Chapter 292 - Jang Shin and Tang Xinyang (III)

Jang Shin could not help but stare at his Young Miss.

"Yes, I remember. You challenged me the first day I visited the Tang Mansion," he said as he watched her start wrapping the bandages around his ankle gently and expertly.

Tang Xinyang laughed at the memory. "Yeah, I have a habit of challenging any new boy I saw." 

Tang Xinyang was nine years old at the time when she first met Jang Shin. He was still a small and shy boy who was a head smaller than her. He was a very cute steamed bun back then.

Back then, Tang Xinyang's hair was cut short just like a boy and she wore small taekwondo robes. She challenged the little Jang Shin with fervor.

At that time, the frightened Jang Shin racked his head to find an excuse and answered the mischievous Tang Xinyang like this, "You are a girl. You shouldn't fight with boys. You should let boys fight for you instead."

It was just a lousy excuse made by a frightened boy to avoid the upcoming fight with the infamous little devil.

However, for the little Tang Xinyang who was never treated gently as a girl, this stunned her and her little heart was moved. 

From that point on, she always looked for Jang Shin and fought with him. She only had one intention at that time—it was to train this little guy, who was still a weakling, into a strong boy who could fight for her in the future. 

Unfortunately, as the disparity of their strengths was too big, the small fighting lessons were turned into one-sided beatings every time.

Tang Xinyang laughed with reminiscence, while Jang Shin on the other hand felt chilled at the memory. He had never tasted a beating before he had met Tang Xinyang. That was why it really put him in a trauma after he received a beating from the little Tang Xinyang. From then on, he always felt scared just seeing his Young Miss.

"I am very… impressed with you back then," Tang Xinyang continued as she gently secured the wrapped bandage.

Eh?

Jang Shin was surprised. She was impressed? 

"Because I lasted long during your beatings?" 

Tang Xinyang glanced at him. "That, too."

"..." Jang Shin felt speechless.

So what was the other reason?

But instead of continuing, Tang Xinyang asked a question instead.

"Do you remember in seventh grade, when I beat you up to a pulp?"

Jang Shin suddenly gulped. Of course, he remembered that. That was the worst beating he had ever received from Tang Xinyang!

"Of course, I do. I spent four months in the hospital afterwards after all." 

Tang Xinyang's hands paused and she lowered her head. That was the day she confessed to him. But Jang Shin answered otherwise to her expectation. 

She was a kid at the rebellious stage undergoing emotional upheaval back then. She accidentally went overboard and injured him way more than she intended.

"...I am sorry. I never meant for that to happen." Tang Xinyang sincerely apologized, albeit belatedly. She never found the right chance to truly apologize to him.

"...!" 

Jang Shin was stunned. He could not believe his ears. Did the mighty gorilla king Tang Xinyang just apologize to him? The proud Young Miss Tang who never showed her weakness? What the heck is happening...

Jang Shin did not speak, he was afraid this moment was just a dream. He felt surreal.

Tang Xinyang peeked at him in apprehension after not hearing any response from him. 

That accident before was the most unforgettable moment in her life. 

That was why after sending him to the hospital, she flew over to the United States and continued her studies abroad instead. She was afraid that once Jang Shin woke up, he would be upset at her and avoid her completely. She did not want that to happen.

Therefore, she could only hope that time would heal him and let him forget his anger.

When she saw Jang Shin again after a long time and noticed that Jang Shin acted like usual around her, she was so happy that she enthusiastically came up to him to have a friendly fight, which ended with her giving him another round of beating. Of course, she made sure that every hit was very light.

The way she was brought up, she did not really know how to express herself. She was taught that fights made relationsh.i.p.s stronger, and strength triumphs all. Thus, she foolishly thought that her mode of getting along well with Jang Shin was normal.

She only seemed to notice differently after interacting with her new friends…

However, Jang Shin did not know about her predicament and the ins and outs of her mind. He just thought that his nightmare was finally gone when Tang Xinyang finally grew up to study abroad. 

He had spent peaceful days and even built a company with Linfeng. How happy he had been during the time she was away. 

But why was she apologizing now? Why mention this incident again? 

Besides, he did not hold a grudge on Tang Xinyang for this. He was already used to her prowess and beatings. That one was just especially painful.

Seeing Tang Xinyang's guilty eyes with her head lowered, Jang Shin's heart eventually softened.

So he spoke silently.

"I did not blame you, if you are worried about that," he honestly said.

Tang Xinyang was stunned. "But, I ended up beating you really hard that time..."

"I was used to getting beaten up by you already. I didn't really thought that was much different from usual."

"You truly don't hate me because of what I did?" Tang Xinyang asked carefully. Her eyes held anticipation for him to answer 'yes'.

Jang Shin laughed merrily. That puppy eyes from Tang Xinyang did not suit her well. In his eyes, it was like Kingkong suddenly act pitiful in front of Ann Darrow. But he still found it cute.

"I was frightened to death. But I can't hate you for that."

Yeah. How could he hate his Young Miss? Although his Young Miss liked to beat people up, her personality was actually quite good and straightforward. 

It was strange. He wanted to avoid her, hide from her, and he was even scared of her. Yet he could not bring himself to hate her. It was really hard to describe.

Jang Shin had always been the tolerant and carefree type of guy who could easily forgive other's mistakes. It was very apparent from the fact that he was able to become best friends with the cold and sometimes sharp Linfeng, who was only gentle to his Young Miss Xiong Zhi.

Tang Xinyang's eyes lit up when she heard his answer. The heaviness in her heart that she carried over the years was finally uplifted.

"Thank you. I'm really glad to hear that, Jang Shin." 

Tang Xinyang smiled brightly and sincerely. Her charming eyes curved up into crescents as the dimples on her cheeks appeared and her small pearly teeth opened in laughter.

It was very different from all the smiles she had shown before. 

It was so refreshing... and lovely. 

Suddenly, she looked pretty and feminine.

Jang Shin's heart skipped a beat.