Chapter 22.3

According to the plot, the female lead should be returning home for the weekend at this point, only to be harassed by a drunken local thug on the way! Although the thug doesn’t succeed, the female lead, in her struggle, injures the thug, leading to his family coming to demand compensation. Unable to pay, rumors about her spread through the village, causing her to become distrustful and resentful of men.

It was a particularly distressing part of the story, leading the female lead to guard herself against men until the male lead appeared. His gentle persistence eventually broke down her defenses.

Wen Yue was worried, unsure if Li Nianqiu had already been dragged away by the thug. Her panicked gaze instinctively turned to Zhou Yao, who had followed her outside.

“Maybe something happened on the way.” Zhou Yao said, catching Wen Yue’s pleading look. His voice was calm and steady, providing a sense of security. “I’ll take Old Fang and Yeliang out to have a look.”

Ren Yeliang, who was eating dumplings on the steps, quickened his pace, finishing his food in two or three bites, and mumbled his agreement.

“I’ll go with you,” Wen Yue insisted.

Zhou Yao frowned, “It’s too late. You should stay home.”

Wen Yue shook her head, “No, I have to go.”

Given the situation, it would be better for her to be there for Li Nianqiu.

“…Alright.”

Meeting Wen Yue’s determined gaze, Zhou Yao gave in. He went back inside to grab a flashlight, and the group hurried out. Li Xiangdong wanted to follow, but Wen Yue persuaded her to stay.

They walked along the village path, searching by the light of the fading sun. They reached the main road at the village entrance without finding anyone. The last rays of the sun disappeared, and the sky turned gray. The tall grass on either side of the wide dirt road looked eerie in the dim light.

Wen Yue was anxious, but the plot didn’t specify where Li Nianqiu was attacked. She could only stand by the roadside, parting the grass inch by inch as she searched.

Zhou Yao, though puzzled by Wen Yue’s actions, said nothing. His long legs covered more ground quickly, helping her search.

Then he noticed an area where the grass seemed trampled, bent, and broken as if someone had been there.

Behind the grass was a small half-meter-high slope, leading down to a grassy flat area. Zhou Yao shone his flashlight down, seeing no one. He was about to move on when he heard a faint sobbing sound.

He paused, quickly making his way down the slope and walking a short distance.

Then he saw a man and a woman.

The man, his face familiar, was flushed from drinking. He was on top of the girl, one hand covering her mouth to stifle her cries, while the other tried to tear at her clothes.

“Shit.”

Zhou Yao’s face darkened. Without even looking to see who the girl was, he walked over and kicked the man hard, his voice cold, “What kind of man bullies a woman? Disgraceful. If you’ve got guts, fight me.”

He despised such people, thinking a little alcohol gave them the right to forget who they were, using their strength to bully women. It was a disgrace to men.

“Who the hell ruined my fun!” The man rolled on the ground, cursing. “Do you believe, do you believe I’ll… Zhou Yao!?”

“Fang Qiang?”

Zhou Yao recognized the man, who also recognized him. The man’s drunkenness instantly vanished, and he gulped, trying to run.

“Trying to run?” Zhou Yao caught up in a few strides, swinging a fist. “Show me how you’re going to kill me.”

Fang Qiang cried out as he was beaten, “I was wrong, brother, I was wrong! I didn’t know it was you, please stop hitting me, brother, I was wrong…”

Zhou Yao sneered and slapped him across the face, “Who’s your brother? Don’t try to get chummy with me.”

When Wen Yue, Ren Yeliang, and Fang Shitao arrived, they saw Zhou Yao fiercely beating up a man.

Wen Yue took one look and then turned her attention to Li Nianqiu, who was sitting nearby, trembling slightly, her face as white as a sheet. Her clothes were torn, her hair disheveled, and her eyes vacant, clearly still in shock from the ordeal.

“Nianqiu!” Wen Yue ran over and crouched down, her lips parting as she gently asked, “Nianqiu, don’t be scared, no one will hurt you now.”

Wen Yue felt a pang of regret, realizing she hadn’t thought to bring an extra coat.

“…Wen Yue?” Li Nianqiu blinked slowly, turning to look at her, her voice hoarse.

Wen Yue nodded vigorously, “Yes, it’s me!”

The next second, Li Nianqiu hugged Wen Yue tightly, so tightly that it almost hurt. But Wen Yue didn’t make a sound, raising her hand to gently pat Li Nianqiu’s back, softly comforting her, “It’s okay now, it’s okay, the bad guy has been driven away.”

Feeling Li Nianqiu’s trembling, Wen Yue’s heart ached, and with teary eyes, she said, “Cry if you need to.” It’s better to let the emotions out than to bottle them up.

Soon, Wen Yue heard Li Nianqiu’s restrained, soft sobbing, her shoulder getting damp with tears.

Wen Yue, highly empathetic, couldn’t hold back her own tears and cried along with her.

When Zhou Yao finished teaching Fang Qiang a lesson and came over, he saw the two girls hugging and crying their hearts out, sobbing uncontrollably.

He hesitated, sensing that speaking now might have serious consequences. Zhou Yao, for once showing some wisdom, signaled to Ren Yeliang.

Ren Yeliang sighed inwardly, thinking his brother was really something.

“Sister-in-law, are you alright?” Ren Yeliang asked hesitantly, predictably receiving an angry glare from Wen Yue. His voice grew softer, “Why don’t we go back first? Grandma and your friend’s sister are still waiting at home. They must be very worried right now.”

Hearing the keywords, Li Nianqiu immediately stopped crying, released Wen Yue, and with a calm voice said, “Let’s go home.”

Wen Yue, still emotional, was taken aback, “…Huh?”

She looked up at Li Nianqiu.

Novels often described how strong the female lead was, but Wen Yue had never felt it so vividly until now. Li Nianqiu’s resilience was truly remarkable.

In Wen Yue’s place, she would probably have been crying non-stop by now.

Wen Yue wiped her tears, “Nianqiu, are you really okay?”

“Yes.” Li Nianqiu nodded calmly, managing a pale smile, “I’m fine now. Let’s go home, so no one worries.”

Though still marked by the struggle, her clothes torn and her body bruised, Li Nianqiu seemed to have already started moving past the incident. Her eyes were still red, tears lingering at the corners, her usually resolute features showing a rare vulnerability.

Despite her fear, Li Nianqiu didn’t want to worry anyone, suppressing her inner panic.

Her strength was heartbreaking.

Looking at her, Wen Yue suddenly realized she had always viewed Li Nianqiu as just a character in a novel. Now, for the first time, she saw Li Nianqiu as a real, flesh-and-blood person.

The female lead was so good, yet so tragic.

Someone as good as her shouldn’t have to endure so much suffering!

Wen Yue wiped her tears again, resolving to help Li Nianqiu avoid these hardships, knowing the plot as she did.

“Then let’s go home,” Wen Yue said, glancing at Li Nianqiu’s clothes, her regret deepening.

Zhou Yao, who had been closely watching Wen Yue’s emotions, pursed his lips and motioned to Ren Yeliang, “Take off your coat.”

Ren Yeliang was taken aback, “Huh? Take off my coat?” Why did he need to take off his coat?

“Just take it off,” Zhou Yao insisted.

Feeling wronged, Ren Yeliang took off his white jacket and handed it over, revealing his skinny frame underneath.

Zhou Yao averted his eyes in disdain, muttering about eating more, and handed the coat to Wen Yue.

Wen Yue’s eyes lit up with joy. She said nothing, draping the coat over Li Nianqiu’s shoulders. Then she looked up at Zhou Yao, her eyes bright with gratitude, her lips moving silently.

Zhou Yao smiled.

She mouthed, “Thank goodness you’re here.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets, following at a comfortable distance behind Wen Yue and Li Nianqiu.

Meanwhile, Ren Yeliang, now hugging himself, hid behind Fang Shitao, grumbling, “Why didn’t you have to take off your coat?”

Fang Shitao grinned, “Maybe mine isn’t as clean as yours. Can’t have her wearing dirty clothes, right?”

Ren Yeliang blinked, “That makes sense.”

His mood lightened.

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