She ran away from him and was not to be offended by her sickly brother.

"...Why don't I know how to protect myself?"

Meng Xia was slightly startled when she heard Huo Xibai frown and say, "You were bullied like that by that old lady in the restaurant just now, and you didn't know how to fight back. How do you think you know how to protect yourself?"

"Then...then I can't quarrel with her in public, right?"

Meng Xia was speechless for a moment, and she didn't know how to curse, and Mrs. Song was not a reasonable person.

"What's wrong? If you really don't want to waste your time with that kind of person, just fight him back. It's better than standing there and being bullied!"

"Forehead……"

When thinking of what Huo Xibai did in the afternoon, Meng Xia still felt that something was wrong. After all, Mrs. Song was old. If something happened, Huo Xibai would probably get into a lot of trouble.

But before she spoke, Huo Xibai continued, "Do you know what I was thinking when I saw that old lady this afternoon?"

"What I'm thinking about is that she dares to be so arrogant now, how difficult your situation must have been in the Song family during those five years."

"It's not that...difficult."

Meng Xia subconsciously opened her mouth to retort, but before she finished speaking, Huo Xibai forcefully hugged her into his arms——

"When I think about you being bullied where I can't see you, but I can't help you, I can't control myself..."

"I'm angry that you don't know how to protect yourself, and I'm even more angry with myself for not protecting you well."

A dull male voice sounded in his ears. Every time he said another word, Huo Xibai would hold her tighter, as if he wanted to rub her into his bones and blood.

Meng Xia's bones ached from being hugged by him, and her brows furrowed slightly, but she didn't push him away——

In the past, her uncle said to her, "When you go to the Huo family, you should be obedient. Mrs. Huo is a kind person. You should be grateful and don't make Mr. Huo and Mrs. Huo angry."

Song Zhihuai said to her, "My mother didn't mean it. Just listen to what she said, don't take it to heart, and don't get angry with her." Even the rumors she heard outside were -

"She is so lucky to be adopted by the Huo family and become the eldest lady of the Huo family..."

"Song Zhihuai actually married a disabled person. How much love he has. That woman is so lucky..."

Everyone thought she was lucky, because they subconsciously felt that she was not worthy of those things, but only Huo Xibai said that she did not know how to protect herself, and only Huo Xibai was worried about her difficult situation...

His heart throbbed inexplicably, and a layer of mist slowly formed in his eyes. As soon as Meng Xia opened her mouth, she realized that her voice was starting to choke——

"actually……"

She wanted to say that it was actually okay, probably because she had already gotten used to it, so those harsh words no longer sounded painful.

Probably because of the human nature of seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages, she can no longer remember clearly those memories that caused her pain.

But she opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Her throat felt as if it was blocked by stones. Instead, the tears condensed in the corners of her eyes fell down.

Huo Xibai seemed to feel it too, and his body stiffened while holding her, "Are you crying?"

"No."

The woman subconsciously denied it. Just as Huo Xibai was about to let go of her and lowered his head to look, he was suddenly hugged hard, and her cry-like voice sounded in his ears, "I'm not crying."

It was unconvincing to say such words in such a voice, not to mention that his neck was wet with her tears.

Huo Xibai turned his head slightly, and sure enough he saw the woman's red eyes still covered with glittering drops of water. His heart throbbed, and he moved closer uncontrollably, kissing the glittering teardrops——

"As long as I'm here from now on, no one can bully you anymore."