Chapter 17: Son, Let’s Go Home
In a rundown chess parlor, a group of tattooed delinquents played poker, smoke curling around them.
Zhou Yang stood at the door with Lin Xiaoxiao, shouting, “Liu San, come out!”
Soon, a leader emerged, a cheap cigarette dangling from his mouth, eyeing Zhou Yang and Lin Xiaoxiao with surprise.
“Well, well, kid, you actually brought someone? And a girl?”
Zhou Yang snorted.
“Cut the crap. One-on-one, like we agreed. If you lose, stop harassing the flower shop owner.”
Liu San frowned but shrugged.
“Fine. But if you lose, don’t step foot on this street again.”
As he spoke, his lackeys dragged out a table, slamming it down in front of them, leaving Lin Xiaoxiao stunned.
“What’s this for?” she whispered to Zhou Yang.
He answered matter-of-factly, “Setting up the battlefield, of course. Your turn.”
Liu San laughed.
“You’re not letting this chick compete, are you? I don’t face off with girls.”
Lin Xiaoxiao’s temper flared, and she slammed her foot on the table.
“Hey, I’m a guy!”
Even without her “little brother,” her spirit was unbroken!
The crowd paused, then burst into laughter. Liu San sized her up, shrugging.
“Really? Couldn’t tell.”
“But if you say so, let’s do it. As long as you honor the bet!”
He straddled a chair, plopping down and placing his arm on the table, exuding confidence.
Lin Xiaoxiao glared, turning to Zhou Yang.
“You said fighting… you don’t mean…”
“Yep, arm wrestling!” Zhou Yang grinned, excited.
“This is how men settle things. Pretty cool, right?”
Lin Xiaoxiao: …
“Cool my ass, it’s childish!”
She hadn’t expected his so-called “dangerous fight” to be arm wrestling. She’d braced for a real brawl.
Liu San grew impatient.
“Hey, which one of you is it? Stop stalling.”
Zhou Yang winked at her. Sighing, Lin Xiaoxiao stepped up.
Clearly, Liu San underestimated her.
“Little lady, you’re so frail. Want me to go easy with two fingers?”
Lin Xiaoxiao snapped, “No need!”
She gripped his wrist and, before he could react, a surge of strength pinned his arm down.
Silence fell over the room.
Liu San stared at his defeated arm, incredulous.
“I lost? No way! Again—I wasn’t ready!”
Lin Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow, agreeing.
Moments later, with a wail, Liu San slumped over the table, eyes vacant. His cronies banged their heads against the wall or stomped in frustration, while Zhou Yang bounced around like an excited monkey. Lin Xiaoxiao found them all utterly childish.
She stood to leave.
Zhou Yang threw out some tough talk about honoring bets, then hurried after her.
“Lin Xiaoxiao, I knew I picked right! How’re you so strong?”
She shrugged.
“Dunno, born with it, I guess.”
Soon, Zhou Yang led her to a small but charming flower shop, filled with vibrant pots.
A striking woman, like a flower fairy, stood inside—no wonder the punks harassed her.
“Sister Xin, business good today?” Zhou Yang asked.
The woman gestured for them to sit. Zhou Yang told her the punks wouldn’t bother her anymore and helped out with Lin Xiaoxiao.
As they left, she gave Lin Xiaoxiao a bouquet of pink roses as thanks.
Lin Xiaoxiao, too polite to refuse, accepted.
On the way home, Zhou Yang remembered her condition.
“You said there was a condition for helping. What is it? If I can do it, it’s done.”
Lin Xiaoxiao paused, coughing awkwardly.
“It’s easy, you can definitely do it.”
“Really?”
“Yup. I’ll call you something later, and you just say ‘hm.’”
Zhou Yang blinked.
“That simple?”
She nodded seriously.
“That simple.”
“Alright, go for it.”
Looking at him, Lin Xiaoxiao stifled a laugh but seized the moment, saying solemnly, “Son.”
Zhou Yang responded instinctively, then his face darkened.
“Hey, you call me childish? This is worse!”
She hummed, unfazed.
“What’s the big deal? You agreed. Son, let’s go home.”
“Get lost!”
*
When they got home, it was late, so Lin Xiaoxiao rushed to make dinner.
Soon, Zhou Ting returned.
Seeing the woman serving food and Zhou Yang gaming nearby, he felt a rare sense of home.
His eyes softened.
Lin Xiaoxiao noticed him.
“You’re back! Wash up, dinner’s ready.”
Zhou Ting nodded but spotted the roses on the table, frowning.
“Where’d these flowers come from?”
Lin Xiaoxiao started to explain, but Zhou Yang, feeling mischievous, cut in.
“Dad, you didn’t know? Some guy thought Lin Xiaoxiao was a girl and confessed today. Those are from him.”
Lin Xiaoxiao froze, glaring at Zhou Yang, about to speak, but Zhou Ting smiled faintly—a chilling smile.
“Oh? And you kept the flowers?”
Her heart sank. He didn’t actually believe that, did he?
“Uh, it’s not—”
But Zhou Ting cut her off.
“Let’s eat.”
Now she couldn’t explain, and Zhou Yang’s smug grin made her furious.
Did he know his joke was going to get her in trouble?
After dinner, Zhou Yang went to his room.
Lin Xiaoxiao started washing dishes, but soon, two strong hands wrapped around her waist from behind, startling her.