Yuan Yuan, believing she was simply telling the truth, stood her ground confidently, not sensing anything wrong with her statement.

The woman stared at Yuanyuan for a moment, noting how cute and polite the little girl looked. She didn’t seem like the type to lie. But then again, her own son was sitting there, battered and bruised…

It couldn’t have been a ghost that did it!

“Mom, they hit me!” Squinty Eyes wailed pitifully, pointing at Yu Yingze. “He hit us!”

“Yeah, it was him!” the other two boys chimed in, their voices quivering with tears as they pointed accusingly.

A man who had been silent until now finally seemed to understand the situation: one kid had beaten up his three.

Three against one, and yet his kids had lost.

The man sighed, furrowing his brows as he stormed toward Yu Yingze. “So you’re the one who did this to my son? You’re just a child, and yet you hit so hard. Where are your parents? Who’s responsible for you?”

Despite being confronted by an adult towering over him, Yu Yingze didn’t flinch. Arms crossed, he responded, “Kids fighting is between kids. Why do you need to call for your parents? That’s pathetic. Besides, their injuries have nothing to do with me—they fell from the tree on their own.”

“It was you who hit us!” Squinty Eyes, fearing that his parents might scold him for climbing the tree, stiffened his shoulders and stuck to his lie. “You hit us, and now you’re too scared to admit it! You’re a coward!”

Since getting hurt while being mischievous would get him punished, Squinty Eyes knew playing the victim would earn sympathy instead.

The man looked irritated, waving his hand dismissively as he advanced toward Yu Yingze, intending to grab his collar. “That’s quite the mouth you’ve got on you for such a young kid. Call your parents over here. This isn’t over! You’re going to pay for my kids’ medical bills!”

“Is your son made of paper?” Shen Ji scoffed, glancing contemptuously at the three whimpering boys on the ground. “A couple of scratches—just put on some bandages and they’ll be fine.”

“That’s easy for you to say!” the man thundered, his anger flaring. “You little brat, bring your parents here! This isn’t going to end nicely!”

Shen Ji didn’t budge, his cold gaze fixing on the man. His lips curled slightly, his teeth biting down gently as his brows furrowed. That look sent an unexpected chill down the man’s spine.

A wave of unease coursed through him.

How could he—a grown adult towering over this boy—possibly feel intimidated?

The sensation was indescribable, like something dark awakening within him, warning him that this child was trouble.

The commotion was growing louder, drawing more attention. Yuanyuan, scared but determined, trembled like a little hamster, hiding behind Yu Yingze and Shen Ji.

But even the usually good-natured Yuanyuan was beginning to feel fed up. This adult’s aggressive attitude was unfair and upsetting.

It wasn’t Yu Yingze or Shen Ji’s fault! His sons had thrown stones at butterflies and injured themselves climbing trees, yet they were blaming her big brother and Shen Ji.

It was too much for her to tolerate!

Gathering her courage, little Yuanyuan stepped forward, standing protectively in front of her brothers. She clenched her small fists into two doughy balls and bent her arms, puffing herself up in the fiercest stance she could manage.

With wide, angry eyes, she summoned all the bravado she could muster.

Daddy had told her—if someone insults her, she has to insult them back!

Taking a deep breath, Yuanyuan scrunched her neck and then suddenly straightened it, yelling with all her might, “You… you’re so annoying! You’re a smelly fish!“