Chapter Fifty-One: The Mass Criticism Meeting

  "Since you're drunk, does that mean I don't have to drink with you anymore?" I raised my head from his chest, my forehead touching his soft lips, and my face felt like it was on fire again, so I quickly lowered my head back down.

  He seemed to consider for a few seconds, put his hand on my shoulder and pushed me back a bit, looked down at me with his head bowed, then smiled and said: "Okay, if you don't want to drink, then forget it, it's late today, I'll take you home first."

  Under the bright streetlights, his entire body was radiating a soft silver glow, with a warm and gentle smile in his eyes that I had grown accustomed to, and a soft halo around his lips. At this moment, I suddenly felt that the black wings behind him had been washed clean, warmly like an angel.

  He waved his hand lightly for the people behind him not to follow, then pulled me away.

  The warmth of his palm enveloped me tightly, a warm current that seemed to float in the air above the equator poured into my body. Unlike other times, the feeling he brought me was not just sweetness, but more like a fire on a winter's night, warming my heart that was about to freeze, giving me the courage to face difficulties again, he is my strong backing, as long as he is here, I am not afraid of anything.

  Qingquan neighborhood, my home is downstairs.

  "Hurry up and go, don't make your parents worry." Yu's face was turned towards me, his voice soft.

  "Today... thank you!" I bowed my head, my voice as thin as a mosquito's. My eyes still lingered on the hand that had shaken his, reluctant to let go.

  He tilted his head and looked at me, smiling softly: "You can't thank me with just a simple sentence."

  I tiptoed and gently kissed the left cheek of his flushed face, catching a glimpse of his stunned eyes for an instant. I immediately lowered my head again, this time looking at my toes, with almost no gap between us, our four feet pressed against each other.

  His tall figure loomed over me, his long arms spread out and wrapped around me, through the thin summer clothes, I heard his originally steady heartbeat gradually become irregular, and my heart also started beating wildly.

  "Mimi, don't worry, I'll definitely take good care of you and won't let you get hurt again!" Yuyu held me tightly, his low voice sounding very pleasant.

  I closed my eyes and leaned against his chest, his arms had an irresistible magic that I couldn't resist, greedily savoring the warmth he gave me. I thought now my face must be filled with a satisfied smile: "Mm, I believe you."

  "Rice... rice? What are you doing?" A sudden, shrill middle-aged woman's voice came from behind me. I was like just realizing that I was holding a hedgehog-like thing, and I abruptly pushed Yu away, turned around to see my mom at the stairs entrance, her expression as if she had been slapped in the face by a stranger while walking down the street.

  "Mom... how are you here..." I rubbed my hands and walked towards her, caught doing something bad, with an awkward expression. I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, why did it have to be today of all days, when everything bad had to come together and explode at once.

  Yu followed me and stood behind, the three of us forming an equilateral triangle with my mom at the top. My mom furrowed her brow, her eyes fixed on Yu, sizing him up from head to toe as if she had seen something, then suddenly wore a terrified expression.

  "Aunt, hello." Yu had politely nodded his head, but his mother remained expressionless. Why do mothers always have to be so stern when facing their children's boyfriends or girlfriends? I couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

  "Mom, I'd like to introduce you to Zhang Jieyu. He's... You've met him before, don't you remember?" She had wanted to say he was her boyfriend, but the words stuck in her throat.

  My motionless mother suddenly grabbed me and rushed towards the stairs: "Follow me back home!"

  "Hey, wait! You're greeting me and I'm not supposed to respond?" I slightly resisted, turned my head towards Ze Yu, stretched out my hand to pull him, he smiled indifferently and waved his hand at me, putting his hands in his pockets and seeing me off.

  The anti-theft door slammed shut against the wall with a loud "bang", and Dad jumped up from the sofa, looking puzzled: "Wife, what's wrong?"

  My mother brought a fiery temper and used force to throw me away, then heavily closed the door, as if not doing so would not show that she was very angry now.

  "Look at this, this is the good daughter you've spoiled! In the middle of the night, hugging and embracing with a boy in secret, what kind of behavior is this?!" The fish-tail wrinkles at the corner of mom's eyes overlapped due to her indignation as she pushed dad's forehead with one hand while shouting loudly.

  I was being scolded by my mom all the way, feeling very annoyed and frowning without saying a word. Is it going to come to blows? Does she have to be so furious? It's not even 10 o'clock yet, still early in the night! I'm already 16 years old, considered half an adult, but I'm not allowed this or that, even talking about having a small romance has to be interfered with. Yu Xi is so lucky, if only I could be like her, independent and unrestricted, there would be much less trouble...

  "What's the big deal! Look at you, my daughter finally has someone who likes her...... Oh no, finally someone she likes, you should be happy about it! Mimi, who is it? Is it that person from last time? Haha!" Dad shrugged his shoulders, not taking it seriously, and continued to spread gossip.

  Mom blocked Dad's steps, standing with her hands on her hips, furious and incoherent, spitting out words: "How can you be a father like this! Your daughter is still in high school, that man looks suspicious, I absolutely disagree!"

  The old good man, Dad, chuckled and patted Mom's shoulder, trying to calm her down: "It's normal for high school students to fall in love! Didn't we start at that time too? Haha! That boy looks fine to me, strong and healthy, he can take care of our daughter well! Don't worry so much about the kids!"

  "Can they compare to us? I don't trust your judgment, that man will definitely bring disaster to Mimi! He's strong and still dares to bully our daughter! Being with someone like him is easy to learn bad things! You'd better not speak for her again! And don't even think about who has the final say in this family! Hmm?" Mom softened her tone a bit, but was still stern.

  "Mom! No matter what, you just don't trust me! I'm not afraid of being bullied or suffering! I also promise not to learn bad things! Except for making me leave him, I agree with everything you say! Both Yu and I genuinely like each other, and all along he has been protecting me..."

  "No way! I don't care what you say, it's just not going to happen! From today on, you're staying home and not allowed out!" she shouted sternly, completely dismissing my protests.

  "Mom! I'm begging you! Don't lock me up at home!" I tugged on her arm, shaking it back and forth. "Why are you so opposed to me and Yu? He's just like Ji Dong!"

  Her face was cold and expressionless, her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at me, unmoved by my entreaty.

  "Fine! You oppose, then I'll leave now! I'll never come back!" I shouted loudly and rushed to the door. Just as I touched the doorknob, Dad immediately stopped me and comfortingly pushed me back.

  "Mei Mei, you really are... Ah! Never mind, fine. I'll tell you the truth and let you give up early!" Mom's voice softened and she quickly pulled my hand into hers, "Mom is doing this for your own good! I don't want you to regret it later, you have to understand!"

  Her eyes were unbearable, and I suddenly felt a sense of unprovoked fear spreading through my heart, with a hair-raising feeling, holding my breath, and intently listening.

  "Two days ago, in the park on Shengli Road, I saw him and another girl... kissing... That girl, I remember seeing her before, she's your classmate!"

  Mom finished speaking and remained silent, still holding my hand. Dad suddenly inhaled a cold breath, took two steps back unsteadily, and leaned against the sofa. I reacted calmly, which even I found unbelievable. My heart felt sour and aching, as if it had been soaked in vinegar.

  No, it must be somewhere wrong, maybe mom just recognized the wrong person! How could Yu possibly do that? He's not that kind of person at all! Could it be, or is it Xiaoran? Yes! It must be Xiaoran who kissed him! Xiaoran still has a crush on him and must have deliberately asked him to go there, then took advantage of his carelessness...

  I keep telling myself that there must be some misunderstanding, I believe he is not such a casual person, and also believe that his feelings for me are true. Can't just deny him based on mom's words, maybe mom is just deceiving me, wanting me to give up on him? Indeed, it's impossible to be so coincidental, how come everything is always discovered by mom...

  "Mei Mei, think it through yourself. Mom knows not to let you know the truth. You'll dig into this horn's tip until the end. It's better to give up on the idea early and stop getting involved with him." My mom gently hugged me, patted my back, then sighed and walked away.

  Dad shook his head and patted me on the shoulder, then left with Mom. Big literary.