There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Chapter 34.2

Huo Jingyan lowered his eyes and smiled, nodding to the owner before turning back to the table.

As soon as he sat down, he heard the young boy pleading something to Huo Jun in the somewhat noisy restaurant, while the girl sat beside them, watching the two with a smile, her eyes curved.

The slightly amber light softened everyone’s features, with halos of light dotting the surroundings. The scene before him seemed to be separated from sound, quiet and beautiful.

Huo Jingyan’s fingers twitched slightly.

He felt like painting.

If he could paint this scene before him, it would be best if he could capture the sound too — in such a painting, even the noise would be beautifully intoxicating.

……

Even as they left the restaurant, the young boy was still pestering Huo Jun to teach him how to fight.

He had actually bothered Qin Ke for a while too, but after Huo Jun frowned and watched the girl’s helpless expression for a moment, he pulled the boy back.

Huo Jingyan and Qin Ke walked in front, hearing the one-sided persistence from the boy behind them. Qin Ke smiled helplessly.

“Teacher Huo, you shouldn’t have told him that he won’t be hit when I’m around — it would’ve been better if he ran away scared.”

Huo Jingyan: “He’s just a child, we can bear with it.”

“But he wants to learn how to fight. What if Huo Jun actually agrees…” Qin Ke said helplessly, “This would be teaching a child bad things.”

“…”

Huo Jingyan paused, “Do you know why he wants to learn how to fight?”

Qin Ke was startled, shaking her head, “I only heard him say he saw Huo Jun fight before. Maybe he thinks it’s cool?”

Huo Jingyan smiled without saying anything.

After a couple of seconds, he turned around.

“Song Yi, the pretty sister is asking why you want to learn how to fight?”

The young boy called Song Yi was stunned, turning his head to look at Qin Ke.

Qin Ke looked back innocently, “Teacher Huo…”

“Listen to what he says,” Huo Jingyan lowered his voice.

Qin Ke complied.

Sure enough, after a few seconds, the young boy slowly lowered his head, seeming a bit reluctant as he spoke. “Because… I don’t want to be bullied anymore… They’re always in large groups.”

Qin Ke was suddenly stunned.

A few seconds later, she came back to her senses, her breath tightening. She opened her mouth to say something, but was stopped by Huo Jingyan’s voice—

“Let’s go.”

“But…”

Huo Jingyan looked at her with gentle eyes, but the determination in his gaze was firm.

He repeated once more.

“Let’s go.”

Qin Ke bit her lip, then glanced at Huo Jun — for some reason, the young man seemed frozen in place.

She turned and followed Huo Jingyan’s pace.

“Teacher, shouldn’t we…”

“We can’t do anything,” Huo Jingyan suddenly said. “Even if we can stop it this time, and the next time, there will still be a time after that, and many more times.”

“…” Qin Ke knew this in her heart, but still clenched her fists. “So we just do nothing?”

Huo Jingyan smiled, his eyes profound.

“Evil is something that will never disappear from this world, Qin Ke. When you see an injured person, teaching them something is far more reliable than trying to punish evil and promote good.”

Qin Ke was stunned, coming back to her senses.

“You mean, really let Huo Jun teach him…” Halfway through her sentence, Qin Ke stopped herself. She frowned hesitantly, “Is that okay?”

“…”

Huo Jingyan shrugged, uncharacteristically joking, “Heaven knows.”

Qin Ke was helpless.

After walking a few steps, hearing the young boy’s cheer from behind, Qin Ke was somewhat surprised.

“He really agreed.”

“Mm, he would agree.”

After saying this, Huo Jingyan was silent for two seconds before asking, “Have you asked him about his relationship with me?”

“…”

Qin Ke nodded.

After hesitating, she lightly squeezed her fingertips, “I didn’t expect… Huo Jun said he was an illegitimate child.”

Huo Jingyan’s gaze wavered.

After a moment, facing the last glow of the sunset, he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, accompanied by a clear laugh—

“Then you should know why he would agree.”

Qin Ke was stunned, “?”

“Because he’s been through the same thing.”

Huo Jingyan said softly.

At that moment, Qin Ke seemed to see a kind of empathetic sadness deep in Huo Jingyan’s eyes, but it quickly dispersed like an illusion, scattered by a hint of a smile.

Huo Jingyan turned his head to look back with gentle eyes. Under the street lights that were gradually lighting up, there were two figures, one tall and one short.

It was a long time before he turned back.

“Qin Ke, if you really want to be with him in the future, don’t be fooled by his facade.”

“…”

“The hedgehog has exposed his only soft spot to you, don’t ‘kill’ him.”