Chapter 243: Zhou Bannan Makes an Appearance

Chapter 243: Zhou Bannan Makes an Appearance

"Bastard, unwanted scum! Why wasn't he strangled at birth?!"

As Mo Fuyao passed through an alley, she heard a string of curses.

Looking up, she spotted a familiar figure.

Xu Ziheng—why was it him?

At that moment, Xu Ziheng's face was bruised and swollen; his teeth were missing, making it difficult for him to speak. He pointed at a boy lying on the ground, barely clinging to life.

"He's the reason I got beaten up. Throw him out!"

Mo Fuyao glanced at the unconscious boy on the ground, ready to rush to his aid. However, remembering that she had sneaked out, she reluctantly retracted her foot.

The servants obediently dragged the boy who was sprawled on the ground and tossed him out the door.

Xu Ziheng spat contemptuously.

"Keep her out. If she wants to die, let her do it outside!"

With that, Xu Ziheng left with his servants, slamming the back door shut behind him.

When she saw that everyone had gone inside, Mo Fuyao stepped out.

"Little brother, are you alright?!"

She rushed over and nudged the boy on the ground.

Xu Huaizhou struggled to lift his head and look at the girl speaking to him.

At the sight of the little girl, he seemed to forget his pain, his eyes shining with admiration.

"Fairy!"

Mo Fuyao, absorbed in her thoughts, didn't catch his words. Instead, she noticed his bloodshot eyes and bruised lips, causing a wave of sorrow to well up in her eyes, shimmering with tears.

Though no one had ever dared to hurt her, the sight of someone else's pain still tugged at her heartstrings.

"Little brother, does it hurt?" she asked softly.

"And where are your father and mother?"

At the mention of his father, a surge of boundless grief and fury flickered across Xu Huaizhou's eyes.

That man was unworthy of being called his father.

He clenched his teeth and struggled to sit up, choosing not to respond to her question.

Seeing that he wasn't upset by her silence, Mo Fuyao observed his gaunt, sunken cheeks. Concerned, she retrieved two pastries from her bundle.

"Here, eat these!"

Xu Huaizhou, upon seeing the food, promptly took them and began devouring them eagerly, large bites at a time.

Worried that he might choke, Mo Fuyao gently patted his back to help him catch his breath.

Afraid that his tattered wounds would disgust her, Xu Huaizhou took a step back.

Mo Fuyao smiled at him warmly, "Take your time, I have more here!"

Seeing her gentle smile, with her eyes curved like the moon, she seemed like a divine figure in a storybook, so radiant that he dared not look directly at her.

He felt like a lowly rat in a sewage ditch, even gazing at her was a form of blasphemy.

"..."

Watching him enjoy his meal, Mo Fuyao sat down on the ground and joined him.

She was a chatterbox by nature, talking nonstop while eating.

Xu Huaizhou didn't interrupt her, instead, he listened quietly to her words.

"..."

"Little brother, why aren't you speaking?"

Xu Huaizhou had been scalded in the throat by Xu Ziheng with boiling water just a couple of days ago. He was afraid that his voice might frighten her now.

Mo Fuyao didn't insist; instead, she stood up and smiled.

"I need to find my mother. Take these treats, and I'll come visit you again in a few days!"

With that, she picked up her small bundle and gave him half of the food. As she turned to leave, she paused and turned back, offering him the jade pendant she wore.

"If Xu Ziheng ever hits you again, show him this jade pendant. He won't dare lay a hand on you once he sees it."

"Alright, my mother is waiting for me. I must go find her."

After giving her instructions, Mo Fuyao turned and left.

Xu Huaizhou observed the young girl wandering alone outside, clenching the pastry in his hand, and, feeling concerned, he followed her.

...

After class, Zhou Bannian picked up her umbrella and stepped out of the classroom, the sound of raindrops tinkling gently in her ears.

Today's rain was unusually heavy, as if the sky had torn open a massive hole.

Having stayed up all night gaming, she desperately needed to replenish her energy. Disregarding the intensity of the downpour, she charged into the rain with her umbrella raised high.

On her way to the cafeteria, she noticed a figure suddenly appearing in a puddle at her feet. Startled, she halted abruptly.

She rubbed her eyes, suspecting that her prolonged night of gaming might have induced an illusion.

But when she looked again, there was indeed a man standing in the puddle.

He was clad in a dark, majestic robe, exuding authority and charisma. With a chiseled nose and phoenix-like eyes, his deep, obsidian gaze seemed to draw her in when it met hers.

Zhou Bannan surveyed her classmates, noticing that all of them were engrossed in their own world, seemingly oblivious to the man that only she could see.

Frowning, she stepped forward, attempting to disrupt the water in the puddle, but no matter how much she tried, the ripples merely oscillated, and the man's gaze remained fixed on her.

Annoyance rising within her, Zhou Bannan exerted force with both feet, stomping down hard.

The instant her feet connected, there was no solid concrete floor beneath as expected. Instead, a dizzying sensation overtook her, causing her eyes to flutter shut as she swooned.

...

Mo Fuyao was at a loss for where to search, so she wandered aimlessly.

Zhang San and Zhang Si discreetly tailed her, but the crowded streets made it difficult to make a move.

Mo Fuyao stood before a fork in the road, uncertain which path to take. Eventually, she chose the left one and ventured forth.

The two men behind her observed her entering the alleyway, exchanging a glance before following suit.

"This isn't the right path!"

Upon noticing the dead end ahead, Mo Fuyao turned around to retrace her steps.

"Little girl, what are you looking for? Do you need uncles like us to help you?" Zhang San and Zhang Si blocked her way with their eyes crinkled in smiles.

Observing their lecherous grins, Mo Fuyao warily took a few steps back.

The two men had been tailing her and saw her asking around while holding a portrait, deducing that she might be searching for a family member.

Zhang San approached her. "Little girl, are you searching for a relative? Uncles can take you to find them, alright?"

Feeling the sinister intent behind the man's gaze, Mo Fuyao clenched her fists in fear.

Shaking her head, she tried to maintain composure. "I'm not looking for anyone. My... my fath... father is waiting for me outside. I need to leave!"

As she spoke, she attempted to dash away but was still caught by Zhang San, who grabbed her collar and lifted her off the ground.

"Let me go, don't touch me..."

With her feet off the ground, she could only kick frantically and scream in desperation.

Fearful that she might attract attention, Zhang San promptly covered her mouth and turned to Zhang Si.

"Silly, hurry up and bring the sack over."

"Mmmfff... mmmfff..."

Mo Fuyao struggled with all her might, but her strength was too insignificant to make any difference.

"Let her go! Let her go!"

A thin, pale boy rushed over, his face etched with concern.

Upon seeing the little girl in the man's arms, Xu Huaizhou's eyes reddened, and he darted forward, attempting to snatch the child away.

"Let her go, both of you, let her go..."

Zhang Si was struck in the eye by the boy's punch, causing him to clutch his face and cry out in pain.

"Useless!"

Zhang San kicked the boy in the stomach, sending him flying.

Despite blood trickling from Xu Huaizhou's mouth, he managed to stagger back to his feet.

"Let her go!"

Before he could rush forward, another kick sent him sprawling, slamming harshly into the ground, unable to regain his footing for a long while.

"What a pesky little beggar! So unlucky!"

Seeing the little brother unable to get up, Mo Fuyao, fueled by anger, lashed out with both fists and nails, scratching fiercely at the man's face.

Just then, Zhang San suddenly felt a sharp pain in his leg. Looking down, he saw the very boy who couldn't rise had clamped his teeth onto his thigh, causing him immense pain as he tried to pull him off.

But the boy held on with all his might, refusing to let go, biting relentlessly.

"Zhang Si, you fool, hurry up and lend a hand!"

Witnessing Zhang San being overpowered by the two children, Zhang Si promptly scrambled to his feet.

He seized the little boy's hand, attempting to pull it apart with force.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch, it hurts so much!"

Failing to separate them and feeling intense pain, Zhang San's face contorted in agony.

He produced a small knife and slashed towards the boy's face.

The blade missed Xu Huaizhou's face, instead cutting across his forehead.

Instantly, blood began to spurt out in streams.

Perceiving the weakening strength of the boy, Zhang San kicked him away with his foot.

Seeing that he still intended to discipline the young boy, Zhang Si hurriedly intervened to stop him.

"Alright, alright, let's hurry and leave before someone arrives."

Embracing the little girl in his arms, the two quickly turned to depart.

But after just two steps, Zhang Si was suddenly knocked to the ground by something.

"Ahh!"

Startled by a cry of pain coming from beneath him, Zhou Bbanban scrambled to his feet.