The bell for the end of class rang just as Hua Jie finished all her homework.
She stood up suddenly, stuffing books into her backpack with a flurry of slaps and pats.
Shen Mo was startled by her sudden movement, nearly dropping his “Sports Anatomy” book to the ground.
He looked up with a displeased expression, while Little Potato waved goodbye to him cheerfully, then sprinted out like it was a 100-meter dash.
One might think she was rushing to the cafeteria to beat the lunch crowd.
It was already dark outside, and Hua Jie adjusted her backpack as she ran.
Time to go home, hurry home; her dad was returning from a business trip today, disembarking the train at 5 PM, and he must be home by now.
She was going to start a business with her dad!
Like father, like son—fighting poverty together and striving for a better life!
Her drawing paper, brushes, paints, new shoes, and clothes—everything depended on this!
Run, little money, all into sister’s pocket.
She dashed into the bike shed, clicked open the lock, and stood by the door of the shed waiting for Bian Hong.
She stomped her feet impatiently. Why was he taking so long?
When she finally saw Bian Hong from a distance, she jumped up excitedly:
“Bian Hong, hurry up, quick, quick~”
Bian Hong cracked a smile, walked up to her, slapped her bicycle seat, and turned into the shed to unlock his bike.
At that moment, Shen Mo walked by, giving her a sideways glance, and they brushed past each other.
Hua Jie briefly greeted him and then ran off with Bian Hong.
“…” Shen Mo.
His face filled her drawings, but here she was, hastily saying goodbye after school, perfunctorily bidding him farewell, and eagerly biking home with Bian Hong.
Little Potato was truly a textbook example of a heartbreaker.
…
By evening, the roads had mostly been cleared. The compacted snow on the road was hard to shovel clean, but the loose snow had been pushed to the sides. As long as no sudden turns were made, biking was generally safe.
Hua Jie pedaled with urgency, and watching her anxious efforts, Bian Hong couldn’t help but wonder if she was fleeing for her life.
The two of them turned into an alley side by side when suddenly someone dashed out from an angle, kicking Hua Jie’s bicycle.
Fortunately, the girl reacted quickly, and since there was no ice on this side of the road, she likely avoided a nasty fall.
Hua Jie staggered, managing to support herself and her bicycle with one foot on the ground to prevent falling over.
Bian Hong braked sharply and turned his bike around, frowning as he asked:
“What happened?”
Hua Jie wanted to know what was going on too. She turned to look and saw a tall woman with short hair trying to get past the bicycle to approach her.
Behind the woman stood a girl—Bian Ying.
“…” Hua Jie frowned, she seemed to recall who this short-haired woman was.
She vaguely remembered that Bian Ying had a cousin who was quite tough, known in the vocational school for pulling girls’ hair and kicking their stomachs hard; it was said that even many boys couldn’t stand up to her.
Swallowing, Hua Jie gathered her courage and demanded:
“What do you want?”
“Bullying my little sister at school, huh?” Bian Ying’s cousin slightly tilted her chin up, her attitude aggressive and clearly that of someone used to intimidating and hitting others.
“…” Hua Jie didn’t say anything, knowing that nothing she said now would help. Clutching the handlebars, she was ready to abandon her bicycle and block the forthcoming attack.
Sure enough, as Bian Ying’s cousin approached, she raised her hand to slap Hua Jie.
Bian Hong, sensing trouble, had already left his bike and moved in front of Hua Jie, stepping in just as the woman raised her arm.
The cousin’s hand didn’t come down; she stared at Bian Hong, then withdrew her hand, sneering:
“Playing the hero, are you?”
“What do you want?” Bian Hong spread his arm in front of Hua Jie, his eyes darting between Bian Ying’s cousin and Bian Ying, and then he said thoughtfully:
“Looking for trouble? Think it’s because people won’t hit a woman?”
“…” Bian Ying’s cousin smirked slightly. She was tall, about 175 cm, and with her ample fighting experience, she didn’t look like someone easily intimidated, even appearing somewhat menacing.
Her gaze shifted from Bian Hong to Hua Jie behind him. Bian Hong slightly shifted his position, wary that she might exploit any gap to harm the girl behind him.
At that moment, Bian Ying’s cousin suddenly made her move, lifting her foot toward the vulnerable spot below Bian Hong’s navel.
The foot clad in avant-garde pointed shoes seemed particularly powerful.
Bian Hong turned to dodge, but it was a bit too late. Thinking about how painful it would be if the kick landed, he clenched his teeth, and his muscles tensed as he hastily tried to sidestep.
However, the anticipated sharp impact to a vulnerable spot didn’t happen as expected.
A large hand reached up from below, grabbed the pointed shoe, and yanked it upwards—
“Ah!” Bian Ying’s cousin screamed, tilting backward and crashing to the ground with a thud.
Shen Mo frowned, listening to the sound, it didn’t seem male?
Looking at the person on the ground and then at Hua Jie, he uncertainly asked:
“Is that a woman?”
“…” Bian Ying’s cousin scrambled up from the ground, glaring fiercely at Shen Mo.
What do you mean, ‘is that a woman’?
Isn’t it obvious?
Isn’t it clear she’s a woman?
“Yes, she’s a woman.” Hua Jie nodded, then glared at Bian Ying nearby. The incident had happened so suddenly that she hadn’t reacted at first, but now she was fully alert, realizing the problem stemmed from Bian Ying.
With Shen Mo and Bian Hong blocking Bian Ying’s cousin, Hua Jie no longer paid her any attention but bent down to pick up a stone, running towards Bian Ying while fiercely scowling, and threw it hard.
Her strides were large, and her manner fierce, as if she was ready to tear Bian Ying apart.
Indeed, when the scholar meets the soldier, reasoning fails, and hands must speak; not that she wasn’t capable of holding her own.
“Cousin!” Bian Ying cried out in pain as the stone hit her shoulder, seeing Hua Jie approaching, she yelled for help in fear.
Hua Jie used to be subdued and silent, why was she so bold now?
“What are you doing?” Shen Mo quickly stepped in front of Bian Ying’s cousin, preventing her from moving towards Hua Jie.
He had followed behind Hua Jie and the others and was already displeased with Bian Hong and her. Seeing them being stopped only intensified his annoyance.
Fortunately, Shen Mo arrived just in time; otherwise, Bian Hong would have really been incapacitated by that kick, and Little Potato would have been the next one to take a beating.
Indeed, Bian Hong, who seemed introverted, just wasn’t cut out for these situations. It was clear that it was up to someone versatile like him to handle the crucial moments.
“Don’t meddle in other people’s business. We’re settling a private grudge; it has nothing to do with you,” Bian Ying’s cousin dusted herself off, assessing the pain from her fall, while confronting Shen Mo and anxiously glancing back at her cousin.
“Settling what now?” Shen Mo was not like Bian Hong. Even when he wasn’t angry, his usual stern look was intimidating enough, and when he frowned, he looked downright murderous.
Bian Ying’s cousin, even in her most defiant stance, seemed like a blustering chick when facing Shen Mo.
“Let’s go, sister,” said Bian Ying, not caring about anything else and turning to run.
Seeing her run, Hua Jie stopped chasing and stood shouting:
“Weren’t you going to block me and beat me up? Why are you running? Can you even run away? See you at school tomorrow?”
As Bian Ying ran off, her cousin hesitated. Taking advantage of Shen Mo turning to look at Hua Jie, she also took the chance to run toward the other end of the alley.
“…” Hua Jie’s gaze shifted from Bian Ying’s retreating figure to her cousin, her expression exceptionally stern.
She had always thought Bian Ying was just an ignorant high school student, completely unaware of her own actions.
But she had never expected that it would get to the point where someone would try to have her beaten up.
Shen Mo glanced at Bian Hong, walked up to Hua Jie, and, with a raised eyebrow, placed his hand on her head, then slightly pressed down, pulling her close to him.
“…Shen Mo.” Hua Jie reached up to pull his hand away, but the boy instead grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him.
Even through the gloves, she could feel the undeniable strength of the young man.
He was worried that Bian Ying’s cousin might suddenly turn back and attack Hua Jie.
Bian Ying’s cousin, tripped up by Shen Mo and running with a limp, kept looking back as she ran.
Seeing the two men protectively positioned on either side of the young girl, she gritted her teeth.
She had been around long enough to recognize Shen Mo’s skilled moves and knew she had hit a wall. But thinking about how she not only failed to beat Hua Jie but also ended up sprawled on the ground, losing face completely, she couldn’t help turning back and shouting:
“Wait and see!”
“…” Shen Mo was utterly indifferent.
“…” Hua Jie found her opponent foolish yet felt infuriated.
The cowardly villains in TV dramas who run back to call for reinforcements actually do have real-life counterparts.
As Bian Ying hurried toward the alley exit, she turned her head to look back. The streetlights illuminated her, revealing her ugly expression, lips tightly pursed, uncertain if she was more scared or angry.
Hua Jie slightly lifted her chin, fearlessly meeting her gaze from afar.
Shen Mo had already looked away, and he patted her forehead with the back of his hand:
“Are you hurt?”
Bian Ying just glanced back before turning the corner and disappearing.
“No.” Hua Jie turned to pick up her bicycle, smiling:
“Luckily, you and Bian Hong were here, or I would have really been beaten up today.”
It was her second life as a person, and she had never encountered such a thing before.
To think she would be ambushed by school bullies at an alley entrance.
Bian Ying was utterly unprincipled, not even declaring a challenge like “If you dare, don’t leave after school!” She had quietly called for backup.
The two had been friends in a past life, and now, in this life, things had come to this.
Perhaps Bian Ying couldn’t stand that Hua Jie, despite starting off lower, was now surpassing everyone.
She must grind her teeth in hatred every day at seeing Hua Jie leading the exercises, watching someone she once thought inferior living a better life must be painful.
Yu Tonglin, who once liked her, now ignored her because of Hua Jie, so her resentment grew deeper…
Hua Jie pursed her lips, letting out a low scoff.
Jealous people, it seems, will never let go of those they envy. Fearing that the other might grow stronger, they seize any opportunity to drag them down.
She clenched her fists. Should she really give Bian Ying a good slap tomorrow to show her that she had changed and was no longer the pushover she used to be?
“Let’s go, it’s getting late.” Bian Hong lifted his bike, glanced at Shen Mo, then said to Hua Jie.
“I’ll escort you both,” Shen Mo turned to lift his own bike.
“No need,” said Bian Hong.
Shen Mo ignored Bian Hong, mounted his bike, and positioned himself on the other side of Hua Jie. He braked, stretched out a long leg to support himself with one foot, and cocked his head towards her:
“Let’s go.”
“…” Hua Jie wanted to say there was no need, but under Shen Mo’s gaze, she swallowed her words.
The three of them rode side by side, the two boys flanking her on either side.
Moonlight draped over the young man and woman, as if they were adorned with stars.
“You’re pretty calm about this, aren’t you scared?” Shen Mo pedaled leisurely, matching their speed.
“What’s there to be scared of? At worst, I’ll take a beating.”
“Bian Ying will still be at No. 1 High School, if her sister hits me once, the next day in class, I’ll slap Bian Ying back.”
“Let’s see who can take a beating better, Bian Ying or me,” Hua Jie said indignantly.
“You won’t have to take a beating,” Bian Hong suddenly spoke up.
“That’s right, I’m not traveling to and from school alone.” Hua Jie turned and smiled at Bian Hong; she had a bodyguard.
“…” Shen Mo gave them each a look and frowned, obviously annoyed.
“Won’t it be too late for you to get home if you escort me?” Hua Jie turned to talk to Shen Mo.
“It’s okay, I already had something to eat at the school cafeteria. I’ll just grab some supper when I get back. There’s no curfew at my place, the old man won’t know what time I get back anyway,” he replied.
“Oh,” said Hua Jie.
The young man, worried about crushing his hairstyle, never wore a hat, leaving his ears perpetually red and frozen.
“Was that your classmate just now? How do you plan to handle this tomorrow?” Bian Hong on her left spoke again, drawing Hua Jie’s attention back to himself.
“There’s no such thing as being on guard every day. I’ll make sure she behaves,” Hua Jie turned her head to the left, watching the road ahead as she spoke with Bian Hong.
“Do you want me to talk to her for you?” Bian Hong offered, sounding very much like an older brother.
“It’s okay, I—” Hua Jie was halfway through her sentence when she was suddenly interrupted by Shen Mo:
“When you talk to her tomorrow, I’ll come with you,” Shen Mo said in an undeniable tone.
“No need, I can handle it myself. I might not stand a chance against her cousin, but I can certainly handle her,” Hua Jie quickly turned her head back to Shen Mo on her right.
It felt a bit overwhelming to keep up with conversations on both sides.
She was busy, her head turning back and forth made her dizzy.
All the way home, Hua Jie was escorted with comments from the left and right until they reached her front door.
Bian Hong then kicked down his bike stand and pushed his bicycle past Hua Jie’s house to his own, turning back to see Shen Mo still standing there, and frowned:
“Aren’t you leaving yet?”
“…” Shen Mo just glanced at him and didn’t say a word.
He planned to wait until Bian Hong had disappeared into the yard before he would seriously say goodbye to Little Potato and then leave.
“…” Bian Hong frowned, staring down Shen Mo as if they were going to stand there till the end of time.
“See you tomorrow morning, Bian Hong!” Hua Jie hurriedly turned back to say goodbye to Bian Hong.
In this cold weather, the two of them stood there as if worlds apart—had they taken a liking to each other?
“…Come to my place for breakfast tomorrow morning; my mom’s getting up early to make buns,” Bian Hong hesitated, then went ahead and opened his gate first, asserting a neighborly closeness with his invitation.
“Sure, sure!” Hua Jie cheerfully agreed.
“…” Shen Mo stared at the girl until Bian Hong had entered his yard, and the sound of him crossing the yard and closing the door behind him could be heard. Then, he sternly said:
“Don’t go eat there!”
“Why not? Aunt Bian’s buns are really tasty,” Hua Jie argued justifiably.
“…” Shen Mo flicked her forehead with his finger, glaring at her fiercely, then pushed his bike and turned towards the alley:
“I’m leaving.”
“Do you want to come in and sit for a while? Have a drink, watch the birds, play with the dogs, stuff like that?” she offered, as if her home was a zoo.