CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: NO ONE CAN HURT YOU

In front of Six Gates there is a street filled with snacks, offering quite a variety of distinctive street food.

The group first bought some fried snacks and then turned towards Tang’s Noodle House, each ordering a bowl of their signature noodles.

After the meal, Shi Yang held Zhao Meimei’s hand and greeted Qu Chaozong and the Peng sisters: "I’ll take my sister around, you guys enjoy yourself."

Qu Chaozong secretly threw him a grateful look: "Alright then, when you’re done, wait for us at the school entrance."

Zhao Meimei hung onto her Brother Yangyang’s arm, and the two of them walked leisurely ahead.

Along the way, Shi Yang spent money to buy Zhao Meimei two cartoon stickers, a magic wand-shaped fruit candy, and a bag of popcorn.

Zhao Meimei held the popcorn, eating one piece herself and reaching out to feed Shi Yang: "Brother Yangyang, ah!"

Shi Yang cooperatively lowered his head and opened his mouth, biting into her little hand’s offerings one bite at a time.

Halfway, they turned into a stationery store; Zhao Meimei remembered she didn’t have an eraser, so Shi Yang took her inside to pick one.

After eating so much popcorn, Shi Yang was thirsty and asked Zhao Meimei, "Do you want some water?"

Zhao Meimei licked her lips, dry, and nodded, "I do."

Shi Yang went to buy water, advising Zhao Meimei, "Don’t run off, just stay here and pick something you like, I’ll pay when I return."

Zhao Meimei nodded in agreement.

Shi Yang walked to the stationery store’s entrance, turned back to take a look, saw Zhao Meimei seriously picking things, and only then proceeded to the nearby supermarket.

Shi Yang bought a bottle of mineral water and a drink, and when returning to the stationery store, was dumbfounded.

Shi Yang rushed to the cash register, anxiously asking the shop assistant, "Did you see my sister? She was just picking an eraser there!"

The shop assistant was busy with sales, looked up at him, shook her head: "I didn’t notice, if she’s not here, you might want to look elsewhere."

Shi Yang charged out of the stationery store, anxiously calling for Zhao Meimei, searching everywhere, going through several stores, Shi Yang was getting frantic, his heart restless.

He knew Zhao Meimei must not have gone back to school alone; she definitely was somewhere on this street.

Shi Yang stood by the roadside calling out, "Zhao Meimei! Meimei!"

Two elementary school students ran towards him, looking panicked, running towards the snack street exit. Hearing Shi Yang call out, one little girl hurriedly shouted to him: "Aren’t you Zhao Meimei’s brother? There’s a fight over by the green space, Zhao Meimei is there!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Yang’s brows immediately furrowed, his face turning pale with fright, urgently asking: "Where is Zhao Meimei?"

The little girl pointed a finger at a location for Shi Yang.

Shi Yang sprinted towards the green space, hearing distant loud arguments and swearing.

When Shi Yang arrived, the two groups confronting each other in the green space had already started fighting.

He almost immediately recognized that one of the fighters was Qu Chaozong, and saw Peng Rui and Peng Hui, the sisters, hugging each other and crying out in terror.

In the midst of the chaotic crowd, a small nimble figure desperately pulled at a boy who was waving fists to hit Qu Chaozong, shouting: "Stop fighting!"

"Get lost, you brat!" The boy swung his hand, slapping Zhao Meimei.

"Meimei!!!"

Shi Yang shouted Meimei’s name, a sharp pain stabbing his heart.

That boy slapped Zhao Meimei’s face, knocking her directly to the ground.

Shi Yang hollered furiously: "Damn you! How dare you hit my sister!"

A crimson rage exploded in Shi Yang’s eyes, and he charged forward, swinging his fist fiercely at the boy, landing a punch that made the boy scream and stagger back two steps, sitting on the ground.

Shi Yang chased after him, pinning him down, the second punch landed squarely on the boy’s brow ridge, breaking the skin instantly.

The boy fighting Qu Chaozong heard the commotion, turned his head to see his buddy flipped over on the ground, immediately abandoning Qu Chaozong to help out.

Shi Yang hurried to Zhao Meimei, trying to pull her up, but hearing movement, turned to see a punch coming his way; he deftly ducked, using the momentum to elbow strike back viciously, causing the boy to grimace in pain.

Shi Yang glared at the boy with deep, striking eyes, black and white distinct, blood-red threads overflowed, revealing utter savagery and fury!

The two stared each other down, Shi Yang paused, finding the boy familiar, before he could continue thinking, the boy pointed at him, cursing: "Damn! I’ve been looking for you!"

The boy finished shouting and raised his foot aiming to kick Shi Yang.

"You’re not allowed to hit my Brother Yangyang!"

Zhao Meimei, previously slapped to the ground, seeing her Brother Yangyang would suffer, immediately got angry, eyes flushed, screaming hoarsely, her slender neck strained showing blue veins.

Without thinking, Zhao Meimei rushed forward, shielding Shi Yang, like an enraged little beast, fiercely protecting the person she wants to safeguard.

Zhao Meimei widened her eyes, looking at the approaching flying kick, instinctively hunching over, using her arms to shield herself.

Before she had finished moving, Qu Chaozong charged from the side, tackling the boy to the ground together, while a strong force behind lifted her up, spinning her around.

Shi Yang used his back to shield Zhao Meimei, paused for two seconds, without the expected pain arriving, he turned then saw Qu Chaozong wrestling with the boy.

Qu Chaozong thudded his fists fiercely at the boy, cursing: "Damn! I’ll beat you to death today!"

Qu Chaozong wasn’t soft either, hit hard, focused on the boy’s face, two punches had split the boy’s eye corner open with blood spraying.

Seeing the boy unable to stand anymore, Qu Chaozong climbed up, rubbing the painful spot from the fall before, cursing: "Damn!"

Zhao Meimei froze, realizing, hurriedly struggled wanting to get down, but as soon as she moved, Shi Yang hugged her tightly in his arms.

By reflex, Zhao Meimei kicked her dangling little legs twice, immediately hearing Shi Yang growl: "Don’t damn move!"

Zhao Meimei was startled, turning dumbly, only seeing the side of Shi Yang’s face.

With Shi Yang’s chest pressed against Zhao Meimei’s back, breathing heavily, holding her tightly in his arms, listening to Zhao Meimei’s childish voice calling him, his heart felt suddenly pricked to tenderness, eyes filled with sudden moisture.

"Brother Yangyang." Zhao Meimei called timidly, she was frightened dumb by Shi Yang’s angry shout.

Shi Yang hugged Zhao Meimei, arms under her shoulders, turning her to face him completely.

Looking at Zhao Meimei, Shi Yang’s heart, previously tightened with anxiety and fear, relaxed abruptly, emotions surged like a tidal wave through his eyes.

Shi Yang roared low: "Are you crazy! Why did you shield me?"

Under Zhao Meimei’s thin eyelids, her dark pupils gazed at her Brother Yangyang: "That man wanted to hit you right in front of me."

Zhao Meimei pouted: "You are my brother; as long as I’m here, nobody can hurt you!"

Shi Yang clenched his teeth with anger... This brat... how can she make one want to whack her, yet be so endearing!

Suddenly, Zhao Meimei wrapped her arms around Shi Yang’s neck, pressing her flushed cheek against his chin, her warm breath spreading across his neck: "Brother Yangyang, I was wrong; I won’t do it again. Don’t be angry with me, okay?"

Resting in her Brother Yangyang’s embrace, Zhao Meimei listened for any response, after a while, she only heard a muffled hum of agreement.