Chapter 15: Making Yang Mi Cry

Liu Jing frowned deeply—how could these children be even more annoying than those in kindergarten? He glanced over; there were boys and girls, around four or five years old.

“I’m practicing martial arts. You all go play somewhere else,” Liu Jing called out.

Children’s tempers can be even fiercer than adults’. That remark was like poking a hornet’s nest. One of the boys, the tallest and strongest among them, muttered under his breath and gave Liu Jing a hard shove.

But Liu Jing had been practicing standing meditation for months—this was no mere pretense; his stance was solid and unshakable.

He merely wobbled slightly, and the boy fell over instead.

“I’ll fight you!” The boy was stubborn and didn’t burst into tears. He got up, clenched his fists, and shouted, “Beat him up!”

It was clear he held some authority. At his command, the children swarmed forward.

Liu Jing had no equal in the welfare home; he had fought off all challengers and even been asked to leave a kindergarten for being too formidable. How could he be afraid of a few kids?

Besides, his body had just been strengthened. Even if several adults attacked him at once, he wouldn’t be afraid. If beaten, he could dodge and run fast enough.

However, before he could demonstrate his abilities, he was stopped by some nearby parents.

One of the parents, a man, was so flustered speaking to the young, radiant girl beside him that his words came out in a jumble.

Liu Jing felt a twinge of regret—he had been eager to test his skills.

“Wood, you’re amazing!” Zhang Min, who was also in the crew today and had witnessed the whole scene, said cheerfully.

She scooped Liu Jing up with a laugh and leaned in for a kiss, but Liu Jing’s small hand quickly blocked her lips.

“No kissing,” he warned. This was his first kiss and shouldn’t be given away so easily.

“Ha ha…” Zhang Min laughed, stumbled, and fell to the ground.

It wasn’t just her falling that was worrying—it was that she was holding the child, which frightened the young aunt to pale.

“Hey! Can you be more careful?” Liu Jing struggled to get up from Zhang Min, extending his small hand to help.

This woman had a great figure, curvy and well-proportioned, but unfortunately, he was just too small.

“Hehe, sorry, are you okay?” Zhang Min’s cheeks flushed bright red—such an embarrassment! The goddess of the crew falling down in public.

“I’m fine.” Liu Jing patted his bottom. With such a soft cushion, he was definitely fine.

“Wood, Auntie has to go film now; be good. When I’m done, I’ll take you shopping and buy you some new clothes,” Zhang Min said as she rubbed her sore behind—it really hurt to fall on one’s buttocks.

“Min, hurry up and change; filming is about to start,” the young aunt reminded her.

“Let’s go together, you help me pick out some lingerie,” Zhang Min pulled the young aunt away.

“What’s there to choose? You don’t even have to wear it,” Liu Jing muttered softly.

The children had scattered far away, the adults watched them, and with the young aunt not nearby, it was suddenly quite peaceful.

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“I wonder how that ugly girl is doing now? She’s so ugly, no one would dare bully her. The young aunt must be lucky—after all, she’s pretty. Maybe her business will succeed. Sister Li is on the crew...” Liu Jing sat on a bench, his mind racing with thoughts.

“My name’s Yang Mi. What’s yours?” a delicate, doll-like girl interrupted his thoughts.

Liu Jing glanced at her—uglier even than the ugly girl—and had no interest in responding.

“Hey! Did you just bully my friend?” Yang Mi challenged.

Liu Jing didn’t even look; he closed his eyes to rest.

“Hey! I’m talking to you! How can you be so rude?” The little girl was quite annoyed. If he didn’t respond, how could they argue?

Liu Jing opened his eyes, grabbed a stool, and thought, “Isn’t the rude one you? I’m just avoiding trouble. If you were a boy, I’d knock you out directly.”

His kindergarten experience taught him that hitting girls seemed to be more harshly criticized than hitting boys.

He didn’t quite understand. Wasn’t this era always promoting gender equality? Why was there such unequal treatment in this matter?

“Hey! Impolite boy, you have to apologize to my friend,” Yang Mi pursued him. As the big sister, she felt obliged to stand up for her younger sibling. The other kids were afraid of the rude boy and dared not follow, but Yang Mi was unafraid.

Liu Jing lifted the stool, warning, “Don’t come any closer, or I’ll beat you.”

“You…” Yang Mi was a little girl after all, and instinctively took two steps back.

“Sister Li told me not to hit girls, or else… hmm…” Liu Jing’s words were laced with threat.

Yang Mi’s little face flushed red with indignation. “What’s wrong with girls? I challenge you. If I lose, I’ll treat you as my big brother. If you lose, you’ll be my little brother.”

“Deal!” Liu Jing agreed without hesitation. Hong Kong and Taiwanese movies had a deep influence—five- or six-year-old girls were already talking about big brothers and little brothers.

He accepted the challenge straightforwardly and knocked Yang Mi down just as easily.

Yang Mi didn’t cry; she got up, “I’m not ready yet.”

“Oh.” Liu Jing let her put on a show, then casually knocked her down again.

“Best of three…” Yang Mi got up again, grimy and stubbornly biting her lip. Everyone said she was tough—why was she losing so quickly?

“Smack!” Yang Mi fell again.

Nearby stood a man, his face full of concern, then he smiled gently and said, “Mi Mi, you’re not a match. When there’s no hope, you need to bow your head and know when to give up. Sometimes being stubborn only gets you a bloody nose.”

“Dad… wah wah…” Yang Mi really didn’t want to cry in front of Liu Jing, but when her father spoke, she couldn’t hold back anymore.

Pain and ticklishness have always been the hardest to endure.

Liu Jing was confused. “You’re her dad?”

He’d never seen such a strange father in kindergarten—was he not her biological dad?

His curiosity piqued, and a daily inquiry flashed through.

Her name appeared, her profession too, and Liu Jing was quite curious about it.

[Note: He is quite curious about you and wants to find an opportunity to avenge his daughter.]

---

Liu Jing wore a stern face—adult matters were truly complicated.

Old Yang smiled. “Doesn’t look like it?”

“Oh, so you fight the little one by hitting the old one,” Liu Jing put down the stool and reached out invitingly, “Come on.”

Old Yang was stunned—what did that mean? Did he want to spar with me?

“Where’s your guardian?” Old Yang didn’t bother coaxing his daughter, nor would he accept the challenge.

A man in his thirties sparring with a three-year-old child would be a huge embarrassment in his career. Proud and careful about his reputation, Old Yang wouldn’t do such a thing. Even to avenge his daughter, he would choose another way.

Originally crying loudly, Yang Mi suddenly found it amusing and sobbed softly. Her big, dark eyes rolled around, waiting to see her father fight the child.

“Better go comfort my little brother,” Liu Jing said, sitting down on the stool.

Old Yang couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. As an experienced man, he was usually quick-witted, but now he didn’t know how to respond to this child.

This kid was truly remarkable—his moves were extraordinary, and his words even more so.

“Sigh! Liu Jing, next time you fight girls, don’t hit so hard,” Old Yang sighed.

“Hey! How do you know my name is Liu Jing?” Liu Jing was surprised.

“Ha ha, you’re a celebrity on the crew. Just ask around and you’ll find out,” Old Yang laughed—a professional habit.

“Oh. Can I ask you a question?” Liu Jing realized Old Yang was a reasonable parent and also a policeman, so he wanted to consult him.

This question had been on his mind for a long time. He had asked Sister Li before, but she didn’t respond. He also asked the young aunt, who looked at him pitifully and said, “Wood, would you bully Auntie? Could you bear to?”

“Go ahead and ask,” Old Yang nodded. He liked smart kids, and this one was clearly clever.

“Why can’t you hit girls?”

“Uh… well…” Old Yang was speechless, stammering. There seemed to be many answers, but none could satisfy those earnest eyes.

“I looked through many laws but didn’t see this rule.”

“Well, that’s a matter of morality,” Old Yang prepared to answer seriously.

“Morality? Then forget it! Ugly girl, admit defeat and call me big brother,” Liu Jing shifted focus since the girl had stopped crying.

“Big brother,” Yang Mi called out crisply.

“Good girl! Go get big brother a glass of water. Your dad and I need to have a good talk,” Liu Jing instructed. Having a little brother around was too useful to waste.

“Okay!” Yang Mi ran off happily.

Old Yang rubbed his chin. Was she really beaten into submission? Maybe I should tell her mother to hit her a few more times next time.