Chapter Ten: Meddling in Others' Affairs

After school, Shi Zhaodi headed toward the Jiang household, pushing her bicycle as she usually did. She needed to get back early today to help her mother, who had been feeling unwell lately. She hoped to ease some of her mother's burdens.

Just as she neared the Jiang residence, she spotted a group fight breaking out in a narrow alley. Normally, she would have turned a blind eye and slipped away faster than anyone, terrified of being caught in the crossfire. But today, her sharp eyes caught a familiar figure in the fray.

Zou Kai?

She hastily stopped her bicycle and began walking it back. It really was Zou Kai, surrounded by several men.

"The police are coming!" Shi Zhaodi parked her bike, stepped to the entrance of the alley, and mustered the courage to shout at the top of her lungs.

As soon as she spoke, everyone turned to look at her, their fighting coming to a halt. The looks they gave her were clearly those of someone watching an idiot.

"Get lost, little girl, this has nothing to do with you!" one of them barked at her fiercely.

"I really have called the police! If you don't leave now, the officers will come and arrest you!" Shi Zhaodi said, flinching.

Two of the men began walking toward her.

"Leave her out of this!" Zou Kai grabbed the collars of the two men, and a renewed, vicious brawl erupted.

"Stop fighting, please, stop!" Shi Zhaodi cried out in distress, rushing forward to try and pull them apart.

Zou Kai, gritting his teeth, shoved her away. "Get lost, you idiot!"

Shi Zhaodi landed hard on the ground. Before she could even scramble back up, she saw one of the men grab a wooden club from somewhere and swing it down toward Zou Kai, who had his back turned.

Shi Zhaodi lunged up and shoved Zou Kai aside, taking the blow directly to her back. The pain was so sharp she couldn't even scream; her face turned deathly pale.

Perhaps the attackers hadn't intended for this to happen; everyone suddenly froze.

"You fool, who told you to block it?" Zou Kai roared, rushing to steady her. After helping her to the side, he prepared to stand back up.

"Don't fight!" sensing his intent, Shi Zhaodi gripped his clothes tightly.

The others realized something was wrong, exchanged quick glances, and fled.

"Let go!" Zou Kai tried to peel her hands away.

"No!" Shi Zhaodi gripped even tighter, using both hands.

"I said let go!" Zou Kai bellowed in frustration.

"No!" she held on firmly.

"They've all run away, you can let go now!" Finally, Zou Kai was defeated by her persistence.

Only then did she loosen her grip.

"Are you okay?" Zou Kai stared at her.

Shi Zhaodi shook her head.

"Who told you to be such a busybody?" Zou Kai let out a sigh of relief, though his tone remained scornful. "Why do you have to be so meddlesome?"