Chapter 83 Why are you running?

In the depths of winter, the midday temperature in Qingyang is a bit higher than in the morning, but it's long past the time to wear just a single layer of clothing.

The man in the alley, wearing short sleeves and shorts, was shivering from the cold and had many injuries on his body.

This is the scene that Wen Jiu saw when she went downstairs.

Blood seemed to rush to my brain all at once; I couldn't tell if it was anger or some other emotion.

Five minutes earlier, she was doing her homework in her room when there was a knock on the door, followed by Grandma Wang's voice.

"Xiao Jiu, are you home?"

Hearing the call, Wen Jiu got up to open the door. As soon as she opened the door, the old man grabbed her hand and said, "You should go down and see. Your father has been beaten by someone. He is covered in bruises and his clothes have been torn off."

The news came so suddenly that Wen Jiu's mind went blank for a moment. Before she could react, the old man pulled her to the elevator.

The alley was narrow, yet it was packed with people.

As soon as she appeared, everyone's eyes turned to her, some with sympathy, some with concern, and most with a desire to watch the spectacle.

The man, who was already weak and powerless, started cursing as soon as he saw her.

This scene has remained unchanged for decades. When Wen Chengyu scolded her like that, Wen Jiu suddenly calmed down.

She stood there expressionless, glancing down at him as if he were a pile of garbage.

Upon seeing the girl's expression, Wen Chengyu cursed even more venomously.

He hated her the most because she was like that, just like her mother looked down on him.

Wen Chengyu cursed, "You worthless piece of trash, you don't even acknowledge me anymore, huh! I've raised you for nothing for over ten years, you just wait! I'll sell you when I recover! You worthless piece of trash!"

Some of the bystanders couldn't stand it anymore and said a few words to him, but they were also scolded.

Some people started to advise Wen Jiu, saying, "He's still your father, help him home, it's the middle of winter."

“Yes, Xiao Jiu,” Grandma Wang chimed in, trying to persuade her.

Wen Jiu didn't speak, but just gave a mocking smirk.

What father would scold his daughter like that?

Whether it was because she didn't move for a long time or because she was really too weak, the man on the ground stopped cursing and gradually began to speak softly.

"Daughter, my good daughter, quickly help your father up."

Wen Jiu lifted her eyelids to look at him.

Meeting her gaze, Wen Chengyu looked expectant, while Wen Jiu felt an indescribable weariness.

She didn't even feel like standing there and looking at him; she turned around and wanted to go back.

Upon seeing her action, the man who had been behaving like a "good daughter" just a moment ago started cursing again.

Her expression remained unchanged as she walked straight ahead.

Behind him, besides the insults, there were also mixed messages:

"This child is quite cold-hearted."

"He's still his biological father, how can he just abandon him like this?"

...

Wen Jiu raised her hand to press the elevator button, shutting all of this out.

As the door closed, she pinched the bridge of her nose.

As I gazed at the ascending floor numbers, my thoughts slowly drifted away.

She recalled an incident two years ago when Wen Chengyu got drunk and ended up in a similar state, cursing in the alley in the middle of the night. The neighbors were woken up, watching her make a fool of herself while also watching her come down from upstairs.

No one saw when Zhou Yanchuan appeared; they only saw him once, and he walked straight to the man on the ground. Without saying a word, he kicked him hard in the stomach. Wen Chengyu cried out in pain, his whole body curling up.

The boy's gaze swept over the crowd of onlookers, his pupils dark and unfathomable.

These people felt weak under the gaze; they didn't even bother to discuss it, and their heads were lowered.

Without saying a word, he walked straight towards her by the door.

Immediately, hushed discussions arose again.

Wen Jiu's pupils trembled slightly, showing unease but even more so, grievance and dependence.

Zhou Yanchuan stopped in front of her, just like every time before, using his body to shield her from all unpleasant views from the outside world.

...

With a "ding," the elevator arrived.

Wen Jiu's thoughts also drifted away from her memories. She stepped out, feeling a sense of relief amidst her exhaustion.

Thankfully, Zhou Yanchuan wasn't home today, and thankfully, he didn't have to see such a scene again.

Although he had seen it too many times.

Even if it happens less than once, she can still hypocritically pretend that nothing happened, and act as if she is no different from ordinary people.

When Wen Jiu got home, she thought Wen Chengyu would climb upstairs by himself as usual and continue smashing and cursing in the living room.

Surprisingly, there was no movement outside the bedroom for a long time today.

A strange feeling arose in her heart, and after thinking for a while, she pushed open the window.

When Wen Jiu looked down, the alley was empty. The figure on the ground had also vanished.

If it weren't for the pool of red blood in the snow, she would have thought everything that had just happened was an illusion.

However, she didn't think about it deeply, nor did she want to.

Why bother with someone who is utterly disappointed?

After that day, Wen Jiu never saw Wen Chengyu again and lived a rare period of peace until a month before the college entrance examination.

Zhou Yanchuan hasn't been behaving well lately, and Wen Jiu noticed it but didn't say anything.

Sometimes she would put candy in his desk drawer, and sometimes she would gently hold his hand when no one was around.

He goes out with friends less and less, and spends all his time doing practice problems.

One Saturday, Chen Si Nian called him to go out and play. He even called him "Dad," but in the end, he still smiled and declined.

I don't know if it's because the school's air conditioning is set too low at night or something else, but I've been coughing quite badly these past couple of days.

Hearing the faint coughing behind her, Wen Jiu felt a pang of heartache.

As soon as get out of class ended, she took her water bottle and went outside. Watching the cold medicine dissolve in the bottle, she wondered how she could persuade him to rest for a while.

Lost in thought, he didn't notice the person standing behind him.

When she came to her senses and picked up her cup to leave, she saw the boy standing at the door of the water room.

In a daze, I was transported back to the first day of my second year of high school.

He tilted his head and looked at her with a smile.

Why did you come out?

"Let's see if that person who came out to get water has gotten lost. Why hasn't he gone back yet?"

“How could that be?” Wen Jiu retorted softly, but when she got closer and saw the weariness in his eyes, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

She raised her hand and handed the cup over.

Zhou Yanchuan lowered his eyes and looked at him gently: "The medicine you made for me?"

Wen Jiu responded and added, "Take better care of your health, and don't ignore your illness."

"good."

"You always say you'll do it, but I've never seen you actually do it."

Zhou Yanchuan's smile deepened, and he reached out and pinched her cheek.

"This time it's for real."

"real?"

"Um."

Hearing him agree again, Wen Jiu finally felt a little relieved.

I was just about to say: Let's go back to the classroom.

A sound suddenly came from the doorway.

She tilted her head slightly, and her eyes met those of the two girls.

There was surprise in his eyes.

However, compared to her, the two girls were clearly more shocked.

Their gazes darted back and forth between her and Zhou Yanchuan.

Wen Jiu blinked, remembering that Zhou Yanchuan's hand was still on her face.

She pushed him away and hurriedly walked out.

Zhou Yanchuan looked at the person who still unconsciously avoided him in front of outsiders and smiled slightly.

He stepped aside to let the two girls who were getting water in, then turned to leave, watching the figure that had already gone some distance away, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Why are you running?