo didn't do that. After being released, she instinctively hid behind Yu Xi.

Seeing this, the third brother smiled slightly, his long wolf tail making his already handsome face even more radiant. "Since you've made your decision, let's get this straight today. Yu Xi, you don't want us to keep bothering you, do you?"

Yu Xi didn't even lift her eyelids, only glancing at the corner of Zhou Mo's blue and white school uniform that was showing. It seemed that she had changed her clothes; this one was a lighter shade of blue, but it still looked very nice.

"That's not your stuff."

Third Brother: "That's not yours either."

Yu Xi finally looked up at her third brother and said, "Someone entrusted this thing to me, so I have an obligation to keep it safe."

"Come on, Yu Xi! Who can prove that the old man left his things with you? You just want to keep them all for yourself. Don't think we don't know you've been secretly contacting people over there. What price did they offer?"

The fact that Third Brother didn't stop his men from making noise shows that he thought the same thing.

Zhou Mo listened intently. At this moment, she was no longer afraid, but found it somewhat amusing. These people looked to be about the same age as her, dressed like adults, but some of them spoke and acted like children, not composed at all, unlike what was portrayed in the movies.

Of course, movies certainly have elements of fabrication, but she assured that if this were a scene, it definitely wouldn't pass the tests of those famous directors.

"I thought you were a good person, but I never expected you to use such methods."

This kind of tactic refers to Zhou Mo.

Third Brother shook his head. "I just look decent enough, but I'm not a good person. It's normal that you're mistaken. Stop talking nonsense, choose her or the goods."

"..." Zhou Mo was speechless. These people were really crazy. Did they even care about her feelings?

Definitely not.

Zhou Mo could only silently complain. Now she could only hope that Zhang Xing would be able to help her find her quickly, otherwise she really didn't know what would happen.

Yu Xi doesn't play by the rules, but based on her understanding of his personality, she'll definitely say something.

I want them all.

"Choose her."

Zhou Mo's inner monologue hadn't even finished when it was her turn to make her limited-time appearance. She looked at Yu Xi's finger pointing at her in disbelief. She turned around to check, and it seemed that the guy wasn't behind her.

Not only Zhou Mo herself was surprised, but also the group of thugs who brought her there, and even the usually composed Third Brother showed a surprised expression.

"Yu Xi, you're really something. Where's the goods?"

"The steel mill in the south of the city, the third disposal room, I'm too lazy to look for the key, just take an axe and smash it."

"That was great." Third Brother waved his hand, and the group of people followed him away, taking with them the man who had been beaten unconscious on the ground.

The small house, which had just been a bit cramped, now felt much more spacious, with the orange jacket lying forlornly on the floor.

Zhou Mo stared at Yu Xi, unsure of what to say for a moment.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Sit down, they won't come looking for you again."

"That guy?"

"What? You want one too?" Yu Xi casually picked up the jacket and threw it into the trash can. He turned and went into the kitchen, and came out a moment later with a cup of hot water.

"Yu Xi, I really can't see through you."

Yu Xi handed the hot water to Zhou Mo, "Really?"

Zhou Mo took the thermos and gripped it tightly with both hands. The warmth gradually spread throughout her body, and she felt a moment of reality.

"Sometimes I think you're a bit off, and other times I think you're very mature. Do you have some kind of personality disorder?"

Yu Xi leaned against the window, the growing pothos plants enveloping him completely. He casually stroked the leaves. "Is this the new persona you've given me?"

“You…” Zhou Mo felt that Yu Xi was really difficult to communicate with.

“Zhou Mo, this is the sixth time we’ve met. I don’t need friends.”

After hearing this, Zhou Mo felt that Yu Xi was not only difficult to communicate with, but also had a very unpredictable way of thinking. He was so strange that she didn't know how to deal with him on the weekend.

"Then I'll be going?"

Zhou Mo placed her water glass on the coffee table, got up to leave, and as she brushed past Yu Xi, she heard Yu Xi muttering something under her breath.

"What?"

"I need a family."

The sound was so soft that Zhou Mo thought she had misheard.

That sounds familiar.

Like the words she says to herself every time after her parents passed away.

I need a family.

Zhou Mo looked at Yu Xi, whose eyes were half-closed, making it impossible to discern her emotions. Zhou Mo took a deep breath; she had no intention of responding to Yu Xi. No matter how much she wanted a family member, Yu Xi would never be her candidate.

As she turned to leave, Yu Xi suddenly lunged at Zhou Mo without warning. Zhou Mo instinctively opened her arms and caught Yu Xi, as if she were catching a burning fireball.

"Yu Xi?!" Zhou Mo then realized that Yu Xi had a fever.

Yu Xi opened his eyes a crack, his vision blurry, only able to make out a clear outline. Then he felt a cool touch on his forehead, and he sighed inwardly.

What was this feeling like? Before he could even savor it, he had already passed out from the fever.

Zhou Mo was pinned against the door by the unconscious Yu Xi. If the door hadn't been closed, she probably would have collapsed to the ground long ago.

"Why is it so hot? Did he really go to sleep in the park?" Zhou Mo frowned, as if she had thought of something. She touched Yu Xi's back and, sure enough, touched a hand full of blood.