Chapter Thirty-Six: Grudges and Favors

  The day after I got the lifting order, my mom, with safety in mind, bought me a new phone and instructed me to always carry it with me, wherever I go, there must be someone accompanying me. If such a situation happens again, first call the police, wolf spray and small knife are all ready, at least can resist for a while.

  Mom said with a straight face: Girls can't always be in a weak position, they must learn to fight back!

  After listening to my mother's nagging all day, I can finally go out. Yifeng called Ji Dong early in the morning and told him that we would be visiting soon. He immediately became flustered and the sound of rustling came from the receiver, followed by his voice becoming much clearer. It seems we disturbed his peaceful sleep.

  At 8:00 sharp, the two of us stood punctually at the entrance of Ji Dong's house, pressed the doorbell, and a rapid footsteps came from inside. The door opened, and Ji Dong, still with sleepy eyes, stepped aside to let us in.

  He rushed back to the bathroom, quickly wiped his face and came out staring at me intensely, with a barrage of questions: "Has the swelling on your face gone down? Did you guys get stopped by the police that night? It's been so many days since then, I was thinking of visiting you but it seemed like your mom wasn't too welcoming... Are you really fully recovered now? Does it still hurt?"

  He saw me and wanted to take action, I quickly dodged and punched him on the shoulder, laughing: "Of course it's all good!"

  "Winter melon, you and Zhang Yu later... nothing happened?" Ruoxi asked with concern, she was still most worried about Ji Dong, not knowing if he had any conflicts with Yu after that matter.

  Ji Dong's mouth corners slightly curled up, his eyes gleaming brightly, and the words he spoke were completely out of tune: "Brother Yu has already dug out that gang's lair, just waiting for you to be able to go out and bring them to apologize! I must beat them severely to vent my anger!" As he spoke, he clenched his fist and struck it against his palm, the icy light in his eyes sending chills down one's spine.

  "Hmm! I'd like to give them a few more punches too!" The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Li Xiaoran has gone too far and must be taught a lesson so they know I'm not someone to be trifled with. All these worries can be thrown out the window now. After sulking at home for a few days, I've had enough of being a shrinking violet - it's really not my style.

  "Those people must be taught a lesson, or they'll really think we're afraid of them!" Even Ruo Xi, who was known for not returning insults and not fighting back, was furious.

  "Alright! Wait for me to contact Hao Yu Ge! I'll definitely help you take them down!" Ji Dong's tone was fervent, his eyes sparkling brightly.

  "Winter melon, I'm entrusting Mimi to you today! Lan Xin Jie is looking for me and I have to go, wait till you guys return triumphantly and then share with me the good show that I missed!" Ruoxi solemnly handed over my safety to Ji Dong, walked to the door to put on her leather shoes, imitated my mom's tone and reminded him once more before opening the door and leaving.

  Yesterday, Ruoxi was "summoned" by Lanxin sister, and it is said that she will discuss the operation of the milk tea shop with her. The boss who had been hiding since the masquerade ball reappeared, and should be asking her to report on the work situation.

  Ji Dong walked into the kitchen and started busying himself, I leaned against the door frame, unsure whether or not to lend a hand.

  "You've become so diligent! Didn't you always buy buns in the morning?" I watched his skilled hands and teased him.

  "Want to cook for yourself? You're tired of eating buns every day, it's so early and you haven't eaten yet, let's eat together!" He cut the vegetables and was putting noodles into the pot.

  I smiled slightly, hugging my arms: "I've eaten already, but since Chef Ji personally cooked it himself, I naturally can't miss out! The dishes you stir-fried last time are still on my mind! Unfortunately, Ruoxi won't have good luck today! I'll tell her later and make her jealous to death~ Haha!"

  He slightly curled up the corners of his mouth, his voice soft: "If you really love eating my cooking that much, why not take me home with you? I can cook for you every day!"

  He stopped moving, his eyes surging with a hint of turmoil, staring straight into mine as if expecting something. I hastily dodged his watery gaze, this won't do, the atmosphere feels like we're hiding something from Ruoxi, but Ji Dong has already accepted Ruoxi, how can he still have feelings for me?

  "It's... Ah! Taking you back to Ruoxi will definitely make her thrilled, it's worth considering!" I'd rather believe it was just my illusion again and quickly changed the subject, "By the way! Actually, I came specifically to ask you something about your feud with Ze Yu..."

  When Ji Dong heard the words "grudges", his face changed to surprise, staring at me for a while, then not making a sound, turning around to take a bowl of noodles. He seemed to have no intention of telling me anything. I kept leaning towards him, wanting to get a response, but he just handed me the bowl and said lightly: "Eat first."

  He was probably afraid to tell me, fearing that I would worry, so he didn't want to say it. But the fact is, I've already pulled out one end of the thread, and if I don't pull it all the way through, I won't be able to rest easy, guessing left and right, feeling anxious in my heart.

  "If you still consider me a friend, then don't keep deceiving me anymore. I know everything that's going on between you and Yu, but that's just the grudge of the previous generation, and you're not in the wrong! You and I sat at the dinner table, unable to pry open his mouth, and I couldn't swallow a single bite either. "Tell me! What happened after you guys moved? Why did your mom and Yu's dad end up together?"

  I admit I'm still a bit nosy sometimes, but this happened to my best friend, and no matter what, I have to get to the bottom of it!

  "Mimi, I didn't mean to deceive you. It's just... " Ji Dong saw that my expression was not good and hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. "The less you know, the better for you. You'd better not pursue it further... Just like you said, it's their business, nothing to do with me. I have nothing to do with Yu Ge either... Hurry up and eat, the noodles will be bad if they get cold."

  "Winter melon! Be honest and I'll let you off easy, even if you don't say anything, I'll find out somehow... But I only believe you, I want to hear it from your own mouth." He seemed to be intentionally wanting to reveal something, so I intensified my questioning, putting down the bowl and chopsticks, taking his hand, gazing at him with a gentle and affectionate expression.

  "Mei Mei, you..." Ji Dong's heart was wavering, his eyes were deep and profound, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

  He stared at me intently for a long time, then grasped my hand tightly in his palm, and let out a helpless sigh: "Alright, I'll tell you." And indeed, he recounted the events very honestly, his expression remaining calm but painful throughout, holding onto my hand without letting go, as if I were his lifeline.

  Seven years ago, Ji Dong followed his mother to move house. Aunt Chen originally wanted to take Ji Dong away from home, and also quit her job as a middle school teacher, but in the end she still stayed behind. The mother and son lived an extremely hard life, but relying on her existing teaching experience, she quickly found a tutoring job at a wealthy family's home, becoming the teacher of a boy three years older than her own son, Zhang Yu. Aunt Chen often brought Ji Dong to give lessons to Yu, and although both children were eccentric, they got along famously from the start, like close brothers. However, who would have known that their three-year acquaintance not only made Ji Dong and Yu bosom buddies but also sparked a romance between Winter Mom and Yu's dad? No one knew when or where they had hit it off, only that suddenly the Yu family was turned upside down - his parents got divorced, Winter Mom eloped with Yu's dad, and Ji Dong began to understand why Yu's dad was especially nice to him, sometimes even more so than to Yu.

  Yu lost his father and vented all his anger on Ji Dong, who was ashamed to replace his mother. Ji Dong obeyed Yu meekly, enduring his beatings and scoldings. From then on, Ji Dong became Yu's follower. Yu soon lost interest in bullying the wooden Ji Dong and eventually took the path of delinquency like all rebellious teenagers. Ji Dong had no choice but to follow him, and through struggles, Yu managed to become a leader. Months later, he seemed to have lost interest again, quit the organization, and took over the wine shop from his mother on the condition that he would continue studying. It seemed that he had further plans, but Ji Dong just said that he was not clear about it either.

  "Is he still giving you a hard time?" I slammed my hand on the table and stood up, thinking of that crybaby Ji Dong, who had been transformed into this state by the demon Xī Yǔ. My heart ached at the thought of it - in the past, Winter Melon was someone nobody dared to bully except for me!

  "Rice, you make me feel like I'm still that snotty little kid. Where's the face of this big man?! It was just a short while ago, and Brother Yu is really good to me. Actually, every time he punishes me, afterwards he always regrets it." He looks at my indignant expression, his mouth curved into a large arc, and takes my hand again, "With you, this old sister, by my side, I feel very safe... Don't laugh at me!" He says seriously, and I can only hold back my laughter to say don't treat him like a kid now, but he's acting all dependent on me, haha.

  "It's better if nothing happens, but if he dares to bully you again, be sure to tell me!" I also clenched his hand firmly.

  I've already compromised with Zhang Jiu Yu, if Ji Dong still wants to be oppressed by him, then wouldn't my efforts be in vain? Since he himself doesn't want to hurt Ji Dong either, I'll endure the hardship and let him torment this outsider, while also helping him cure his heart disease.