Chapter 8: Just a Person

The car was still the same Cullinan from last time, but the shoeprints from her kick had disappeared.

Zhou Cong calmly pressed the accelerator, occasionally teasing, “Don’t just rely on Big Brother’s good temper, I can be quite good at beating people up.”

Xu Zhiqiao turned her face to the window, silent.

The car turned into a small residential area, with garden-style houses from the 1990s scattered around. The exterior walls were old and weathered, giving off a heavy historical sense of neglect.

Xu Zhiqiao rested both hands on the windowsill, staring curiously.

“This place was left by Huailuo’s mother,” Zhou Cong said slowly. “Whenever any of us childhood friends runs away from home, we come here. It’s our secret base.”

Xu Zhiqiao turned her head, her watery eyes full of the thought: “You would run away from home?”

Zhou Cong parked the car in front of a house, just as a tall orange tree blocked the scorching heat of midsummer.

The dappled shade of the tree cast a cool, dense pattern of light and shadow. Zhou Cong stretched out his hand and casually rubbed her head without greeting, “I’ve got another secret base of mine. Your brother and the others don’t know, so I’ll share it only with you. How about it?”

The gesture was too ambiguous, and Xu Zhiqiao resisted it strongly, instinctively pushing the car door open.

Zhou Cong’s hand froze in mid-air.

He wasn’t angry, letting out a light laugh from his nose, “First time I’ve been so cheap.”

The girl stood beneath the lush, green light, wearing a pure cotton dress with ruffled edges, like a hint of early summer pink and white in a lotus pond.

Zhou Cong laughed again, his long legs hitting the ground as he stretched lazily, revealing a well-defined abdomen.

“Let’s go,” he led the way into the yard.

The first barrier to the house was a wrought-iron gate with intricate designs, the second was a fingerprint scanner. Zhou Cong, acting like the owner, immediately placed his finger on it, opening the door.

As soon as the door opened, the sound of men chatting inside spilled out: “At your age, you shouldn’t be getting so worked up to the point of wanting to kill yourself.”

Ji Huailuo’s voice was raspy and weak: “Get the hell out of here.”

Er De, who was the first to hear the door open, whimpered twice.

The three men inside turned to look.

Zhou Cong glanced around, frowned, and turned back to instruct, “Wait before coming in.”

Xu Zhiqiao stopped in her tracks.

“Who are you talking to?” Zhen Chuang asked suspiciously, walking out a few steps, then raised his tone, “Oh, Huailuo, the culprit is here.”

Hua Qingyang looked excited, “Little sister, come on in.”

Zhou Cong didn’t even bother changing his shoes. He first opened the window to let the cross breeze blow away the thick smoke inside.

“Stop smoking,” he said faintly, “I’ll smell like it, and when I get home, the old man will think it’s me.”

Ji Huailuo angrily snuffed out the half-lit cigarette and glared at the girl standing by the entrance: “Who told you to bring her here?”

The four men inside, except for Zhou Cong, were all clearly very annoyed with her, and Xu Zhiqiao could tell.

After all, in their eyes, she was like the wicked stepmother’s wicked daughter, not only taking over someone else’s fatherly love but even managing to oust their mother.

Especially in such a wealthy family, it was easy for them to project their feelings of being replaced by a mistress onto their situation.

Zhou Cong kicked Er De lightly, “Go inside and play.”

Er De seemed to understand and wagged his tail as he disappeared.

After a few more minutes, Zhou Cong lowered his gaze and spoke to Ji Huailuo: “If you want to kill her, now’s your chance.”

Xu Zhiqiao: “…”

“…Damn,” Ji Huailuo half-sat up, irritated, “Your mother…”

“The person I brought here,” Zhou Cong interrupted, unbothered, “If you kill her, it’s on me. You don’t need to take the blame.”

Xu Zhiqiao: “…”

She knew he was kind like that!

What a nasty dog!

Ji Huailuo was agitated, wanting to smoke again but feeling Zhou Cong’s gaze on him. He wanted to curse but didn’t know who to direct it at.

Xu Zhiqiao cautiously approached, her eyes scanning his face.

Ji Huailuo’s injury was severe, and it was clear he hadn’t treated it. Even after several days, it was still swollen.

Xu Zhiqiao’s nose suddenly turned red. Before she could speak, her voice already cracked, “I’ve explained to Uncle, he won’t stop you from keeping Er De…”

“Damn! I’m not dead yet!” Ji Huailuo nearly jumped up, “Why are you crying in front of me?”

Xu Zhiqiao rubbed her eyes, trying to hold it back: “I’m sorry…”

“Zhou Cong!” Ji Huailuo got even more agitated and shouted, “I don’t care how you brought her here, but I want you to take her back! Now! Immediately!”

Xu Zhiqiao shrank into the sofa across from him, “I’m not going back.”

“…” Ji Huailuo was perplexed, “You’re not going to cling to me, are you?”

Hearing this, Zhou Cong frowned, clicking his tongue lightly, “I’ll take her back. Who the hell is clinging to you?”

Xu Zhiqiao repeated, “I’m not going back.”

Everyone in the room: “…”

The atmosphere became eerily quiet.

After a long pause, Ji Huailuo muttered absurdly, “This is all men here. What do you want to do? You actually want to stay among men?”

“Your dad… Uncle, he’s very fierce,” Xu Zhiqiao sniffled, “I’m scared.”

“…”

The room fell silent again.

After a few seconds, Ji Huailuo finally got up from the sofa, his expression unclear: “He’s fierce, right? You think so too?”

Xu Zhiqiao nodded.

“I knew it!” Ji Huailuo suddenly slapped his leg, “But everyone else says he’s nice, as if I’m lying!”

Xu Zhiqiao nodded again.

Ji Huailuo was agitated, “Your mom is with him and isn’t afraid of being beaten!”

Xu Zhiqiao: “…”

Xu Zhiqiao struggled to speak, “I’m a little worried too.”

“Right!” Ji Huailuo’s pupils dilated, “Damn, it’s rare to find someone who understands me!”

The three men in the room: “…”

Is your ‘understanding’ just someone agreeing with your complaints about your dad?

“I’m telling you, it’s these three dogs,” Ji Huailuo pointed at the three men present after cursing Ji Shou, “One ignores me, one scolds me, and one makes me reflect! Not a single one of them thinks my dad’s wrong!”

The three men: “…”

Xu Zhiqiao wiped her eyes again, “They’re jealous of you, right? Can’t stand seeing you do well.”

The three men: “…”

Ji Huailuo howled, as if he’d found proof, “Damn! I knew they were just waiting for me to be down so they could take me out!”

Unable to withstand the three men’s gazes, Xu Zhiqiao shrank her neck, “Big Brother, let’s go home.”

Ji Huailuo was still angrily ranting: “I’m telling you, today, with my sister here, Xu Zhiqiao, give your opinion on these three big brothers.”

“…” Xu Zhiqiao wanted to die, “N-no, I don’t really know them.”

How did the tone shift to this strange corner?

Wasn’t she just criticizing Ji Shou?!

Why was she the one becoming a cricket, picking on everyone else!

“It’s okay,” Zhou Cong put his hands on his waist, his eyelids lowered, looking down at her with an indifferent posture, “Go ahead, evaluate.”

“…”

She didn’t want to die yet.

Ji Huailuo sat up, “Xu Zhiqiao, evaluate!!”

Evaluate your grandfather.

Xu Zhiqiao wanted to cry but had no tears.

The four men all stared at her, and Xu Zhiqiao had nowhere to hide. She nervously shifted her gaze to the first person.

Zhen Chuang immediately straightened his back.

Xu Zhiqiao hesitated, “Strong logic, you must be good at science, right?”

For example, he could easily tell she was the one who caused trouble.

Zhen Chuang: “…”

It didn’t sound like a compliment.

Xu Zhiqiao then shifted to Hua Qingyang, “He’s warm and friendly with his friends, loves them.”

Like how he happily invited her in earlier, watching the drama.

Hua Qingyang: “…”

He felt like he was being scolded but couldn’t rebut.

Finally, Xu Zhiqiao’s eyes turned to Zhou Cong.

The man’s gaze was cold, his lips pulling into a humorless smile.

Xu Zhiqiao stared at him for a few seconds, then stiffly looked away and muttered, “Just a person, huh.”