CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: SHE CRIED

The dragon boat race finally began among the excited anticipation of the crowd. The participants were full of vigor and energy, each with a red cloth wrapped around their heads and waists, bright and striking. The drum sounded, and the dragon boats shot across the calm waters of Yanming Lake like arrows off a bowstring, urged on by the loud cheers from both banks.

Some even brought out their home gongs and drums, beating them heavily to cheer on.

Even more, some mischievous youngsters hung the pre-prepared "chain firecrackers" on trees and lit them. For a while, the shouts, drumbeats, and crackling firecracker sounds mingled together, reverberating over the lake, deafening and overwhelming.

The young rowers paddled fiercely, their movements neat and unified, firm muscles rising and falling with their strokes, foreheads beaded with sweat glistening under the sun. The drummers were particularly excited, pounding with both hands, as if wishing to use all their strength, making one worry if the drum would break.

The race continued with intense fervor.

When the race reached a tense point, it became exceptionally exciting. Two dragon boats moved head to head, neck and neck, the shouts from the banks rising and falling in waves. Once a winner was determined, cheers mixed with a few sighs of regret followed.

Approaching noon, the sun became intense. The dragon boat race came to an end.

The vermilion dragon boats on the river had already docked at the bank for a rest. The competitors went off to shower and change clothes, ready for the prepared feast to replenish the energy they lost during the race. Their expressions still showed excitement for the recent competition.

Ye Zhi, because of the Little Fairy, was so happy she was lost in the clouds and didn’t really watch the dragon boats.

As a result, even after the race ended, she still wore a silly, dazed look.

Li Du couldn’t stand it, smirked, and with a lightning-fast move knocked her on the forehead!

Coming from a martial arts background, he didn’t gauge his strength properly.

"Ouch." Ye Zhi cried out in pain, her eyes instantly reddened, and the spot on her forehead where she was hit quickly turned red.

"Damn Li Du, why did you hit me, I’m going to kill you." She suddenly shifted from her timid demeanor, baring her fangs and claws like a little tigress, ready to fight back. Everyone was cannon fodder, but dead Li Du dared to bully her. She wouldn’t let him off.

The speed between males and females differs greatly!

The boy’s agile silhouette ran and leaped ahead, and just when the girl was about to catch up, he darted away, jumping far into the distance.

The game of chase continued.

Finally, the boy leapt onto the eaves of the curved verandah, high above. "Shorty, if you have the skill, come catch me, hahaha!"

His laughter was extremely arrogant, attracting frequent glances and intrigued onlookers.

On the ground, Ye Zhi was both angry and anxious, looking around, but there were no stones on the ground — she wanted to throw something at him, but couldn’t reach!

Her forehead hurt from being knocked, and after that teasing, along with the Little Fairy having witnessed her fierce side, she pursed her lips in grievance: "Wah, wah, wah..." Burst into tears.

Ye Zhi was beautiful, and when she cried, she looked like a weeping beauty, eliciting a protective instinct in others.

Seeing the little girl crying sadly, the onlookers gathered more and more.

"From now on, Li Du and dogs are not allowed in my Ye Mansion, Ah Tao, let’s go." After loudly shouting this while choking back sobs, Ye Zhi sprinted away with Ah Tao at a sprinter’s pace.

She dared not turn back to see the Little Fairy’s expression.

Nor did she want to turn back to see the expressions of the Liu family sisters, the male lead, and the second male lead. They had nothing to do with her.

Vaguely hearing that bastard Li Du calling her name behind: "Ah Zhi, Ah Zhi."

She ignored all of it. She was going back to the Ye Mansion, to cry under the covers.

Shen Chen watched her retreating figure. She cried. Then he glanced at Li Du, who looked innocent, and in his deep brown eyes flashed an enigmatic and obscure expression.