After sucking on Xiaoxiao’s finger for a while, Xiao Bing looked up and saw her staring at him. Xiaoxiao retrieved her hand the moment their eyes met. “I’m… I’m okay now,” she said uneasily.

“Oh. Go and put some ointment on it then.”

“Okay, I’ll do it myself. Please help me finish dinner then. I probably can’t help you with cooking.”

“It’s okay. I can handle it.”

Xiao Bing returned to the kitchen and picked up a turner. Xiaoxiao’s flurried eyes appeared in his mind. His mind was stirred when he recalled that Yezi told him about Xiaoxiao’s crush on him. He did not want Xiaoxiao to follow her sister’s footsteps.

“Does she really like me? Is it even possible…? She just doesn’t hate me that much. Maybe I’m thinking too much.”

Xiao Bing managed to eliminate these absurd thoughts and began to cook.

After putting on the ointment, Xiaoxiao put the bottle on her nightstand and sat on her bed. She bit her lips as she recalled what happened earlier. “Why? Why did my heart beat so fast? Why am I still afraid? Still in a panic…?”

“Urgh!” Xiaoxiao put her hand around her head and shook it hard. Her hair became a mess. “No, no, no! I must be mad. How can I fall in love with someone with a girlfriend? And he was even involved in my sister’s death, my sister who loved him so much…”

Both of them were burdened with thoughts. They only gathered when dinner was ready. By then, Xiao Bing had already cast away these thoughts while Xiaoxiao acted as if nothing has happened. He became even more certain that he was overthinking after seeing how Xiaoxiao behaved.

Xiaoxiao went back to her bedroom to study after dinner. After finishing solving some practice questions, she took a look at Xiao Bing, who was sitting cross-legged in the living room. Then she looked away and spun the pen on her fingertips, looking lost in thoughts.

After looking at his watch, Xiao Bing turned off the TV and stood up. He stretched and said, “Xiaoxiao, go on with studying. I’m going to bed. By the way, you should visit auntie tomorrow. She must be lonely in the hospital. Yezi can go with me tomorrow.”

“Oh, okay.”

After Xiao Bing returned to his bedroom, Xiaoxiao threw the pen on the table in anger.

Next morning, Su Xiaoxiao went to the hospital alone after giving Xiao Bing her notebook. Lil Bei was already near the entrance as per Xiao Bing’s request so he did not have to worry about her safety.

Xiao Bing got ready and waited downstairs. A couple of minutes later, Yezi’s car pulled over at the roadside. Xiao Bing walked in and sat next to her.

He found it very convenient when he was with Yezi because her private driver would take him wherever he wanted. Since he was familiar with the driver, he no longer felt awkward when telling Yezi affectionate words.

Yezi was wearing a pink princess dress and colorful bracelets on her wrists and ankles. They made her look like Snow White. Xiao Bing stared at her as if he had been bewitched.

Yezi’s eyes gleamed with cunning as she touched her face. She said cutely, “Am I really that pretty? You look like a fool whenever you look at me.”

Xiao Bing nodded earnestly and kept staring at her like a fool. “Yeah. Every time I look at you, it’s like I’m looking at a fool…”

Yezi instantly realized what he was getting at and laughed. “How dare you mock me? Let me show you what I’m capable of.”

She pounced on him as she was saying so. Then the two began laughing and playing with each other.

They ran around all day, visiting all the stores on their list. There were only two stores that they could make do with while the rest were unsatisfactory. Xiao Bing decided to ask Auntie Li for advice.

They went home after having candlelit dinner in the evening.

Xiaoxiao seemed happy when seeing Xiao Bing. “My mom’s mental condition is better than ever. The doctor said she can leave the hospital now but it’s better for her to stay a little longer.”

“That’s great.” Xiao Bing smiled. “I’m happy for her. Let the professionals take care of your mother. We don’t need that money anyway. Let her stay a little bit longer. But one can easily get upset if locked up in the hospital for too long. We should take her around whenever we have time.”

“My thoughts exactly. I’ll take a walk with her every evening from tomorrow onward. Oh, I can’t do that tomorrow. It’s my classmate’s birthday. By the way, Brother Bing, do you have any idea what I should get for a birthday present?”

Xiao Bing smiled. “Compared to you, I’m not an expert in that area. Work it out yourself. Oh right, is it a boy or a girl?”

“A girl… We aren’t very close but she invited me this time though. I should buy a present for her if I decide to go. But I don’t know what I should get since it’s just so abrupt.”

After contemplating for a while, Xiao Bing grinned. Why don’t you just buy her a birthday cake? You don’t know what she likes since you two aren’t very close. It’s highly possible that she won’t like your present. But a birthday cake is favored by almost everyone.”

Xiaoxiao grinned. Her eyes were gleaming. “Of course! I’ll buy her a birthday cake then. Thanks, Brother Bing.”

“You’re welcome. You’ll probably come home late tomorrow because you have a party to attend, right?”

“Yes. I will be late but you don’t have to worry about it.”

“I know. Go and get some sleep now.”

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

It seemed that Lil Bei would have to work overtime tomorrow. But nothing would go wrong since it was just a birthday party with college students. Lying in his bed, Xiao Bing sent Yezi two text messages before going to sleep.

The next morning, Xiaoxiao rushed toward the door after having breakfast. “Brother Bing, I’m not waiting for you. I need to order the birthday cake.”

“Okay.” Xiao Bing grinned. It was rare for him to see Xiaoxiao in such a hurry.

He walked out soon after she did. Then, he saw Zhu Liya coming his way the moment he stepped out of the community.

However, this queenly woman seemed to be in a trance. One could clearly see the bruise on her face. Xiao Bing frowned, wondering what had happened.

“Liya.”

It was not until Xiao Bing called her name that she realized someone was standing in front of her. “Xiao… Xiao Bing.”

“Yes. What have you been up to lately?”

“No… Nothing,” Zhu Liya shook her head. She seemed to be flustered.

To her surprise, Xiao Bing reached out to take off her sunglasses, causing her to shriek a little. He became furious after seeing her face. “Who did this? Is the casino causing you trouble again?”

Zhu Liya’s eyes were beaten black and blue and there was a conspicuous bruise on her face. It was hard for him to imagine someone doing such things to a mature, beautiful woman. There was something between him and Zhu Liya before. He had a sexual desire for her as well as pity. So he was filled with anger after seeing her like this.

“It’s really nothing.” The anxiety on her face disappeared and she tried to leave. “I should go now.”

“Wait! Is it your loser husband?”

Tears filled her eyes. If not for her strong character, tears would have fallen down like raindrops.

A furious Xiao Bing asked, “Is it really him?”

“Ye… Yes.” Zhu Liya nodded hesitantly.

“Why?”

“He… He wants more money. He is gambling again. I don’t know which casino this time. But he seems to be in a huge debt. The only money I have is for business. I refused to give it to him and…”

“That asshole!” Xiao Bing never thought that a man could be this shameless. Not only did that man look ugly, but his insides were hideous as well. He liked to be with whores instead of his beautiful wife at home. He was even addicted to gambling, which was known as a destroyer of families. Even Madame Bovary was happier than her; at least she had a husband to support her.

Zhu Liya looked at him and asked, “Can… Can you come to my place tonight? He won’t be at home. I just want someone to be with me and talk to me.”

Virtually no man would refuse this beautiful and miserable woman, especially when he was very protective. Xiao Bing agreed without hesitation.

“Thank you, Brother Bing… Thank you. I’ll go back now.”

“Okay. I’ll visit you tonight.”

The two of them then parted. Xiao Bing sighed with deep feeling after walking for quite a while. “How did this beautiful woman end up with such a loser? Will she find someone worthy of her?” Though he sympathized with her very much, there was little that he could do for her.

What he failed to see was that peculiar glint in her big, beautiful eyes when she stopped walking and turned around to watch him leave.