Going home for Chinese New Year, I squeezed onto a bus with three energetic young women.

"Have you no shame?!"

Li Mengmeng's cheeks were puffed up with anger:

"Little Ruyue, just say you're going there for Brother Bai Li!"

Jiang Ruyue felt no embarrassment at all that her thoughts had been exposed.

She pouted and started whistling, pretending she hadn't heard anything:

"Saturn, you're all earth."

Mercury, you're all water!

"Mars, you are all fire!"

Seeing Jiang Ruyue start talking nonsense and changing the subject, Li Mengmeng burst out laughing in anger:

"According to you, I'd say Pluto is full of Plutos!"

Li Jiaxin, Zhang Qian, and a few other energetic young women laughed so hard they were doubled over.

They watched as these two incredibly beautiful girls bickered over their older brother.

Not only do I not find it annoying, but I also feel a sense of pride.

After all, no matter how much trouble these two girls cause, their feelings for Bai Li are genuine.

They were all willing to dedicate their most precious things to Bai Li.

Bai Li rubbed his temples.

It's quite amusing to see these quirky characters with such different personalities all gathered around one table.

He stood up from the chair and buttoned up his trench coat.

"Alright, alright."

Bai Li patted Jiang Ruyue's head and then pinched Li Mengmeng's soft cheek:

"Now that you've eaten and drunk your fill, let's settle down. It's getting late, everyone should head home."

As he spoke, Bai Li reached into his pocket, preparing to go to the counter to scan the code and pay.

"No need, brother!"

Lin Xiaoshuang quickly raised her hand, her baby face full of flattery and eagerness for credit:

"We've already placed the order!"

Li Jiaxin pointed to the empty skewer on the table:

"While you and Ruyue were arguing there, Xiaoshuang went to pay the bill."

Chen Tingting walked over and naturally took Bai Li's arm:

"Although we don't have a lot of money, we can still afford this small token of our appreciation."

Bai Li didn't say much, but gently patted each of their heads with his large hand.

"Great, now I'm living off a woman."

"I didn't raise you all for nothing."

This simple praise is worth a thousand words.

Lin Xiaoshuang jumped up and down with joy, and the group happily escorted Bai Li out the door.

We left the Yutian Barbecue Restaurant.

A night breeze blew by, bringing a touch of coolness.

There were very few pedestrians on the street, and a few dim streetlights cast long shadows of the trees.

Bai Li stood on the curb, his gaze sweeping around the surroundings.

That male classmate has long since disappeared.

It's estimated that Jiang Ruyue's actions completely shattered his Dao heart.

Bai Li turned her head and looked at Jiang Ruyue:

"Ruyue." Bai Li's tone became more serious.

Jiang Ruyue raised her innocent little face, her big eyes blinking:

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know that boy's name. But he was traumatized today."

Bai Li gently brushed Jiang Ruyue's nose with his finger:

"If he continues to bother you at school or talks nonsense behind your back and spreads things he shouldn't say, then..."

"Don't try to carry this yourself, tell me immediately, okay?"

Young boys of this age are prone to extreme actions when their self-esteem is hurt.

If Jiang Ruyue gets angry and spreads rumors, she will be affected.

Before Jiang Ruyue could even respond.

The four energetic young women standing at the back were the first to cause an uproar.

"He dares!"

Li Jiaxin stepped forward:

"If he dares to utter a single fart in school, I'll bring a group of people to ambush him at the school gate tomorrow!"

Lin Xiaoshuang also waved her little pink fists, fiercely echoing:

"Yes! And us too! Let's beat him so badly he won't even recognize his own mother!"

Chen Tingting was not to be outdone:

"Don't worry, Ruyue, we sisters will take care of him in no time."

These delinquent girls usually hang out on the streets, and they believe in "loyalty above all else".

Since Bai Li has acknowledged Jiang Ruyue, then Jiang Ruyue is one of his own.

To harm one's own people?

No way.

Jiang Ruyue released Bai Li's arm and looked at the group of energetic young women:

"Don't worry, he probably won't do that."

Bai Li was somewhat surprised: "Are you so sure?"

Jiang Ruyue nodded, putting her hands behind her back:

"I had heard about his situation before."

He comes from a single-parent family and has always lived with his mother.

"Although his mother owns a small supermarket, the family has some money and doesn't have to worry about food or clothing."

"But he was still somewhat insecure and pathetic, and didn't dare to act recklessly."

Jiang Ruyue paused for a moment and pointed to the spot where the boy had just stood.

"Think about it."

"He was standing right there, and he saw me kissing...you."

Jiang Ruyue blushed slightly as she said this:

"If he were really a troublemaker, he should have rushed in and questioned us just now."

"But he didn't. He would just sneak away and hide to cry."

Jiang Ruyue shrugged:

"Therefore, he didn't dare to spread rumors about me at school."

After listening to Jiang Ruyue's long speech...

The four energetic young women looked at each other in bewilderment.

A few seconds later.

Chen Tingting scoffed dismissively.

She kicked a small pebble away from her feet, her face completely unconcerned.

"Is he really so pitiful just because he comes from a single-parent family?"

Chen Tingting rolled her eyes:

"Then according to your logic, we're even more pitiful."

Lin Xiaoshuang crossed her arms:

"That's right, we are all left-behind children, and we don't see our parents for most of the year."

"Anyway, it doesn't matter whether he's pitiful or not."

Li Jiaxin gritted her teeth, her face beneath her purple hair bearing a hint of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry).

"Ruyue, you'll remember this."

"If he really dares to spread rumors about you at school, gossiping and ruining your brother's reputation..."

"I'll split his mother in two, making him a two-parent family!"

"No problem!" Zhang Qian's voice boomed, "Jiaxin will be in charge of splitting his mother in two to become both parents!"

"I'll take some glue over and glue his mother back together!"

Zhang Qian proudly raised her chin:

"In this way, he not only experienced a two-parent family, but also a blended family!"