Chapter 34: Lin Zhixia Knows Summer Deeply

Bai An heard the shouting from the door and couldn’t help but glance at her parents.

Right now, Lu Demin and Wanqing were directing the villagers to move things. Even though they noticed some of the items weren’t from Bai An’s family, they could turn a blind eye and maintain their composure, letting the villagers take the items back.

Among those helping, most were relatives of Dogdan’s family. Afraid that Bai An’s family might report them to the police, implicating themselves, they worked hard to help move the things.

“Brother, it’s been so long since anyone has protected me like this.” When Bai An had been talking to her mother about how Dogdan hit her, she had no hope that her parents would stand up for her. After all, the house had been stolen that night, and they had let the matter slide, turning a big issue into a small one.

But it seemed they too would stand up for her, using their own frail bodies to protect her and bring justice for her.

“What are you talking about?” Lu Jin’an handed Bai An an old tiger toy from the bed and said seriously, “Of course we’ll protect you.”

Bai An hummed in response, holding the tiger toy and resting her head on Lu Jin’an’s shoulder. “I saw that.”

As Bai An was about to go inside, she glanced at Dogdan’s mother, who had collapsed on the ground, and Dogdan, who had a bruised face. She lowered her gaze, holding her mother’s hand, and stepped past them.

Seeing the recovered belongings in her home, Bai An felt a surge of joy. It seemed that being a bit tougher was the only way to avoid being bullied.

“Mom, this isn’t our pot, right?” Bai An looked at the old, worn-out pot in the kitchen, frowning. She remembered the pots at home, and they weren’t this shabby.

Then she looked at the tiger toy in her hand, realizing she hadn’t seen it at home either.

Wanqing glanced at it, nodded, and said, “It’s not ours, but I saw it and thought it could still be useful, so I brought it back.”

“Right.” Lu Demin pointed at the broken stool on the floor and added, “Actually, this stool is from their family too, but I brought it back. Since they’ve been bullying our Bai An, they deserve a lesson.”

“And,” Wanqing continued, “They’ve eaten so much from our family, and all we’ve taken is a pot and a stool.”

“Also a tiger toy,” Bai An weakly added from the side.

“It’s fine.” Wanqing comforted Bai An, “Taking it doesn’t matter. Bad people will always face their own downfall. Originally, your dad and I were planning to let it go, but they actually bullied you.”

“How can we let that slide?”

Lu Demin hugged Bai An and, looking at Lu Jin’an, who was lazily leaning by the door, said, “This is your brother. If anyone bullies you and we don’t know about it in time, just tell your brother, and he’ll help you.”

“But… did you punch Dogdan in the face?”

Bai An noticed her father was looking at her and hurriedly tried to explain.

Before she could say anything, Lu Demin gave Bai An a thumbs up, beaming with pride. “Our daughter is amazing, she can do anything! I’m so proud!”

Upon hearing this, Bai An gave up on trying to argue.

Fine, I hit him.

Bai An thought silently to herself. Maybe it was really her, after all, she had used quite a bit of force at the time.

Lu Jin’an watched their father-daughter bonding moment and couldn’t help but smile.

Wanqing gently patted Lu Jin’an. “Stop grinning, hurry up and help clean up.”

Lu Jin’an looked at his mother, who had returned to her usual gentle self, and nodded.

Standing outside the courtyard, peering through the window, Lin Zhixia didn’t need to guess what the beautiful scene inside looked like.

He hadn’t expected Bai An’s parents to go so far for her. He had always thought of their family as the typical image of urban intellectuals.

They cared about their reputation to the point of suffering.

Thud, thud, thud.

Bai An heard the sound of someone at the courtyard gate. It was so late, and after everything that had just happened, who would come now?

Lu Jin’an walked over, opened the door, and, seeing the person outside, said coldly, “Is there something you need?”

“Jin’an, who is it?” Wanqing, who was tidying up the bed, called out toward the door.

Lu Jin’an turned around and replied, “Lin Zhixia.”

“Lin Zhixia?” Bai An walked over curiously and looked at the boy outside the door, whose face bore an innocent smile. She asked, puzzled, “What are you here for?”

Wanqing also stepped outside, as she knew that Lin Zhixia was the brother of the missing Cui Ju.

It was strange—no one seemed to care about Cui Ju’s disappearance.

Lin Zhixia noticed Wanqing’s unwelcome expression and, with the most gentle demeanor, raised the small bag he was holding.

“I’m here to give Bai An her bag.”

“My bag?” Bai An looked at the small bag in Lin Zhixia’s hand, surprised. She had completely forgotten that her bag was still at the school.

Lin Zhixia gently placed the bag in Bai An’s hand. His every motion seemed slow and deliberate, exuding a hint of the “green tea” persona.

Bai An received the bag, feeling speechless. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Seeing that there was no further issue, Lu Jin’an reached for the door to close it, but Wanqing quickly stopped him. She looked at the friendly Lin Zhixia and asked, “Would you like to come in for a cup of water?”

Wanqing felt a bit guilty. She had originally thought Lin Zhixia came to pick a fight, but it turned out he was just delivering Bai An’s bag. She had even been cold to him earlier, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt she was in the wrong. She urged Lin Zhixia to come in. “Come in for a drink. It won’t take long.”

Lin Zhixia smiled. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me, it’s nothing.”

Bai An looked up at her mother’s furrowed brows and sighed internally.

As expected, her mother was still the same—kind as ever.

In the room, Lu Demin, who had been working, looked up at the unfamiliar man in the house and cast a puzzled glance at Wanqing.

Wanqing poured a cup of tea and handed it to Lin Zhixia, saying, “Please, sit down.”

Then she turned to Lu Demin and explained, “This is Cui Ju’s brother, his name is Lin Zhixia.”

Lin Zhixia nodded and added, “Uncle, aunt, you can just call me Xiao Xia.”

“Oh, Xiao Xia, what a nice name,” Lu Demin commented. “Has your sister Cui Ju been found?”

Lin Zhixia smiled again and politely replied, “My name was given to me by my grandfather. There might be some special meaning behind it.”

“Lin Zhixia, Lin Mi Zhixia Shen, gazing up at the vast sky, it really is a beautiful name,” Lu Demin remarked.

When Lin Zhixia heard this, he froze for a moment. He hadn’t expected anyone to mention the meaning of his name, since even his parents had forgotten it.

Lu Demin thought that Lin Zhixia didn’t want to talk about his missing sister and found an excuse to continue tidying up the house.

Meanwhile, Bai An stood quietly, watching her father’s back.