"Xiao Yifei, I... I can’t afford this sofa, and I really don’t know how to repay your kindness. Just... just take me instead."
Xiao Yifei was dumbfounded.
"What the hell is going on here!"
Xiao Yifei couldn’t help but feel his emotions churned like a turbulent sea. He really didn’t know what was happening. Why had he encountered such situations lately? It had started with Tan Lan pushing him aggressively, and now Zhou Meifeng was involved. Although Xiao Yifei wasn’t opposed to something happening with Zhou Meifeng, this wasn’t the right time.
After all, Zhou Meifeng obviously wasn’t in her usual state, and more importantly, as a man, how could he keep being pushed around by women repeatedly? Wouldn’t that be too embarrassing!
"No, things can’t develop !"
Xiao Yifei spoke sternly to Zhou Meifeng.
The moment Zhou Meifeng heard this, she was instantly startled and hurriedly stood up straight, her little head bowing down to her chest in embarrassment. Xiao Yifei’s stern tone was very effective with her; once he spoke in that manner, Zhou Meifeng would obediently comply—it had become a habit.
"Speak up! What exactly is going on, why are you pulling this act!"
Xiao Yifei looked at Zhou Meifeng, who was now standing straight, and sat back down on the sofa. Although Xiao Yifei had made Zhou Meifeng stand up, he could only sit on the sofa and lean his back against it.
Zhou Meifeng, a woman of integrity, had only acted that way because she truly didn’t know how else to express her gratitude to Xiao Yifei. It was a great resolve on her part, but Xiao Yifei’s interruption had shattered her courage.
Her head lowered, the fact that Xiao Yifei didn’t do anything to her but had her stand up, filled her heart with joy yet also left her feeling somewhat disappointed.
But for some reason, as Zhou Meifeng bowed her head, her heart suddenly recalled the grievances she had suffered, her eyes reddened, and she stopped speaking.
Xiao Yifei looked fixedly at Zhou Meifeng standing there, silently, waiting for his own desires to subside. Ever since he had started practicing the Dragon Transformation Technique, his desires had indeed become stronger, but his experience in real combat was still too little, inevitably causing his "little brother" much suffering.
Meanwhile, as Xiao Yifei waited for his "little brother" to calm down, the obedient Zhou Meifeng standing opposite him remained silent, head bowed.
Just as Xiao Yifei wondered why Zhou Meifeng wasn’t making a move, he suddenly noticed water stains forming under Zhou Meifeng’s feet. Xiao Yifei’s brow furrowed: "Look up!"
Upon hearing Xiao Yifei’s words, Zhou Meifeng slowly raised her head. Xiao Yifei saw that her originally delicate face now had eyes red and swollen, tears streaming down her cheeks like broken beads, splashing onto the ground. Newest update provided by noᴠelfire.net
Yet, despite such a sight, Zhou Meifeng didn’t make a single sob. She bit her lip and looked at Xiao Yifei defiantly, yet her defiance was laced with profound pain.
Zhou Meifeng was such a woman—hardworking, independent, strong, kind. It was just unknown what had happened to make Zhou Meifeng so heartbroken.
Xiao Yifei saw Zhou Meifeng looking like a statuesque beauty brought to tears, her eyes and nose red, appearing deeply aggrieved, yet dressed in a very captivating manner. In that instant, Xiao Yifei was stirred again.
Xiao Yifei lowered his head and touched his nose, knowing he was somewhat changed. He tried to control himself and when he looked up at Zou Meiru again, his mind was free from distractions because he saw that Zou Meiru was indeed in a lot of pain, a pain mingled with despair.
"What exactly is going on? You can tell me and see if it can be solved. If you don’t want to stay, I won’t say anything about you leaving, but right now, that is not the situation!"
Xiao Yifei looked at Zhou Meifeng, his voice heavy, "So what is it? I’ve asked so many times now, just tell me!"
Zhou Meifeng lifted her head and while hesitant at first in Xiao Yifei’s serious gaze, she eventually opened her mouth and spoke.
"Big Eye came looking for me. I don’t know how he found out I was with you. He came storming in, demanding I go back with him. I didn’t want to go back, so he hit me. I thought that would be the end of it."
Zhou Meifeng reached out to gently wipe the tears from her face and continued, "Who would have known he’d go to my parents, telling them that I was involved in unsavory work in the city. My parents trust me, they said I couldn’t possibly do such things. They know what Big Eye is like and they scolded him severely, but Big Eye wouldn’t have it and hit them too. My parents are old, how can they withstand being beaten!"
At this point, Zhou Meifeng seemed pained by the ordeal her parents were subjected to because of her, and she couldn’t help but shed many tears. It was clear that Zhou Meifeng was deeply filial; she could endure hardships herself, but couldn’t bear to see her family suffer.
"I originally came to the city to earn money so that my parents could have a good life. But now it turned out , and... and today Big Eye came looking for me again, telling me if I didn’t go back with him, he would stay at my parents’ house and not leave. Xiao Yifei, my home turned into this mess because of his antics. I tried my best to stop him, but it still turned out . I’m really sorry!"
Zhou Meifeng spoke softly to Xiao Yifei about these matters.
Although these issues were mentioned in just a few sentences by Zhou Meifeng, Xiao Yifei could hear the deep bitterness in them. He raised his head and squinted his eyes, "Who is Big Eye?"
Zhou Meifeng was stunned, not knowing why Xiao Yifei would ask such a thing, but she obediently answered.
"Big Eye is my partner back in the countryside. He likes to gamble and his eyes bulge enormously when he does, hence everyone calls him Big Eye."
Xiao Yifei frowned upon hearing Zhou Meifeng’s words. He looked at her, puzzled, and said, "The one you said before, who wanted you to sleep with someone else to cover his gambling debts?"
"Is there no law left!"
Enraged by Zhou Meifeng’s words, Xiao Yifei slammed the table hard, "Even so, you haven’t called the police, letting someone like that run amok? What were you thinking!"
Zhou Meifeng was startled by Xiao Yifei’s action. She gently raised her head to look at him and then lowered it again, "Call the police? What’s the use? The police would detain Big Eye for just over ten days and then he’d be out again, even more aggressive than before. He believes the police can’t touch him, so he is not afraid of them."
In some villages, such scoundrels are the most troublesome.
Hearing this, Xiao Yifei was astonished. How could such a good woman as Zhou Meifeng end up with Big Eye? But now, since this issue had come to his attention and it concerned someone close to him, Xiao Yifei felt he could not ignore it!
However, before acting, Xiao Yifei needed to confirm one thing.
"Tell me, do you want to go back? With that Big Eye?"