Chapter 41: Section

Chapter 41

In the convenience store, Lin ChuSui tore open a band-aid and stuck it on the cracked spot at the corner of Xiao Yan's mouth.

"Seeing him rushing over, why didn't you dodge?"

"Weren't you standing in front of me?" Xiao Yan said lightly, "With you here, what do I have to be afraid of."

Hearing these words, Lin ChuSui felt like her heart was being crushed. She gently put the band-aid on him and leaned in next to his ear and whispered, "Then from now on... I'll protect you well."

"Mm."

"Does it still hurt?"

"A little."

She reached out and rubbed the band-aid on the corner of Xiao Yan's mouth.

Across from them, several teenagers were drinking cola, eating street food, and frowning at them.

Zhang Cheng Yu whispered to Lu Chi, "Our brother ChuSui has gone down the deepest path, that's the God Xiao's playbook."

Lu Chi: "Why do you say that?"

Zhang Cheng Yu: "This kind of top-tier schemer among men, even a tough cookie like sister ChuSui will be easily manipulated by him."

Lu Chi: "That's... impossible, right?"

Before he could finish speaking, they heard Xiao Yan say, "This was my fault, I shouldn't have provoked him."

Lin ChuSui: "You didn't do anything wrong, he just has a bad temper."

Xiao Yan wiped the band-aid on the corner of his mouth and confessed, "Actually there was some unpleasantness in the bathroom earlier, I did throw his wallet."

"Did he hit you?"

"He seems to have a very violent temper."

"Did he scold you?"

"Forget it, it was my own problem."

Lin ChuSui immediately became agitated, "What exactly did he scold you with?!"

"It's nothing, don't worry about it anymore. I'm not good to begin with, he didn't say anything wrong."

"Damn it." Lin ChuSui clenched her fist, her eyes reddened from distress.

...

Watching Xiao Yan vividly portray himself as a victim like a textbook example, Lu Chi's worldview completely collapsed.

In Xiao Yan, he seemed to see the shadow of his ex-girlfriend.

His ex-girlfriend had also used similar rhetoric, and then somehow he became a backup boyfriend without knowing why.

It seems...he understands now.

Xu Jia Ning hugged his arms, sincerely convinced, "I'm not as good as him."

Lu Tian argued, "Even the God Xiao was beaten up, and you guys are still gossiping here."

Lu Chi patted her on the back of the head, "Sis, have your women's brains been plowed by pigs? Can't you see through this scheming man's act?"

"It was clearly Qin Nai who bullied people first!"

"With Xiao's level, he could have slapped Qin Nai all over the street if he wanted!"

That night, Xu Jia Ning drove Lin ChuSui home.

The night wind was cool. Lin ChuSui was in a good mood, humming songs all the way.

Since getting to know her, he rarely saw the little girl so relaxed and happy.

"Was that greasy muscle man really your ex-boyfriend?" he asked Lin ChuSui.

Lin ChuSui explained plainly, "Not quite an ex-boyfriend. We didn't get together before my dad broke up our budding relationship."

"I think your dad did the right thing." Xu Jia Ning recalled the scene at the time, "He slapped that girl so skillfully, clearly he's prone to violence."

Lin ChuSui fell silent.

This shameful past was a scar on her heart. If not for her rebelliousness against Old Lin on this matter, perhaps Old Lin would have been with her at Ocean Park that day instead of leaving for work.

Then he...would not have passed away.

Sensing the girl's silence, Xu Jia Ning's forehead leaned heavily on her back, breathing heavily, seemingly crying again.

"Even if your dad is gone, there are still others. They may not replace him, but won't leave you alone."

She asked nasally, "Are you talking about yourself?"

"Mm."

In the bright moonlight tonight, Xu Jia Ning uncharacteristically showed some gentleness, "I'm your brother."

Under the dim light, his handsome face and elegant temperament were so charming.

Many people took out their phones and started recording videos to post online.

This boy was truly amazing!

Xiao Qian lazily leaned on the bar, her drunken eyes gleaming with laughter as she watched him.

After Xu Jia Ning finished singing "Casablanca", he politely returned the guitar and came to Xiao Qian.

Xiao Qian clapped her hands lazily. "Beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it. I can sing it for you often." He wanted to sit next to her, but Xiao Qian immediately used her wallet to block the seat beside her.

"Kid, you've been following me persistently since the park. What do you want?"

"I want...to sing for you."

Xiao Qian's heart stirred slightly. She raised her eyes to look at him.

His profile was truly handsome, with a touch of masculine maturity, but his eyes were still clear, showing the innocence only found in youths who had not yet experienced life's trials and tribulations.

Compared to the men she'd met through matchmaking who only cared about appearances and status, Xu Jia Ning's wholesome innocence was undeniably attractive.

"Call me sister, and I'll allow you to sit with me for a while."

This time, Xu Jia Ning called out without hesitation, "Sister."

Xiao Qian moved the bag from the next seat, and Xu Jia Ning sat down beside her.

He ordered a drink for himself. When the bartender handed him the glass, Xiao Qian grabbed his wrist and asked, "Are you legal?"

"I really am nineteen, sister."

Only then did she let go.

Xu Jia Ning took a sip, and the alcohol made him frown slightly.

Xiao Qian's brows rose as she leaned against his arm. "Kid, what do you like about me?"

"You're beautiful," Xu Jia Ning said frankly. "I liked you at first sight."

"Just that?"

"Not only that. I've seen women more beautiful than you, but you're the one who stays in my heart when they don't."

"And why is that?"

"I don't know. Maybe Cupid's arrow just struck me."

Every one of his expressions was frank and open, every word was pure and clean.

If she were five years younger, no, maybe three, perhaps she really would have fallen for this boy.

But...not who she was now.

"What were you singing just now?"

"'Casablanca', by Bertie Higgins."

"I love that movie, I've seen it so many times."

Xu Jia Ning looked at her. "Can I watch it with you again?"

Xiao Qian smiled. "No."

Xu Jia Ning lowered his eyes, fiddling with the cocktail glass, then asked again, "Then how can I watch 'Casablanca' with you?"

"You really are..."

She didn't know what to do with this kid - reject him bluntly like she did those annoying pursuers?

She probably couldn't do that.

Perhaps it was because he reminded her of her brother, but Xu Jia Ning was different from the others in her heart.

Xu Jia Ning raised his eyes, looking at her sincerely and devoutly, with the unrelenting spirit of youth -

"Sister, what can I do to watch 'Casablanca' with you?"

"Let's do this," Xiao Qian took his glass. "Tell me one thing...that no matter how hard you try, you can't accomplish."

Xu Jia Ning thought for a moment, just about to speak, when Xiao Qian added, "Don't lie to me."

"I won't lie to you." Xu Jia Ning said without hesitation, "To surpass Xiao Yan and be the top student in our grade - no matter how hard I try, I can't do it."

Xiao Qian's lips curled into a smile. "That is true. Our brother is very capable."

"Why did you ask that, sister?"

"Aren't you curious how you can watch a movie with me?"

Xiao Qian stretched out her slender fingertips and tapped his broad forehead. "If you can accomplish this thing that you said you can't, no matter how hard you try...then we'll watch the movie together."