Chapter 39: Sister Huan, Does It Hurt?

"Isn't that Shen Qing!" Yu Jiaxuan exclaimed when he saw your face, recalling his dislocated hand from half a month ago with lingering fear.

Yu Min'er didn't hear what Yu Jiaxuan said. Her gaze was locked on the two people, not knowing what they were talking about. She only saw Lin Ruiyang frown gently.

"Sis? Sis?" Yu Jiaxuan, seeing her unresponsive, shook Yu Min'er's arm.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Yu Min'er returned to herself.

"They've left," Yu Jiaxuan said, pointing in the direction where the two had just been.

Yu Min'er lowered her eyes, her gaze dimming. "Let's go too. The driver is still waiting outside."

"Oh." Yu Jiaxuan, oblivious as ever, didn't notice Yu Min'er's disappointment.

**

Nie Huan reached the entrance of the alley and suddenly stopped.

"I'm here," she said.

Chu Yu emerged from the shadows, took the backpack from his shoulder, and handed it to her. "Alright, you should go in now."

Nie Huan gave him a glance, nodded, and said nothing more.

Once the girl had disappeared down the alley, Chu Yu lingered a moment longer before slowly turning to leave.

He had taken only a few steps when he faintly heard a man's curses coming from deep within the alley.

"Useless girl! Getting into fights again! Look at you—how are you supposed to go to work tomorrow!"

"Why are you fighting again? Were you out seducing men or something!"

"I told you to fight, so fight!"

"Let me see you get into another fight!"

"Dad, please don’t hit my sister," a frail little girl shrank into the corner, her bangs covering half her face and one eye brimming with tears.

Father Nie glared viciously at Nie Yu. The little girl's body went rigid, and she began to tremble uncontrollably.

"What? Are you going to seduce men too? Have you seen how ugly you are? Hideous little thing."

"Why are you crying! Cry again and I'll beat you to death!"

"Still crying!" Father Nie raised his hand to slap Nie Yu.

Instinctively, Nie Yu shielded her head, but the blow never landed.

"You little brat, rebelling, are you!" Father Nie roared in frustration, flinging Nie Huan’s hand away.

Nie Huan, off balance, fell to the floor, her left hand—encased in a cast—striking the wooden table nearby.

"Sis!" Nie Yu rushed over to help her, only for Father Nie to grab her by the hair.

"Ah!" Nie Yu screamed in pain.

"Touch her again and see what happens!" Nie Huan struggled to her feet, dragging her left arm, her eyes bloodshot and fierce.

Father Nie narrowed his eyes and yanked Nie Yu's hair harder, sending her crashing backward.

"So what if I did? Are you going to hit your own father now?"

Bang!

The old wooden door was kicked open. All three inside turned toward the entrance. A boy stood outside, breathing heavily.

"Huan, are you…" Chu Yu froze, taking in Nie Huan’s disheveled hair, the redness on her face where she’d been struck—vivid against her pale skin.

"Well, well, Nie Huan, your little lover’s come to the rescue…" Father Nie sneered.

"Nie Yuanshan, shut your mouth!" Nie Huan shouted, and while he was stunned, she quickly pulled Nie Yu from his grasp.

"Sister…" Nie Yu clung tightly to Nie Huan's waist.

"Nie Huan, you're just as shameless as your mother! What, are you going to run off with a man? Is Nie Yu going to run off with some man too?" Father Nie, frenzied, began smashing things.

Nie Yu trembled with fear. Nie Huan wrapped her right arm around her, shielding her in her embrace.

"Xiaoyu, let's go," Nie Huan said softly.

"You're not going anywhere!" Father Nie rushed to block their way.

Chu Yu couldn't stand it anymore and kicked Father Nie hard.

"Huan, take your sister and go. Hurry!"

"You little brats, you dare—"

Nie Huan didn't spare him a glance. She took Nie Yu and walked out the door.

Father Nie tried to pursue, but Chu Yu was hard to deal with—young and strong. In no time, Father Nie was overpowered and knocked to the floor by Chu Yu’s kick.

"A man like you calls himself a father?" Chu Yu, thinking of the sisters’ injuries, kicked him again in anger before storming out.

"You’ve all run away… all run off with wild men… you’ve all run away…" Father Nie curled up on the floor, muttering endlessly.

**

Chu Yu crossed several streets before finally spotting Nie Huan beneath a streetlamp.

"Huan…" Chu Yu jogged up to her. Nie Huan’s hair was now tidied, but her cheek was still flushed.

"Does it hurt?"

"It doesn’t. Thank you," Nie Huan lowered her eyes and gently patted Nie Yu’s head.

Chu Yu felt a bitter ache in his heart. He reached out, wanting to give her a hug. Just as he was about to touch her shoulder, she looked up.

Her eyes were deep and dark, as though they held a gravity that threatened to draw him in.

"Huan…" His Adam’s apple bobbed. The way he looked at her grew more intense with every passing second.