Seeing Nan Xi so heartbroken, Bai Yu’s heart ached abruptly, hurting intensely.
She was the sister he had protected for years, cautiously caring without letting her suffer even the slightest indignity, but now, she was so upset.
"Xixi, what happened, who bullied you? Brother will go beat them up."
When Bai Yu spoke these words, a fierce gleam flashed in his eyes. He was serious; if he knew who had bullied Xixi, he would relentlessly pursue them to the end.
"Brother." The moment she saw Bai Yu, Nan Xi couldn’t hold it in any longer.
All the grievances surged up from the bottom of her heart, and she couldn’t hold back anymore, tears falling from her eyes.
However, gone was the initial feeling of pity, yet it still pained Bai Yu’s heart.
Perhaps this was what people meant when they said "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"; no matter whether Nan Xi was chubby or overweight, in Bai Yu’s eyes, she was always beautiful.
Otherwise, how could he notice the agony in Nan Xi’s eyes behind her puffy, almost hidden, eyes?
"Xixi, don’t cry, don’t cry."
Bai Yu gently patted Nan Xi’s shoulder, soothing her gently, just like before.
But deep down, a hesitant voice questioned, Xixi wasn’t his real sister, was this alright?
The next moment, another voice firmly told him it was.
Even if not by blood, Xixi was his sister, the person he had to protect for a lifetime; nobody could bully her.
"Xixi, tell brother, what exactly happened? If you don’t say, brother can’t help you."
Bai Yu was extremely distressed, but Nan Xi just kept crying, making him even more anxious.
"Brother, tell me what has been going on recently, why did Bai Zhi tell me dad was arrested, mom and dad are divorced.
I woke up confused, but I didn’t dare tell you all, nor ask.
Whether it’s mom or Nan Jin, their eyes only have disdain and reproach, I know I’ve made mistakes.
But I don’t understand, why won’t they give me a chance to make amends?
I don’t understand, am I really that evil?"
Nan Xi cried while she spoke, each word interrupted by a sob.
Clearly, this time she was truly crying, not faking it.
But really, it was hard to watch, so unattractive.
Only Bai Yu could endure it, that must be true love.
"No, you haven’t done anything wrong, it’s them who are biased, that’s why they blame you."
In Bai Yu’s view, both Ye Xiu and Nan Jin felt Xixi wasn’t good enough because of their own selfishness.
Ye Xiu was biased because of Bai Zhi, and Nan Jin because of Ye Xiu.
Yes, he wasn’t blind, especially since Nan Jin had never tried to conceal it, so he could see Nan Jin’s intentions towards his mom, Ye Xiu, were definitely selfish.
Otherwise, why would they make themselves busy just to care for Xixi yet disregard her, even being overly harsh?
They simply wanted face and gains.
Nan Jin, chasing after his mom, disregarding any brotherly bond, all pretense.
And his mom, caring only about her students—noble if put nicely, but honestly, who wanted her meddling so much? It was unnecessary trouble.
They were just deluding themselves.
The two of them were not good people, both selfish.
Just hadn’t torn off the pretense yet.
Bai Yu saw through it clearly, but he never considered what he himself was really like.
"Brother, what exactly is going on now? Why do I feel like I don’t know anything anymore? Where is dad?
Why does Nan Jin treat me this way? I don’t want him to be my dad, why does he have to be my dad?"
Nan Xi’s voice cracked with tears, each word painstakingly spoken, each word so painfully uttered.
"Don’t worry about them. Dad’s practically done for, since he was arrested over that incident. Now we’re known as the children of a labor reform criminal.
I don’t even want to mention him, as for Nan Jin, he’s probably being harsh on you because of Mom. You don’t need to care about it, Xixi, don’t be afraid. No matter what others do, I will always stand behind you. Protect you..."
Bai Yu looked at Nan Xi with a particularly tender gaze and slowly began to speak, his hand continuously patting her back, gently comforting her.
"Brother, thank you, you are all I have left."
Nan Xi looked at Bai Yu, her voice breaking as she spoke.
Bai Yu was her right-hand man, but the most important person was still the male protagonist, because Ouyang was her true belonging, and most importantly, Ouyang was going to be a big boss in the future.
She naturally was thinking about her own future, a life without worries about food and clothing.
As for Bai Yu, she should be grateful, shouldn’t she?
After all, he was her indispensable right-hand man whom she couldn’t afford to lose.
"Xixi, don’t worry, I’ll tell you about these things later. For now, just tell me what’s going on, how did you end up ?"
Bai Yu looked at Nan Xi with a pained expression, wondering what had happened to Xixi and how she had gotten injured.
And how did she come here so early by herself, in such a state?
Nan Xi bit her lip, seemingly reluctant to talk about it, but ultimately, feeling wronged, she spoke softly.
Nan Xi looked at Bai Yu with some sadness, "Brother, I didn’t want to say anything, but this time sister went too far. She left me here, not caring whether something might happen to me."
Nan Xi clenched her teeth, a girl still, and such a pretty and cute one at that—
Of course, that was just her own opinion.
But Bai Zhi just left her in the wilderness. What if something happened to her?
What if someone decided to take advantage of her?
Did Bai Zhi ever think about that, or did she think about it and do it on purpose?
"She beat me up, I feel like every part of me is in pain."
Even as she spoke, her eyes were filled with terror.
Bai Zhi was a devil, striking fast, accurate, and ruthlessly—truly too cruel.
She just felt extreme pain and then knew nothing else.
"Come on, I’ll take you to confront her, this Bai Zhi has gone too far."
Bai Yu, with a stern face, grabbed Nan Xi, intending to find Bai Zhi.
This Bai Zhi, becoming more and more unreasonable, bullying him was one thing, but now she dared to start bullying Xixi, he simply couldn’t tolerate it.
Even though he couldn’t beat Bai Zhi, that didn’t mean he couldn’t cause her trouble in other ways.
Bai Yu took Nan Xi to find Bai Ming, insisting Bai Ming deliver justice.
Bai Ming frowned, somewhat distrusting Bai Yu.
"How could Xingxing possibly do something , if she did, you must have gone too far."
Nan Xi: "..." Is her role and Bai Zhi’s getting reversed here?
Otherwise, why would everyone speak up for Bai Zhi?
"Great Grandpa, I always thought you were the most just person, but now you too are failing to distinguish right from wrong?"
Bai Yu looked sternly at Bai Ming, his statement more of an accusation than a compliment.
Accusing him of being so unfair.
Bai Ming, however, remained unmoved, calmly taking a drag on his tobacco leaf cigarette.
"How I act, do I need a junior like you to school me?"
If that were the case, then all these years he had truly lived in vain.