Chapter Eleven: Brother, It Hurts

“You’re the foolish one. There were so many of them, and they were all after you. Why didn’t you run?” Shi Zhaodi said, waiting for Zou Kaisheng to get angry. If it were her, she would have taken off running instead of lingering there, tangled up with those people.

“I’m not sure I’d lose!” Zou Kaisheng shot a disdainful glance at Shi Zhaodi and replied.

“Fighting isn’t good. You can’t fight anymore! I’m going home now!” Shi Zhaodi admonished like a mother hen, then walked over to her bicycle.

“Um… are you okay?” Zou Kaisheng asked awkwardly.

“It hurts a bit, but I’m fine otherwise,” Shi Zhaodi said, feeling a burning pain in her back.

“Come to my place. I’ll have a doctor take a look,” Zou Kaisheng said firmly, reaching to grab Shi Zhaodi’s bike.

“No, I’m in a hurry to get home. You should go back too,” Shi Zhaodi said quickly, holding onto her bike’s handlebars protectively.

“Then lift up your shirt so I can see!” Zou Kaisheng insisted, unwilling to let it go.

“Don’t touch me! I’m a girl!” Shi Zhaodi quickly pulled back her hand, clutching her clothes tightly.

“Do you think I want to look? I just want to make sure you’re not seriously hurt!” Zou Kaisheng said with disdain.

“I’m not!” Shi Zhaodi shook her head vigorously. “I’m going home now. You should hurry home too, or your family will worry!”

“Just mind your own business and don’t interfere!” Zou Kaisheng said, then turned and walked off in another direction.

“Hmph, so annoying. Rude, barbaric, and unreasonable!” Shi Zhaodi muttered contemptuously, then got on her bike and returned to the Jiang family home.

Worried that her mother would get upset if she found out, Shi Zhaodi didn’t tell her about the incident.

She helped her mother pick and wash vegetables.

“Zhaodi, you go do your homework. I’ll take care of this,” her sister-in-law said.

“Okay, I’ll get started. Mom, I’ll wash the dishes tonight. You should rest early.”

“Mm,” her sister-in-law nodded.

Shi Zhaodi slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed toward Jiang Hao’en’s room.

Inside, Jiang Hao’en glanced up briefly when he heard the noise but then returned to his work.

Shi Zhaodi didn’t disturb him and obediently sat down at the table, pulling out her homework.

The movement strained her back, causing her to grit her teeth in pain.

Jiang Hao’en looked up at her.

Shi Zhaodi smiled sheepishly and opened her workbook to start on the exercises.

Perhaps because the pain was too intense, a cold sweat broke out on her brow.

“Are you feeling unwell?” Jiang Hao’en spoke slowly, enunciating each word carefully, his gaze fixed clearly on Shi Zhaodi.

“Brother, my back hurts so much!” Shi Zhaodi finally said, her voice filled with grievance.

Jiang Hao’en looked at her, then stood and walked toward the telephone.

“Brother, please don’t tell Mom. She worries so much. I can bear it,” Shi Zhaodi grabbed his hand, pleading.

“I’m calling a doctor,” Jiang Hao’en said, still speaking slowly.