Married to the Grim Reaper Against My Will

Protect my friend

During the afternoon break, Ji Mian received a message from Ji Xiu'an:

Aunt: [Mianmian, I think we need to meet and talk things over. Your mother's side is here, they want custody of you, you know that, right? After school this afternoon, I'll wait for you at the Right Angle Coffee Shop on Zhao Xing Street. This isn't a small matter, don't be stubborn.]

For the next two periods, Ji Mian was somewhat uneasy. Her mother's side had long since disappeared; otherwise, after the incident, there would have been someone to take care of her.

It must have been Xiang Shu's arrangement.

During the last reading period, Ji Mian looked at the words in her Chinese textbook. She recognized them all, but they wouldn't register in her mind; she couldn't concentrate at all.

For the first time ever, she took out her phone in class and texted Xiang Shu to find out what was going on.

Xiang Shu: [Don't worry, we've got all the paperwork done, there won't be any problems. I've already hired a professional legal team to fight for custody. Given your age, the court's decision will fully consider your opinion, so just stick to your mother's side.] "But your aunt will most likely give up on her own and won't sue us. She wants to see you to sound you out."

Xiang Shu had something else he didn't say. Ji Xiu'an wanted custody of Ji Mian so she could oversee Ji Mian's parents' inheritance. As long as he paid the right amount, Ji Xiu'an would naturally relinquish custody.

However, he didn't tell Ji Mian this, lest he upset her.

When Ji Mian arrived at the Right Angle Coffee Shop, Ji Xiu'an was already waiting on the second floor. She was sitting in a booth by the window, wearing a professional-looking suit, probably having just come from the company; she looked capable and assertive.

Ji Mian took a deep breath, entered the coffee shop, and obediently called out, "Auntie."

Ji Xiu'an put down her cup. "Have a seat, we'll talk slowly."

Ji Mian softly hummed in agreement and sat down opposite Ji Xiu'an. Ji Xiuan waved and ordered her a milk tea and a piece of cake. "Eat something first."

"Auntie," Ji Mian clutched the knitted cat her mother had made for her tightly under the table, "I don't want to eat anymore. I just wanted to tell you that I want to talk to Mom's side of the family."

Ji Xiuan, who had been leisurely stirring her coffee, slammed down her spoon and looked at her seriously. "Because of your uncle's matter? I've already said it's a misunderstanding. Besides, Mianmian, you can't just listen to one person in these matters. What your uncle said is different from what you said."

This was probably a situation where she couldn't explain herself. Ji Mian gripped the knitted cat tightly, drawing strength from it. "Auntie, I'm all grown up now. I can make a choice. I choose that side."

"Of course you can make a choice," Ji Xiu'an chuckled, radiating invisible pressure. "Mianmian, you have a better place to go. Auntie will bless you. You don't need to use your uncle as a pretext. That will not only ruin him, but also yourself, and even our family. Auntie has always thought you were a good child, but that's true; good children are usually more mature than their peers, think more deeply, and know that self-interest comes first."

Ji Mian listened to her barbed words, but didn't know how to refute them. She wasn't good at arguing; she could only silently bite her lip, trying to control her trembling body. Ji Xiuan's words grew increasingly unrestrained, "Even though your aunt's conditions aren't good, she still raised you for five years. Mianmian, you found a better place and immediately kicked us aside. Don't you care about family at all?"

Ji Mian felt both distressed and embarrassed. She wanted to retort, but couldn't utter any powerful words. She could only blush and lower her head, avoiding the curious gazes around her.

"Auntie—"

A voice rang out, like driftwood floating to the drowning Ji Mian. She immediately looked up at the girl standing beside her.

The girl wore an oversized baseball jacket, tight jeans, and a pair of studded boots that made her legs appear thin and bony. Her hair was a dull blue-green, her makeup and hairstyle were exaggerated, and she wore a sparkly lip ring—she looked like someone to be trifled with.

Ji Mian recognized her; she was Zhang Keke, a classmate.

Zhang Keke grinned at Ji Xiuan, "I think you're even more disregarding family ties, insisting on making a young girl lose face. What grudge do you hold against her?"

Ji Xiuan's expression changed, and she snapped angrily, "What's it to you? Get out of my way!"

"Hey, let's be reasonable. The coffee shop is open for business, can't I even stand here? As for what it has to do with me—" Zhang Keke said, bending down and putting her arm around Ji Mian, "Ji Mian is my best friend, of course I can't just stand by and watch her get bullied."

She finished speaking and winked at Ji Mian.

Ji Mian smiled back at her, pursing her lips.

Ji Xiu'an, speechless, turned her anger towards Ji Mian, "Look at yourself now, always associating with shady people!"

"Aunt!" Ji Mian, who had been enduring the accusations, suddenly looked up at her, her gaze unwavering. "You can criticize me; consider it my way of repaying you for raising me for five years. But you have no right to talk about my friends."

This was the first time Ji Xiu'an had been so directly confronted by Ji Mian. She was instantly furious, her eyes widening, but she couldn't utter a word. She grabbed her handbag and stood up, angrily warning Ji Mian, "Mianmian, you've grown wings. Auntie respects your decision, but you'd better not regret it."

Ji Mian looked at her, her voice soft but resolute, "I won't regret it."

Ji Xiu'an slammed the door and left. Zhang Keke whistled at Ji Mian and laughed, "Oh, even little rabbits bite."

Ji Mian rarely acted so forcefully, and felt a little guilty. She said embarrassedly, "Keke, don't make fun of me."

"What am I making fun of?" Zhang Keke raised an eyebrow. "Good for you! You should have done it a long time ago. People are just like that; the more you tolerate them, the more they think you're easy to bully. But if you fight back even once, they won't dare to be so unscrupulous."

Ji Mian felt that Zhang Keke's words weren't just about this incident; it was as if she was hiding many secrets. "Coco, what are you doing here?"

The two walked outside the shop. Zhang Coco gestured with her chin towards a small electric scooter parked by the roadside. "Delivering food."

"You deliver food part-time?"

Looking at her surprised expression, Zhang Coco found it amusing. "It's our own business."

She didn't say anything more, got on the scooter, waved to Ji Mian, "Bye."

The scooter sputtered away.

Ji Mian crossed the street from the overpass to wait for the bus on the other side, but encountered someone unexpected.

Shi Man was playing with a lighter, glancing at her sideways, and said sarcastically, "Ji Mian, you're such a f*****g slut, actually seducing my dad! Aren't you disgusting? We raised you for five years, what a f*****g ingrate!"

Shi Man had overheard her parents arguing at home and knew some of the details. Regardless of what they were saying, she had long disliked Ji Mian, so she was convinced that Ji Mian had seduced her. Shi Man's voice wasn't quiet, and its drawn-out tone quickly attracted a lot of attention.

Ji Mian, being easily embarrassed, always felt uncomfortable under such gazes. She instinctively lowered her head to avoid them. But then she remembered Zhang Keke's words, silently bit her lip, and abruptly looked up at Shi Man. Her voice trembled slightly, but was very clear, "I lived in your family for five years, spending my parents' money. Besides, why would I seduce your father? He's old, balding, and not good-looking."

Shi Man hadn't expected that Ji Mian, who usually didn't dare to speak loudly, would dare to directly confront her! She froze, her eyes widening, and angrily said, "Who are you talking about?!"

"I'm stating the facts, and I've also gained weight."

Ji Mian added earnestly. Although she was a little scared, it felt good to say it out loud; at least she wouldn't feel resentful and frustrated inside for so long. Soft laughter rippled through the room. The girl, pale and seemingly frail, argued earnestly and logically, her clumsy demeanor surprisingly believable.

Strange glances fell on Shi Man. Enraged, she yelled, "Ji Mian, are you f*****g asking for a beating?!"

She raised her hand to slap Ji Mian across the face.

Ji Mian instinctively recoiled, but a blur flashed before her eyes as a can of cola was thrown at her, hitting Shi Man on the shoulder. Her slap missed its mark.

Shi Man winced in pain, clutching her shoulder and cursing.

Ji Mian turned around and saw Zhang Keke sitting on her electric scooter, her long legs braced on the ground, raising an eyebrow at her.

She rode her scooter to the intersection to turn around, returning to find the little white rabbit, her face flushed red, arguing with someone.

Ji Mian breathed a sigh of relief, her gratitude evident in her eyes. "Keke?"

"You won't allow anyone to insult your friend, so I certainly won't allow anyone to hit my friend."

The two exchanged a smile.

"Zhang Keke, you're f*****g arrogant!" Shi Man exclaimed angrily, kicking away a can of cola that had fallen to the side.

Zhang Keke defiantly raised her chin. "You're right, I really am f*****g arrogant, and I can't help it. What do you want?"

Shi Man was afraid her friends would hear about her father's dirty deeds, so she came to confront Ji Mian herself, not expecting to run into such a tough nut to c***k as Zhang Keke.

She glared at Zhang Keke, "You just wait, you son of a bitch."

Zhang Keke chuckled, "Are you kidding me? You just wait." She then ignored Shi Man, patted the back seat, and said to Ji Mian, "Get on, I'll take you home."

Ji Mian climbed on, hugged her waist, and the electric scooter sped away.

The scooter wasn't going fast; a gentle breeze blew, and there was no noise, so their voices were clear.

"Wow, Ji Mian, you not only look soft, but your chest is so soft too!"

Ji Mian: ...

Zhang Keke laughed so hard she was shaking, "With such a thin skin, how can you argue with others? You have to learn to protect yourself, you know?"

"I know."

"You did pretty well just now, you have to fight back, that's progress. But next time don't shake, shout louder, yell at her!"

"Okay." Ji Mian obediently replied. “If someone flirts with you like they did just now, saying you have soft breasts, just yell back.” Zhang Keke paused. “Besides me, we’re friends now, right?”

Ji Mian smiled: “Yes.”

“If someone bullies you, you curse them out. Go to hell, you stupid i***t!”

Ji Mian was surprised and didn’t dare to say anything.

“Try it, louder. Go to hell, you stupid i***t!”

The electric scooter turned a corner into a less crowded area. Ji Mian looked around, a little eager to try.

“There’s no one here now, curse!”

Ji Mian hesitated for a moment, then finally raised her voice and cursed, “Get out of the way, you bastard!”

Zhang Keke was overjoyed, laughing so hard the electric scooter shook. Ji Mian was so scared she grabbed her waist tightly. "Go for it! I'm teaching you to swear, not to be cute."

Ji Mian's face flushed red, and she tried to raise her voice: "Get lost, you bastard!"

Zhang Keke was still laughing. "Not bad, you've improved. Next time I'll teach you how to fight."

"Huh?"

"If you get really worked up with the insults, you have to resort to physical violence, right? Are you just going to wait to get beaten up?"

Ji Mian thought for a moment, then replied with a death-defying resolve: "Okay, I'll try my best."

Zhang Keke couldn't stop laughing. "Hey, swearing and fighting at the same time, am I corrupting the good students?"

Ji Mian answered seriously: "Keke, I don't think you're bad at all."

Zhang Keke was silent for a moment, then said: "Ji Mian, your seriousness is f*****g adorable."