Those immature and inexperienced years turned danger into safety

  Tian Tian carefully peeled off the tape from Tian Cheng's mouth, then untied his ropes. She felt an indescribable bitterness in her heart.

  She didn't take good care of Xiao Cheng, and actually let him suffer so much. She even accidentally let someone kidnap him. She bit her lip in self-reproach, and when she saw Xiao Cheng's red eyes, she felt a surge of sadness. She stroked the bruises on his face, which must be very painful.

  But why didn't he say a word about how much pain he was in? And, and, had his body suffered any invisible wounds... As she trembled to untie the rope on Tian Cheng's hand, Tian Cheng suddenly hugged her tightly, embracing her waist, indulging in the soft fragrance of her body, a long-familiar scent.

  He deeply breathed in her peppermint-flavored body scent and the subtle lavender fragrance on her hair. The thoughts that had been lingering in his mind in the darkness suddenly materialized into a tangible object - transparent, yet extremely painful, heart-wrenching, and slightly sweet. After stinging his eyes for a moment, it slid down to his cheek, but flowed into someone else's heart instead.

  "I miss you." Those were his first complete words after being kidnapped, he said with a pained expression, resting his chin on her shoulder.

  "Alright, it's okay now, be good." Tian Tian said to him in a soothing tone, as if coaxing a child. She used her fingers to gently stroke his bruised cheekbone, "Does it still hurt?"

  Tian Heng shook his head, "It doesn't hurt."

  "Why did you follow that mustachioed man in the first place?" Tian Tian asked with a furrowed brow.

  "He told me he was a friend of Dad's and said you were at his place, so I went."

  "How can you be so stupid!" Tian Tian knocked on Tian Cheng's head, "This person is the one who pushed you off the roof in Rose Garden, don't believe strangers' words from now on, got it?"

  "Alright, I know." Tian Cheng said with a silly smile.

  "Ah... leave this guy to you!" Zong Zhong walked over, pointing at Da Zhi who was tied up in five flowers and eight ties, saying to Tian Tian.

  Tian Tian walked up to Da Zhi and looked down at him, "Rose Garden, it was you who pushed Tian Cheng down."

  "Yes." Da Zhi looked up and said without flinching, "Whether you want to kill or execute me, it's all up to you!"

  "Why can't you get along with us?"

  "Hmph, who made you offend Yin Jie? Those who offend her never end up well!"

  "Is that so?" Tian Tian sneered, "Then I'll let you live a good life, and watch with wide eyes as I trample her under my feet!"

  "You overestimate yourself!" Da Zhi coldly snorted.

  Tian Tian kicked his chin with one foot, stepped on the back of his hand, and said calmly "Who did you say is a milk baby? You have the guts to say it again."

  "I'm telling you, if you don't kill me today, I'll make sure you die a terrible death someday!" Da Zhi bellowed with eyes full of bloodshot and gritted teeth.

  "You're going to die soon, yet you still dare to talk big!" Zhong Zhong glared at him.

  "Hasn't he done many wrong things?" Tian Tian asked.

  "Hmm... apart from intentional injury, kidnapping and extortion, there's also fighting. That's about it." Zong Zhong said with a shrug, as if it didn't matter.

  "That's enough to sentence him for three to five years, let's send him to the police station." Tian Tian said.

  After parting with He Zhong, Tian Tian took Tian Cheng to the hospital for a thorough examination and only felt relieved after confirming that he had no injuries other than scratches. She then educated Tian Cheng not to talk to strangers in the future, and Tian Cheng nodded repeatedly, presumably having realized the severity of the issue.

  What about Peng Yin? Will she let it go? Tian Tian was also worried, and she regretted being too harsh on Peng Sze in the past, which led to Peng Yin's repeated revenge. But this had become a reality, and all she could do now was be more careful in protecting Tian Cheng. With their parents not around, only she could take care of him completely.

  After going home.

  Tian Tian tucked in Tian Cheng's quilt and turned off the light before walking out of the room.

  "Will you think I'm a nuisance?" Tian Cheng suddenly asked in the darkness, "I feel very sorry, I heard Old Zhang say that you risked your life to save me, and now the injury on the back of my head hasn't healed yet. Don't be foolish for me again in the future." Tian Cheng tilted his head to one side, rubbing his face against the pillow to dissolve the tears at the corners of his eyes.

  His heart ached for Tian Tian even more than his own, and when he listened to Old Zhang's tearful account of her rescue, a certain corner of his heart ached so much that it was hard to breathe, and his eyes became sore. He didn't want her to do anything that put her life in danger, he wanted her to be well, he wanted to see her smile happily every day, just like the warm sunshine in May, without any burdens or worries.

  Tian Tian walked up to Tian Cheng, stroked his forehead and said softly, "If you're in danger, how can I not go save you? You're the closest person to me, without Little Cheng, I won't be able to live either. Don't say such foolish things again, got it?"

  "Can you stay with me forever?"

  "Of course, silly, I'll be with you forever."

  Tian Heng burst into tears and laughed, "I know, sister goodnight."

  "Good night."

  Tian Tian sat on the steps, gazing up at the night sky. Beside her were two cans of beer. Although it was chilly tonight, she wore a thin jacket, her eyes wandering aimlessly as she stared at the dark silhouette of the paulownia tree. She could see the night wind blowing the leaves up, then swirling them around before slapping them harshly to the ground.

  It's already deep autumn now, the chill in the air is enough to make her shiver. It's been a long time since she left behind that sweltering summer filled with sweat and passion.

  She suddenly felt very tired, but she was only fourteen years old, like a sunflower that should not be battered by any storms or scorching sun, yet had already experienced the twists and turns of events that even adults had never encountered.

  She stretched out her hands, still white and slender, but they shouldn't be holding parents' hands, feeling the warmth of love, grasping candies, sticking with syrup, and then gently licking them. Holding a brush to paint a beautiful future? How did she feel that these hands were stained with blood...

  These hands that grasp the knife and swing it at the enemy's neck, have also pushed others into the abyss. She gazes through the lamp light at the fine lines on her palm, the intersecting lines faintly revealing a future filled with thorns.

  But she believed that no matter how complicated the lines on her palm were, they would eventually be grasped by her. Tian Tian's eyes sparkled with crystal-like light. She opened a can of beer and let the snow-white foam flow out from the opening, gulping it down in one go, suddenly feeling refreshed and invigorated.

  Yes, no matter how winding the road ahead is, she will eventually face it. Time will teach her to be strong and not get hurt. She can't wait for God to save her, the only savior in this world is herself.