Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  “That’s good.” Ding Jiayi slightly relaxed. “I had to trouble you yesterday. Today, I will bring back Old Qiao’s bicycle.”

  “No need.” The people at the Zhu family’s residence waved their hands.

  “No need? What do you mean by that?”

  “What I mean is that although Qiao Dongliang has not been here today, the bicycle has already been returned to him.” The bicycle was no longer at the Zhu family’s residence. Ding Jiayi had nothing to bring back except for the Zhu family’s belongings.

  “Didn’t you say that Old Qiao hasn’t been here yet? So why isn’t the bicycle here? Why is it back at Old Qiao’s house?!” Ding Jiayi asked anxiously.

  “Baoguo went looking for Qiao Nan early in the morning with his holiday homework. He said that he wanted to exercise, so he rode that bicycle to Qiao Nan’s house.”

  The Zhu family had a car and a chauffeur. Why did Zhu Baoguo mess around and claim that he wanted to exercise? Why did he ride the bicycle away? Ding Jiayi took a deep breath. “Since Zhu Baoguo rode the bicycle to look for Qiao Nan in the morning, will he ride it back when he comes back home?”

  If this was the case, there was still a chance.

  At most, she would go to the Zhu family’s residence again in the evening. She might even get to know the people from the Zhu family.

  “Sister Ding, I am being very polite by addressing you as ‘sister’. There’s no need for Baoguo to ride the bicycle back. Our chauffeur will fetch him back.” If Baoguo wanted to ride the bicycle, given the Zhu family’s ability, they could buy him a bicycle that was suited for his height. There was no need for him to ride that model ’28’ bicycle.

  Ding Jiayi was green with anger and lost for words.

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  Since the Zhu family had a car to fetch Zhu Baoguo, why did they not drive him to Qiao Nan’s house in the morning? Why must he ride the bicycle? Was he going against her?

  Ding Jiayi did not know that her guess was correct.

  “Xiao Qiao, I’ve got your bicycle back. By the way, your mom seems to be quite stupid, but there are times when she is quite smart. Yesterday, when the both of you had just left, she suggested bringing your dad’s bicycle back to the Qiao family’s residence in the quad. Luckily, she was stopped by my dad. Otherwise……”

  Zhu Baoguo shot a look at Qiao Dongliang who had his back to them and was busy with chores in the kitchen. He lowered his voice and said, “Otherwise, when your dad enters the Qiao family’s residence, it’s hard to say when he will come out. If one is not careful, there may be a chance that you will have another sibling.”

  “What are you talking about?” Qiao Nan stiffened and shot a sideways glance at Zhu Baoguo.

  Zhu Baoguo was so audacious as to make such obscene comments!

  “I’m not joking with you. Your mom has that strange look in her eyes when she looked at your dad yesterday. Those women who are dying to become my stepmother had the same expressions when they gazed at my dad,” Zhu Baoguo said with no hint of embarrassment.

  In this aspect, boys were more mature than girls. Moreover, Zhu Baoguo used to hang out with people outside the school back then. If not for the fact that he was still young, Zhu Baoguo might have already had a lot of experience with women.

  “Don’t bring this up in my dad’s face. Besides, if you have a high level of male hormones, don’t come to my house and act crazy. Settle it before you come.” Zhu Baoguo might have been mature for his age, but Qiao Nan was, in fact, a mature adult. Although she had no experience in these matters, she knew what was going on.

  “Xiao Qiao, do you really understand what I am talking about?”

  “Of course.”

  “Who spewed nonsense in front of you, Xiao Qiao?” Zhu Baoguo widened his eyes and rolled up his sleeves. “Is this what boys should say to the girls? He made such obscene comments. He’s clearly taking advantage of you!”

  How could someone dare to spout nonsense and lead Xiao Qiao astray behind his back! He must be tired of living.

  Qiao Nan twitched her lips. “You are one of them.”

  “Who are you talking about? What’s wrong? Baoguo, what are you doing with your sleeves rolled up? Isn’t it cold?” Qiao Dongliang, who brought out the breakfast, witnessed the scene between the both of them. After putting down the breakfast, he rolled down the sleeves for Zhu Baoguo. “What are the both of you talking about that you ended up in anger?”

  “Nothing much.”

  “Uncle Qiao, we didn’t say anything. This porridge smells really nice. I am famished.” Zhu Baoguo blushed in embarrassment at Qiao Nan’s words. When he saw Qiao Dongliang, Zhu Baoguo somehow felt as if he had done something wrong. His face turned a shade redder.

  “Have more of the porridge and eat to your heart’s content.” Qiao Dongliang smiled. He did not have a son, so when he saw someone else’s son, he could not help but take a few more glances. “Both of you were having a good chat, but why did you start scolding people? Who were you angry at?”

  “We were referring to those girls who bullied Xiao Qiao at school. They are downright shameless!” Zhu Baoguo yelled.

  “Someone bullied Nan Nan? Nan Nan, why didn’t you tell me?” Qiao Dongliang was anxious, and so he did not notice Zhu Baoguo’s guilty look.

  “Uncle Qiao, you don’t have to worry. With me around, nobody dares to bully Qiao Nan. I will certainly deal with them. We were referring to these annoying people just now.” After being beaten, Xu Tingting and Zhao Yu did not dare to complain. For the subsequent month, they dared not even raise their voices in front of Xiao Qiao.

  Qiao Dongliang breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. Baoguo, when you are at school, Uncle Qiao will have to ask you to take good care of Nan Nan. You can’t let anyone bully Nan Nan.”

  Zhu Baoguo’s eyes lit up. “Uncle Qiao, rest assured that I will take good care of Xiao Qiao. I will ensure her safety and place her well-being before my own. I will not let anyone hurt Xiao Qiao. I won’t do anything to harm Xiao Qiao either.”

  “Well……” There was something odd about Zhu Baoguo’s words, but Qiao Dongliang could not point out what exactly was inappropriate about what he had just said. “Since you have said so, you must make sure you honor your promise.”

  Since he could not pinpoint what exactly was wrong, Qiao Dongliang did not bother to think about it anymore. Anyway, it was good that his daughter was taken care of at school. She would not be bullied by others, then.

  Qiao Nan looked up and rolled her eyes. The two men in front of her were practically dumb and dumber.

  Her father did not realize that Zhu Baoguo’s words were what a son-in-law would say to the father-in-law, and Zhu Baoguo was so muddle-headed that he spouted nonsense. The dumb and dumber did not realize what was wrong in their conversation.

  They were living treasures.

  Qiao Nan found what Zhu Baoguo said to Qiao Dongliang to be very familiar. In fact, this was her second time hearing these words.

  When Qiao Nan brought Chen Jun back home for the first time, Chen Jun had also said the same words to Qiao Dongliang—that he would take good care of Qiao Nan and treat Qiao Nan as someone more important than himself.

  In this life, Qiao Dongliang had not had the experience of being a father-in-law, thus he did not understand and did not find it inappropriate for Zhu Baoguo to say all those words.