"What's wrong?"
Bai Tang turned around, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
Bai Wu gazed at her seriously and said softly, "Miss, take the college entrance exam! We'll go back after you finish!"
Bai Tang paused, then smiled. Without a word, she turned and left.
Watching Bai Tang's retreating figure, Bai Wu couldn't help but purse his lips, then let out a sigh.
Bai Wu had imagined countless times what she would be like when he saw Bai Tang again.
Would she be the same as before?
Or would she have grown cold, filled with hatred?
Or perhaps become something so terrifying he couldn't even fathom?
But no matter which scenario, he told himself that this girl was someone he would protect with his life.
He would definitely help her reclaim everything that belonged to her.
At first, when she contacted him, she was still very cold!
Back then, his heart ached a little, but more than that, he felt a deep sense of pity.
That little girl who used to love being mischievous, who always liked to cling to him, would never have shown such distance and coldness.
But when she reached out to him again, her attitude was extremely aloof.
He repeatedly offered to come find her, but she refused every time!
It hurt him deeply.
And when he finally got the chance to come, his excitement was mixed with even more anxiety!
He feared seeing a face utterly cold toward him, feared seeing the icy glare in her eyes, feared seeing her trust no one but herself, feared seeing her guard up against him...
Countless worries consumed him. While waiting at the school gate, he was completely on edge, utterly terrified!
But when he saw her, when he looked at the smile on her face and the faint warmth in her eyes, all his fears vanished.
That girl from back then hadn't become too unfamiliar. She was still herself—at least her attitude toward him hadn't changed.
How wonderful...
Even more, on her face, he saw that same sly, mischievous smile from the past, so bright and beautiful.
As if those ten years had never happened.
He thought that even if those ten years had been awful for her, at least they hadn't affected her too much.
But today, Bai Tang's words made him realize he was wrong!
Terribly wrong.
How could that hellish place not leave its mark on someone?
Even an adult might not survive leaving that place, let alone the young miss who went in at just eight years old!
Bai Wu gripped the steering wheel tightly, his whole body tense, lips pressed together, teeth clenched.
He hated that he hadn't been strong enough to protect her back then!
If he had, she wouldn't have spent ten years in that godforsaken place!
The smiles on Bai Tang's face these days were all because of the people she mentioned.
She cherished this goodness, so he hoped to help her hold onto it.
More than anything, he wanted her to be happy.
The college entrance exam wasn't far off. If she wanted to take it, he would make sure she could.
As for the Feng family and the others, he would handle them, making sure they didn't stir up too much trouble in the near future!
---
Zhang Xiaochu had been in the hospital for a few days and was extremely annoyed that Bai Tang hadn't come to see him.
He grabbed his phone and called her, but she hung up.
Just as he was about to call again, Bai Tang sent a message: "I'm in class. If it's minor, talk after school. If it's major, text me!"
Zhang Xiaochu: "..."
I'm lying in the hospital right now, and you don't come see me—how is that not major?
"Have you forgotten I'm in the hospital?" Zhang Xiaochu gritted his teeth and replied.
He waited for a long time, but Bai Tang didn't respond.
Zhang Xiaochu fumed: Come see me after school!
Bai Tang quickly replied: I have to go to the big shot's place for tutoring tonight. I'll come after that.
Zhang Xiaochu ground his teeth: Which is more important—me or your studies?