Chapter 25: First-Generation Wealth

The teenager, shielded behind the girl, slowly lowered his gaze to look at her.

Red-Head was stunned; he had no idea where this girl, who had suddenly popped out to play the hero like a bristling little kitten, had come from. Seeing her talk about calling the police with such genuine seriousness, he almost wanted to laugh. It wasn't out of fear or contempt, but simply because he found dealing with the police to be a tiresome hassle.

"Xiao Ye, think about it again. Even if you don't want to be an enforcer, you could do something else." He reached out, intending to pat Fang Ye’s face. This was the gesture of an absolute superior; with the wealth he possessed, he could look down on any penniless boy in Lingjiang.

"Slap!"

Bai Li’s eyes widened. She didn’t know where she found the courage, but she used her drawing board to swat his hand away, her voice resolute and sharp: "Don't touch him!"

Although her strength wasn't enough to cause any real pain, the bodyguard was displeased. They were all there to do a job, and fearing that his boss might think him incompetent, he immediately lunged to grab Bai Li.

Bai Li wasn't afraid. She held her drawing board up and swung it wildly. It was easily caught by the bodyguard. Gritting her teeth, she felt she had no other choice. She prepared to mimic the stance Fang Ye used when beating up thugs—lifting her leg to kick, or if that failed, just holding on and biting. Under no circumstances would she let her brother get beaten. It was the first time in her life she had ever been this brave.

Just as she lifted her foot, Fang Ye didn't give her the chance. He pulled her behind him as if hoisting a kitten and kicked the bodyguard to the ground with a single strike. He must have used all his strength, as the bodyguard struggled for a long time but couldn't get back up.

Bai Li: "..."

Fang Ye was no longer expressionless. He turned to look at Red-Head, his eyes filled with coldness and a murderous glint. It was a threat far more naked than words. With that facade of indifference torn away, the boy revealed the desperate, ruthless nature he had possessed all along.

Red-Head actually took a step back and retracted his hand. "Let's talk another time, then."

Night had completely fallen. Bai Li stared blankly at Fang Ye in front of her, unable to understand why he had the strength to fight back but hadn't done so earlier. Only Fang Ye knew he had his own plans.

The boy looked back at the timid girl. Only a moment ago, she had been as fierce as a wild cat, but now that the danger had faded, she had reverted to that rabbit-like appearance, her face full of lingering fear and anxiety.

Fang Ye wanted to smile. He reached up to wipe the blood from his face, ensuring he wouldn't frighten her, before asking, "Why did you come here?"

Bai Li was still immersed in the confrontation and was caught off guard. It took her a while to stammer, "I came to draw. I made a new friend and her birthday is coming up, so I wanted to prepare a gift for her."

Fang Ye’s gaze moved downward to the drawing board in her hands. With just this thing, she had dared to rush over to pick a fight? He didn't know whether to call her foolish or brave.

Bai Li said, "You’re hurt. Should we go to the hospital and have it checked out?" She was deadly serious, as if this were a major event, not realizing that in Fang Ye’s world, unless a bone was broken, it wasn't considered a serious injury.

Fang Ye glanced at her, turned around, and said with a smile, "No need. Let's go."

Bai Li tightened her grip on the drawing board. The lake breeze blew incessantly, rarely pausing. The girl stayed rooted to the spot, standing there in distress.

Fang Ye called out to her, "Bai Li."

"Coming."

Bai Li responded, gritting her teeth as she moved forward, inch by inch. Seeing that the little girl wasn't following, he turned back to look. It was strange; as she walked, her whole body was trembling, like an infant who had just learned to walk.

After a moment of silence, his gaze fell on the girl's ankle. It was hard to see clearly through her pants, but it seemed to be the source of her awkward gait. He walked over to her, told her to stay still, and crouched down, using his slender fingers to lift the hem of her trousers. The bone of her ankle, exposed above her white shoe, was visibly swollen and red.

Fang Ye looked up at her, his fingers gently testing the injury. "How did this happen? Don't you know how to say it hurts?"

Bai Li had a high pain threshold, but the deliberate touch still made her flinch. Once the pain subsided, she said, "I was in such a hurry when I ran over. The ground was full of crushed stones, and I fell. I could endure it earlier, but it’s quite painful now."

She really hadn't paid much attention to it; she hadn't felt much pain at the time. In the moment her adrenaline spiked, not even a bed of stones—or knives—could have stopped her.

Fang Ye’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. He thought that knowing when to protect oneself was the smarter choice, and he hadn't realized she had such a reckless personality. Just as he was about to lecture her on not being so foolishly brave in the face of danger, he felt a sudden pang of pity for her.

After a while, he turned around. "Get on. I'll carry you."

This area was quite desolate; they would have to walk to the tourist bus stop to catch a ride. Bai Li had walked all the way here, but she hadn't expected to rely on Fang Ye to carry her back. She rested quietly on his back, feeling the warmth of his body, and remembered when she was little, he used to carry her just like this.

Each step was very steady. The road wasn't smooth, and there were occasional stray stones, but Fang Ye walked carefully, terrified that the child on his back might fall. Looking at the dark road ahead and the distant destination, he felt that there were truly too many dark places in this world, and reaching a place with light was never easy.

Bai Li didn't know what he was thinking. She shifted on his back, pulled out her phone, and turned on the flashlight. In an instant, the darkness ahead was dispelled. She couldn't worry about anything else and asked again, "Brother, does the injury on your face hurt? Do you have any other wounds on your body?"

Fang Ye was stunned. When he spoke again, his voice was low and hoarse, "Bai Li, don't do this again. No matter what you encounter, protecting yourself is what matters most. Don't let yourself get hurt, and don't blindly rush into danger."

Bai Li, of course, understood this logic and replied softly, "Mm, I know."

Fang Ye curved his lips, his shimmering eyes filled with deep amusement. She was, indeed, a very clever child.

Bai Li gazed at the full moon shrouded by dark clouds in the sky. Her ankle throbbed, the pain piercing into her nerves, yet she felt no regret. Instead, she felt quite happy. Because she had finally stood in front of her brother for once, and finally, she wouldn't be like she was as a child, only hiding behind him.

She had protected Fang Ye.

With this thought, even the pain seemed to lessen significantly.

...

After getting into the taxi, perhaps because she was too tired, Bai Li leaned against the door and closed her eyes. She intended to rest, but accidentally fell asleep. She caught the faint, lingering scent of mint in her breath.

She even had a dream. In the dream, several years had passed, and she had grown up. She seemed to be on a beautiful university campus, wearing a lovely white dress, hugging her textbooks as she walked toward the classroom. A news alert popped up on her phone, the headline catching her attention:

【The Richest Man, Fang Ye, wields power...】