"Hey, you rascal—" Zhao Xier had already entered the courtyard with an agitated grimace before Chen Guang could complete his speech. Everyone in the courtyard knew Zhao Xier had a nasty temper, but it was the first time Chen Guang had seen her so enraged. "Did the child consume gunpowder today? Why is he so obnoxious? Who set him off?"
Chen Guang turned around to face Ye Zhen and her two other children as he spoke. One was concerned and restless, one was cold, and the other was crying and hiccupping. Chen Guang slapped his forehead. "Please ignore him. Zhao Xier is usually irritable. He has never been courteous to anyone save his grandmother. You must have heard that the Zhao family owns the large yard. Zhao Xier is the Zhao family's young master. He is spoiled and does not know how to communicate, yet he is not a bad person. He even assisted me in pushing my tricycle when it broke down."
Before Ye Zhen rented the house, she knew who owned the courtyard—the Zhao family's matriarch. She heard that the old lady was nostalgic and left the capital city to return to the ancestral land to guard it. Ye Zhen decided to rent the place because of its convenient location and affordable rent and because of Yang Guiying's generous heart. Debt collectors had been harassing Ye Zhen since Xiao Mohan's father moved away after abandoning the three of them owing to his gambling debt. Ye Zhen had no alternative but to sell their home to pay off some of his debt. Things came to a halt then.
Xiao Mohan has been traveling around since junior high as he did not have a home. When Xiao Mohan's father left, he grabbed the family's bank book and left them with nothing. Ye Zhen was a mother of two children who had to attend school. Life was quite difficult. She could not afford to rent a nice property, but there were plenty of others around her who could. She was attractive and was frequently hounded by gangsters. If Ye Zhen were the only one being tormented, she would just put up with it and let it go. Until one day, on her way home from work, Ye Zhen noticed a man pushing Xiao Mohan under him and shredding his clothes.
Xiao Mohan's body was in poor shape, and he was unable to break free. If Ye Zhen had not returned home from work early that day, Xiao Mohan would have been molested. At that time, Ye Zhen understood that not just women but gorgeous men might be defiled in that world.
Ye Zhen checked out of the residence overnight and relocated to North City with Xiao Mohan and Xiao Jiashu as a result of that incident. However, living expenses in North City were significantly higher. The house rental, living expenses, and the two children's school tuition nearly broke Ye Zhi. Fortunately, Ye Zhen encountered Yang Guiying just as she was about to give up. As a result, the courtyard was her last hope and the best place for her to stay. That was also why they did not dare to challenge Zhao Xier's harsh attitude.
Chen Guang cheerfully assisted Ye Zhen and the others with their luggage. Ye Zhen expressed his gratitude and welcomed Chen Guang in for a cup of tea. Chen Guang was a straightforward individual who entered the house cheerfully.
Xiao Mohan opened his suitcase and took a cup to wash and boil water without waiting for Ye Jin's instructions. He eventually came out with a kettle to brew tea for Chen Guang. "Here you go, Uncle Chen."
Chen Guang was having a conversation with Ye Zhen when he heard Xiao Mohan's icy voice. He instantly went for the tea, taking a few swallows to soothe his throat. Chen Guang only noticed Xiao Mohan's features then—red lips, white teeth, fair skin, and translucent skin. "Sister, your kid is incredibly gorgeous, and most importantly, he is nice." He pouted and sighed to Ye Zhen. "He is not like the Zhao family's son. He seems like a respectable man, yet his disposition is unlikable. You are Xiao Mohan, right?" he asked, looking at Xiao Mohan. "You are probably about Zhao Xier's age. How old are you?"
Xiao Mohan had a cold personality, yet he was kind to Chen Guang, who had helped him. "I'm a sophomore."
"Sophomore? You are 17 years old? Then you are the same age as the Zhao kid," Chen Guang said. "I just found out from your mother that you guys moved here from another city. So, where will you be studying?"
Xiao Mohan answered, "North City Middle School."
"What a coincidence!" Chen Guang slapped himself on the thigh. "Zhao Xier is also a student there. You have recently moved here and are not familiar with the area. You can go to school with Zhao Xier tomorrow. At least you won't get lost or confused."