Liu Xin helped the Li couple set up their stall, her steps light with the thought of spending the rest of the day with Liang Weijun.
Li Mei, noticing her giddy behavior, couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Ah, I can never understand people in love. You see him all the time, for goodness' sake."
Liu Xin turned to her. "Well, not always."
Li Mei shrugged. "Four to five times a week? That's basically always. Oh, by the way, Wu Huizhen told me the resort construction in the next town is almost finished. I heard the owner is handsome and a celebrity. We should go check it out."
"Didn't she mention he's like 35 years old? You're sixteen," Liu Xin said, eyeing her skeptically.
"So? Doesn't mean I can't appreciate a 35-year-old man's beauty," Li Mei replied. "Besides, you haven't been to the next town, right? Huizhen and I can take you. They have more trendy stores there."
Liu Xin shook her head. "I don't think Weijun would allow it, and I haven't gone that far without him."
"Liu Xin—" Li Mei began, but her mother flicked her forehead. "—ow."
"Liu Xin is older than you, so call her appropriately," Wu Qian warned.
"Fine, Sister Xin, we'll just take a peek. Brother Weijun doesn't have to know."
Wu Qian flicked her daughter's forehead again. "And don't drag her into such things."
"Ma, I just want her to see something new. You know she barely goes anywhere aside from the market," Li Mei explained.
Liu Xin raised an eyebrow. "Weijun and I walk around town too, you know."
"I know, but everything you do is with Brother Weijun," Li Mei pouted. "You don't even have anything that's just for yourself."
Liu Xin's small smile stiffened.
She hadn't thought of it that way.
Since she woke up from the coma and Liang Weijun brought her to Haifeng Town to recuperate, he had been her constant companion.
Without realizing it, her world had begun to revolve entirely around him.
She nodded. "Fine, we'll go, and we won't tell him. It'll be our little secret."
Li Mei laughed, nodding in agreement.
Wu Qian looked concerned. "If you don't want to go, don't force yourself. This kid is just talking nonsense."
Liu Xin was about to respond when suddenly, a man stormed into the market, a knife clutched in his hand.
"QIAO HE, YOU PIG! HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY WIFE!" he shouted; his face flushed with rage as he charged towards one of the stalls. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU F*CKER!"
Liu Xin quickly pulled Li Mei back, watching as the man rushed past them.
"Qiao He's dead meat. Of all the women he could've touched, he had to touch that hothead's wife," Li Mei remarked.
"He won't actually kill Qiao He, will he?" Wu Qian asked, her voice trembling.
Li Hao, recognizing the man, said, "If no one stops him, he just might."
Qiao He, setting up his family's store, froze in panic as the furious man stormed towards him. "I didn't touch her first, she threw herself at me!" he protested.
This only fueled the man's anger further. "YOU SON OF A B*TCH!"
Shrieks filled the market as people scrambled to avoid the impending fight.
Seeing the man closing in, Li Hao started forward. "If no one stops him, Qiao He will be killed."
Liu Xin grabbed his arm. "Uncle Li, you can't stop him. Just look at him. It's better for Qiao He to face the consequences than for you to get hurt."
Chen Yifan was a towering figure, around six feet tall. Li Hao, already a middle-aged man, stood no chance against him.
Li Mei nodded in agreement. "Don't, Father. Someone's probably already called the police. It's safer not to get involved; Chen Yifan has a knife."
Wu Qian clutched her husband's arm. "Let's wait for the police. Surely others will step in to stop him."
But no one did. They weren't foolish enough to intervene.
After all, Qiao He had it coming for sleeping with the man's wife.
As Liu Xin and Li Mei attempted to reason with Li Hao, Qiao He made his way around the market, sprinting towards them, with Chen Yifan in relentless pursuit.
"ONCE I CATCH YOU, YOU BASTARD, I'LL MAKE YOU PAY!"