Xia Weiliang immediately understood what was happening. They had come to Liu Family Village because they had seen this video online.
"Can you take us to see her?" she asked.
"No problem."
Shen Xiatree led the two towards Mei Mei's house, introducing as they walked, "The reality is pretty much what you saw in the video. Sigh, the little girl has had it really tough, living on her own since she was ten. Her mother visits every week to tidy up the house and do her laundry or something."
Shang Rongrong frowned and asked, "Why can't the child be taken to live with her?"
"After her mother remarried, she had a little brother, and her in-laws' life is also quite difficult. And her mother-in-law is notorious in our village, well... it's just... um."
Shen Xiatree spoke with reservations, and mindful of the cameras behind them, he stopped speaking and didn't say any more.
This was because he was facing his idols. If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have revealed half a word.
Shang Rongrong understood. It seemed the pressure was coming from her in-laws.
As they talked, they arrived at Mei Mei's house.
Mei Mei's full name was Sun Xiaomei, and she was in the first year of junior high. When the three of them arrived, they happened to see her hugging a middle-aged woman and crying bitterly.
Shen Xiatree went forward and called out, "Auntie."
Chen Zhi looked up. Seeing several people approaching with a camera behind them, she immediately lowered her head. Disregarding her daughter who was still begging her to stay, she hurried away.
Shang Rongrong's brow furrowed. Such was her personality; she found it difficult to understand this kind of abandonment of a daughter.
That's right, in her opinion, this was abandonment.
Seeing Sun Xiaomei, Xia Weiliang thought of Zhao Cheng and felt a pang of unease. Su Dan Novel Network
As the group was about to go in, Sun Xiaomei suddenly yelled at them angrily, "Who let you come? Why are you here?" Seeing Xiao Shuai, her emotions worsened, and she grabbed a broom to hit him, "Get out! Get out!"
Xiao Shuai was caught off guard. "Hey, no... little girl, calm down..."
"Don't film! Get out!"
Here, Xia Weiliang and Shang Rongrong quickly went to help shield Xiao Shuai, and Shen Xiatree rushed to protect Shang Rongrong. The scene descended into chaos.
Xiao Shuai, trained by Brother Qiao, believed that heads could be severed and blood could flow, but the camera must not be dropped!
But he wasn't watching his feet, and he was about to fall backward. Xia Weiliang, being protective, even if she took a few hits herself, had to protect Xiao Shuai. She quickly rushed over to try and support Xiao Shuai, but she was too weak. She tripped on the doorstep and also fell backward—
"Ah!"
Hands behind her steadily caught her.
Xia Weiliang turned her head in stunned silence. When she saw the person, her entire face lit up with a smile.
"Xiao Yi!"
Xiao Yi had said he would take the next flight, but she hadn't expected him to arrive so early!
Xiao Yi wore a baseball cap and a mask, revealing only his pair of dark, starry eyes, with a faint smile at the bottom.
He steadied Xia Weiliang, then reached out and supported Xiao Shuai's back, allowing Xiao Shuai to secure the equipment.
The door slammed shut.
Then, the girl's crying could be heard from inside.
Shen Xiatree was terrified. His first instinct was to check on Shang Rongrong. Seeing her arm was scraped, his face turned pale. "Miss Shang..."
Shang Rongrong merely glanced at it. "It's fine."
She looked at Xiao Yi. "You came quite quickly."
Xiao Yi glanced at her wound. "You should go back and get it treated."
"Mm."
She was also sensible, knowing that the young couple had just met and would want some private time.
So, she raised her hand to signal Xiao Shuai and started walking back. Shen Xiatree looked around and quickly followed.
"Miss Shang, I'm so sorry, so sorry..." He was extremely remorseful and kept apologizing behind her. "It's all my fault, I didn't handle it properly. It's not Mei Mei's fault..."
Shang Rongrong listened to his rambling, then looked back at him and asked with a smile, "What does it have to do with you? Why do you take on all the blame?"
Shen Xiatree didn't dare to look up, his voice even smaller. "I didn't consider Mei Mei's feelings. I should have discussed it with her before bringing you here. As a result... not only did I upset the child, but I also caused Miss Shang to get injured... I, I really..."
Seeing how dejected he was, Shang Rongrong stopped teasing him. "Tell me about this child."
"Mm..."
On the other side, Xia Weiliang and Xiao Yi stood outside Sun Xiaomei's house. Hearing the little girl crying sadly inside, Xia Weiliang also felt uncomfortable.
"Xiao Yi, it was our fault," she said softly.
Xiao Yi looked down at her, naturally reaching out to put his arm around her shoulder and drawing her closer. "Do you want to leave?"
Xia Weiliang thought for a moment and shook her head. "I want to stay and accompany her for a while."
The man smiled. "Okay."
The two sat on the steps outside. She rested her head on his shoulder. "I thought you wouldn't arrive until tomorrow."
"My original plan was to take the plane early tomorrow morning, but I was worried."
Xiao Yi lowered his gaze and looked at her with visible affection. "So, I took a helicopter and flew straight here."
"No wonder."
Seeing that she was not in high spirits, Xiao Yi knew it was because of the little girl behind the door.
The crying inside had lessened considerably, and faint sobs could be heard. Xia Weiliang couldn't sit still, but she didn't go up and knock directly. Instead, she sat by the door and said sincerely to the person inside, "Mei Mei, I'm sorry, we were too hasty today."
There was no response from inside.
Xia Weiliang hesitated, then asked softly, "Did the last filming cause you any trouble?"
Xiao Yi walked over and said gently, "If you need someone to talk to, we're right outside the door."
"That's right!"
Xia Weiliang also quickly added, "Don't worry, there are no cameras outside, and we absolutely won't film without your permission. I just want to chat with you, at least this way... you won't be so lonely."
This feeling of having relatives but it being as if you don't, and feeling like you're the loneliest person in the world, was something Xia Weiliang understood deeply.
This was also why she didn't want to leave. Even if it was through a door, as long as the little girl knew that someone was with her outside, she wouldn't feel lonely.
Sure enough, after not too long, the door gently opened.
Through the gap in the door, Sun Xiaomei looked outside. She didn't open the door immediately, and Xia Weiliang didn't rush to enter. She just stood patiently at the door, waiting.
"I, I'm sorry..."
Her voice was very small, like a child who had done something wrong.
Xia Weiliang quickly shook her head. "It's not your fault, it's not your mistake. We didn't get your permission. We should be the ones apologizing."
The little girl became silent again. After a long time, she said with a sob, "I don't want to be on TV, and I don't want you to film me..."
Xia Weiliang vaguely guessed what was happening, but after hesitating, she still asked, "Is it because of your mother?"