Chapter 18 - Unsafe

Chapter 18 - Unsafe

Those were the faces that she used to hate in her previous life. However, their youth enthusiasm did not seem so bad to her right now. She even started to think that they were quite adorable.
The boys were not too bad, to be frank. They stayed united and faithful to their friends, which meant they never bullied any girls. It was she who betrayed the boys and kept getting them into trouble as a result of Shen Xichuan's tireless instigations.
"I remember how you used to run away timidly like a mouse every time you saw us. What an audacious move you're making tonight!" Qiang Zi said. He was the youngest, but the wildest, so naturally he was the one who made the first strike in every fight.
"Traitor, are you looking for trouble? I clearly saw you and Li Yun together just now!" Chen Tao acted like a gangster and hurled the question at her. He was the youngest grandson of Professor Chen.
Ye Qiao pursed her lips in a smirk while folding her arms across her chest. "Qiang Zi, who are you calling a mouse? I was never frightened of you boys. I was just reluctant to see you. Chen Tao, do you ever think before you speak? You guys gave Shen Xichuan a bad beating yesterday, but did I help him? If he and I were really a gang, would you still be able to play basketball in peace right now? You would be torn into pieces by your parents by now."
"Ye Qiao, now that you've mentioned it, every time there's a fight in the neighborhood, you would always complain about it to your grandfather. Do you ever feel bad? What a traitor!" Lu Beichi was the only one wearing a blue and white striped jersey. He was no longer spinning the ball. Instead, he started ranting on about her errs in the past.
"Exactly! You are really tactless. Do you think that we will not hit you because you're a girl?" Hei Zi added. His white teeth were an interesting contrast to his tanned skin every time he opened his mouth.
In actuality, Ye Qiao felt sorry for them. Admittedly, she used to be quite impetuous, but she would not have done it if it was not for Shen Xichuan.
"Let bygones be bygones. There's no point in mentioning our past conflicts. I hereby promise you that if I ever help Shen Xichuan again, I shall change my name and write it in reverse!" Ye Qiao and Qiao Ye were both her names, anyway.
"See, I told you that the girl has changed, but you never believed me! Look at her attire, her behavior, and her disposition; she's nothing like the awkward Ye Qiao that we used to know!" The first one who started to help build Ye Qiao's case was Cheng Dafei. His face started blushing scarlet as he spoke.
Cheng Dafei was aware of the flush of embarrassment that rose to his cheeks. It only happened recently whenever Ye Qiao was around.
It felt as if he was shy in the presence of her enchanting beauty.
He even felt the need to protect her.
"Dafei, you're the only smart one here!" Ye Qiao commended Cheng Dafei upon his support. He blushed even more at the unexpected compliment.
"Great! Ye Qiao, don't you try to play any tricks! I will not let you go so easily next time," Lu Beichi sent her a warning.
Ye Qiao looked at Lu Beichi without uttering another word. There was nothing he could do to her, anyway. She would later become a member of his family, and by then, he would have to respect her in every possible way.
"Beichi, I believe that Ye Qiao sincerely repents of her past actions. All is good now, let's get back to the game!" Cheng Dafei grabbed Lu Beichi by the shoulder and took him back to the court.
There was nothing that Lu Beichi could do to Ye Qiao, so he proceeded to the court. Smilingly, Ye Qiao watched as the boys returned to their game before she continued her journey home.
As soon as they returned to the court, Cheng Dafei cited a stomachache as his excuse and left the game. Hurriedly, he ran and caught up with Ye Qiao.
"Ye Qiao, let me walk you home. It's unsafe for a girl to walk alone at night," Cheng Dafei jokingly said. The streetlights were dim, so she could not see the blush on his face.
Unsafe?
Where they were right now was easily the safest place in the entire J City. Even the doors in the neighborhood were not bolted at night. Moreover, there were patrols everywhere.
In the past, Cheng Dafei was the one who made fun of her the most among Lu Beichi's friends.