The thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy had lost his usual carefree attitude; his tone was full of seriousness, and his eyes were incredibly determined.
"Okay, if I really disappoint Wanwan, then you can beat me up and throw me out."
Meng Zhili could sense the boy's sincerity, so he didn't give a perfunctory answer and seriously gave his own.
As dinner was nearing its end, a muffled clap of thunder suddenly echoed through the sky.
"It's going to rain." Chen Xiong glanced at the sky, which was dark and he couldn't see anything.
"Then we won't linger."
“That’s true. You have to go to school tomorrow. Take an umbrella with you when you go back, so you don’t get caught in the rain.” Chen Xiong, who had originally wanted Meng Wan to stay overnight, suddenly remembered that tomorrow was Monday.
"Go get me one." Meng Wan didn't say who, but Chen Liu immediately finished the last bite in his bowl, put the bowl down, and walked towards the front yard.
No sooner had the two left than another rumble of thunder sounded, and soon after, a light drizzle began to fall.
Chen Liu sat on the threshold, watching the raindrops fall into the courtyard and gradually form small puddles, his gaze becoming increasingly unfocused.
The sky was dark and the rain was getting heavier. A boy who looked to be just over ten years old hurriedly ran into the alley. Water from the puddles splashed onto his shoes, and the shoes, whose soles had long been worn out, finally gave out at this moment.
Looking at the layered canvas shoes and then at what was behind him, the boy clicked his tongue, shrank into the corner, and decided to wait for the rain to stop before leaving.
He took off his shoes, and after confirming they were beyond repair, set them aside. His hair was wet, and the boy didn't seem to care. He pulled off his obviously ill-fitting T-shirt, covered his head with it, wiped it casually, and then stared blankly at the rain.
It's currently the rainy season, and it's been raining on and off. The boy, who doesn't have an umbrella, has already gotten soaked several times. He huddled in a corner, finding a more comfortable spot to lean against, intending to take a nap, but someone just had to interfere.
Frowning, the boy stood up, picked up his shoes, and walked towards the source of the sound.
"Young lady, just transfer some money to us and we'll let you go. You're from a prestigious academy, so this amount of money shouldn't be a big deal for you, right?"
"That's right, have pity on us, young lady, I haven't eaten for three days." The blond man said, exchanging a glance with his companion, and then burst into laughter.
Two men surrounded a girl in a neat school uniform, exchanging words and occasionally letting out a nauseating laugh. The girl held an umbrella, so her expression was obscured.
"Hey, what are you doing?" The boy rubbed his head, sounding a little impatient.
The two were startled, but breathed a sigh of relief when they saw who it was. "We wondered who it was, but isn't this little Liu, who has no parents?"
"Hey, what do you mean he doesn't have a mother? His mother just ran off with another man."
"Yes, yes, yes."
The two men's undisguised mockery and ridicule made Chen Liu's face darken.
"Yellow Hair, is it because I didn't hit you hard enough last time that you don't learn your lesson?" Xiao Liu's gaze made Yellow Hair instinctively shrink back.
"What a madman." Yellow Hair spat.
Last time, he just said "your mother is a whore," and that kid went crazy and picked up a brick and smashed it over his head. He still feels his head is buzzing.
"Was it him who smashed you?" His companion sized up Xiao Liuzi, his eyes full of disdain. "I advise you to mind your own business and get lost."
Xiao Liuzi got angry and threw the shoe in his hand. His blond companion blocked it with his hand, and the shoe flew to the side, sitting alone in the corner.
Tang Wan tilted the umbrella back slightly and met Xiao Liuzi's gaze.
“Just go straight and you’ll get out.” Xiao Liu’s words made Huang Mao’s companion even more annoyed.
"What? Want to be a protector of flowers?" The blond-haired companion tried to put his arm around Tang Wan's shoulder, but she casually blocked him with her umbrella.
"Whether you protect the flower or not, I just fucking hate you!" The boy, who was just over ten years old, was extremely thin due to long-term malnutrition, but his aura did not diminish at all when facing two teenagers who were half his height.
There's no point in talking if you don't see eye to eye. Xiao Liu looked around, then picked up a stick next to the trash can and tossed it in his hand.
"Brother Long, that's a little lunatic, let's go." Yellow Hair had second thoughts and whispered to his companion.
Unlike them, Xiao Liuzi was all alone and had no one to rely on. With nothing to worry about, he was naturally ruthless when he fought. Anyone who deliberately mocked him never got the better of him. Over time, the people in the neighborhood stopped bothering him and would at most exchange a few words of insult.
"What are you afraid of? Two people can't beat a kid? If word gets out, will I, Ah Long, still have a place in the business?" Ah Long shoved the blond-haired guy, utterly despising his attempt to back down.
"he……"
"Alright!" Ah Long impatiently interrupted the blond-haired man. "Keep an eye on that woman, don't let her get away."
Seeing this, Huang Mao gritted his teeth, took a few steps back, and blocked the alley entrance.
At that very moment, Xiao Liuzi ran over with his stick, aiming straight for A Long's shoulder. A Long was significantly stronger and taller than Xiao Liuzi, and quickly overpowered him.
The stick was discarded aside, but Xiao Liuzi showed no intention of backing down. Every punch from Ah Long was dodged by Xiao Liuzi using his height and size advantage. Every punch missed, which made Ah Long anxious. He cursed and grabbed Xiao Liuzi by the neck.
"ah!"
Ah Long was suddenly poked in the back by the tip of the umbrella. It was unclear where it was pressed, but Ah Long was immediately dissipated from the force, and Xiao Liuzi took the opportunity to dodge.
Ah Long was furious and turned to confront Tang Wan, but Xiao Liuzi seized the opportunity to pounce on him, wrap his arms around his neck, and pull him back.
"Damn it, come help!"
Ah Long shouted in exasperation, and Huang Mao hurriedly came forward, only to be tripped by Tang Wan with her umbrella and fall to the ground.
"Useless bastard!" Ah Long cursed, grabbing Xiao Liu's hand with one hand and rummaging in his pocket with the other.
A flash of cold light, and Xiao Liuzi gasped as he was thrown to the ground. He clutched his calf, blood seeping and dripping from between his fingers.
"You little brat, you dare to fight me! Die!" Ah Long's voice was fierce as he brandished his knife and lunged at Xiao Liu on the ground, but an umbrella flicked it away, knocking the knife out of Ah Long's hand.
Ah Long immediately reached for the umbrella, but Tang Wan quickly snatched it back. The umbrella spun around in Tang Wan's hand, and as Ah Long turned around, the handle hit the bridge of his nose.
Something was flowing from his nostrils, and when Ah Long touched it, his fingers were covered in blood.
Ah Long was furious, but Tang Wan remained calm. In contrast, there was a tearing sound in the air as she waved her umbrella.
Ah Long instinctively took a step back, just about to call Huang Mao for help, when he discovered that Huang Mao was lying on the ground at some point, his hands twisted in a strange position, his face contorted in a ferocious expression.
Without a second thought, Ah Long cursed "Damn it!" and ran towards the alley entrance. In his haste, he tripped over Xiao Liu, who nearly fell flat on his face. Seeing this, Huang Mao endured the pain, got up, and staggered after Ah Long out of the alley.
The alley quieted down, and the rain had stopped sometime earlier.
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