Chapter 5: Now It’s My Turn to Protect You

Noticing Qiao Yiran’s hesitation, Xue Ling fixed his gaze intently. “Don’t you want to leave?”

“Of course not!” Qiao Yiran quickly denied, though a wave of guilt stirred within her. The next moment, she shook her head sadly, tears welling up in her eyes. “We can’t escape. Wei Xifeng will definitely catch us and bring us back. You’ll die, Xue Ling. I don’t want you to die. Besides, I still have my mother to care for. I can’t be so selfish as to run away alone. I can’t leave.” She covered her mouth and sobbed uncontrollably.

Xue Ling was frantic yet heartbroken. He pulled Qiao Yiran into his arms. “I’m sorry, I was thinking too simply. Alright, we won’t leave. No matter what the future holds, you still have me. I will protect you and keep you from harm, even if it costs me my life.”

Qiao Yiran was deeply moved. “Xue Ling, you really are a good person. You make me feel like you’re a brother to me.”

A brother? Qiao Yiran did not harbor any romantic feelings for him. A twinge of bitterness rose in Xue Ling’s heart but soon settled. As long as he could stay by her side, that was enough.

…

Jiang Liwu arrived home and lifted a thick patch of grass to find the key beneath a stone to unlock the door.

The layout and furnishings inside were just as she remembered—familiar and warm, brimming with the essence of everyday life.

Here, every pore of Jiang Liwu’s body relaxed completely. She kicked off her shoes recklessly and walked barefoot across the floor, which was still clean—proof that her parents had only recently left for work.

Turning, she saw Wei Xifeng still standing at the doorway, unmoving. Jiang Liwu immediately beckoned him in. “Come on in. This will be your home too from now on.”

“This will be my home too,” Wei Xifeng repeated softly, his heart fluttering.

His entire being was shrouded in darkness and chains, but stepping inside felt like being surrounded by warm light.

Everything here effortlessly subdued the turbulent, violent impulses within him, clearing his eyes and brightening his gaze.

He took off his shoes like Jiang Liwu and stepped inside barefoot, curiously taking in everything around him.

Jiang Liwu led him around, introducing each item: “There are fish and turtles we’ve raised for years, plant and butterfly specimens hanging on the walls, decorations made from animal fur, scales, antlers, and teeth. Over there are mineral specimens…”

Wei Xifeng stopped before a display case filled with countless trophies, medals, and certificates. With genuine admiration, he said, “Teacher, you really are amazing.”

…

“Most of these belong to my parents. But Xiaofeng, you’re the truly remarkable one—not just a boxing champion, but also a champion in weightlifting, shooting, combat, and wrestling,” Jiang Liwu said, pride shining on her face.

She reached out to ruffle Wei Xifeng’s hair, lavishly praising him. “Our Xiaofeng is truly outstanding.”

Wei Xifeng lowered his head slightly, his ears tinged red. “Teacher, you’ve seen all this…”

“When we were kids, you protected me. Now it’s my turn to protect you. I have the ability now, and I want to be your strongest support. No one will dare bully you,” Wei Xifeng said, taking Jiang Liwu’s other hand, his gaze steady and resolute. When he spoke the last sentence, a fierce, beastly light flashed in his eyes at the thought of anyone crossing his boundaries.

“Good,” Jiang Liwu smiled and nodded.

She arrived at her bedroom door. A sign hung there, reading “Wu Wu’s Little Nest,” with a smaller line beneath: “Baby, you are the gift heaven gave to Mom and Dad.”

Opening the door, she was greeted by a room filled with girlish charm and stuffed animals scattered across half the space.

If she weren’t a savior, Jiang Liwu would simply be a twenty-year-old young woman, cherished and pampered by her parents, full of innocence and romance.

Jiang Liwu found her phone and ID, opened the wardrobe and pulled out her suitcase. Noticing Wei Xifeng engrossed in a photo frame, she paused.

The frame held a loving family portrait of her and her parents—a trio.

She knew that, due to his twisted and pathological upbringing, Wei Xifeng had never possessed a single photo with his parents. Even finding a photo of his parents together was nearly impossible.

“Xiaofeng, shall we take a photo together later?” she asked.

Wei Xifeng looked up instantly, his eyes filled with longing. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he softly replied with a mixture of bitterness and joy, “Okay.”

“No need to pack; just buy new things. I’ll take you out to explore,” Jiang Liwu said after a moment’s thought.

“Alright,” he agreed. It was a perfect opportunity to see the world anew.

Jiang Liwu saved Wei Xifeng’s number in her phone. Seeing this, he quickly retrieved his other contact details and added them all, setting Jiang Liwu as his top contact with a special alert tone.

…

They left a note for her parents on the table, then headed straight to the city center.

Before them stretched a sprawling dragon-shaped overpass, a vast shimmering river, towering and modern landmark buildings, dazzling sci-fi LED naked-eye 3D screens, creative zebra crossings, artistic green belts, and bustling commercial shopping streets teeming with people.

The world was no longer scarred and ravaged. The waters were clear and pure. There was no longer despair strewn across the land.

Their first stop was an international luxury brand store specializing in high fashion. Wei Xifeng was eager to buy clothes for Jiang Liwu, selecting and pairing over a dozen outfits for the model to showcase.

Tops, pants, short skirts, half skirts, dresses, suits, and pajamas—various styles.

The two sat on a sofa, sipping tea while watching the fashion show.

The biscuits and nuts were quite tasty. From the first bite, Jiang Liwu chewed continuously, unable to stop. “Mmm, these are good,” she said, offering some to Wei Xifeng, who rarely ate snacks. Wei Xifeng accepted eagerly, as if she were feeding him poison and he would still swallow without hesitation.

Wei Xifeng enjoyed Jiang Liwu’s feeding so much he wished she would do it more often.

He knew that most parents often fed their children, whether it was meals or snacks. When a child refused or threw a tantrum, their first reaction was to coax them.

But Wei Xifeng’s parents had never personally fed him, let alone comforted him.

Not even once did his mother breastfeed him when he was born.

How could he not care, how could he not want that? He was human—flesh and blood, with emotions and desires.

His eyes were filled with tenderness and reliance as he agreed, “They are indeed delicious.”

The two of them chewed together, immersed in the moment as if they had come to a food shop rather than a fashion boutique. Jiang Liwu realized this only when the models serving them had grown tired of posing, and the sales clerk looked at them sweetly and expectantly.