Zhao ii sneaked out of the house with the keys like a thief. As the door closed, the pitch-black visual impact in the hallway made her heart race with excitent.
She dared not rush downstairs as she usually did, even though she was familiar enough with these few steps to walk down steadily with her eyes closed.
Zhao ii lightly descended the stairs, and when she reached the third-floor landing, she couldn’t hold back any longer. She lifted her foot to dash down, and just as she reached the hallway entrance, a large hand grabbed her arm, pulling her into a broad, solid embrace before she could react.
The scream that was about to escape Zhao ii’s mouth was swallowed back abruptly. She hugged the person back, a familiar scent enveloped her— a mix of sweat, tobacco, and alcohol.
"Brother," Zhao ii called out with a trembling voice.
Shi Yang looked down at her, in the pitch-dark hallway, his eyes bright and spirited, seemingly shimring.
Without saying a word, he hugged Zhao ii tightly, then released her arm and held her hand, leading her back to the car.
The car seat reclined backward, Zhao ii lay half next to her Brother Yangyang.
Zhao ii turned her head and asked, "Brother, why did you suddenly co to see ?"
Shi Yang had his hands folded under his head, the moonlight through the car window outlined the contours of his profile, slightly blurred.
Shi Yang glanced at the ti on the car, eleven o’clock and five minutes.
He turned to look at Zhao ii, "I missed you, so I ca to see you."
Zhao ii giggled foolishly twice, "I missed you too."
Shi Yang’s mouth curved into a smile, "Tell , what’s going on with Wang Jiayue?"
Shi Yang didn’t ntion Zhao Dazhuang’s factory buyout, picking a slightly lighter topic to guide Zhao ii into conversation.
Zhao ii, upon ntioning Wang Jiayue, suddenly had a stomach full of things she wanted to pour out. She didn’t know who to talk to about this; it had been bottled up inside, neither up nor down. Now, facing her Brother Yangyang, she naturally spoke in great detail, word for word.
After hearing her out, Shi Yang frowned. Wang Jiayue was certainly being bullied by soone. Since the person dared to ask for money, it ans they were sure Wang Jiayue would give it, and no one would care.
A child from a wealthy family being bullied at school and not daring to tell the adults ans the child’s family is likely not so happy either.
Shi Yang looked at Zhao ii, who was indignantly speaking passionately, feeling amused yet grateful. He thought, thankfully, his ii was well cared for, not bullied, and still kind enough to want to protect others.
Zhao ii narrated seriously, Shi Yang listened quietly, occasionally asking a question to bring the topic to a deeper level. As they chatted, he glanced at the slowly passing ti.
After finishing, Zhao ii sighed deeply, "Brother, do you think she’s sick? I just kindly wanted to help her, but she went ahead and cried. I didn’t even say anything."
Shi Yang asked, "Maybe to her, Da Bao’s pursuit seed like a threat?"
"Huh?" Zhao ii fell silent, rembering Wang Jiayue’s reaction when she ntioned Da Bao, having to agree with the statent.
In her eyes, Da Bao was just a childhood playmate, but she couldn’t deny that in front of other peers, he was quite fierce and ruthless.
Thinking of Wang Jiayue’s thin and weak figure, Zhao ii’s expression fell. She asked, "Brother, what do you think I should do then?"
Shi Yang’s voice was calm and detached, "Unless the person involved seeks help, outsiders really can’t intervene."
Thinking of Wang Jiayue’s guarded expression, Zhao ii couldn’t help but sigh, "She surely thinks I’m soone who bullies her too.
Shi Yang saw her dejected appearance and reached out to rub her head, "Alright, don’t think about it. You’re already in high school and considered half adults, aware of many things oneself. If she doesn’t want others to intervene, she definitely has her reasons."
Shi Yang glanced at the ti again, eleven forty-two.
Not wanting to dwell on Wang Jiayue being bullied, he asked, "Want to listen to the radio?"
Zhao ii wasn’t particularly interested, but thinking that lying there listening to music with him seed nice, nodded, "Mhm."
Shi Yang didn’t move imdiately, his eyes focused on the ti.
After waiting for a bit, Zhao ii asked curiously, "Brother?"
Shi Yang replied leisurely, "Hmm?"
Zhao ii: "Weren’t we going to play the radio?"
Shi Yang: "Not ti yet."
Ti?
Zhao ii looked at the ti, eleven forty-eight.
Used to listening to Shi Yang’s words, Zhao ii quietly leaned back on the seat, waiting.
Her eyes fixed on the clock, watching the numbers grow larger.
In the final minute before midnight, Shi Yang sat up, turned on the radio without changing the channel.
Soon, a cheerful lody filled the car.
After the familiar festive intro, a deep, pleasant male voice sang out, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear, happy birthday..."
Zhao ii suddenly turned her head, her eyes shining!
She exclaid in surprise, "Brother! Did you sing this?!"
After a brief pause, she asked again, "Birthday? Is it mine? Am I having a birthday today?!!"
Zhao ii’s long eyes cut through the darkness, shining brightly, looking over with pure trust and unconcealed excitent.
When Shi Yang t Zhao ii’s gaze, his eyes softened instantly. Unable to resist, he reached out and pinched her cheek lightly, without strength, his finger pads pressing down gently, sliding down slowly.
Shi Yang smiled softly, "Isn’t it your birthday? Happy birthday!"
Looking at the smile on Brother Yangyang’s face, Zhao ii’s heart ward, overflowing with heat.
She was so surprised, so pleasantly surprised.
Zhao ii lunged into Brother Yangyang’s arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, without thinking, she kissed his face fiercely, the smack echoed clearly.
"Brother! Thank you!"
A soft touch brushed against Shi Yang’s cheek, the bright moonlight through the car window cast onto Zhao ii’s face, her long eyes crystal clear. As Shi Yang t her gaze, the spot she had kissed felt fiery, an unusual feeling climbing from the depths of his heart. Perhaps it was at this mont, a flutter of heart.
After kissing, Zhao ii moved her lips away, smiled brightly with bent eyebrows.
The typically silent car cabin suddenly froze, with even breathing sounds vanishing. At that mont, Shi Yang heard his own heartbeat.
In Zhao ii’s mont of smiling, his rationality crumbled completely.
In his blank mind, only one thought remained, "It’s over."
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