After Transmigrating, I Became The Heroine’s First Love! - Chapter 10

“Hurry up! What’s taking so long? We’re the only ones here for barbecue, and it’s still not ready after all this time? What’s the deal?” The man spat as he spoke, a vein throbbing slowly on his contorted face. His cheeks worked like those of an old horse chewing grass.

He slammed his hand on the table, scattering peanut shells that leaped off the surface and tumbled to the floor.

“Forget it. Waiting this long has ruined my appetite.” He kicked his stool, nudged the person beside him, and jerked his head in a silent signal.

The old woman tending the skewers wiped sweat from her brow, her voice anxious. “Sirs, it’ll be ready soon, just a moment more!”

Smoke billowed around her, stinging her eyes. She squinted through the haze, forcing a smile as she flipped the bamboo skewers with her mottled hands.

“Even if it’s ready, I’m not eating it. Didn’t you hear me say I’ve lost my appetite? Can’t you understand plain English?” He spat a wad of phlegm onto the ground.

“But… I’ve already started grilling them. It’ll be quick…” The old woman pleaded cautiously, her rough hand gripping the skewers tightly—she’d never encountered such a situation before.

“Mom! What’s wrong?” Chen Zui asked, his voice breathless with urgency.

He had spotted his mother’s distress and sorrow from a short distance away. She meant the world to him…

Panic flashed in Chen You’s eyes. She opened her mouth, “You… Xiao Zui, it’s nothing. Go home,” she said, waving her hand dismissively.

Several men approached the door, and the old woman hurried after them. Just as Chen You was about to speak, someone cut her off.

“Hey! You haven’t paid yet. Are you big shots trying to skip out on the bill?” Her voice, rich and resonant, struck the heart like a hammer.

“What’s it to you, you half-grown brat? Mind your own business and scram! I didn’t even eat anything, so how can I be skipping out?”

Chen Zui couldn’t help but be shocked. Why was it her…?

Pei Xiangwan closed her black umbrella, its tip digging into the ground like a cane. She held it firmly in one hand while casually pulling down the hoodie over her head with the other, carelessly flicking off the raindrops from her black sweatshirt.

She showed no intention of moving aside. The fat man in the middle, his belly protruding, spoke, his gut jiggling with each word. To an outsider, it might have seemed like his stomach was doing the talking.

“You little brat, you’re getting too cocky, daring to block Brother Peng’s path. Looks like you’re tired of living. Today, your big brother here will teach you some manners.” He rolled up his sleeves, ready for a fight.

“Let it go, kids. Just let them pass,” Chen You urged, worried about the girl’s safety. Health is more important than money, and it’s better to avoid trouble. If anyone’s to blame, it’s my own clumsiness.

“Absolutely not, Auntie. We can’t just let them get away with this. These guys are repeat offenders,” Pei Xiangwan said, a smile playing on her lips as she tightened her grip on the umbrella handle, the umbrella shifting slightly as she waited.

“Damn it, Brother Peng, stop wasting time talking and just beat her into submission!” The man swung his fist at Pei Xiangwan, but she dodged it, and before he knew it, he was struck on the head with the umbrella, stars exploding in his vision.

The black umbrella swiveled halfway around, its tip nearly piercing the fat man’s eye, forcing him to stumble backward in terror. The violent shaking sent raindrops flying from the umbrella like a sudden snowfall. Pei Xiangwan kicked the fat man’s belly, sending him sprawling to the ground like a trampoline.

The fat man rolled on the floor, groaning, “Aiyo!” like a turtle flipped on its back, his hands flailing helplessly in the air.

“I’ve been wanting to punch that gut of yours for ages. What’s wrong, Brother Peng? Can’t get up?” Pei Xiangwan glanced down at the men sprawled on the floor, calculating that the police should arrive any minute now.

She hadn’t intended to get involved, but the whole situation was too suspicious. To think that Ning Xuemo could persuade Chen Zui to drug someone with just a few words—and to obey her so readily—suggested this was far from an isolated incident. Ning Xuemo must have done something else.

Chen You was pulled aside by Chen Zui. She glanced at the men sprawled across the floor, nearly covering the entire shop, and asked anxiously, “The child isn’t hurt, is she?”

Chen Zui didn’t understand her mother’s concern. These hulking men hadn’t even touched a hair on her head. While she was grateful for Pei Xiangwan’s intervention, she still didn’t like her.

“I’m fine, Auntie,” Pei Xiangwan assured her.

The wail of police sirens filled the air as officers rushed out of their vehicles. The scene that greeted them was almost unbelievable: a small girl had single-handedly taken down five burly men. The men wailed about their missing teeth, clutching a large front tooth in their hands and speaking with a lisp.

“Po…po…po…police…off…off…officer…he…he…”

The officer cut him off. “Enough. Come to the station and tell us everything.” His eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Pei Xiangwan. “Did you really do this?”

Pei Xiangwan nodded. “Of course. There’s no one else here, and you’ve already reviewed the security footage, haven’t you?”

After giving her statement at the police station, the officers acknowledged Pei Xiangwan’s act of bravery but warned her about the danger. “Next time, call the police instead of handling it alone. You got lucky this time, but what about next time? No one stays lucky forever. Don’t rely on chance.”

“I understand, Officer,” Pei Xiangwan replied.

Chen Zui helped Chen You walk over. Chen You’s expression was strained, especially since Pei Xiangwan, of all people, had come to their rescue. Looking at Pei Xiangwan’s face filled her with both resentment and guilt. Chen Zui’s face suddenly twitched.

Chen You couldn’t read minds, but she knew the young girl before her had helped her and all those oppressed by the thugs.

She patted Chen Zui’s hand to signal her to release her grip, her smile warm and sincere as she reached out to take Pei Xiangwan’s hand.

“Thank you, young lady. What’s your name? If you don’t mind, come to my shop—I’d love to treat you.”

The calluses on Chen You’s hand rubbed against Pei Xiangwan’s tender palm, causing a slight itch. But a piece of Pei Xiangwan’s heart felt torn away, leaving a dull ache.

“You don’t have to be so formal, Auntie. I’m Pei Xiangwan.” She glanced sideways at Chen Zui, who stood stiffly beside Chen You, and added when she received no response, “I’d feel bad if you treated me. I can’t accept free meals.”

Chen You’s lips curved into a warm smile, her eyes brimming with gratitude. “What’s there to be embarrassed about, dear? You’ve been such a tremendous help to Auntie.”

In the darkness, only a lone streetlamp flickered wearily, its light wavering like a silver needle piercing Ning Xuemo’s silhouette through the rain.

Her eyes merged with the night, like those of a predator emerging from the shadows to hunt, baring its fangs. Ning Xuemo glared fiercely at the tightly shut roller shutter door, her gaze tracing the deep dents in its surface as if smoke were billowing from within.

Ning Xuemo frowned impatiently, waving her hand in front of her nose. She had never liked this place in her past life. If not for needing this pawn to secure Jiang Shiyuan, she would never have set foot here again.

Yet the unnatural stillness before her was unsettling. This wasn’t how things were supposed to be.

“Investigate,” Ning Xuemo commanded, turning to the black-clad figure behind her. “Find out exactly what happened here. And make sure you get it right, or else…” Her voice turned icy as she met his gaze. “Do I need to repeat myself?”

The black-clad figure stood frozen, a chill running through him at her words, as if struck by a freezing wind.

“Yes, Miss. I’ll investigate immediately.”