After sucking on Xiaoxiao's finger for a while, Xiao Bing looked up and saw her staring at him . Xiaoxiao retrieved her hand the moment their eyes met . "I'm . . . I'm okay now," she said uneasily .

"Oh . Go and put some ointment on it then . "

"Okay, I'll do it myself . Please help me finish dinner then . I probably can't help you with cooking . "

"It's okay . I can handle it . "

Xiao Bing returned to the kitchen and picked up a turner . Xiaoxiao's flurried eyes appeared in his mind . His mind was stirred when he recalled that Yezi told him about Xiaoxiao's crush on him . He did not want Xiaoxiao to follow her sister's footsteps .

"Does she really like me? Is it even possible . . . ? She just doesn't hate me that much . Maybe I'm thinking too much . "

Xiao Bing managed to eliminate these absurd thoughts and began to cook .

After putting on the ointment, Xiaoxiao put the bottle on her nightstand and sat on her bed . She bit her lips as she recalled what happened earlier . "Why? Why did my heart beat so fast? Why am I still afraid? Still in a panic . . . ?"

"Urgh!" Xiaoxiao put her hand around her head and shook it hard . Her hair became a mess . "No, no, no! I must be mad . How can I fall in love with someone with a girlfriend? And he was even involved in my sister's death, my sister who loved him so much . . . "

Both of them were burdened with thoughts . They only gathered when dinner was ready . By then, Xiao Bing had already cast away these thoughts while Xiaoxiao acted as if nothing has happened . He became even more certain that he was overthinking after seeing how Xiaoxiao behaved .

Xiaoxiao went back to her bedroom to study after dinner . After finis.h.i.+ng solving some practice questions, she took a look at Xiao Bing, who was sitting cross-legged in the living room . Then she looked away and spun the pen on her fingertips, looking lost in thoughts .

After looking at his watch, Xiao Bing turned off the TV and stood up . He stretched and said, "Xiaoxiao, go on with studying . I'm going to bed . By the way, you should visit auntie tomorrow . She must be lonely in the hospital . Yezi can go with me tomorrow . "

"Oh, okay . "

After Xiao Bing returned to his bedroom, Xiaoxiao threw the pen on the table in anger .

Next morning, Su Xiaoxiao went to the hospital alone after giving Xiao Bing her notebook . Lil Bei was already near the entrance as per Xiao Bing's request so he did not have to worry about her safety .

Xiao Bing got ready and waited downstairs . A couple of minutes later, Yezi's car pulled over at the roadside . Xiao Bing walked in and sat next to her .

He found it very convenient when he was with Yezi because her private driver would take him wherever he wanted . Since he was familiar with the driver, he no longer felt awkward when telling Yezi affectionate words .

Yezi was wearing a pink princess dress and colorful bracelets on her wrists and ankles . They made her look like Snow White . Xiao Bing stared at her as if he had been bewitched .

Yezi's eyes gleamed with cunning as she touched her face . She said cutely, "Am I really that pretty? You look like a fool whenever you look at me . "

Xiao Bing nodded earnestly and kept staring at her like a fool . "Yeah . Every time I look at you, it's like I'm looking at a fool . . . "

Yezi instantly realized what he was getting at and laughed . "How dare you mock me? Let me show you what I'm capable of . "

She pounced on him as she was saying so . Then the two began laughing and playing with each other .

They ran around all day, visiting all the stores on their list . There were only two stores that they could make do with while the rest were unsatisfactory . Xiao Bing decided to ask Auntie Li for advice .

They went home after having candlelit dinner in the evening .

Xiaoxiao seemed happy when seeing Xiao Bing . "My mom's mental condition is better than ever . The doctor said she can leave the hospital now but it's better for her to stay a little longer . "

"That's great . " Xiao Bing smiled . "I'm happy for her . Let the professionals take care of your mother . We don't need that money anyway . Let her stay a little bit longer . But one can easily get upset if locked up in the hospital for too long . We should take her around whenever we have time . "

"My thoughts exactly . I'll take a walk with her every evening from tomorrow onward . Oh, I can't do that tomorrow . It's my cla.s.smate's birthday . By the way, Brother Bing, do you have any idea what I should get for a birthday present?"

Xiao Bing smiled . "Compared to you, I'm not an expert in that area . Work it out yourself . Oh right, is it a boy or a girl?"

"A girl . . . We aren't very close but she invited me this time though . I should buy a present for her if I decide to go . But I don't know what I should get since it's just so abrupt . "

After contemplating for a while, Xiao Bing grinned . Why don't you just buy her a birthday cake? You don't know what she likes since you two aren't very close . It's highly possible that she won't like your present . But a birthday cake is favored by almost everyone . "

Xiaoxiao grinned . Her eyes were gleaming . "Of course! I'll buy her a birthday cake then . Thanks, Brother Bing . "

"You're welcome . You'll probably come home late tomorrow because you have a party to attend, right?"

"Yes . I will be late but you don't have to worry about it . "

"I know . Go and get some sleep now . "

"Good night . "

"Good night . "

It seemed that Lil Bei would have to work overtime tomorrow . But nothing would go wrong since it was just a birthday party with college students . Lying in his bed, Xiao Bing sent Yezi two text messages before going to sleep .

The next morning, Xiaoxiao rushed toward the door after having breakfast . "Brother Bing, I'm not waiting for you . I need to order the birthday cake . "

"Okay . " Xiao Bing grinned . It was rare for him to see Xiaoxiao in such a hurry .

He walked out soon after she did . Then, he saw Zhu Liya coming his way the moment he stepped out of the community .

However, this queenly woman seemed to be in a trance . One could clearly see the bruise on her face . Xiao Bing frowned, wondering what had happened .

"Liya . "

It was not until Xiao Bing called her name that she realized someone was standing in front of her . "Xiao . . . Xiao Bing . "

"Yes . What have you been up to lately?"

"No . . . Nothing," Zhu Liya shook her head . She seemed to be fl.u.s.tered .

To her surprise, Xiao Bing reached out to take off her sungla.s.ses, causing her to shriek a little . He became furious after seeing her face . "Who did this? Is the casino causing you trouble again?"

Zhu Liya's eyes were beaten black and blue and there was a conspicuous bruise on her face . It was hard for him to imagine someone doing such things to a mature, beautiful woman . There was something between him and Zhu Liya before . He had a s.e.xual desire for her as well as pity . So he was filled with anger after seeing her like this .

"It's really nothing . " The anxiety on her face disappeared and she tried to leave . "I should go now . "

"Wait! Is it your loser husband?"

Tears filled her eyes . If not for her strong character, tears would have fallen down like raindrops .

A furious Xiao Bing asked, "Is it really him?"

"Ye . . . Yes . " Zhu Liya nodded hesitantly .

"Why?"

"He . . . He wants more money . He is gambling again . I don't know which casino this time . But he seems to be in a huge debt . The only money I have is for business . I refused to give it to him and . . . "

"That a.s.shole!" Xiao Bing never thought that a man could be this shameless . Not only did that man look ugly, but his insides were hideous as well . He liked to be with wh.o.r.es instead of his beautiful wife at home . He was even addicted to gambling, which was known as a destroyer of families . Even Madame Bovary was happier than her; at least she had a husband to support her .

Zhu Liya looked at him and asked, "Can . . . Can you come to my place tonight? He won't be at home . I just want someone to be with me and talk to me . "

Virtually no man would refuse this beautiful and miserable woman, especially when he was very protective . Xiao Bing agreed without hesitation .

"Thank you, Brother Bing . . . Thank you . I'll go back now . "

"Okay . I'll visit you tonight . "

The two of them then parted . Xiao Bing sighed with deep feeling after walking for quite a while . "How did this beautiful woman end up with such a loser? Will she find someone worthy of her?" Though he sympathized with her very much, there was little that he could do for her .

What he failed to see was that peculiar glint in her big, beautiful eyes when she stopped walking and turned around to watch him leave .

After sucking on Xiaoxiao's finger for a while, Xiao Bing looked up and saw her staring at him . Xiaoxiao retrieved her hand the moment their eyes met . "I'm . I'm okay now," she said uneasily

 .

"Oh . Go and put some ointment on it then . ".

 .

"Okay, I'll do it myself . Please help me finish dinner then . I probably can't help you with cooking . ".

 .

"It's okay . I can handle it . ".

 .

Xiao Bing returned to the kitchen and picked up a turner . Xiaoxiao's flurried eyes appeared in his mind . His mind was stirred when he recalled that Yezi told him about Xiaoxiao's crush on him . He did not want Xiaoxiao to follow her sister's footsteps

 .

"Does she really like me? Is it even possible . ? She just doesn't hate me that much . Maybe I'm thinking too much . ".

 .

Xiao Bing managed to eliminate these absurd thoughts and began to cook

 .

After putting on the ointment, Xiaoxiao put the bottle on her nightstand and sat on her bed . She bit her lips as she recalled what happened earlier . "Why? Why did my heart beat so fast? Why am I still afraid? Still in a panic . ?".

 .

"Urgh!" Xiaoxiao put her hand around her head and shook it hard . Her hair became a mess . "No, no, no! I must be mad . How can I fall in love with someone with a girlfriend? And he was even involved in my sister's death, my sister who loved him so much . ".

 .

Both of them were burdened with thoughts . They only gathered when dinner was ready . By then, Xiao Bing had already cast away these thoughts while Xiaoxiao acted as if nothing has happened . He became even more certain that he was overthinking after seeing how Xiaoxiao behaved

 .

Xiaoxiao went back to her bedroom to study after dinner . After finis.h.i.+ng solving some practice questions, she took a look at Xiao Bing, who was sitting cross-legged in the living room . Then she looked away and spun the pen on her fingertips, looking lost in thoughts

 .

After looking at his watch, Xiao Bing turned off the TV and stood up . He stretched and said, "Xiaoxiao, go on with studying . I'm going to bed . By the way, you should visit auntie tomorrow . She must be lonely in the hospital . Yezi can go with me tomorrow . ".

 .

"Oh, okay . ".

 .

After Xiao Bing returned to his bedroom, Xiaoxiao threw the pen on the table in anger

 .

Next morning, Su Xiaoxiao went to the hospital alone after giving Xiao Bing her notebook . Lil Bei was already near the entrance as per Xiao Bing's request so he did not have to worry about her safety

 .

Xiao Bing got ready and waited downstairs . A couple of minutes later, Yezi's car pulled over at the roadside . Xiao Bing walked in and sat next to her

 .

He found it very convenient when he was with Yezi because her private driver would take him wherever he wanted . Since he was familiar with the driver, he no longer felt awkward when telling Yezi affectionate words

 .

Yezi was wearing a pink princess dress and colorful bracelets on her wrists and ankles . They made her look like Snow White . Xiao Bing stared at her as if he had been bewitched

 .

Yezi's eyes gleamed with cunning as she touched her face . She said cutely, "Am I really that pretty? You look like a fool whenever you look at me . ".

 .

Xiao Bing nodded earnestly and kept staring at her like a fool . "Yeah . Every time I look at you, it's like I'm looking at a fool . ".

 .

Yezi instantly realized what he was getting at and laughed . "How dare you mock me? Let me show you what I'm capable of . ".

 .

She pounced on him as she was saying so . Then the two began laughing and playing with each other

 .

They ran around all day, visiting all the stores on their list . There were only two stores that they could make do with while the rest were unsatisfactory . Xiao Bing decided to ask Auntie Li for advice

 .

They went home after having candlelit dinner in the evening

 .

Xiaoxiao seemed happy when seeing Xiao Bing . "My mom's mental condition is better than ever . The doctor said she can leave the hospital now but it's better for her to stay a little longer . ".

 .

"That's great . " Xiao Bing smiled . "I'm happy for her . Let the professionals take care of your mother . We don't need that money anyway . Let her stay a little bit longer . But one can easily get upset if locked up in the hospital for too long . We should take her around whenever we have time . ".

 .

"My thoughts exactly . I'll take a walk with her every evening from tomorrow onward . Oh, I can't do that tomorrow . It's my cla.s.smate's birthday . By the way, Brother Bing, do you have any idea what I should get for a birthday present?".

 .

Xiao Bing smiled . "Compared to you, I'm not an expert in that area . Work it out yourself . Oh right, is it a boy or a girl?".

 .

"A girl . We aren't very close but she invited me this time though . I should buy a present for her if I decide to go . But I don't know what I should get since it's just so abrupt . ".

 .

After contemplating for a while, Xiao Bing grinned . Why don't you just buy her a birthday cake? You don't know what she likes since you two aren't very close . It's highly possible that she won't like your present . But a birthday cake is favored by almost everyone . ".

 .

Xiaoxiao grinned . Her eyes were gleaming . "Of course! I'll buy her a birthday cake then . Thanks, Brother Bing . ".

 .

"You're welcome . You'll probably come home late tomorrow because you have a party to attend, right?".

 .

"Yes . I will be late but you don't have to worry about it . ".

 .

"I know . Go and get some sleep now . ".

 .

"Good night . ".

 .

"Good night . ".

 .

It seemed that Lil Bei would have to work overtime tomorrow . But nothing would go wrong since it was just a birthday party with college students . Lying in his bed, Xiao Bing sent Yezi two text messages before going to sleep

 .

The next morning, Xiaoxiao rushed toward the door after having breakfast . "Brother Bing, I'm not waiting for you . I need to order the birthday cake . ".

 .

"Okay . " Xiao Bing grinned . It was rare for him to see Xiaoxiao in such a hurry

 .

He walked out soon after she did . Then, he saw Zhu Liya coming his way the moment he stepped out of the community

 .

However, this queenly woman seemed to be in a trance . One could clearly see the bruise on her face . Xiao Bing frowned, wondering what had happened

 .

"Liya . ".

 .

It was not until Xiao Bing called her name that she realized someone was standing in front of her . "Xiao . Xiao Bing . ".

 .

"Yes . What have you been up to lately?".

 .

"No . Nothing," Zhu Liya shook her head . She seemed to be fl.u.s.tered

 .

To her surprise, Xiao Bing reached out to take off her sungla.s.ses, causing her to shriek a little . He became furious after seeing her face . "Who did this? Is the casino causing you trouble again?".

 .

Zhu Liya's eyes were beaten black and blue and there was a conspicuous bruise on her face . It was hard for him to imagine someone doing such things to a mature, beautiful woman . There was something between him and Zhu Liya before . He had a s.e.xual desire for her as well as pity . So he was filled with anger after seeing her like this

 .

"It's really nothing . " The anxiety on her face disappeared and she tried to leave . "I should go now . ".

 .

"Wait! Is it your loser husband?".

 .

Tears filled her eyes . If not for her strong character, tears would have fallen down like raindrops

 .

A furious Xiao Bing asked, "Is it really him?".

 .

"Ye . Yes . " Zhu Liya nodded hesitantly

 .

"Why?".

 .

"He . He wants more money . He is gambling again . I don't know which casino this time . But he seems to be in a huge debt . The only money I have is for business . I refused to give it to him and . ".

 .

"That a.s.shole!" Xiao Bing never thought that a man could be this shameless . Not only did that man look ugly, but his insides were hideous as well . He liked to be with wh.o.r.es instead of his beautiful wife at home . He was even addicted to gambling, which was known as a destroyer of families . Even Madame Bovary was happier than her; at least she had a husband to support her

 .

Zhu Liya looked at him and asked, "Can . Can you come to my place tonight? He won't be at home . I just want someone to be with me and talk to me . ".

 .

Virtually no man would refuse this beautiful and miserable woman, especially when he was very protective . Xiao Bing agreed without hesitation

 .

"Thank you, Brother Bing . Thank you . I'll go back now . ".

 .

"Okay . I'll visit you tonight . ".

 .

The two of them then parted . Xiao Bing sighed with deep feeling after walking for quite a while . "How did this beautiful woman end up with such a loser? Will she find someone worthy of her?" Though he sympathized with her very much, there was little that he could do for her

 .

What he failed to see was that peculiar glint in her big, beautiful eyes when she stopped walking and turned around to watch him leave