Where did this person come from?

He was still thinking, when suddenly he realized that there were still things to be done. He snorted coldly and shouted: "Fatty, attack!"

But…

"Forget it. Once we're done, my brothers and I will leave this city immediately. We'll never come back."

But what if, just what if this person…

"There are no ifs, ands or buts about it. Think about it, think about all that money, enough for us brothers to live a carefree life for the rest of our lives. After we pull this off, our whole life will be about eating, drinking, and lying around."

The fat man was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the man, hesitating for a moment. Seeing the fat man's hesitation, the leader of the gangsters roared in anger:

It's not like you're committing murder or arson, what are you afraid of!

Even if we get caught afterward, at most they'll charge us with assault. We'll just do a few years in prison, and then my brothers and I will be clean. With that big pile of money, we can go anywhere we want.

"This…" Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

The fat man was thrown off balance by Cheng Yaojin's sudden appearance, and he lost his composure after being berated by the leader of the thugs. Behind the fat man, a tall, sturdy man unceremoniously shoved him:

"This fart!"

"You fat bastard, if you don't move, I will!"

With a mighty swing, Zhuang Dazhe swung his baseball bat and smashed it towards the front.

"Look, that's how it's done, you fat deadbeat. Remember what we agreed? Whoever throws a punch gets a bigger share of the money."

You guys think he's a loser, still a kid. He probably can't even find a woman. That's why your big brother gave him this good opportunity. Let him earn some extra money so he can find a wife.

Since you're unwilling, you nagging old woman, then scram! I want that extra share of the money.

He swung a large stick and smashed it down.

"Ugh!"

Jian Tong heard a muffled grunt from beside her ear. She dazedly lifted her head, and in the darkness, someone was holding her, someone tightly trapping her in safety. Her ear was filled with that person's pained grunts. Vaguely, she seemed to return to the prison of those days, where there was once a girl who shielded her from harm.

It seemed like… deer from back then.

"A-Lu..." Her eyes welled up in an instant, unable to be restrained, a bitter and aching pain, "A-Lu..."

It was then that she realized she had missed this person called "A-Lu" for far too long.

It had been so long that she dared not admit it, so long that she could only mourn him with A-Lu's tombstone.

...and also feeling guilty.

"Don't be afraid, Tongtong…"

A man's deep voice echoed in her ear.

Jian Tong shuddered, suddenly sobering up a bit. In the moonlight, she looked at the face of the person sprawled on top of her… A familiar face, so familiar that even if it turned to ash, she wouldn't forget it.

The leader of the thugs keenly noticed something: "Miss Jian, do you know him? Who is he?"

Jian Tong said coldly:

"We don't know each other, aren't you just taking people's money to eliminate their disasters?"

"Didn't you just want me to surrender one hand? Release the innocents, and I'll disable myself. You can complete your mission, and I won't owe anyone any favors."

The one at the front, giggling and laughing, said:

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

Don't know?

"Who are you trying to fool?"

<<< I don't know her, can I call this woman by her nickname?

"Do you say or not?" The man who led the way, a hulking figure, boomed: "Forget it, don't pay him any mind. We're leaving s city tonight and we won't be coming back."

"Hey big guy, hurry up and break her one arm."

He really kicked hard, charging at Shen Xiujing and yelling: "This isn't your concern, get lost!"

"No, I won't let you bully TongTong."

"Fatty, pull this guy apart." The leader of the hooligans pulled out a cigarette and took a puff: "Hurry up, after we finish the job, we'll run away."

The fat man was well-known for his strength. He went up and pulled the person off Jian Tong: "Brother, don't make things difficult for us."

But despite his utmost efforts, he couldn't budge him an inch.

The leader of the thugs lost his patience: "Since we can't pull it apart, let's just smash it. It's his own fault."

Just don't mention names. I don't believe that if we hurt him, he'll still protect our Miss Jian.

Jian Tong's face instantly turned pale.

"Get out! This is none of your business!" she shouted at the person in front of her. "I said get out, can't you hear me?"

"No, Axiu wouldn't let anyone bully Tongtong."

"Aren't you listening?" When necessary, one could only resort to the trump card: "If you don't listen, get lost at Xichen's tomorrow."

Her face was fierce, but her heart was already in turmoil. Each thud of the bat against her back echoed with a muffled groan from the man enduring the pain.

At this moment, I could clearly remember Shen Xiujian from the past.

If he were sober, how could he stoop to such low acts of trying to show off?

If he were sober, he would have already used strong-arm tactics to suppress these punks.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Each blow of the truncheon landing on her back sent a sharp, agonizing pain through her chest.

Before her, in his arms, she looked up. What met her eyes was this man, drenched in sweat, pain etched deeply between his brows. A large hand suddenly covered the back of his head, pressing her back into his embrace:

"Tongtong, just hold on a little longer, don't be afraid, Axu will protect Tongtong."

Jian Tong's breathing slowed by half a beat, a long-forgotten sourness gradually spreading across her chest...She endured it?

What is she enduring?

He said he wanted to protect her.

Shen Xiujin, has always been as aloof as a wolf, domineering like a tiger, and incredibly tough. Such a man, saying he would protect a woman, of course could use iron-blooded means to shelter that woman in a safe haven.

But the man who wanted to protect her at this moment, his mind was still that of a child. He didn't have Shen Xiuqin's strong and decisive methods. What could he possibly use to protect her?

She was in his arms, her eyes wide open, what was he using to protect her?

He took the beating with his back for her.

This person, with their own body, protected her, making sure she didn't suffer any harm.

She was in his arms, her eyes wide open, refusing to close them, filled with tears.