"Of course, I must repay you well," said Xia Ningxing, thumping her chest with a heroic spirit. "In the future, whenever Lu needs my help, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!" She was determined to cultivate a good relationship with her future ally, Lu Tingli.
Lu Tingli: "..."
That was an exaggeration.
Besides, what use could a little kid like her be?
Lu Tingli frowned and continued to draw water, simply too lazy to pay her any mind.
"Lu, I'll help you, I'll help you!" Seeing this, Xia Ningxing wasn't embarrassed by being ignored; instead, she enthusiastically stepped forward to pull the rope.
But the rough rope was too coarse, and as soon as the little girl gripped it tightly, the palm of her hand was chafed raw.
"Hiss!"
Xia Ningxing couldn't help but gasp in pain; her body was too young and delicate, and the pain brought tears to her eyes involuntarily.
In the June sunlight, her small, tender body trembled, with glistening tears falling like beads off a string from her reddened eyes. Her nose twitched, making her look all the more pitiful.
Her tears made Lu Tingli feel a bit ashamed.
So much for helping, she was more of a hindrance!
"You..." He pressed his thin lips together, his dark eyes fixed on the little crybaby in front of him, just about to tell her to stop crying when five boys charged over, full of rage.
"Lu Tingli, how dare you bully our little sister!"
"That's going too far!"
"Beat him up!"
"Let's get him together!"
The five brothers saw their little sister crying her eyes out and were immediately consumed with anger. They forgot to ask what actually happened and rolled up their sleeves, ready to give Lu a thrashing.
Shocked, Xia Ningxing, forgetting her pain, hurried over to stand in front of Lu Tingli: "Stop! Everyone stop! Don't hit him!"
Seeing her protect him, Lu Tingli couldn't help but look down at the little girl in front of him.
The little girl had just recovered from a serious illness, her cheeks still flushed with an unhealthy red. Her long, thick lashes still held sparkling tears after crying, her eyes red, her nose red, like a bullied little rabbit.
Her tiny frame was like a kitten, now with her arms spread wide, guarding him like a mother hen protecting her chick.
Although Lu Tingli didn't need her protection, he was quite pleased with her loyal attitude toward her benefactor.
Seeing her defend him, the five brothers showed looks of grievance, as if to say without words: Girls always fall for outsiders, always for outsiders!
They were there to help her, yet she was protecting the very culprit.
Realizing the misunderstanding, Xia Ningxing quickly explained: "This isn't Lu's fault, I just accidentally scraped my hand."
"So you can't hit him!!"
"I see now," the five brothers finally understood, then became concerned again: "Bao'er, how bad is your hand, is it serious?"
Facing the concerned eyes of her five brothers, Xia Ningxing quickly shook her head: "Don't worry, brothers, it's just a little scrape, it's nothing."
No sooner had her words ended than Mrs. Xia's voice came shouting from next door, "Bao'er, Bao'er, time to come home for dinner!"
"Mom's calling us for dinner!" Xia Ningxing immediately said, "Let's hurry home."
"Okay..."
"Lu, see you next time." Before leaving, Xia Ningxing didn't forget to give him a bright, beaming smile.
Lu Tingli was expressionless, continuing to fetch his water.