Chapter 13

Hearing her words, Ning Song tilted her head in confusion.
Although she couldn’t clearly see the expression on Pei Hanying’s face, she could keenly sense the tension in her emotions.

It wasn’t the first time she had used that form of address anyway, so Ning Song didn’t think too much about it and said softly:
“Big Sister.”

Hearing her call her Big Sister, Pei Hanying felt her previously suspended heart slowly settle onto solid ground.
Let things remain like this, then.

She exhaled softly, turned to Ning Song again, and accepted the form of address.
“Mm.”

After that, Pei Hanying said nothing more. Ning Song was naturally quiet and taciturn, so when Pei Hanying didn’t speak, she merely glanced at her several more times before quickly looking away.
The two sat quietly on the swings for a while. When it was almost lunchtime, Xiaoyun reminded the two little girls that it was time to return to the Pei residence.

This time, Pei Hanying slowed her pace and showed more patience as she walked outside with Ning Song.
They had already reached the entrance when Ning Song turned to glance back at the children’s playground.
Pei Hanying said, “I’ll bring you here again when we have the chance.”

Hearing this, the corners of Ning Song’s lips curved faintly upward.
Although most of the promises she had heard had never been fulfilled, she was still willing to believe Pei Hanying’s words.
If Pei Hanying said she would bring her here again, then Ning Song believed there would be a next time.
Even if she forgot, it didn’t matter. Ning Song wouldn’t blame her.

The little girl thanked her. “Thank you, Yingying.”

Pei Hanying couldn’t resist ruffling her hair, messing up the short strands. Only when Ning Song’s eyes widened did she curve her lips into a smile.
“What’s there to thank me for?”
“Let’s go home and eat.”

With that, she led Ning Song toward home.
By noon, the wind outside had grown somewhat stronger. Pei Hanying pulled up the hood of her coat. It was lined with thick fur, and its broad brim partly obscured her vision, though she had no trouble as long as she kept her eyes on the road.

Halfway home, Ning Song suddenly stopped.
Finding it strange, Pei Hanying turned to glance at her. Only after seeing Ning Song’s entire body stiffen did she raise her head and look ahead.

Before she could make out the person standing not far away, harsh curses had already reached her ears.

“You little bitch! Where the hell have you been these past few days?!”
“Get your ass over here right now!”

Pei Hanying removed her hood and finally saw Ning Cheng’s face clearly.
He had at least been willing to buy himself a down jacket, though the exposed face above it looked extremely unpleasant.

Those vile words poured into Ning Song’s ears, instantly shattering every illusion of warmth and security she had experienced over the past few days.
She lowered her head as humiliation and inferiority swarmed into her heart.
She had long since grown accustomed to hearing such words.
But Pei Hanying was beside her now. She didn’t want Pei Hanying to hear them, nor did she want her to think she was truly that wretched.

Afraid Ning Cheng would say even more vile things, Ning Song took several steps forward, intending to go to him, even though merely hearing his voice made her body tremble instinctively.
But after only a few steps, someone seized her hand.

Pei Hanying glanced at Ning Cheng with disgust, then looked at Ning Song’s back, which remained thin even beneath the down jacket, and asked coldly:
“Where are you going?”

What an impossible cat to tame.
Her scumbag father had merely said a few words, and she was already trying to leave without saying anything.

Ning Cheng continued hurling abuse as he strode toward them.
Ning Song’s eyes stung, and anxiety brought her close to tears.

She hurriedly said, “Yingying, don’t listen to him.” His words were awful.
“I-I have to go back. Yingying, could you go home first?”
Ning Song knew Ning Cheng’s temperament. He had an exceptionally bad temper, and whenever he flew into a rage, he would attack her on the spot regardless of where they were.
It didn’t matter if he hit her, but if Yingying remained beside her and got hurt, what would she do?

So she did know how to worry about her.
Hearing this, the tension in Pei Hanying’s lips finally eased somewhat.
Only then did she raise her head and deign to look directly at Ning Cheng.

The man’s expression was dark, and his gaze upon them carried endless gloom.
Mentally unstable, he resembled a madman who might leap forward and attack someone at any moment.

Pei Hanying looked at Ning Cheng and curled her lips.
Her face displayed no emotion. Although she clearly looked like a child, her presence was so imposing that a single glance made Ning Cheng freeze where he stood.

Once he recovered, Ning Cheng cursed inwardly.
What [read the original at bailiantales.com]the hell? He had actually been frightened by a tiny brat.

His expression turned sinister as he glared at Ning Song and threatened her roughly:
“Ning Song, get over here right now, or I’ll beat you to death today.”

Pei Hanying keenly felt Ning Song’s body trembling.
She frowned and silently cursed him for being a dumbass.

He knew Ning Song was with her, yet he still dared to say such things.
Did he have no respect for the Pei family’s young miss or the Pei family itself?
What a blind, tactless fool.

Ning Cheng wasn’t far from them. Pei Hanying released Ning Song’s hand and stepped forward.
She said, “Uncle Ning.”

Looking at the tiny girl who had approached him, Ning Cheng forced a stiff smile.
His tone also became somewhat restrained. “Miss Pei.”

She was the Pei family’s young miss. No matter how muddled his life had become, he knew he couldn’t afford to provoke her.
After all, the Pei family wielded almost absolute power in Jing City. If he offended them…
He shuddered and didn’t dare continue the thought.

Pei Hanying looked at him and gave a faint smile, though her eyes held no warmth.
She asked, “Ning Song has a name. Don’t you know that?”

Ning Cheng froze upon hearing her.
He had grown accustomed to beating and berating his daughter at home. If Ning Song dared resist, he [unauthorized copy]beat her even more viciously, as though trying to kill her.
He habitually hurled every degrading, insulting name imaginable at Ning Song.
Now, he instinctively replied, “I fathered that little beast. I can call her whatever I want.”

Hearing the increasingly vile insult, Pei Hanying’s expression instantly darkened.
She raised her leg and kicked Ning Cheng hard in the shin.
She no longer showed him any courtesy. “You old bastard who can’t understand human speech. I told you she has a name. If your ears don’t work, donate them to someone who needs them.”

The little girl was strong and had undergone special training. Caught off guard by the kick, Ning Cheng felt a sharp pain shoot through his shin. He staggered backward several steps and fell to the ground.
Once he recovered, he looked at Pei Hanying, darkness flashing through his eyes.
“Little. Bitch!” he enunciated one word at a time.

Before he could get up, Pei Hanying kicked him again.
Only after delivering the kick did she trot back toward Xiaoyun.

She raised her voice. “Auntie Lin, someone here is trying to hit me!”
“I’m so scared! Hurry and come out!”

Despite what she said, Pei Hanying wore a brilliant smile as she looked at Ning Cheng.
Not the slightest trace of fear could be seen on her face.

Ning Cheng’s rage instantly blazed, and he no longer cared whose child she was.
Enduring the pain in his leg, he tried to stand. The next instant, two bodyguards—a man and a woman—appeared from nowhere and immediately restrained him.

Two resounding slaps struck his face, making stars burst across Ning Cheng’s vision and leaving him unable to tell one direction from another.
“You think you can bully our Pei family’s young miss whenever you please?” After those words fell, countless punches and kicks rained down on him.

Hearing that icy voice, Ning Cheng found himself unable to defend himself, even though Pei Hanying had clearly caused trouble first.
He curled up on the ground and protected his head, tears and snot streaming down his face as he repeatedly [Read on BaiLianTales]begged for mercy. “I was wrong! I was wrong! Please stop hitting me!”
“I-I didn’t even do anything!”

Pei Hanying rubbed her ears. She also pulled Ning Song’s hood over her head and covered her ears before saying maliciously to Ning Cheng:
“Who cares whether you did anything? You’re ugly as a toad, and looking at you offends my eyes. You damned toad, if you dare appear in front of me again, I’ll have you beaten every single time I see you.”

After saying that, she paid no further attention to Ning Cheng’s reaction.
She lowered the hands covering Ning Song’s ears and extended one hand toward the little girl. Seeing Ning Song still standing there in a daze, she asked good-naturedly:

“Aren’t you hungry yet? Hold my hand. I’m taking you home for lunch.”

Ning Song looked at the fair palm extended before her, her heartbeat quickening slightly.
Several seconds later, she gently placed her hand in Pei Hanying’s and held on. The warmth of Pei Hanying’s palm traveled along the lines of her own palm and spread all the way to her heart.

She was going back to the Pei residence with Pei Hanying.
Pei Hanying was taking her home.