I Just Want to Freeload on Your Luck - Chapter 28
Zhao Zhanhuai was still looking for a parking spot. Zhao Mo was impatient, so he got out of the car first.
“Don’t get out of the car first! I’m warning you, if you see Zhao Mingxi, don’t—” When he saw Zhao Mo rushing off to look for her, Zhao Zhanhuai frowned. He hurriedly parked the car at a tight parking spot.
Zhao Mo was the first to find Zhao Mingxi at the library.
Although he wasn’t some famous superstar, he still had a bit of fame. He wore a baseball cap, lowered the tip to cover his face and pretended to be mysterious as he walked speedily towards her. He smiled as he gave a heavy pat on Mingxi’s right shoulder.
Mingxi thought it was either He Yang or Fu Yangxi. She turned to her right.
But Zhao Mo’s voice appeared on her left, “Little Bean Sprout, are you pretending to study again? Let me see what questions you are answering.”
Before he finished speaking, he reached out and grabbed the Tournament questions on Mingxi’s table. He scoffed and habitually mocked her, “Oh, you’re doing Tournament questions. I advise you to give up. No matter how hard you study, your IQ is still stuck there.”
She never could have imagined that it would be Zhao Mo.
The veins in Mingxi’s head immediately started to throb.
But it made sense. No matter how busy Zhao Mo was, he had to return home for Madam Zhao’s birthday.
Mingxi instantly stood up and pushed Zhao Mo. Then, she snatched her book back from Zhao Mo’s hands before quickly keeping her pencil box and items back in her bag. The library was not a suitable place to fight, so Mingxi simply swung her bag on her shoulder and left without a word.
Mingxi used so much energy that Zhao Mo almost lost his balance.
He held onto the table and looked at Zhao Mingxi’s figure with an odd look— What’s going on?
Back then when he would play jokes like this on her, she wouldn’t have such a huge reaction. In fact, she would even cut up fruits for him while calling her er ge* like a little scaredy cat.
*er ge: second eldest brother
Why is it that after half a year of not seeing each other, my little sister’s attitude took a turn for the worst?
Zhao Mo hurriedly chased after her.
Outside the library.
Mingxi sped down the stairs.
In her past life, when she had just entered the gates of the Zhao family home, Zhao Mo hated her. With every sentence he spoke, he would carry a hint of mockery.
After two years, she did a lot of things to suck up to her family. Only then did Zhao Mo show signs of treating her as his younger sister— However, his sharp tongue was a habit of his, so his words were still unpleasant to hear.
Before she passed away at the age of 23, everyone from her family including Zhao Mo finally showed signs of fully letting down their walls around her. But that was already five years later. This time, Mingxi will never waste another five years on them— it was simply a huge waste of time!
“Little Bean Sprout, you’re getting arrogant. You’re no longer trying to imitate Zhao Yuan but instead turning to go down the rebellious road?” Zhao Mo caught up to her and habitually reached out his hand, trying to pinch Mingxi’s face.
However, Mingxi slapped him on the back of his hand.
“Go away.”
“What did you say?” Zhao Mo thought that his ears were malfunctioning.
Zhao Mingxi was asking him to go away?
His hand went stiff. He looked at Zhao Mingxi with a shocked expression, then he repeated dumbfoundedly, “You’re asking me to go away?”
“Yes, I’m asking you to go away.” Mingxi did not attempt to hide the contempt in her expression.
When she was at the tender age of 15, she did not know that people like Zhao Mo simply needed some form of discipline. She thought that those in the entertainment industry would all carry a bit of an artistic personality with them.
Later she realized that this ‘artistic personality’ was absolute bullsh*t. He just pissed people off.
“…” At this moment, Zhao Mo’s feelings were akin to having been abruptly struck by lightning a couple of times. It absolutely surprised him to the point that he forgot how to respond.
After he returned to his senses, he was absolutely enraged.
He caught up to Zhao Mingxi at the lane covered with trees and said in anger, “I just f*cking got back from an overseas trip. Forget about the fact that you didn’t even greet me, yet now you want me to go away? Zhao Mingxi, aren’t you acting a little too f*cking rebellious?”
This guy thought that she was being rebellious, huh.
Zhao Mo lowered his voice and said as he held on to Mingxi’s wrist, “Forget it. Let’s go to the hotel. Today is the banquet. I’m not in the mood to discipline bratty children like you who don’t know what’s good for you.”
Before his fingers could make contact with Mingxi’s wrist, Mingxi raised her arm and slapped his hand away.
There was a clear sound of a slap in the air.
Zhao Mo didn’t know if it was his misconception, but he felt as if the way Zhao Mingxi was looking at her was as if he was a fly that used to approach her. It also had a hint of regret— what was she regretting about?
Did she regret trying to gain the favour of this second eldest brother of hers?
Or did she regret coming to this home?
Zhao Mo immediately lost it when he saw how she gave him the cold shoulder. “Zhao Mingxi, you— what kind of look is that? Why are you looking at me like this?”
“Take it as how you want to interpret it,” Mingxi said. “Go back? In your dreams! If you still won’t leave me alone, I’ll call the guards on you. If you don’t want to appear on the cover page of tomorrow’s newspaper, leave now!
Zhao Mo said, “You’re gonna call—”
Mingxi cut him off, “Oh, I forgot. You’re just a minor D-List celebrity. Your fans are all zombies with practically none alive. It might be that no one cares about such a small thing.”
Zhao Mo: “…”
Zhao Mo was so angry that his blood pressure was shooting up while the whites of his eyes went red. In the midst of his anger, he saw Mingxi’s cold and disgusted expression, and he felt the prickly feeling of a needle continuously stabbing in his heart.
He finally understood why Zhao Zhanhuai was so hesitant before they left home.
The respect and ingratiation Mingxi once had towards him were all but gone. What was left was only the uncomfortable feeling of looking at a stranger who would not stop bothering her.
Why is this so?
Zhao Mo sucked in a mouthful of cold air. He noticed that a few people who were playing basketball had looked over to them. He knew that this was not the place to pick a fight. He reached out a hand and forcefully held on to Mingxi’s wrist. “We’ll talk once we get back to the hotel!”
Not far away from the shaded lane was Fu Yangxi and Ke Chengwen who were carrying take-outs with them as they walked towards the library. Before they could get close, they saw a stranger with a baseball cap dragging Zhao Mingxi.
With a buzz in his mind, Fu Yangxi lost all sense of rationality.
He ran over and gave Zhao Mo a kick which sent him flying.
Mingxi wanted to stop him, but it was too late.
As Zhao Mo did not see it coming, he hit the metal fencing surrounding the basketball court by the waist. Stars appeared in his eyes. And because his hat was sent flying as well, it hit his nose and blocked his vision, causing him to be unable to see who was the culprit.
Then, someone picked him up by his shoulder in apparent anger and with another punch, he fell to the ground.
After that, he heard those boys who were playing basketball shout in his direction.
“Oh my god, Xi ge? Xi ge is beating someone up. Who is it? Is it a hooligan?”
“A hooligan sneaked into school to disrespect a girl? My fist is ready!”
Zhao Mo couldn’t stop cursing mentally. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck! What the f*ck is happening!
He hastily tried to get up.
But in the next second, rain-like punches landed on his body and face.
By the time Zhao Zhanhuai caught up to him, he only saw a bloody and disfigured Zhao Mo.
*
30 minutes later. At the police station.
“A bunch of high school boys beating up a grown man. Do you guys ever think before you act? Did you know that if you were to fight on school grounds you would be punished?”
The policeman raised his chin up as he reprimanded the row of tall boys before him in great anger, “And you, why is your hair dyed red? Why did you lead the fight?!”
His group of followers all lowered their heads like chickens eating their feed.
“He’s a pervert! Who am I supposed to beat up if not him?” Fu Yangxi did not show any signs of backing down. He raised up his chin and said, “As for the red hair, that’s because I’m handsome. I don’t think there’s anything in the law that says that people with red hair are unable to act as a human—”
After he was done, Fu Yangxi turned and saw the lawyer who was rushing over with his briefcase. “Where is Zhao Mingxi?”
The capable and sharp Lawyer Zhang quickly walked over and said, “Young Master Fu, she is waiting outside.”
Fu Yangxi said, “Don’t leave her alone with that crazy hooligan.”
“Who the f*ck is a perverted hooligan?!” Zhao Mo, who was being reprimanded by another policeman, shouted. The moment he opened his mouth, the skin around the corner of his lips cracked, causing it to bleed.
He said through gritted teeth, “I am her brother! Her second eldest brother! I wanted to bring her home to attend the birthday banquet today!”
Zhao Zhanhuai frowned. “Zhao Mo, just don’t talk anymore. Shut up.”
The policeman instantly yelled back, “Don’t you cause trouble too! Since you are the complainant’s brother, why were you misunderstood by the public as a hooligan? Who allowed you to touch her?”
Zhao Mo shouted, “I am an artist! At that moment I saw people looking over, and I was afraid of being followed by stalker fans, so I was in a hurry to bring Zhao Mingxi back—”
“Ha.” Ke Chengwen and Fu Yangxi’s followers laughed. “Stalker fans? Our Xi ge has way more stalker fans than you do.”
Zhao Mo: “…”
Zhao Mo was angered to the point that his heart was about to burst, his blood pressure having gone up and down a few times already. If it wasn’t because they were at the police station, he would have definitely given this brat a good lesson.
Fu Yangxi said, “Ahem, although that is the truth, you guys shouldn’t have boasted about it.”
Zhao Mo and Zhao Zhanhuai: “…”
Fu Yangxi said to Lawyer Zhang, “Oh, I think I dropped a few strands of hair. Did you go to the scene and count them?”
“I counted them. Rest assured, Young Master.”
The policemen: “…”
Zhao Zhanhuai: “…”
Zhao Mo: “…”
Lawyer Zhang said to Zhao Mo who was shaking in anger and Zhao Zhanhuai who had gone pale, “Sirs, I will be taking over and will be the one to communicate with regards to everything that happens after this.”
Fu Yangxi and both of his followers walked out from the office of the police station.
Zhao Mingxi hugged her bag as waited anxiously in the corridor. Her shadow was pulled long. When she saw them come out, she immediately stood up. “How did it go?”
“It wasn’t that big of a deal. Because the people who were involved in the beating included Ke Chengwen and the others, in order to not cause trouble for them, Lawyer Zhang will most likely choose to settle.” Fu Yangxi looked at Mingxi’s wrist. When he saw that there wasn’t much of a mark left on her thin and pale wrist, the fire in his heart seemed to have dissipated a little.
The person inside the clinic rushed them, “Come here immediately!”
“Wait.” Fu Yangxi yelled towards the other end of the corridor.
He paused as the tip of his toes rubbed against the floor. He did not dare to raise his head and look at Zhao Mingxi because he felt guilty.
Mingxi looked at him.
After a short while, the person in the clinic urged him again. Only then did Fu Yangxi scratch his head and whispered, “I’m sorry, Little Mask, for hitting your brother. I didn’t know he was—”
Mingxi said, “It’s alright. I don’t care about them.”
So this was what he wanted to say.
Mingxi felt an itch in her nose. Aside from He Yang and Dong Shen who were her friends that she knew since her past life, no one else has ever stood up for her like this.
Actually, sometimes it doesn’t matter if that person is your family or not.
Only those who treat you well are the most important people in your life.
She looked towards Fu Yangxi and the people behind him. “So long as you guys are alright.”
Ke Chengwen quickly replied, “We’re fine. We’re brothers, so we have to stand up for each other. And don’t worry, Xi ge has already told us not to tell anyone about us bumping into your family members today.”
Fu Yangxi gently ruffled Zhao Mingxi’s hair, his tone light and fast, “So just wait for us for a short while, don’t go away. We’ll go clean up our wounds at the clinic. Then we’ll leave together.”
They didn’t suffer serious injuries, just that the skin on their knuckles were scratched.
As for Zhao Mo who had been beaten up to that extent, he most likely will have to move to the hospital later.
Mingxi nodded. “Alright.”
It was already 7p.m.. The birthday banquet had long since begun, but Zhao Zhanhuai, Zhao Mo and Zhao Mingxi were nowhere to be found nor were they picking up their phones.
Madam Zhao was getting extremely anxious.
Since this matter had blown up, it would be impossible to keep this a secret from the rest of the Zhao family any longer.
Zhao Zhanhuai gave an annoyed look to Zhao Mo who had got them into trouble. Then, with a heavy heart and a frown, he walked to the windows and called the others.
……
*
Tonight, Madam Zhao’s birthday banquet was ruined. Everyone from the Zhao family was in a bad mood.
Zhao Mo had been sent to the hospital.
Zhao Yuan, Zhao Zhanhuai’s secretary and his manager had all rushed over.
When his parents found out that it was Young Master Fu who had been the one to inflict such damage on Zhao Mo, they immediately pulled a long face. It was impossible for them to win in court if the opponent was the Fu family. Thus, they had no choice but to settle it privately.
Aside from this, the two of them also found out something that was even more shocking.
*
Outside the compound of the police station.
Madam Zhao wrapped the windbreaker around herself. Her whole body was swaying. She could not wrap her head around nor understand what Zhao Zhanhuai had just said. “What do you mean Mingxi wants to sever all ties with our family?! Explain it to us. What in the world is going on?! Didn’t she just want to run away from home?! You even visited her several times in school! What are you saying right now?!”
Zhao Zhanhuai looked extremely tired. He rubbed the center of his forehead and said, “Actually, ever since she ran away from home, I have been unable to coax her to come back. I was just afraid that you guys would react like this when you find out, hence why I kept it a secret. But it seems like I can no longer hide this.”
Mr. Zhao’s complexion was pale. “What happened at home while I was away?! How could it end up like this?!”
“Can you not ask me about this?” Zhao Zhanhuai couldn’t explain himself. He almost lost control over his usually calm expression as well. “How would I know why things have developed to this point? Shouldn’t the both of you ask yourselves first if you have ever cared about Mingxi?”
Zhao Yuning squatted by the side. He felt similarly frustrated when he heard the three of them argue.
“She is just acting like a child. Now that she has caused such a ruckus and everyone came to see her, she has managed to attract everyone’s attention, so she should be happy.” Madam Zhao was certain. “Since you can’t get her to come home, I’ll do it myself!”
Zhao Zhanhuai frowned. He then made a gesture inviting her to go ahead.
Before Madam Zhao could take even three steps towards the police station, Zhao Mingxi walked out.
A few tall boys were following behind her. The one in the lead was the guy who hurt Zhao Mo to the point that he had to go to the hospital. His short red hair seemed especially cold at night. He appeared arrogant and bossy, the corner of his lips covered with a band aid.
When her parents saw this, a flame was ignited in their hearts.
However, due to the other’s status, they could only control and suppress their rage.
Mingxi took a glance at the people outside the compound. Then, she turned to Fu Yangxi and said, “Please wait for me for a moment. There are matters which I must settle.”
Ke Chengwen said with a tone of worry, “Zhao Mingxi, you can’t really be trying to cut off all ties with your family—”
Even after she does so, she is still a student. Where can she go? Besides, her family members were merely being biased.
Ke Chengwen felt that she didn’t need to go to this extent.
But before he could finish, he was cut off.
“Stop right there,” Fu Yangxi said. “Don’t try to give such ambiguous advice. As the saying goes, only those who drank the water would know its temperature. If a stranger tries to butt in, they will only appear even more annoying. Zhao Mingxi, don’t listen to what other people have to say, including me. Make your own choice. So long as you have thought it through, any decision is a good decision.”
Mingxi looked at Fu Yangxi and gave him a firm nod.
“Do you need help?” Fu Yangxi pointed at the lawyer behind him.
Mingxi shook her head. “I want to deal with this myself.”
Fu Yangxi looked over Zhao Mingxi’s head. He scanned through that whole family with cold eyes. He didn’t feel comfortable about this, but he still understood that he had to give Little Mask some space for her to settle her own problems.
He thought for a while before taking her bag in his hands. Then, he reached out a hand and said, “Alright then. Your phone.”
Mingxi: ?
Mingxi took out her phone from her pocket.
Fu Yangxi said again, “Thumbprint.”
Mingxi used her thumb to unlock the phone.
Fu Yangxi quickly opened her phone app and typed in his phone number.
After that, he stuffed the phone back in her hands and said with a surprisingly steady voice, “I’ve set your phone to always be unlocked. Later you’ll just have to press a number and once you give me a call, I’ll be there.”
Ke Chengwen said, “We’ll be there too.”
Mingxi nodded. Then, she turned and walked towards her family.
Although the night winds were cold, she could feel a strong and sturdy wall behind her.
*
When Mr. Zhao saw how Mingxi walked over with a cold expression along with eyes which were looking at them as if she was looking at a bunch of strangers who were trying to pick a bone with her, the veins on his forehead started to throb.
“Stop looking for me.” Mingxi spoke first. “Again and again. It’s really annoying.”
Before Madam Zhao could speak, she was taken aback, her mind going blank instantly.
Annoying? Mingxi said that they were annoying?
She suddenly realized that what Zhao Zhanhuai had been saying all long was the truth— Mingxi really did seem like she wanted to sever all ties with them.
Madam Zhao’s expression started to change. Her body was slightly trembling due to her disbelief. “Zhao Mingxi, what in the world are you saying? Since the matter of your classmates beating up your er ge was merely a misunderstanding, we won’t blame you for it. Come home with us right now! Did you know that you haven’t been home for a month now? Come home and we’ll talk things through!”
“Do you still not understand what I’m saying?” Mingxi said coldly. She tried her best to make herself even clearer so that everyone in this family can understand her in one go. “Severing all ties. In simpler terms, it means that you guys no longer have to raise me. And when you guys are old, I do not have any responsibility to take care of you as well. In legal terms, it means that we no longer owe anything to each other.”
Madam Zhao: “…”
Mingxi took out a card and tossed it to Zhao Zhanhuai.
Zhao Yuning, who was at a corner, stood up immediately.
Zhao Yuning said, “Jie—”
“Don’t call me jie.” Mingxi directly cut him off.
Zhao Yuning choked up.
Zhao Zhanhuai looked pale as he took the card, “This is—”
Mingxi said, “This is a sum of money I borrowed from He Yang. 13,000 yuan as a repayment for all the money the Zhao family has spent on me for the past two years. I can slowly return He Yang her money, but I don’t want to owe anything to you guys. As for what you guys owe, I’m too lazy to ask for it.”
Mingxi paused to think a little before continuing, “Oh, there are still a couple of things that I want returned to me. My photos. Please delete them from your phones, or even cut them out. Don’t use my photos for illegal transactions. I only have around 10 days before I become an adult, so I will have the right to ask for my things. Please delete all my photos and messages.”
“As for your photos, I’ve deleted them a long time ago.”
There was a moment when Madam Zhao almost couldn’t breathe. She panted and held her chest as she said, “Today is your mother’s birthday. Do you have to throw such a tantrum on my birthday?!!”
Mr. Zhao looked at Mingxi in disbelief. He couldn’t help but to scold Zhao Zhanhuai and Zhao Yuning, “What in the world happened when I was not around?!”
Zhao Zhanhuai’s heart was aching in pain. He had a feeling that if they fail to coax Mingxi home today, they will really have nothing to do with her in the future. He couldn’t help but to add on, “Mingxi, at least for today, you shouldn’t throw such a tantrum on mother’s birthday—”
“I’m not throwing a tantrum.”
Why did they all think that she was merely throwing a tantrum? Were they so certain that she could not leave their family? Or were they sure that she would definitely want to suck up to them?
Mingxi inhaled deeply and said, “I was wrong from the beginning. I shouldn’t have placed hopes on my birth parents, shouldn’t have looked forward to a new life in this place with all of you, shouldn’t have tried to covet things that did not belong to me. Now that I’ve moved out, there will no longer be anyone who would make you decide uncomfortably between me and Zhao Yuan nor would there be anyone bothering you anymore.”
“Please just take this as your last time carrying out your duties as a family. The last time to treat me better. Let me go. Stop bothering me. All right?”
The air became eerily quiet for a moment.
The sound of the wind seemed to carry a hint of wailing.
Their parents were originally angry when Mingxi first came out of the police station, but at this moment, their minds were completely empty.
They spent a long time searching for their biological daughter. After they found her and brought her home, they thought that they would finally be able to fill up the gap of regret in their hearts.
Who would’ve thought that she would want to sever all ties with them.
Sever all ties.
Even the mere mention of these words, be it true or false, was like a knife slicing again and again at a person’s organs.
Madam Zhao’s heart was as if it was wrapped by a huge pair of hands and it was squeezing so hard that it hurt. She never would have thought that there would be such a moment today.
The moments that she had spent with Mingxi suddenly swept across her mind— When she tried on clothes, Mingxi was always patiently waiting and said that she looked good. Mingxi was the most patient one out of everyone in this family; when her shoulders were aching Mingxi would take the initiative to massage them; when she complained about the absence of her husband, Mingxi would give her ideas…
And at this moment, these little instances had all combined to result in Mingxi’s cold gaze.
How did it end up like this?
Madam Zhao scrunched up the front of her dress, speechless. She could only stand there stiffly as if she had lost her voice.
Mr. Zhao’s head was buzzing as well. He got caught up in so many things after his return so it was natural that he could not react in time. He could only subconsciously walk towards Zhao Mingxi, trying to bring her home.
However, when Mingxi saw what he was doing, she took a step back.
Her act of taking a step back hurt them immensely.
It means— Don’t come near me.
Two years ago, she was still a girl who was trying her best to run towards them, but now she was retreating as if she merely thought of them as strangers.
Both the hearts and minds of Zhao Zhanhuai and Zhao Yuning were aching.
Right now, they have already run out of things to say.
…
Mingxi was no longer paying attention to them.
After 10 seconds, Mingxi called the number in her phone.
Moments later, a never seen before silver colored cross country motorcycle drove over. A few cars were following behind it.
In the midst of roaring engines, Fu Yangxi took off his helmet. His features were sharp and handsome; his red hair arrogant.
He bent down and placed the cold helmet on Mingxi’s head.
When Mingxi saw him, she felt relieved.
I’ve finally severed all ties with them.
The huge rock on her shoulders had finally fallen to the ground. Maybe she should have done this earlier. She was merely blinded in her past life.
However, when her back was facing the Zhao family, her eyes still went red.
Mingxi stubbornly refused to admit that it was due to her own weakness. She was only willing to admit that she felt dejected due to having wasted eight whole years on them.
She muttered to Fu Yangxi, “Thanks.”
Fu Yangxi buckled the clasp around her chin. Then, with a flick of his finger, he wiped away the small tears at the corner of Zhao Mingxi’s eyes.
“Are you that happy to leave that hellish place?” Fu Yangxi raised his head and frowned at the direction of the Zhao family. “Hop on. We’re leaving.”
Since they don’t want Little Mask, Little Mask will be his.
…
On this windy night, the hearts of the Zhao family members were as heavy as rocks. They watched as that motorcycle drove through the wind. They went along with the neon lights, across the bridge and finally drove across the river.
Zhao Mingxi’s dark hair was blown with the wind as she went farther and farther away from them.
Not once did Zhao Mingxi turn back.