Zhang Chengyong was filled with complex emotions. Then he curiously asked, "Classmate Qiao, why do you want to look at his file?"
Qiao Ying: "No reason, he just looks familiar."
"Why don't you try to make friends with him? I remember your younger brother is also not very talkative. Maybe you two can get along."
"Do I look like someone who likes to do good deeds?"
Zhang Chengyong smiled, "Of course, my dad's life was saved by your good deed after all."
Qiao Ying had no rebuttal. She had gotten the acupuncture needle from Older Ming and her intention was mainly that her hands were itchy and she wanted to try the new needle rather than to save someone.
After leaving Zhang Chengyong, Qiao Ying went to the cafeteria where Xiao He had a part-time job. It was easy to find since most of the people lining up at Xiao He's service window were female students. Qiao Ying also joined the queue.
"How come even the campus belle Qiao is eating at the cafeteria today? Didn't she always eat at the restaurant? Don't tell me she's also here for Xiao He?"
"It's possible. Which girl wouldn't like a handsome guy?"
"You girls have weird taste. Mature and reliable manly men like Master Qin are what I call handsome!"
"I agree. Even as a guy I feel Master Qin is handsome enough to make my legs go soft. Besides, those men around Qiao are no less good-looking than Xiao He. This Xiao He is not even as handsome as Young Master Huo, just a delicate little boy who looks skinny and weak."
"But it looks to me that Qiao is really checking out Xiao He..."
"She's clearly eyeing the food."
Qiao Ying moved along as the line progressed.
"Sis Ying, Sis Ying." Huo Chengdong cut in line behind Qiao Ying.
"What are you doing here? Go to the restaurant upstairs. Got tired of exotic delicacies and came for some vegetable porridge? Let me try some too then."
"Sis Ying, go grab a seat first. I'll line up for you. What would you like? I'll order the same."
"No need."
"Still being polite with me?"
"Hey Sis Ying, which pet store did you buy that dog from? Get rid of that dog quick. It bites people. Can't keep a dog that bites even if it's vaccinated."
Qiao Ying turned around and noticed a swollen bump on Huo Chengdong's forehead. "You got bitten?"
Huo Chengdong: "Almost, luckily I ran fast enough."
Qiao Ying: "What did you do to it?"
Huo Chengdong: "Sis Ying, saying that makes me sound like a monster. What can I do to a dog? Mad dogs bite for no reason!"
Qiao Ying: "It would never bite people unless you did."
Huo Chengdong: "I'm serious. I threw away that pair of pants. If not I'd show them to you now - half of one leg was bitten off by it. I even tripped and fell. I called for you for the longest time but you didn't even come out to help."
As he was speaking, Qiao Ying took a food tray and arrived at the service window.
Xiao He was wearing a worker's cap and holding a big ladle. "What would you like?"
Qiao Ying looked over the selection and randomly ordered three dishes.
Xiao He lowered his head to scoop the food. Qiao Ying observed his expression, microexpressions, and body movements.
After paying, Qiao Ying did not leave immediately. She seemed to be waiting for Huo Chengdong.
Huo Chengdong: "I'll have what she ordered just now."
Xiao He: "Sweet and sour pork ribs are sold out."
Huo Chengdong glanced down. The last serving of sweet and sour pork ribs was on Qiao Ying's tray.
"Then tell the kitchen to make more."
"That dish is sold out. Please order something else."
Unlike Qiao Yi who was numb to life from a young age but still hopeful about the future, Xiao He who had suffered since childhood was even more apathetic.
There was not a hint of emotion in his eyes.
He gave off a lifeless, gloomy, and depressing aura.
Huo Chengdong was unsatisfied when he saw that Xiao He did not move. He made a displeased "tsk" sound.
Just as he was about to say something else, Qiao Ying said, "You can have my portion."
Huo Chengdong had no choice but to randomly point at a dish. "Fine fine, give me another serving of this then."
Xiao He did not appear grateful for Qiao Ying's good intentions. He simply focused on his work without even glancing at her.
Qiao Ying felt a little uneasy.
Peking University students generally had mandatory evening study hall in their first year and gained exemption in the second year. Qiao Ying was an exception who attended based on her mood.
Xiao He's situation was also special.
The principal had granted him special privileges. Xiao He arranged his own evening study schedule because he needed to care for his critically ill mother at risk of accidents at any time.
He had not quit his job at the auto repair shop either and continued going there on weekends. On busy nights he would ask for leave from school to help out at the shop.
Xiao He did not skip evening study hall tonight.
In a rare occurrence, Qiao Ying decided to stay behind as well.
Her classmates found this out of the ordinary.
Qiao Ying replied to Qin Hanyue's messages on her phone.
Since Qiao Ying attending evening study was an irregular event, and Qin Hanyue was worried about her eyesight, he naturally asked her a couple more questions.
Halfway through the study period, Xiao He quietly left.
He perfectly caught the last bus.
Xiao He got off the bus and walked into an alley.
He entered the run-down residential area.
Xiao He hurried home to cook medicine for his mother.
The alley was dark with only lights from residents' homes providing some illumination.
Xiao He had just reached the foot of his building when over a dozen thugs wielding steel pipes appeared before him.
Xiao He immediately tried to run away but his path was blocked from behind.
"Been waiting for you for a long time. If you came back any later I'd smash up your home already." The leader had a cigarette in his mouth and kept tapping the ground with his steel pipe.
Xiao He's face was cold. "What do you want?"
"You're asking me what I want after beating up two of my brothers? They're still lying in the hospital now!"
Xiao He was obviously already used to such situations and understood their motive. "I have no money."
The leader poked Xiao He's chest repeatedly with the steel pipe. "Lying to who? A Peking University student saying you have no money? Today if you don't hand over 20k, I'm breaking your leg! And that drunkard father of yours owes our gambling den several hundred thousand. If that old bastard can't be found, you take on his debt!"
"Stop blabbing and hand over the money!"
Xiao He clenched his fists tightly but did not move. Suddenly, he lowered his left shoulder, swinging the backpack hanging on it into the crook of his arm. He picked up his schoolbag and smashed it towards the leader.
There was apparently something heavy inside. The leader's nose started bleeding from a direct hit to the face.
Seeing this, the lackeys swarmed forward.
Without supportive parents since young, Xiao He started working odd jobs in middle school just to earn meager living expenses. He was no stranger to dealing with local punks and thanks to his personality, fought frequently.
If he beat someone ruthlessly once, they usually wouldn't dare find trouble with him again.
Xiao He was quite experienced in fighting.
Looking frail and delicate, he could actually hold his own.
Using his schoolbag as a weapon, he was still no match for the mob. Before long, Xiao He suffered two blows from steel pipes.
The infuriated leader raised his weapon to strike Xiao He's back. At the critical moment, another steel pipe suddenly shot out from nowhere and struck the leader's arm first with a loud thwack.
It directly shattered his arm.
Qiao Ying had appeared out of the blue.
Leaning against the wall for support, Xiao He watched as Qiao Ying brandished a steel pipe, knocking out her opponents one by one.
She struck ruthlessly, breaking bones with every hit and instantly incapacitating them.
More vicious than any punk Xiao He had encountered over the years.
Just when Xiao He was about to breathe a sigh of relief,
To his astonishment, after felling the last man, Qiao Ying suddenly spun around and a downwards swing of the steel pipe was aimed straight for his head!
Xiao He's pupils sharply contracted...
