Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

”I remember one day, a little girl from the city was having a climbing competition with those little rascals from the town. She climbed up a very tall loquat tree but accidentally fell down into the paddy field.”

Uncle Xie pointed towards the area ahead, known as University City, and said, ”Back then, University City was still a rice paddy, and that girl fell into that field.”

Xu Xingguang felt that the story sounded somewhat familiar. She rubbed her ear and softly asked, ”What happened afterward?”

”A Zui saw the girl fall into the field and rushed to save her, carrying her all the way home. When his mother saw them, she suddenly went crazy. She tied up A Zui, made him kneel in the yard, and used a bamboo cane this thick to beat his hands.”

Uncle Xie raised his index finger and said, ”A cane as thick as my finger.”

The bamboo cane was knotty and resilient, making it extremely painful.

Mrs. Huo used such a thick bamboo cane to beat Huo Wen’an, truly showing no mercy.

Uncle Xie shook his head and lamented, ”Everyone in town came running to intervene when they heard the commotion, but she just wouldn’t stop. She kept beating while shouting out ear-piercing curses, beating A Zui’s hands until they bled and the bamboo cane broke before she finally relented.”

Thinking of that scene, Xu Xingguang felt a pang in her heart.

”What kind of things did she curse?”

Too many years have passed, and Uncle Xie could barely remember. ”I can’t recall exactly, but it was something along the lines of saying A Zui, like his father, was just a flirt, and that he had to be beaten to learn a lesson.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Xingguang could roughly guess the reason Mrs. Huo took Boss Huo out of the hospital.

The one who hurt her might very well be Boss Huo’s biological father.

She took Boss Huo from the hospital with the intent to ruin him as a form of revenge. But Boss Huo proved to be resilient, remaining outstanding and dazzling no matter how much she attacked and humiliated him.

”Not only did she love to beat and curse A Zui, but she also frequently locked him in a room for days without giving him food. Every time we attempted to secretly bring him things, she’d chase us away with a broom.”

”That’s why I said A Zui is a well-disciplined young man. He was strictly supervised by his crazy mother since childhood; he definitely wouldn’t run to a single girl’s home at night.”

Uncle Xie smiled with relief and marveled, ”That kid likes you.”

Xu Xingguang smiled gently, ”We are indeed dating.”

Uncle Xie chuckled and said, ”You two make a good match.” Thinking of Huo Wen’an’s imprisonment, Uncle Xie felt another wave of sadness.

Uncle Xie earnestly told Xu Xingguang, ”Going to jail is a stain he can’t wash away in his lifetime, but A Zui is truly a good kid. If not for avenging his sister, he wouldn’t have gone to jail.”

”Miss Xu, being able to see his virtues and accepting him surely makes you a particularly kind and outstanding girl.” After speaking, Uncle Xie’s eyes were somewhat wet, feeling for Huo Wen’an’s struggles.

”When you two get married in the future, make sure to invite me, Old Xie, for a drink. I’ll give you two a big red envelope!”

Xu Xingguang nodded, ”Definitely.”

Uncle Xie started the car, getting ready to leave.

Xu Xingguang also stood up to go inside, but suddenly she recalled something and asked Uncle Xie, ”How did A Zui’s mother die?”

Uncle Xie shook his head and said, ”She got drunk, went on a drunken rampage, dragging the girl Huo Xin saying she wanted to jump into the river.”

”What?” Xu Xingguang was once again shocked by Mrs. Huo’s actions.

”Did she jump?”

Uncle Xie sighed, ”She jumped, but by then it was too late, everyone was asleep. When A Zui managed to pull Huo Xin out, and then went to pull his mother out, she had already stopped breathing.”

Xu Xingguang was momentarily speechless.

She always thought her life was tragic, but after hearing Huo Wen’an’s childhood tales, she realized that compared to Huo Wen’an, she was fortunate.

At least, Mo Yinshu always loved her.

But in this world, there wasn’t a single relative who loved Huo Wen’an.

”Despite everything, A Zui is truly an exceptional child,” Uncle Xie couldn’t help but chatter to Xu Xingguang again, talking to himself, ”His mother offended everyone in town, and when she died, everyone clapped their hands with joy. Nobody was willing to handle her funeral.”

”That kid A Zui carried a hoe himself to the back hill to dig a grave and buried her. Many parents nurture their children with care and can’t raise a child as filial and sensible as him. That woman lived in bliss without realizing it!”

Noticing the light under Huo Wen’an’s eaves suddenly turned on, Uncle Xie quickly said, ”A Zui probably doesn’t like me telling you this. I should go now.”