“Hey, my precious daughter, what happened? Why are you covered in injuries?”
Mother Xu’s heart ached the moment her gaze landed on Xu Ying. Scratches and bruises dotted her daughter’s fair arms, and her clothes were torn in several places. Panic mixed with heartache instantly flooded her chest.
Huo Chen, standing silently to the side, looked incredibly guilty. He didn’t dare meet Mother Xu’s sharp eyes and muttered sheepishly, “Aunt Xu… I’m sorry. It’s my fault. Xu Ying fell because of me.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Mother Xu turned on him with a fierce glare. If it had been anyone else, she might have started swinging her fists. But when she looked up and saw the towering, fierce-faced Huo Chen—well over 180 centimeters tall—her momentum faltered.
“You’re so tall, Huo Chen,” she said with a mix of annoyance and timidity. “But how can someone that tall be so clumsy? You fell off a bike? With legs that long, the cycle should’ve tipped over before you did!”
Her voice was sharp, her tone indignant, but she still held back, unwilling to provoke the beast-like aura exuding from the young man.
Xu Ying’s two older brothers, Xu Lao Da and Xu Lao Er, were equally distressed at the sight of their injured sister. But when their eyes landed on the intimidating Huo Chen, a flash of hesitation appeared. Still, their protective instincts kicked in. Rolling up their sleeves, both took a step forward, ready to confront him.
But Mother Xu swiftly reached out and stopped them. “What are you doing? We’re civilized people! And besides—don’t forget, Huo Chen saved your sister once before.”
Though her fists itched to teach the man a lesson, her common sense—and fear—prevailed.
Relieved at the intervention, the two brothers exchanged glances. Truthfully, even if they fought, they doubted they could take him down.
Still, a warning was in order.
Xu Lao Er raised an eyebrow and jabbed a finger in Huo Chen’s direction, voice stern. “Huo Chen, I’ll let you off this time for saving our little sister before. But if she gets hurt again because of you… I swear I’ll beat you to a pulp.”
Huo Chen obediently nodded, keeping his mouth shut. Not a single word of protest came out.
Xu Ying, watching him get scolded like a child caught stealing snacks, felt a strange wave of pity rise in her chest. He looked like a wronged son-in-law being lectured by his mother-in-law.
“Mom, I’m sleepy. I want to go to bed,” she mumbled, her voice soft and tired.
At once, Mother Xu’s demeanor flipped. Her fierce eyes melted into warm concern, and she quickly approached her daughter with a loving smile. “Aiyo, my poor baby. You’ve been working hard all day. You must be exhausted.”
Then she turned and shouted toward the kitchen, “Daughter-in-law ! Boil some hot water! Let our girl wash up and get some rest. She’s got to get up early tomorrow—what if she’s late?”
Sister -in-law . Xu immediately bustled into the kitchen to carry out the order.
Meanwhile, Huo Chen stood holding a stack of items. He looked at Mother Xu, somewhat at a loss. “Auntie… where should I put these?”
Mother Xu glanced at her daughter curiously.
“Mom, I bought these,” Xu Ying explained with a smile. “Sister Qiuye and Fuying gave me some factory-defective ones, so I added a little and bought more. It’s getting colder, and every household needs a thermos.”
She handed the bottles out. “This one’s for Big Brother and Sister-in-law. This one’s for Second Brother.”
Both men’s eyes lit up like lanterns.
Second Brother couldn’t stop running his hands over the thermos bottle, grinning like a fool. “Little sister, how much was it? I’ll pay you back when I get my wages.”
Xu Ying didn’t hesitate. She understood that with her brothers, everything had to be openly settled.
“Five yuan each.”
Big Brother immediately turned to go to the kitchen to get the money.
Xu Ying quickly grabbed his sleeve. “Brother, don’t. I gave the thermos to Sister-in-law as a return gift. She brought so many things when she married into the family, and she gave most of them to me. This kettle doesn’t even cost a fifth of that value.”
Still, Big Brother Xu was stubborn and refused to back down.
Helpless, Xu Ying turned to her mother for help.
Mother Xu glared at her son. “Didn’t you hear what your sister said? It’s for your wife. Why are you interfering?”
Though she spoke firmly, her expression clearly showed heartache—five yuan! Her daughter gave it away so easily!
Embarrassed, Big Brother finally gave up the money idea.
Xu Ying looked to her second brother. Thankfully, his reaction was calm and content.
He was happy. With a new thermos, he’d have hot water in winter. Who cared if Big Brother didn’t pay? Their sister was right. When their elder sister-in-law married into the family, she gave everything to the youngest. It made sense for her to return the favor now.
If it had been him, he’d do the same.
Sister-in-law Xu, unaware of what was going on, finished boiling the water and hurried over. “Ying Ying, wash up quickly, the water’s hot!”
The evening chill was creeping in, and warm water felt like heaven. Xu Ying brushed her teeth, washed her face, and filled her newly bought ceramic basin with steaming water. As she soaked her feet, the comfort seeped deep into her tired bones.
She must have been truly exhausted. The moment she lay down, she drifted into a deep sleep.
As expected, the next morning…
“Mom! Why didn’t you wake me up?” Xu Ying jolted awake and screamed. It was already eight o’clock!
She usually got up at seven-thirty sharp!
【Host, would you like this system to activate the alarm function from now on? To ensure you’re never late again?】
“Shut up,” she grumbled.
Mother Xu was out in the yard when she heard the shout. “What did you say, dear?”
Before she could make sense of it, a gust of wind whooshed past her, and the next thing she saw was Xu Ying riding away on her bicycle at lightning speed.
Mother Xu stood in place, flustered. “You haven’t had breakfast! I even boiled eggs for you today!”
But Xu Ying had no time. She pedaled with fury, the bicycle moving so fast it looked like it had sprouted wings.
Nearby, Dong Wenqiang and Dong Wenjie were leaning against a large tree. A blur of motion zipped past them.
Dong Wenqiang blinked, stunned. “Was that… was that a girl on a bicycle that just flew past?”
Dong Wenjie scratched his head, puzzled. “Fly? I didn’t see anything.”
Dong Wenqiang scowled at his brother. “Useless!”
Their ambush attempt was a failure—again.
Dejected, the two brothers headed to the Educated Youth Center to report to Chen Yanran and Dong Wenzhong.
“Wenzhong, my brother and I have waited on that road so many times, but we never catch her. Let’s change our strategy,” Dong Wenqiang suggested, frustration in his voice.
Chen Yanran raised a brow, her tone dripping with mockery. “Tsk, a small task like this and you can’t even manage. What a pair of fools.”
That did it.
The brothers’ faces turned red with anger.
“You’ve got a pretty face,” Dong Wenqiang snapped, “but who knew your mouth was as sharp as a blade? I bet your heart’s just as vicious.”
He turned to Dong Wenzhong, his tone more serious now. “Wenzhong, don’t be fooled by this snake. She’s the type to betray you once she gets the chance. Watch your back—she might stab it one day!”
Chen Yanran’s face darkened. “Don’t listen to him, Wenzhong!”
But the damage was done. Wenzhong stared at her in silence, seeing a side of Yanran he hadn’t seen before.
Then he asked slowly, “So… what now?”
The brothers exchanged a look. Then Dong Wenqiang suggested, “Get that girl—Xu Ying—to come to the Educated Youth Center, or lure her to some quiet spot. Once she’s alone, we’ll make our move. After that, even if she tries to talk, who’d believe her? A girl with a ruined reputation is as good as silenced.”
A chill swept the room.