Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Milkbiscuit
Shi Yao pursed her lips tightly in anxiety as she pushed the door with greater force than before.
The door still wouldn’t budge. She couldn’t see what was going on inside, but she could hear the foul insults and the sounds of punches and kicks sinking into flesh… and vaguely, the sound of someone groaning in pain as well.
Did that voice belong to Lin Jiage? Is he injured? Will he be okay?
He’s only one person. He’s facing against a gang of people, how can he possibly win?
Shi Yao knew that the rational choice in this situation would be to leave.
But it was as if someone had nailed her feet to the ground—she couldn’t move at all. She smacked the door anxiously, frantically shouting Lin Jiage’s name, wishing that he would just respond to her so that she’d know that he was still safe…
But despite her efforts, the person on the other end didn’t speak a word.
And this left her feeling even more terrified and panicked.
She shouted his name to the point where her throat started to hurt. An unknown amount of time after she struck the door, a crack finally opened.
She saw that elegant young man kneeling down on his knee before her. His clean, white shirt had been stained with many footprints, and his neat and charming hairstyle had been messed up.
Shi Yao opened her mouth, but the voice which had been desperately calling out “Lin Jiage” all this while wouldn’t make a sound.
She was so frightened when Qin Yiran and her gang surrounded her and blocked her way. In that instant, she didn’t know where she found the courage, but she dashed unhesitatingly into the crowd to hug him tight.
She wanted to ask if he was in pain and whether he was really okay.
She wanted to beg Qin Yiran to stop hitting him, and if she was still angry and indignant, she could come for her instead.
But before she could say a word, Lin Jiage was already roaring at her like a ferocious beast, “I told you to f*cking run away!”
But as if oblivious to his rage, she continued to run towards him, wanting to protect him from the attacking crowd.
Yet, somehow, he—who was just roaring at her a moment ago—had already pulled her into his embrace to protect her.
With her in hand, there was no way he could continue to fight back. Yet, Qin Yiran still had no intention of sparing him.
Completely protected by him, Shi Yao didn’t feel the slightest pain from the gang’s barrage of blows. However, she could still feel their punches and kicks through the tremors.
These men had been drinking, so the strength of their blows was completely unrestrained. Even though she couldn’t feel a thing, she knew that it was bound to be extremely painful.
Yet, as if nothing was happening at all, he spoke with that familiar nonchalant and deep voice that she knew, “Shorty, are you dumb? I told you to run, so why did you come back here?”
This was the first time she felt that the term ‘Shorty’ coming from his mouth didn’t sound that hateful.
She didn’t respond to his question, and she had no idea how she should have responded either.
He spoke once more, “Shorty, what time is it now?”
How could you still be concerned about the time given our current situation!
“Forget it, you probably wouldn’t know either…” Without waiting for her to respond, he continued, “… But, it’s definitely not midnight yet…”
“Soft Bun, happy birthday.”
“Happy birthday, Shi Yao.”
Soft Bun, happy birthday. Happy birthday, Shi Yao…
Without any warning, Shi Yao’s vision blurred. Tears began streaming down her cheeks.
While Qin Yiran couldn’t hear their conversation, the whispers between them had caused her eyes to redden with fury.
Losing all rationality, she grabbed a nearby stick and swung it heavily toward Lin Jiage’s head—
But before the stick could land, a racing car with blinding headlights abruptly stopped in front of the courtyard house with a piercing screech.
