Watching Tang Guo, with her bruised and battered face, rush at him like a berserker, Ye Qiu pondered if it was appropriate to kick her back. After all, he had just received a million yuan from her father today, and technically, he was her bodyguard---
He had never heard of a bodyguard who routinely beat up their employer. If he did, he would be setting a new precedent.
"Ye Qiu, you're not allowed to fight back, or I'll help Sister Tang Tang bite you---" Lin Bao'er shouted in a crisp voice.
Remembering how Lin Bao'er's chest bounced every time she made a throwing motion during the game, he wondered what it would feel like to be bitten by her.
Beep! Beep!
The car horn blared loudly, drawing Ye Qiu's attention. Shen Monong's BMW was parked at the gate. The automatic silver gate was slowly opening, but the car couldn't get in yet. Shen Monong, seeing the commotion in the courtyard, honked to stop the fight.
Tang Guo's kick was easily dodged by Ye Qiu. As she swung a punch, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, immobilizing her.
Up close, Ye Qiu noticed the red patches and slight purple swelling on Tang Guo's fair, smooth face. He felt a bit guilty, realizing he had already been lenient, yet her delicate skin bruised so easily from light contact.
He remembered playing this game with other kids in the village, where they hit each other with all their might, sometimes even making them cry.
"Beast, let go of me---"
"Let go of me, don't touch me---how dare you take advantage of me---"
"You damned beast. I'll fight you---"
---
As the gate opened, Shen Monong's car drove into the courtyard. The door opened, and first out was a slender foot in a black high heel, followed by a shapely, smooth, jade-like leg.
To assess beauty, start with the legs. Men have three stages of appreciating beauty: first the legs, then the waist, the chest, and finally the face. Legs are considered the prime focus by many admirers.
Tang Guo's legs were indeed beautiful, long and straight like the inverted compasses described by Lu Xun. However, Shen Monong's beauty was mature and exuded femininity, a mixture of wisdom and an alluring charm.
Tang Guo was still developing, while Shen Monong was like a ripe tomato, pristine and exquisite.
With a cold face, Shen Monong got out of the car and saw Tang Guo struggling in Ye Qiu's arms. Her delicate brows furrowed as she asked, "What's going on? Ye Qiu, let go of Guo Guo."
Ye Qiu released Tang Guo with a smile and quickly dodged. Sure enough, Tang Guo's swift kick missed him.
"You damned beast, you bully me every day. I'll get you---"
Tang Guo had been planning a final strike when Shen Monong asked Ye Qiu to release her. Inspired by Ye Qiu's sneak attack on Uncle Wang, she wanted to use the same move. Despite Ye Qiu's questionable tactics, she thought the kick was quite cool. She had been practicing in her room ever since, but this was her first chance to try it out on Ye Qiu.
She had hoped to debut this move on Ye Qiu, to both avenge herself and use his own technique against him---how exciting! But missing this crucial kick not only failed her revenge but also revealed her practice was in vain, leaving her disheartened. Annoyed, she charged at Ye Qiu again.
"Guo Guo, stop it," Shen Monong commanded.
"Monong, he bullied me---" Tang Guo stopped reluctantly but looked unwilling.
"What happened?" Shen Monong turned to Lin Bao'er, the only observer.
Lin Bao'er chattered about the game, slightly distorting the facts. She claimed it was Ye Qiu's idea to play, and they only agreed because they felt sorry for his loneliness. She also said Ye Qiu intentionally hit Tang Guo.
"Guo Guo, what do you want?" Shen Monong, rubbing her temples, asked helplessly. These three were giving her a headache, making her feel like a parent to troublesome children.
"He has to let me hit him a few times," Tang Guo demanded, touching her bruised face.
"Alright." Shen Monong, seeing Tang Guo's bruised face, agreed and shot a glare at Ye Qiu.
So, the game resumed, with Tang Guo and Lin Bao'er as the throwers and Ye Qiu defending.
Life is full of compromises. No matter how much Tang Guo and Lin Bao'er wished their beanbags would hit Ye Qiu's face or body, or even his clothes, they kept missing after several minutes.
"This isn't fair. You keep dodging," Lin Bao'er complained, stomping her foot as her arm ached from another missed throw.
"That's the game's rule."
"Would it kill you to let us hit you?"
"I'd lose face."
"---Brother Ye Qiu, please let me hit you. My arm is sore and tired---if you don't let us hit you, Tang Tang won't calm down, and I'll have to keep throwing---"
Ye Qiu considered her point. If he didn't let Tang Guo hit him, poor Bao'er would have to continue this exhausting practice. Seeing Tang Guo's determined expression, he knew she wouldn't give up easily.
As he hesitated, Shen Monong suddenly moved, wrapping her arms around him from behind and calmly said, "Quick, hit him."
Beanbags rained on Ye Qiu's head.
Ye Qiu, lost in the sensation of Shen Monong's skin and her familiar scent, forgot to dodge.
He thought perhaps Bao'er was right; Shen Monong's chest might indeed be the largest.