22: Chapter 22 Your whole family are good people

Time passed.

Yang Shiguang felt the pain in his back gradually fading away.

However, his physical strength was gradually failing; he was forced to shift from a crouching position to kneeling on one knee, and the left hand holding the girl could only support him against the wall.

By using his arm and knee to absorb the impact on his back, he managed to avoid being knocked down by the flurry of punches and kicks and crushing the girl beneath him.

In Yang Shiguang's arms, the girl listened to the six men cursing between heavy breaths and felt his body shudder with every blow to his back; her heart ached terribly.

"No... no... why..."

The girl sobbed in a tiny, sorrowful voice.

Suddenly, she felt Yang Shiguang, who seemed to have heard her voice, use his right hand—which was protecting her head—to gently stroke the back of her head.

It was as if he were telling her, "It's okay, don't worry."

She couldn't help but look up slightly, seeing Yang Shiguang's lowered head as she faced him.

He gritted his teeth, holding on, his eyes tightly shut, yet two tears were squeezed out from the corners of his eyes due to the pain.

Yet, despite his disheveled state, his handsome face still wore a determined expression. Seeing her look up, Yang Shiguang even managed to force a smile to comfort her.

The girl could no longer hold it back; tears gushed from her bright eyes like a burst dam.

Just then, Yang Shiguang suddenly felt a sharp pain strike his back, as if something sharp had cut through his skin.

This sharp pain made his face contort, and he could no longer maintain his smile.

Seeing the sudden change in Yang Shiguang's expression, the girl shifted her gaze, and through his shoulder, she saw a suffocating scene.

The foul-mouthed man had picked up the broken bottle again and had already slashed it heavily across Yang Shiguang's back; the jagged glass was now stained with blood.

Suddenly, the foul-mouthed man gripped the bottle in reverse, aiming it at Yang Shiguang, and shouted, "Go to hell, you little brat!"

The pupils in the girl's bright eyes dilated instantly, and she screamed, "No!"

At the critical moment.

"Stop!"

"Hands on your head, get down!"

Simultaneously with the shouts, the foul-mouthed man was struck down by a police baton.

Hearing the voices, Yang Shiguang knew that Boss Nian had finally arrived with people. His strength instantly failed, and his upper body collapsed onto the girl.

Not long after, Boss Nian jogged over and was stunned by the scene.

The back of Yang Shiguang's shirt was torn, and the wound on his back, oozing blood, looked gruesome.

And when he was helped up by two police officers, the girl he had been shielding beneath him was completely unharmed, not even a speck of dust on her.

"Boss... Nian... I didn't... start it... I hope... I didn't... cause you... too much... trouble."

Yang Shiguang said this intermittently and even let out a few laughs.

Boss Nian was speechless; even in this state, he was still worried about causing trouble. He could only give him a thumbs up.

"Brother, you're tough!"

The group was first taken to the hospital for treatment, and then taken to the police station to give statements. The others in the Bar and the manager had already given their statements.

Yang Shiguang was actually not badly hurt. The wound on his back looked serious, but since it was caused by glass and not a knife or other weapon, the cut wasn't deep and didn't even require stitches.

The scratch on his arm from blocking the broken bottle shards was even less serious and just needed a simple bandage.

It was just that the wound on his back, combined with the bruises, looked quite scary.

When leaving the Bar, he had asked Boss Nian to grab a few bottles of beer.

Sure enough, after coming out of the hospital and drinking a few sips, he was already bouncing around by the time they were giving statements.

His physique, built from years of fighting and exercise, was no joke.

During this time, the girl stayed by his side the whole time, never leaving for a moment, constantly fetching tea and water for him at the hospital and the police station. She didn't say a single word.

After everything was finished, Boss Nian needed to stay at the county police station to thank the deputy director for the help, so he had the driver take the two of them back first.

"You too, don't you know what you look like? Daring to work in a Bar. Let me tell you, working in that kind of place, this kind of thing is bound to happen sooner or later."

In the car, Yang Shiguang, having recovered, returned to his usual cynical self.

The girl kept her head down, letting her long hair cover her cheeks, so her expression was unreadable.

Only a very small voice came, still choked with sobs.

"They... provide food and housing, and I... wouldn't have worked long... I have to go to school when university starts."

Yang Shiguang was speechless.

"You do it just because they provide food and housing? Look at you, if I hadn't been there today, who knows what would have happened. You lost a watermelon to pick up a sesame seed."

"I... have nowhere to live, and also, it's watermelon... not cantaloupe."

"Right, I know, but you aren't as big as a watermelon, so you're a cantaloupe!"

The girl was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized, her pretty face blushing beneath her long hair.

Yang Shiguang continued, "Don't work there anymore, come be my tour guide, and I'll find you a place to stay."

"Oh..."

Hearing this, Yang Shiguang turned his head and stared at the girl in surprise. He had been joking, trying to cheer her up, but he didn't expect her to agree directly without any objection.

"Uh... aren't you afraid I'll sell you off?"

"You... wouldn't."

The girl didn't hesitate, shaking her head like a rattle-drum.

"How do you know I wouldn't?"

"You are a good person..."

The girl said, dazed.

Yang Shiguang gloomily lit a cigarette and started smoking. Why am I getting a 'good person card' out of nowhere? You're the good person, your whole family are good people!

The driver could only drop them off at the North Gate of the Ancient City; the car couldn't go in. So the two had to walk.

Back at the Bar, Yang Shiguang told the girl to pack her luggage, while he went to talk to the manager about the damages and the girl's wages.

The manager was someone who avoided trouble. Seeing that Yang Shiguang could take a hit and fight back, and had connections—after all, someone who could bring the deputy director of the county police station at a moment's notice was definitely not simple.

So she indicated that she didn't want any compensation for the damages, paid the girl's full month's salary, and even gave her an extra two months' worth.

She knew that this girl had met a benefactor. And what she had done at the time was truly disappointing.

She didn't pay the extra salary out of a sudden pang of conscience, but because she was afraid Yang Shiguang would come back to settle scores later.

Soon, the girl came downstairs in casual clothes, dragging an old suitcase and carrying a faded backpack, standing silently behind and to the side of Yang Shiguang.

Yang Shiguang took her suitcase and reached for her bag.

"No... no need."

"Behave."

"Oh."

The girl could only hand the bag to Yang Shiguang.

Yang Shiguang took the money from the manager and shoved it directly into the girl's hand. Then he carried the suitcase and walked out.

The girl was a bit surprised to see so much money and hurried over to thank the manager.

"Tha... thanks."

Before the manager could reply, she heard Yang Shiguang's voice from the doorway.

"Thanks for nothing, let's go."

The girl still bowed slightly and followed Yang Shiguang.

On the road, Yang Shiguang carried the suitcase, walking in front alone.

The girl followed silently a step behind him.

The two didn't say a word.

Yang Shiguang smoked. He knew that this girl definitely wasn't just poor; there must be a sad story behind it.

Because that sorrowful gaze, that miserable smile, that desolate, helpless expression—he knew them all too well.

But as for these things, if she didn't say it, he couldn't ask.

People who have experienced deep emotional trauma always leave scars that are hard to heal; even if they scab over, they will still ache faintly.

Moreover, this scar can only be faced by oneself and bravely uncovered by oneself. Because that was exactly how he was.