Chapter 63: An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth

On the way back, Nan Yi was ecstatic!

His memory was excellent, and the heroic image of Nan Zhi resolutely protecting him and confronting the bad guys played on a loop in his mind.

He was too young right now to find the right words to describe it.

It was only much later that he learned...

...that what he had witnessed was masterful strategy!

Nan Yi admired his mother so much that his blood thrummed with excitement, and he was practically bursting with energy—

One moment, he was like a cuddly puppy, pressing close to Nan Zhi’s side;

The next, he was like a playful puppy, WHOOSHING away and WHOOSHING back;

And then, like an excited puppy, he would circle Nan Zhi again and again, hopping and jumping.

His eyes, brilliant as black gems and filled with starlight, were focused solely and wholeheartedly on Nan Zhi.

...It was enough to make Nan Zhi’s heart melt!

Sensing the gentleness in her gaze, Nan Yi finally couldn’t resist asking:

"Mommy, how did you know Wang Zhixing threw mud at me?"

It was a somewhat unexpected question.

Nan Zhi froze for a moment.

’How should I answer?’

Should she tell him that the Tactician who had stolen her body had actually seen it happen, but didn’t step in to stop it?

Because the Tactician had recognized that an adult in the bully’s family worked for the district government, and adhering to the principle of not wanting to stir up trouble, had simply turned and walked away?

Everything Nan Zhi was doing now was a desperate attempt to erase the dark shadow left by the Tactician, to cover it with warmer, brighter memories...

So why would she ever bring it up herself?

After a moment’s thought, Nan Zhi told a little white lie.

She gave him a mischievous wink.

"Because Mommy cares about Yiyi so much, I can see what’s happening to him no matter how far away I am!"

Nan Yi covered his small mouth in surprise.

"Wow!"

Nan Zhi chuckled.

Nan Yi giggled along with her.

Nan Yi was very smart, a true genius.

’How could I forget? When I was being bullied and they were throwing mud, Mom... no, that woman, didn’t even bother to spare me a glance.’

But he was still very happy.

Because his mother would deliberately make up a story just to make him happy.

’Yep, Mommy really does love me!’

Nan Yi’s steps became even more cheerful.

*

The story of Nan Yi clashing with his bullies and winning...

...spread through the neighborhood at lightning speed that very afternoon.

It turned out the girls who had invited Nan Yi to play that morning also lived in the same neighborhood.

They were thrilled to see Wang Zhixing and his gang get what they deserved, and they immediately told their other friends.

Before long, all the adults knew too.

Wang Zhixing and his gang were notorious in the neighborhood for being absolute pests.

Their misdeeds included, but were not limited to: pulling up newly planted flowers from the community flowerbeds, peeing into the yards of first-floor residents, and using a lighter to burn a little girl’s braids...

It wasn’t that no one had complained.

It was just that Wang Zhixing’s mother was a complete shrew. She would lash out at anyone and was completely unreasonable. As a result, Wang Zhixing and his gang ran rampant through the neighborhood, leaving a trail of grievances in their wake.

So now, seeing Wang Zhixing and his mother finally mess with the wrong person, everyone was delighted and couldn’t wait to spread the story.

The news spread from one person to the next, and then the next.

By the time Wang Zhixing heard about it, his image had been completely transformed into that of a "weakling who got knocked to the ground by Nan Yi, was totally powerless to fight back, and then got scolded by his own mom"!

At home, Wang Zhixing was wailing, demanding that his mother avenge him.

But his mother was extremely annoyed.

"Avenge you for what? Who told you to go and provoke them in the first place?"

Wang Zhixing’s screams and sobs were a demonic screech in her ears, finally giving his mother a taste of the extreme annoyance her neighbors constantly endured.

"Stop screaming!"

Wang Zhixing’s mother’s expression was grim.

’As if I don’t want to get revenge.’

In fact, the first thing she did when she got home was call her husband and tell him what happened.

Of course, in her retelling, she omitted her son’s unreasonable aggression and placed all the blame on the other party.

As expected, Wang Zhixing’s father flew into a rage.

He was a minor official in the district, accustomed to wielding power in his own little domain and puffed up by the flattery of his subordinates.

Don’t be fooled by his usual gentle and refined demeanor.

The fact that he could spoil his wife and son into becoming so arrogant and domineering said it all.

Wang Zhixing was the only son in three generations, a precious grandson doted on by the entire family.

How could Wang Zhixing’s father possibly tolerate this? He immediately ordered an investigation!

...Mainly, to find out the other party’s identity.

After all, this was Beijing. Who knew what kind of connections the other party might have?

He didn’t know what to expect, but the results of the inquiry were a huge shock.

The other party was a female celebrity!

She had even been on a popular variety show with her child recently and was currently in the spotlight!

People like Wang Zhixing’s father were terrified of provoking public figures.

What if it blew up into a public opinion nightmare he couldn’t control?

His own record couldn’t withstand that kind of scrutiny!

So, he immediately dropped the idea. He explained the risks to his wife, telling her it was best to bury the hatchet.

Wang Zhixing’s mother grumbled under her breath:

"Some washed-up little celebrity, what’s the big deal..."

But despite her words, her actions were quite honest as she went to pick out an apology gift for Nan Zhi and Nan Yi.

*

While Wang Zhixing’s family was investigating Nan Zhi, Nan Zhi was also thinking about Wang Zhixing.

She hadn’t said a word about the little brat since returning home.

But that was only because she didn’t want to upset Nan Yi. It didn’t mean the matter was closed.

’Over? How could it be over?’

’What about all the times Wang Zhixing bullied Nan Yi in the past? Should I just forget about it?’

Absolutely not!

Magnanimity, repaying evil with kindness...

Those words were not in Nan Zhi’s vocabulary!

She had always believed in one thing: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!

"Still, I have to take this slow. Strike where it hurts the most..."

*

Compared to his mother, Nan Yi didn’t have so many worries.

After a delicious lunch feast cooked by Nan Zhi, he had already put the morning’s events out of his mind.

’Wang Zhixing? Who’s that?’

He had wanted to stay home that afternoon, like a little puppy who loves its nest too much to leave.

But Nan Zhi had encouraged him to go downstairs and play.

Nan Yi could tell that Nan Zhi wanted him to socialize normally with kids his age, so he reluctantly agreed.

As he went downstairs, he wore his new little backpack, which held an extra-large container.

The container was filled to the brim with pastries Nan Zhi had made by hand.

—That’s right. As a god-tier chef who once ruled the world of Food, how could Nan Zhi only be skilled in savory cooking? Her pastry skills were just as divine!

For example, she had whipped up this huge batch of Chinese pastries in less than two hours using a standard home oven.

The fragrance while baking had spread for miles. Even from the kitchen, Nan Zhi could hear a neighbor, overwhelmed by the delicious scent, shouting, "Whose cooking smells that amazing?!"

Now, Nan Zhi had packed them in the container for Nan Yi to share with the other children as he played.

Nan Yi obediently agreed.

But the moment he turned his back, he clutched the container in his backpack protectively!

’Share with the other kids?’

’No way!’

’I’m not leaving a single crumb for anyone else!’

’I’m going to eat every last bite!’