Shen Yi scoffed. After a moment, he realized the girl riding her bike beside him had grown very quiet, and his heart sank.

’Xiao Jiao doesn’t think I’m a bad person with a vile temper, does she?’

’But I am. I don’t want to be the only one struggling in the mud while Chen Feng lives so well. That’s why I want to rip the mask of hypocrisy from Li Xiaomei’s face, to make Chen Feng see that the mother he cherishes so much has always been someone else’s mistress.’

But Shen Yi didn’t want Qin Jiao to hate him for it.

’I’ve tried so hard in this life, all for the hope that Xiao Jiao would, little by little, come to like me and make up for the regrets of my past life.’

When they reached her gate, Shen Yi quickly jumped off his bike and grabbed onto Qin Jiao’s handlebars. His long eyelashes were lowered, and he seemed shrouded in a profound sadness.

"Qin Jiao, do you think I’m a bad person? Are you going to ignore me from now on?"

He looked at Qin Jiao with such pleading eyes that her heart instantly softened, feeling a bittersweet ache.

Qin Jiao had never seen Shen Yi this vulnerable.

In her memory, this was a person who was like a fearless beast, capable of tearing a hole in the very sky. He seemed to care for nothing and no one.

But even a person like that, when his mother passed away, had sat in the study all night, the floor littered with cigarette butts.

And even then, he hadn’t shed a single tear.

He wasn’t crying now, either, but he was completely enveloped in sorrow, as if he would actually burst into tears if Qin Jiao decided to ignore him.

A mischievous thought flashed through her mind—Qin Jiao suddenly wanted to see Shen Yi cry.

Of course, it was just a fleeting, mischievous thought. Besides, if he really did start crying, Qin Jiao had no idea what she would do.

So, before he could be completely overwhelmed by his sorrow, she spoke up. "What’s so bad about you? Your parents aren’t divorced, which makes Li Xiaomei a homewrecker. As her son, Chen Feng will have to learn the truth one day. Whatever the adults in your families did is their business, but you and Chen Feng are both innocent. And you... you’re even more innocent than he is."

"We’re just making sure Chen Feng knows the truth. What he does with it is his own business."

Qin Jiao reached out and patted Shen Yi’s hand on the handlebars. "But you need to think carefully about how to handle your parents’ issues. Even though your dad cheated, your mom might not be willing to leave him."

From what Qin Jiao knew of Du Liya, she was certain Du Liya wouldn’t divorce Shen Zhengfeng right now. Even after seeing the photos, even with irrefutable proof of everything, she still wouldn’t be able to bring herself to leave Shen Zhengfeng.

Sometimes, love blinds people, making them unable to see the path right in front of them.

Shen Yi’s other hand immediately closed over Qin Jiao’s. She froze, about to pull away, but couldn’t, no matter how hard she tried. She heard him say in earnest, "Xiao Jiao, thank you. I’m so happy I have you as a good friend! I have no right to interfere with my mom’s decision, but I do have the right to make sure she knows the truth, instead of being kept in the dark by that shameless pair."

He sounded so sincere, and he had just affirmed their status as good friends. It made it hard for her to just yank her hand away.

’Shen Yi just thinks of me as a good friend,’ she thought. ’He even told me all about his family. If I pulled my hand back now, wouldn’t that be a little cold?’

’Oh, whatever. It’s just holding hands. I’ll just treat it as a polite gesture.’

Qin Jiao looked up, nodded at Shen Yi, and said, "Shen Yi, hang in there. I’ll support you! If you need help with anything, don’t hesitate to ask."

"Mm."

It wasn’t until after they parted ways and went home that Qin Jiao had a belated realization. How had she and Shen Yi suddenly become thick as thieves?!

It was absolutely mind-boggling!