Chapter 109 Ma Hongjun Gets Punished for Taking Advantage of Others' Freebies.
"You cried."
Huo Yuhao led Zhu Zhuqing away from the Rose Hotel and walked down the bustling street.
His mental strength was exceptionally strong; even amidst the noisy crowd, he could clearly perceive Zhu Zhuqing's faint sobs.
Her shoulders trembled slightly, and tears silently streamed down her face.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were red, tears blurring her vision, and she didn't answer Huo Yuhao's question. Huo Yuhao stopped, looking at her with tender concern, and asked softly, "Is it worth crying for Dai Mubai?"
Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip, trying to control her emotions, her voice trembling slightly, "I... I didn't cry because of him, I'm just... I'm just so sad. I used to think that all my previous persistence was worthwhile, but now I realize that my persistence was a joke. Dai Mubai gave up a long time ago, I... I really, really don't know what to do..."
Zhu Zhuqing's voice grew softer and softer until it almost disappeared into the surrounding noise, but Huo Yuhao could still feel the despair and helplessness in her words.
Huo Yuhao was silent for a moment, then he saw a vendor selling candied hawthorns by the roadside and went over. He bought two skewers of candied hawthorns with walnuts stuffed in them for five copper soul coins, and then returned to Zhu Zhuqing's side.
The bright red color of the candied hawthorn and its glistening sugar coating shimmered enticingly in the sunlight.
Huo Yuhao handed a string of candied hawthorns to Zhu Zhuqing, and said as if talking to himself, "I have a senior sister who especially likes candied hawthorns. They're sweet and sour, and they can help soothe your mood."
Zhu Zhuqing took the candied hawthorn, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by sadness. She took a few big bites as if to vent her anger, the sweet and sour juice going down her throat.
Then, Zhu Zhuqing looked up at Huo Yuhao, her eyes red, her voice still tinged with grievance: "You lied to me, I... I still feel so bad after eating the candied hawthorn..."
Huo Yuhao sighed softly. He knew that Zhu Zhuqing's pain wouldn't be so easily resolved. He reached out and gently patted her shoulder, trying to offer her some comfort.
Then, as if he had just thought of something, Huo Yuhao handed the candied hawthorn in his hand to Tianmeng Ice Silkworm.
Then, before Zhu Zhuqing's wide eyes could see, Huo Yuhao pulled her into his warm embrace without hesitation.
Zhu Zhuqing's heart seemed to skip a beat at that moment, and a strange panic and unease welled up inside her. Her body trembled slightly, as if resisting this sudden closeness, yet deep down, she seemed to yearn for this warm embrace.
This was Huo Yuhao's accumulated experience: when faced with a crying girl, it's best not to say anything, just hold her tightly in your arms.
"What are you doing, Huo Yuhao? Let go of me! Don't touch me, waaaaah..."
Holding Zhu Zhuqing in Huo Yuhao's arms, Zhu Zhuqing finally had an outlet for her emotions. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, like pearls falling from a broken string, leaving a wet patch on Huo Yuhao's shoulder.
Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was trying to maintain her dignity and strength, but her tears betrayed her inner vulnerability.
Even Zhu Zhuqing herself probably didn't realize that she had subconsciously come to rely on Huo Yuhao.
In the past, no matter how wronged Zhu Zhuqing was, no one cared about her feelings. She could only curl up alone in a dark room, crying by herself, washing away the bitterness in her heart with her tears.
On those lonely nights, she could only hug herself tightly, trying to find a sliver of warmth. Then, she would wipe away her tears, put on that cold mask again, to conceal her inner sensitivity and vulnerability. She learned to hide her emotions, not letting anyone see her weakness.
However, after meeting Huo Yuhao, Zhu Zhuqing's life underwent a dramatic change. Whenever she encountered something bad, she would subconsciously think of Huo Yuhao, this boy who was the same age as her. He possessed a kind of irresistible sense of security that made Zhu Zhuqing feel incredibly at ease and at ease.
Huo Yuhao's maturity, steadiness, and reliability, along with his overwhelming strength and knowledge that suffocated his peers, gave Zhu Zhuqing a great sense of security.
Now, held in Huo Yuhao's arms and smelling his faint fragrance, Zhu Zhuqing felt as if she had taken an addictive drug, unable to extricate herself.
This sense of security made Zhu Zhuqing reluctant to leave. Although she kept patting Huo Yuhao's back with her palms, seemingly resisting this sudden warmth, she showed no intention of breaking free from Huo Yuhao's embrace.
Zhu Zhuqing's heart was filled with contradictions and struggles, but in the end she was conquered by that sense of security. She closed her eyes and let her tears and emotions flow freely in Huo Yuhao's arms.
At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing wished time could stand still, and she would never leave Huo Yuhao's embrace again.
"Yuhao, I'm so scared, so upset. I really don't know what to do. I really... I don't know what my future holds..."
Zhu Zhuqing's voice trembled, her eyes filled with helplessness and confusion. She hugged Huo Yuhao tightly, as if he were her only support.
Tears streamed down her face like broken pearls, soaking Huo Yuhao's clothes. Her body trembled slightly, as if she were trying to suppress the pain and unease in her heart.
Huo Yuhao didn't say a word, but gently pulled her into his arms and stood there quietly.
Not far away, in front of a Soul Master pawnshop, a middle-aged man with a pointed face and glasses was watching the young couple with a complicated look. He clicked his tongue in amazement, shook his head and sighed, "These young people nowadays, ah, youth is truly wonderful..." His voice carried a hint of envy and a touch of sentimentality, as if he were recalling the passion and confusion of his own youth.
As time passed, Zhu Zhuqing's sobs gradually subsided, but her body was still trembling slightly.
She didn't break free from Huo Yuhao's embrace; instead, she hugged him even tighter.
On the one hand, Zhu Zhuqing was too attached to Huo Yuhao's warmth; she was afraid that once she left, she would be surrounded by that boundless loneliness again.
On the other hand, Zhu Zhuqing was naturally shy, and her crying had already attracted a lot of attention and whispers. Now she only dared to bury her head in Huo Yuhao's arms, not daring to face the curious and sympathetic gazes around her.
Huo Yuhao looked at Zhu Zhuqing, who was crying in his arms, smiled slightly, and gently bent down to pick her up in his arms.
Zhu Zhuqing let out a startled cry, her face flushed, and she dared not look Huo Yuhao in the eye. Huo Yuhao ignored her panic and instead carried her toward the nearby hotel.
"What, what are you going to do..." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was tinged with shyness and unease.
Huo Yuhao replied gently, "Let's find a place to settle down first, and then we can wander around the city. We can't stay here forever, can we?"
Huo Yuhao carried Zhu Zhuqing into the hotel and found a quiet room so she could rest and recover. Afterward, he planned to take her for a walk around the city, hoping it would improve her mood.
A short while later, Huo Yuhao brought Zhu Zhuqing out of the hotel. Zhu Zhuqing's originally tense face gradually relaxed, and a hint of gentleness was revealed in her eyes.
At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing's tight leather jacket had disappeared, replaced by a black dress.
Zhu Zhuqing seems to have a special fondness for black, and indeed, she looks very good in black clothes.
"There seems to be something interesting going on up ahead, let's go check it out."
Although Zhu Zhuqing didn't speak, her eyes sparkled with eagerness, clearly showing that she was also very interested in exciting things.
Led by Huo Yuhao, the two of them quickly squeezed to the front of the crowd. The crowd was so dense that it was impossible to move. In an open space, a chubby boy in red clothes was being held down on the ground by several burly men. He struggled desperately, trying to break free.
His face was full of anger and resistance, while the surrounding crowd jeered and laughed, making the scene somewhat chaotic.
Huo Yuhao's gaze swept across the crowd. At the front of the crowd, he saw a very familiar figure. It was a girl wearing a light blue short skirt, the hem of which swayed gently in the breeze.
The girl's ivory-like calves, clad in small leather shoes, were particularly eye-catching. Although her chest was still budding, it already exuded youthful vitality. Her skin was fair with a rosy glow, like a newly blossoming peach blossom, making her incredibly lovely. This girl was none other than Ning Rongrong.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong was watching the scene in front of her with great excitement. The outside world was definitely more interesting. Where in the sect could she see such interesting things?
"Hey, what do you mean by this? Why won't you let me leave? I'm warning you, my teacher is a Soul Saint level expert. Do you even know what a Soul Saint is? How dare you treat me like this in broad daylight?"
The chubby boy yelled in exasperation, his voice echoing through the street in front of Chunshui Tower, as if even the air itself was trembling. His face was flushed red, and veins bulged on his forehead; he had clearly reached his limit of endurance.
He never expected his luck to be so bad today. He thought he could get the money recorded as usual, but the people at Chunshuilou were unethical. He was forcibly grabbed as soon as he pulled up his pants and paraded through the streets to be seen by the public.
A larger crowd gathered around, watching the scene with curiosity. The chubby boy began to struggle desperately, trying to break free from the hands holding him down. However, those holding him down were unmoved, instead tightening their grip on him even more. Their hands held Ma Hongjun like iron clamps, rendering him immobile.
"Everyone, come and take a look! This chubby guy, named Ma Hongjun, is young but behaves improperly. He comes to our Chunshui Tower every day to seek pleasure, and afterwards he doesn't even pay a penny. This is the third time he's freeloaded here!"
An employee of Chunshuilou loudly exposed Ma Hongjun's behavior to those around them.
Upon hearing what the Chunshuilou employee said, the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves, with some even pointing and whispering about Ma Hongjun. Some nosy passersby even picked up objects from the ground and threw them at Ma Hongjun.
Even Tianmeng Ice Silkworm joined in the commotion, picking up pebbles from the ground and throwing them at Ma Hongjun.
Ning Rongrong naturally wouldn't miss such a lively scene. She took out various items from her soul tool and threw them at Ma Hongjun one after another. It wasn't until Ning Rongrong smashed a coconut hard into Ma Hongjun's face that he finally couldn't help but curse again.
"Damn it, you guys are really going too far! My buddy Dai Mubai also comes here to freeload all the time, right? Why are you only criticizing me? If you're so capable, why don't you arrest him too? Why are you only bullying me! You bunch of cowards who prey on the weak!"
Ma Hongjun roared angrily.
As soon as Ma Hongjun finished speaking, Zhu Zhuqing's face turned pale. Huo Yuhao, sensing the change in Zhu Zhuqing's emotions, gently tugged at her hand and led her out of the crowd.
"This commotion isn't very interesting, let's go back."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded gently, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes, and followed Huo Yuhao out of the crowd.
However, before they had gone far, a clear voice came from behind and called out to them, "Hey, you two, wait a minute, I have something to discuss with you."
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(End of chapter)