Those naive and innocent years were let go just like that.

  The man pulled out a silver knife from his pocket, which reflected an eerie light under the lamp. He pointed the knife at Zong Zhonglian and said, "Listen up, kid! Hand over your valuables if you know what's good for you. If not, I'll make you see red right now!"

  Zong Zhong's neck was twisted and his bones crackled, "Money? I won't give you a single cent. Bring the horse over."

  The man didn't expect this kid's tone to be so arrogant, "You want to die? I'll fulfill your wish!" With that, he swung his knife and was about to chop down Zhong Jun.

  It's been a long time since I last practiced, and I almost forgot the Taekwondo moves. Today was just in time to review them. As I thought, my hands quickly moved forward, sideways, grasped the man's wrist, and forced it backward with force. The knife "clanged" to the ground, and the man let out a painful cry.

  One elbow struck the man's neck, and his knee pressed between the man's legs. The man let out a miserable cry as he bent forward. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zong Zhong stepped on one foot and kicked the man to the ground, using his knee to press against his chest, and his hand to choke his throat.

  These actions were done within five seconds, he said with some panting, "Still arrogant?"

  The man had not yet reacted, and he felt pain all over his body. He begged for mercy, shouting, "Spare my life! I'm also starving to death, that's why I came to do this job. Who would be idle and steal if they didn't have to? Spare my life, little brother, I won't dare again..." The man cried out with a nose full of snot and tears.

  "Let him go," Tian Tian said.

  "He should be sent to the police station." said Zong Zhonglian. After a moment's thought, he added, "You can go."

  "Thank you, thank you," the man kept saying.

  "Are you okay?" Tian Tian asked with concern.

  "It's nothing," Zhong Jian said, "Let's go."

  Tian nodded slightly.

  In the split second she turned around, Tian Tian saw fresh blood gushing down from Zong Zhong's forehead. She also heard him say, "Go quickly..." Then, there was that man's ferocious face, "You dare to be reckless, you little rascal!"

  Zong Zhong Yan endured the pain and poked his elbow into the man's eyes, snatching the knife from the man's hand. He chopped down on the man's shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground. With one kick after another, he refused to listen to the man's pleas for mercy until the man spat out blood and could barely open his eyes. Tian Tian intervened, "Ah Yan, you'll kill someone again."

  "Ungrateful and disloyal, you deserve to die!" Zhong Zhong said with a vicious tone.

  "But, An, I'm sleepy, let's go back."

  Zong Zhonglian finally stopped, saying "Go back to sleep." Then, he lay down on the ground with a thud, and the thief's blow landed right on his head.

  Zong Zhonglian's head was split open with a 5-centimeter long gash, and fresh blood stained his entire head, dripping down along his hair. Tian Tian sent him to the hospital, where the doctor immediately performed emergency treatment on him. Meanwhile, Tian Tian stood outside in a daze, staring blankly at people walking back and forth in the corridor, almost stunned.

  Three hours later, the doctor came out, took off his mask and said expressionlessly, "He's badly hurt, the wound is five millimeters deep, if it were any deeper, it would have cut into the skull, eight stitches in total, anesthesia has been administered, he's sleeping now. Don't disturb him, wait outside instead, who knows what happened, such a young kid." The doctor finished speaking, shook his head and walked away, leaving behind a cool breeze that blew up Tian Tian's fringe.

  Tian Tian sat on the long bench, sniffled, her elbows on her thighs, covering her entire face. Was it her fault that Ah Yan was gone? She didn't know. All she knew was that her heart felt terrible now. Later, in regret, she curled up on the long bench and fell into a daze...

  When she woke up, she walked into the ward with her sleepy eyes, Zong Zhonglian was already awake, and after seeing Tian Tian, he still smiled elegantly and said, "It hurts."

  Tian Tian's tears fell "patter, patter", "Zong Zhonglian, you bastard, aren't you rich? Is that little money worth it? If he wants to steal from you, just let him steal, do you have to risk your life? What if you die, what will I do? You brought me all the way here, you have to take responsibility for bringing me back!"

  "Alright," Zhongzhong pulled Tian Tian's hand, "I'm fine, I'm very strong. Besides, it's just a small wound, and that thief wasn't beaten half to death by me? This business isn't a loss, right?"

  "I'm really worried that something will happen to you," Tian Tian wiped away tears, her eyes red and puffy. "I've already lost someone important, I don't want to experience this kind of pain again, it's so hard to bear. So, please take care of yourself, okay?"

  "Silly girl, I'll stay with you and won't leave you," Zong Zhong said, "if you're willing."

  Zong Zhonglian's lips were a bit pale, but it didn't affect his handsome appearance at all. He still had a straight nose bridge, elegant eyebrows and bright, wise eyes. Was he confessing? Tian Tian thought, "Ah Zong is the best, Ah Zong is my best friend." She smiled brightly because as friends, she didn't want him to leave.

  Zong Zhong hummed a response, it turned out that in her eyes, he was just a friend, far from the position Tian Cheng held in her heart. But he still smiled very happily, being able to be her friend was good enough, at least she would care about him and cry for his sake.

  For several days, Tian Tian had been taking meticulous care of Zong Zhonglian, who was recovering rapidly and his wound was showing signs of healing. Zong Zhonglian refused to stay in the hospital any longer, hastily packing up, changing his dressing, and leaving the hospital.

  Later, Zong Zhonglian accompanied Tian Tian to play in Guilin for another two days, strolling through several tourist attractions, and then prepared to return to N City. Along the way, both of them were extremely tired, leaning against the back of their chairs without saying much. Tian Tian simply stared blankly out the window, lost in thought.

  Occasionally, she would help Zong Zhonglian exchange medicine, prepare food for the two of them to eat. Zong Zhonglian was either sleeping with his head down or wearing headphones listening to music; sometimes he would give Tian Tian one too. Both of them had some worries on their minds.

  After arriving in N City, Zong Zhong will send Tian Tian safely back home before returning to the mansion. Just as Tian Tian was about to enter her house, she heard a faint cough and didn't notice someone standing beside the door because she was too tired.

  She turned her head and saw the girl for the first time, with fair skin, thin single eyelids, thin lips, and long black hair, about the same age as Tian Cheng.

  The girl leaned against the wall, with one foot propped up and the other standing, wearing a pink coat that made her skin look whiter than snow, tight blue jeans, and brown martin boots.

  She stared at Tian Tian, with her hands in her pockets and a posture similar to that of Zong Zhong. Then, looking at Tian Tian's up-and-down gaze, she smiled softly and said, "Hello, Tian Tian."

  "Who are you..." Tian Tian stood still and asked.

  "Wei Chang," the girl raised her head slightly and leaned it against the wall, saying in a clear and round tone.

  "Director Wei's daughter, right? As usual, I should also thank your father for helping me out. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to rescue Xiao Cheng," Tian Tian said sincerely.

  "But what about you? You almost got my dad into trouble, and he really shouldn't have given in to Ah Jian's face." Wei Chuan said coldly, with a hint of sarcasm.

  Tian Tian raised an eyebrow and didn't refute, "Huh?"

  "Don't you understand?" Wei Chong asked, "I'm saying that from now on, don't contact Ah Yan Gege anymore. You're an orphan, and with Ah Yan Gege's family background, even ten of you wouldn't be a match for him. I have the looks, and my family has wealth and power that you can't compete with. So, Tian Tian, it's best if you retreat while knowing your limitations. What do you say?"

  The young girl had an expressionless face, completely speaking to Tian Tian from a superior position. She said, "I am Ah Yan Gege's destined future wife, he won't marry anyone else but me, and I must also not marry anyone else but him. The emotional connection between us is something that you, as an outsider, wouldn't understand. So, don't make me and Ah Yan Gege have misunderstandings. It's better if you don't do such bad things, what do you say?"

  "Hmm, you're right. I'll keep a certain distance from him. Are you satisfied with that?" Tian Tian said calmly, quietly putting her clenched fist into her pocket.

  "Don't be like a good girl who agrees to everything, but still does whatever she wants. I've seen many girls like that, with one set of words on the surface and another behind their backs, smoother than anyone else. I have many ways to deal with people like her, each method can make her wish she were dead." Wei Chang put his foot on the ground, leaning against the wall as he spoke.

  "I'm going, I promise to use this deck of cards in front of everyone and behind everyone's back, okay?"

  Wei Chang nodded and said, "You're still somewhat sensible."

  "Anything else?" Tian Tian asked, "If not, I'm going to sleep. I've been very sleepy for the past two days."

  "Have you and Ah Yan's brother gone traveling?" Wei Chang's tone rose slightly.

  Tian Tian smiled lightly and said, "You are your brother's future wife, do you still need to ask me?"

  "You......" Wei Chang's words were stuck in his throat, but he still asked stubbornly, "Is it or isn't it?"

  Tian Tian thought the girl was really funny and nodded her head, saying "yes".

  "You're not allowed to go out and play with Ah Yan's brother from now on, I don't allow it."

  Do you think wherever you go, you're always a princess? Do people always have to listen to you? Who do you think you are?

  Tian Tian still smiled, "Good."

  Wei Chang finally let out a satisfied sigh, "Then I'm fine, goodbye." He said, putting on his hat, and even his footsteps seemed light and airy as he walked away.

  Just two steps away, Tian Tian stopped her, with a tone as calm as a cup of plain boiled water. She said, "The boy from Tonglin Mountain, was he the one you instructed? Do you know that I almost died on the mountain and became a wild beast's meal?"

  Wei Chang turned her head and looked at her incredulously, "How did you not die on the mountain? Why are you still alive and back to seduce Brother An?"

  "I'm lucky I'm still alive, alive to see the one who almost killed me."

  "If you have any grudges, come at me, don't bother that boy, I'm just doing business with him, a deal is a deal."

  "Wei Chang, I won't take revenge on you, but remember this: we're even now. And about not contacting Zong Zhong again, I promise you that. Just don't appear in front of me again." Tian Tian said, and walked back home without looking back. She let out a yawn, she was really sleepy. It was because of insomnia, because the person in her mind kept haunting her every night, so she took many sleeping pills, which is why she felt drowsy day and night.

  Tian Tian walked back into the house, fell onto the bed, and tears streamed down her face, scalding hot, almost burning her skin. She covered herself with a quilt and fell fast asleep, not even having one last friend left... it was truly pitiful.

  She didn't know why she agreed to Wei Chong either, maybe it was because she didn't want anyone else to be as heartbroken as her. That girl's eyes were full of adoration for Zong Zhongxian, and she could see that, so they all had to be good, they all had to be good.

  Digression

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