Chapter 88: Chapter 88

On this day, Zhao Guodong felt like time had never passed so quickly since he started going to school. When school ended, he was in such a good mood that he didn’t mind Ye Ling walking slowly, leisurely accompanying her back to the courtyard. They parted ways at the entrance and agreed to meet at the Zhao family house for tutoring after dinner.

Ye Ling went straight home, but Zhao Guodong, Zhang Linong, and Wang Ping were stopped midway. It was Liu Zhiyuan who had been waiting for them, accompanied by Xiang Weilai, Sun Mingjie, and Dong Haoyu.

Zhao Guodong never took Liu Zhiyuan seriously. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and looked down his nose, "What? You want to fight?"

Liu Zhiyuan was more polite than him, "I heard you made Liu Rui cry at school today. I want to know why?"

"Oh, so you’re standing up for her, huh? I made her cry; so what? She was minding others’ business, and she couldn’t take a few words from me, so she cried. Not my fault."

"Stop saying all that. Everyone knows you bullied Liu Rui because you were standing up for Ye Ling. This story has spread throughout the school. Jiang Yan and Song Mei were also there at the time. Do you want them to come and confirm?" Sun Mingjie challenged from the side.

"Mind your own business, playing the busybody," Zhao Guodong glared over.

"I couldn’t care less. Everyone in the bigger courtyard knows you’re with Ye Ling all the time. Aren’t you embarrassed? Always hanging out with girls, who knows what you’re doing in private? That’s why you’re standing up for her." Sun Mingjie hadn’t finished his sentence when Zhao Guodong punched him, making him stagger back several steps.

Immediately, blood gushed from Sun Mingjie’s nose. Holding his nose, he glared maliciously at Zhao Guodong, "You resort to violence when people accuse you, proving something’s going on between you two."

"I’ll beat you to death." Zhao Guodong didn’t care about any of it. He could take anything said about him, but nothing about Ye Ling.

He wasn’t aware of this himself at the time, only feeling that Sun Mingjie insulted him, and rushed at Sun Mingjie again. As the fight broke out, people growing up in the courtyard were long used to such scenes. Dong Haoyu stepped in to separate them but took a punch from Zhao Guodong and got involved in the brawl too.

Seeing it was two against one, Wang Ping couldn’t agree and tried to charge forward, but Zhang Linong held him back, sneering, "Go and get Ye Ling. Only she can stop Dongzi now, leave this to us."

"Don’t let them bully us." Wang Ping shot a venomous glance at Liu Zhiyuan and turned to run towards the Ye family house.

Zhang Linong tossed his bag on the ground, shedding his usual lazy demeanor. He dashed forward like a leopard, leaping into the fray, delivering a kick to the back of Dong Haoming, who was pinning Zhao Guodong down. Dong Haoming was sent sprawling forward to the ground, his hands hitting the ground first, sparing his face but bruising his palms, much like Ye Ling’s. Seeing Zhang Linong, he ran at him again, ignoring his own injuries.

Zhao Guodong, now free, kicked Sun Mingjie in the belly, sending him flying, then turned to Liu Zhiyuan, cursing as he went.

The tussle caused quite a commotion in the courtyard, drawing a crowd of adults and children. Song Mei and others, who were comforting Liu Rui at the Liu family residence, hurried out and shrieked at the sight of the fight.

Liu Rui continued wiping away tears, imploring an aunt nearby to break up the fight. But with a bunch of rowdy boys entangled in a brawl, no one dared step forward. At this moment, Wang Ping finally dragged Ye Ling over.

Ye Ling had just gotten home. Bai Xue was amiably saying she had prepared something delicious for dinner when Wang Ping burst in, pulling Ye Ling out before she could respond. Ye Ling didn’t even have time to change shoes, running out in her slippers.

A crowd had gathered, and not understanding the situation, Wang Ping pushed their way through, "Make way, make way."

Inside, Wang Ping called to Ye Ling, "Quick, stop Dongzi."

With that instruction, he charged into the fray himself.

Ye Ling surveyed the scene. It was almost like a brawl. She had seen courtyard kids fight in previous lives but never so fiercely. Especially Zhao Guodong, who got kicked in the stomach by Liu Zhiyuan. Unwilling to be defeated, he retaliated fiercely with a punch, prompting gasps and shrieks from the onlookers.

Mrs. Zhao had been fetched at some point, scolding angrily when she saw her grandson fighting, "Stop, all of you stop."

But no one listened to her.

Liu Zhiyuan’s mother was not home, and the other mothers were also at work and hadn’t returned. For the moment, there was no one who could mediate.

Thinking of Wang Ping’s words and seeing the anxious Grandma Zhao nearby, Ye Ling steeled herself and approached. After Liu Zhiyuan dealt another kick to Zhao Guodong, she quickly grabbed Zhao Guodong from behind, "Stop fighting."

Zhao Guodong, his eyes red from the fight, had taken more hits and wasn’t concerned with anything else. He shook off the person grabbing him and lunged forward again, but Ye Ling, wearing slippers, staggered several steps from being shaken off, barely managing to regain her balance. She even lost a shoe, standing on the ground in just socks with holes revealing her toes. Embarrassed despite her lack of vanity, she saw Zhao Guodong still being hit and, filled with determination, abandoned her slippers and charged forward, grabbing Zhao Guodong with force.

"I said stop fighting." She shouted at Liu Zhiyuan in front, "Didn’t you hear me say stop?"

Zhao Guodong ignored it all. Once again being held back made him furious. He forcefully flung Ye Ling aside, "I don’t need you to meddle."

This time, he used all his strength, tossing her sideways. With her legs twisted beneath her, Ye Ling couldn’t stand firmly. Letting out a startled shout, she fell to the ground, and you can imagine how painful it was. Resigned, Ye Ling closed her eyes.

Nobody expected this to happen. After Ye Ling picked herself up, the fighting group finally paused, eyes darting between Shen Bin and Ye Ling. (To be continued. If you work, please feel free to vote for recommendations and monthly votes on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)