Plunder-Chapter 147: Protecting One’s Own

"Zhou Jin’an, put me down."

"What are you trying to do?"

Qiao En panicked, struggling desperately.

But Zhou Jin’an held her tightly, refusing to let go, her wild slaps landing on his chest, but his steps quickened even more.

"Yun sister, you’ve been tired all day, rest for a while, it was my fault, I’ll go clean up the house."

He gently laid Qiao En on the bed, and tenderly pulled the quilt over her.

He was submissive, looking at Qiao En in a pleasing manner.

"Yun sister, you sleep for a while, and when you wake up, I’ll definitely have the house cleaned."

Having said that, Zhou Jin’an quickly left the bedroom, even closing the door behind him.

Soon, a flurry of activity could be heard from the other room.

Qiao En had intended to get up, but she was just too tired; her body ached as if it had fallen apart.

Her heavy eyelids made it impossible to get up, she merely closed her eyes for a moment, but unexpectedly fell asleep.

"Bang!"

A sharp noise came from the living room, startling Qiao En from her sleep. She hurriedly got out of bed.

In the living room, Zhou Jin’an was squatting on the floor, his head bowed.

The water in the room had been wiped up, but next to Zhou Jin’an’s feet, there was broken glass scattered everywhere.

"Yun sister, you’re awake?"

Zhou Jin’an turned suddenly, his eyes bright as they fixed on her, his hands behind him as if hiding something.

"Yun sister, go back to your room and rest a bit more, I haven’t finished cleaning up yet!"

He stood up barefoot, trying to push Qiao En back to the bedroom, but unexpectedly, he stepped on a shard of glass.

"Hiss~"

He grimaced in pain.

Qiao En immediately rushed over, scolding, "You’re good for nothing, can you stop causing trouble for me?"

"I was boiling water just now, wanted to pour you a cup to cool down for when you woke, but the cup slipped and broke."

Zhou Jin’an hung his head, a look of defeat on his face.

Qiao En glared deeply at him, her rebuke reached her lips, but she ultimately held back.

"Go sit on the couch for a while, I’ll clean this up."

She grabbed a broom and quickly cleaned the floor.

There was a medicine box at home, Qiao En opened it and found some iodine.

She approached Zhou Jin’an, commanding, "Stretch out your foot."

He did as told, and she squatted down, dabbing at the wounds on the bottom of his foot with a cotton swab soaked in iodine.

"Ouch, Yun sister, it hurts so much."

Zhou Jin’an frowned, constantly complaining of the pain.

But throughout, he kept his right hand behind his back.

After Qiao En had treated the wounds on his foot, she said to him, "Stretch out your hand."

Zhou Jin’an hesitated; he was reluctant.

"Don’t..."

"Stretch it out!"

Qiao En commanded.

Zhou Jin’an then stretched out his hand; his hand was large and broad, but now, the back of his hand was red with many small blisters popping up.

"How did it get burnt like this?"

Qiao En’s eyebrows immediately knotted in concern.

Seeing this, Zhou Jin’an reached out to smooth her furrowed brows, "Yun sister, I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt at all, it will be okay by tomorrow."

If he really were a child, he would definitely be a sensible one.

A wave of guilt surged in Qiao En’s heart.

She loved Zhou Jin’an, but she also resented him.

Resentment clouded her heart; even though she knew his intelligence was that of an eight-year-old child, constantly causing trouble, Qiao En could not control her emotions, directing all her resentment towards Zhou Jin’an.

"I’m sorry."

She said softly.

Zhou Jin’an immediately grabbed her hand, "Yun sister, you don’t have to apologize to me, it’s my fault, I wasn’t obedient, that’s why I caused so much trouble."

As he spoke, his stomach growled loudly.

Before Qiao En could react, he immediately let go, "Yun sister, I’m so hungry."

Qiao En straightened up, found a black baseball cap, and handed Zhou Jin’an a black face mask.

"Let’s go, I’ll take you to buy shoes, see a doctor, and eat steak."

"Really?"

A flicker of excitement passed through Zhou Jin’an’s eyes; he immediately stood up from the couch, completely disregarding the injury on his foot.

"That’s great, Yun sister is taking me to eat something delicious."

He said, laughing and calling out.

Qiao En walked ahead, he followed behind, matching her steps, such a big guy, yet he seemed like a small follower.

In the elevator, Qiao En maintained a stern face, but he occasionally glanced at Qiao En with his eyes.

"Yun sister, you are so beautiful!"

Stars sparkled in Zhou Jin’an’s eyes.

The guilt that had just risen in Qiao En immediately dissipated again.

"Does the scar on my forehead look good?" she asked coldly.

Zhou Jin’an dodged the question, "Sister Yun looks good everywhere. As long as I’m with Sister Yun, I’m especially happy."

He kept talking to himself, while Qiao En ignored him.

She treated it as if it were a child’s innocent blabber.

At the entrance of the neighborhood, there was a supermarket, where Qiao En casually picked out a pair of slippers for him. Zhou Jin’an put them on, and he was extremely pleased.

The two then went to the clinic, where the doctor applied burn ointment to him.

"Sister Yun, where are we going to eat steak now?"

Zhou Jin’an followed behind her, asking eagerly.

"Up ahead."

Qiao En responded.

She led Zhou Jin’an through two alleys until they reached the food street, which was full of dazzling culinary options, including freshly cooked steaks.

Qiao En had eaten there once before, and the taste was better than at Western restaurants.

However, the dining environment was humble, dirty, and messy compared to Western restaurants.

She had never brought Zhou Jin’an here before because not only did he care about food, but he also valued the dining environment; he would never eat at such a roadside stall.

Twenty minutes later, the two arrived at the small steak shop.

There were few customers inside the quiet business.

Qiao En spoke briefly with the owner, ordered two sirloins, and then found a corner spot to sit down with Zhou Jin’an.

The air was filled with the aroma of food, and Zhou Jin’an was drooling uncontrollably.

"Sister Yun, how much longer? I’m really very hungry. I could eat an entire cow right now,"

He spoke in childlike candor, but Qiao En didn’t laugh.

"Wait a bit longer."

After a while, the steak was served.

Zhou Jin’an didn’t know how to use a knife and fork, and Qiao En taught him, but he seemed clumsy and couldn’t learn it.

Having no other choice, Qiao En had to cut it herself.

As she cut, Zhou Jin’an kept stuffing his mouth.

"This is so delicious, the steaks here are really good,"

he said, devouring the meal and full of praise.

After Qiao En had cut a piece of steak, Zhou Jin’an had finished one as well.

"I want to eat more. Sister Yun, I’m not full yet,"

he said, touching his stomach and clamoring for more.

Qiao En then asked the owner for another portion, using her knife and fork to cut her own portion for Zhou Jin’an to eat.

But this time, he wasn’t just focusing on stuffing his own mouth.

He held up a fork with a piece of steak and brought it towards Qiao En’s mouth.

"Sister Yun, you eat too."

While they were together, Zhou Jin’an had never fed Qiao En before, as he had a phobia of germs and wasn’t comfortable sharing utensils, no matter how intimate they were.

Qiao En hesitated and turned away.

"You eat first; I’ll eat later."

"No, Sister Yun must be hungry too. You can’t always take care of me; I want to take care of Sister Yun too,"

Zhou Jin’an insisted.

It wasn’t until Qiao En opened her mouth and ate the piece of steak that a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"Sister Yun is so good. I also want to learn from Sister Yun and be a good child,"

he said in a childish tone.

At a table in the restaurant, sat some youths behind Qiao En. They heard the noise and frequently looked in their direction.

Zhou Jin’an was tall and handsome, while Qiao En was plain and ordinary, yet he was like a lovestruck puppy, his eyes filled only with her.

"That guy must be blind; he’s so good-looking yet groveling at the feet of an old, fat auntie!"

"Shh, keep it down; who knows, maybe that old lady is rich and keeping that pretty boy,"

They spoke softly, but Qiao En still heard them.

Her appetite vanished in that moment.

"Are you full? If you’re full, let’s go back,"

she said, standing up to leave.

Zhou Jin’an heard it too.

His face darkened instantly.

He grabbed Qiao En, pushed her down into her seat, and charged over to those two fiercely.

"I won’t allow you to insult Sister Yun. Now, right now, apologize to her, or—"

He raised his fist, ready to punch someone.

The two were scared and quickly stood up to bow to Qiao En, "Sorry, sorry, we didn’t mean it..."

"Let them go,"

Qiao En said coldly.

Zhou Jin’an clenched his fists, anger swirling across his face; he was barely holding himself back from striking them.

"Scram!"

He shouted fiercely, and the two bowed their heads as they awkwardly scampered away.

On the way back, Qiao En walked in front, Zhou Jin’an followed.

Neither spoke.

The streetlight stretched their shadows, which overlapped with each other.

Behind her, Zhou Jin’an, following the shadows, slowly moved closer to Qiao En.