What should I do?

Mu Qingshi was still facing off against Wu Li, while Wu Li’s gang hovered restlessly behind him. San’er had recovered and now stood at Wu Li’s side, his face full of displeasure.

Mu Qingshi said, “Wu Li, I don’t want trouble, so when you all got into a fight, we stayed out of it. Who would have thought you’d force us out? If we didn’t show ourselves, it would have been rude of us, considering your generous invitation.”

Wu Li seethed inwardly. How had he managed to provoke Bai Fanhao and that madman? What was he supposed to do now? He shot a glance at San’er and Si’er, muttering under his breath, “You two idiots, I told you not to mess around, but you insisted. Now look! Fix this yourselves.”

San’er, still shaken, cast a wary look at Mu Qingshi and said pitifully to Wu Li, “Boss, I—”

Mu Qingshi cut him off at just the right moment. “What’s this? Still not weaned yet? Should I fetch a bottle for you? Let me be clear, Wu Li, don’t try to change the subject. Tell your people to get lost, out of my sight. If Bai Fanhao ends up with any lasting effects from this, I won’t let any of you off.”

Though Wu Li was disgruntled, there was nothing he could do. After all, it was his men who had hit Bai Fanhao, and worse, it had been a blow to the back of the head.

Once they’d disappeared, Mu Qingshi went over to help Bai Fanhao up. Seeing him unconscious, she was left irritated—how was she supposed to get such a big guy home in the middle of the night?

She looked at Bai Fanhao lying there, his eyes tightly shut. Perhaps it was the blow to the head, but under the night sky, his already pale skin looked even whiter.

“Oh, what now? My phone’s out of battery, switched off,” Mu Qingshi muttered in frustration. “If only Qingyang were here, he could help me.”

As she fretted, she suddenly heard someone approaching. She assumed Wu Li had come back, and her eyes sharpened as she stared ahead. When the footsteps drew near and the figure appeared, Mu Qingshi waved and called out in relief, “Qingyang, you’re here! Hurry over!”

“What’s wrong, sis?” Mu Qingyang was puzzled by her excitement at seeing him.

No sooner had he spoken than Shen Yali’s anxious voice sounded, “What happened? Is Xiaoxi hurt?”

Mu Qingshi was stunned by that voice. What was going on—why was her mother here? And there was still a boy lying on the ground! She quickly stood up, positioning herself in front of the stone to block Bai Fanhao from view.

Mu Qingyang looked at his sister in confusion. Why was she so happy to see him, but tense and nervous the moment their mother arrived?

Mu Qingshi turned to her anxious mother. “Mom, I’m fine. You should go home first. I have something to do while I wait for my classmate. Let Qingyang stay with me. We’ll be back soon.”

Shen Yali refused. “No, it’s too late. I can’t relax until you’re both home. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow. Let’s go home now. Someone over there was beaten so badly—what if you two get hurt? Come home this instant.”

Mu Qingshi felt a warm sweetness in her heart at her mother’s nagging. It was love and worry. But she couldn’t go home with her mother, or Bai Fanhao would have to spend the night on the grass and get sick.

Torn, Mu Qingshi hesitated, weighing her options. Shen Yali, whose eyesight was sharp, had initially come over in a panic, thinking her daughter was hurt. Now, as she looked at Mu Qingshi, she sensed something amiss.

Shen Yali scrutinized her daughter as she asked, “Xiaoxi, what’s wrong? Is something going on?”

Mu Qingshi deliberated for a long while. Maybe she should just tell her mother; after all, the truth always comes out. Her mother knew how to weigh the seriousness of things. It was better to be honest.

Looking at her mother, Mu Qingshi spoke cautiously. “Um, Mom, there’s something I need to tell you. But you have to promise not to get angry.”