When Yin Mingzheng received the message and rushed over, there was a crowd surrounding the area. Everyone was dressed like commoners, and they were all talking loudly, surrounding a scruffy-looking man who was pulling a disheveled young man. The scene was chaotic, but Yin Mingzheng immediately spotted the teenager who was surrounded by the crowd.
Shi Qing was hiding behind a young man from the team of supernatural beings, not crying, but his eyes were red, and he occasionally sniffled. His beautiful silver eyes looked around, filled with fear and timidity.
In that moment, Yin Mingzheng felt as though someone had pinched his heart with a pair of pliers.
He walked over with large strides, his expression cold. "What's going on?"
Yin Mingzheng's voice wasn't very loud, but his presence commanded respect. As soon as he appeared, the people who were talking suddenly fell silent, and the chaotic scene immediately quieted down.
It was one of the supernatural beings who had been protecting Shi Qing who finally stepped forward cautiously. He didn't dare to meet Yin Mingzheng's gaze and said carefully, "Shi Qing was playing around earlier, and he encountered someone who grabbed him and accused him of not paying for something, and then it turned into a fight."
Yin Mingzheng couldn't discern whether the situation was good or bad, but he glanced at the scruffy man and saw that he avoided eye contact and lowered his head when their eyes met. That gave him some understanding of the situation.
At last, the supernatural being who had been protecting Shi Qing spoke up again. He didn't dare to look at Yin Mingzheng's face and said cautiously, "Shi Qing just came over to play, but he ran into someone who wouldn't let go of him and accused him of not paying for something, and then it escalated."
Yin Mingzheng's expression remained unreadable, but he cast a quick glance at the scruffy man and saw him shift his gaze and look guilty. Yin Mingzheng understood some of the situation.
Shi Qing had been hiding behind someone from the supernatural team, not crying, but his eyes were red, and he occasionally sniffled. His beautiful silver eyes looked around, filled with fear and timidity.
In that moment, Yin Mingzheng felt as though someone had pinched his heart with a pair of pliers.
He walked over with large strides, his expression cold. "What's going on?"
Yin Mingzheng's voice wasn't very loud, but his presence commanded respect. As soon as he appeared, the people who were talking suddenly fell silent, and the chaotic scene immediately quieted down.
It was one of the supernatural beings who had been protecting Shi Qing who finally stepped forward cautiously. He didn't dare to meet Yin Mingzheng's gaze and said carefully, "Shi Qing was playing around earlier, and he encountered someone who grabbed him and accused him of not paying for something, and then it turned into a fight."
Yin Mingzheng couldn't discern whether the situation was good or bad, but he glanced at the scruffy man and saw that he avoided eye contact and lowered his head when their eyes met. That gave him some understanding of the situation.
At last, the supernatural being who had been protecting Shi Qing spoke up again. He didn't dare to look at Yin Mingzheng's face and said cautiously, "Shi Qing just came over to play, but he ran into someone who wouldn't let go of him and accused him of not paying for something, and then it escalated."
Yin Mingzheng's expression remained unreadable, but he cast a quick glance at the scruffy man and saw him shift his gaze and look guilty. Yin Mingzheng understood some of the situation.
On the side, Zhao Miaomiao, who had been pushed aside during the commotion, saw Yin Mingzheng and still couldn't accept it. She stepped forward and spoke gently, "When I came over earlier, I saw that person begging Shi Qing to let him go, so I came to ask what was going on. I didn't expect this child, Shi Qing, to be so timid that he cried. Mingzheng ge, since you're here, please comfort him. He's been crying for almost twenty minutes, and it's heartbreaking to watch."
Zhao Miaomiao's words were gentle and tactful, but the implied meaning was quite clear.
The man begged Shi Qing to let him go, but Shi Qing cried, and as a grown man, he not only cried but also cried for twenty minutes. That was quite something.
Did Shi Qing really behave like this?!!
Or was he deaf?！！
How could a young man of sixteen or seventeen cry for twenty minutes just because someone scolded him a bit?
At his age, he should have more resilience. Wasn't he either mentally weak or acting?
Yin Mingzheng really didn't mind. When he heard that Shi Qing had been crying for twenty minutes, he was first surprised, but then he felt even more guilty.
He approached Shi Qing and pulled him into his arms, reaching out to gently touch his head and feeling the soft hair. He looked at the teenager with red eyes, his heart filled with complicated guilt.
Shi Qing could have stayed comfortably on the spaceship, being treated like a prince, getting whatever he wanted. But he had been deceived into staying at this base without the same status as before, and now he was being bullied by a stranger for no reason.
Thinking about this, Yin Mingzheng's words became softer, and to others, it seemed like he was afraid of scaring the young man:
"Shi Qing, you weren't frightened, were you?"
The supernatural being who had been protecting Shi Qing breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Yin Mingzheng's attitude softening. He had been worried that Yin Mingzheng, known for his principles, would take drastic measures.
On the other hand, Zhao Miaomiao almost couldn't believe her eyes. Did Yin Mingzheng have a blind spot? Or was he just plain deaf? How could a grown man cry for twenty minutes just because someone scolded him? He might be young, but he must be around sixteen or seventeen.
At that age, behaving like this was either a sign of mental weakness or an act.
Yin Mingzheng couldn't see through it, could he?
At this moment, Zhao Miaomiao seriously doubted whether she had used the wrong approach when she tried to seduce Yin Mingzheng before.
While she occasionally played the sympathy card, she knew Yin Mingzheng's character and dared not overdo it. She only acted gentle and kind in front of him, portraying herself as someone who understood the bigger picture.
She had thought that Yin Mingzheng, as a straightforward man, couldn't appreciate that kind of approach.
But it turned out that Yin Mingzheng didn't like that type at all.
Did he actually prefer someone who cried easily and was timid?
Yin Mingzheng didn't mind at all. When he heard that Shi Qing had been crying for twenty minutes, he was first surprised, but then he felt even more guilty.
He approached Shi Qing and pulled him into his arms, reaching out to gently touch his head and feeling the soft hair. He looked at the teenager with red eyes, his heart filled with complicated guilt.
Shi Qing could have stayed comfortably on the spaceship, being treated like a prince, getting whatever he wanted. But he had been deceived into staying at this base without the same status as before, and now he was being bullied by a stranger for no reason.
Thinking about this, Yin Mingzheng's words became softer, and to others, it seemed like he was afraid of scaring the young man:
"Shi Qing, you weren't frightened, were you?"
The supernatural being who had been protecting Shi Qing breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Yin Mingzheng's attitude softening. He had been worried that Yin Mingzheng, known for his principles, would take drastic measures.
On the other hand, Zhao Miaomiao almost couldn't believe her eyes. Did Yin Mingzheng have a blind spot? Or was he just plain deaf? How could a grown man cry for twenty minutes just because someone scolded him? He might be young, but he must be around sixteen or seventeen.
At that age, behaving like this was either a sign of mental weakness or an act.
Yin Mingzheng couldn't see through it, could he?
At this moment, Zhao Miaomiao seriously doubted whether she had used the wrong approach when she tried to seduce Yin Mingzheng before.
While she occasionally played the sympathy card, she knew Yin Mingzheng's character and dared not overdo it. She only acted gentle and kind in front of him, portraying herself as someone who understood the bigger picture.
She had thought that Yin Mingzheng, as a straightforward man, couldn't appreciate that kind of approach.
But it turned out that Yin Mingzheng didn't like that type at all.
Did he actually prefer someone who cried easily and was timid?
In Yin Mingzheng's eyes, Shi Qing wasn't acting. On the contrary, he believed that Shi Qing must have been deeply wronged to cry like this.
Think about it. Shi Qing used to be the king on the spaceship.
Even the highly advanced humanoid machines with formidable combat capabilities would treat him like a treasure, giving him whatever he wanted. Even without Shi Qing's orders, those intelligent machines would autonomously care for him and protect him.
In Yin Mingzheng's eyes, Shi Qing was like a king with a scepter and a crown. But in reality, he was still a child who had grown up being pampered.
This kind of child, coming to an unfamiliar environment, even a tiny bit of grievance would be overwhelming.
"Mingzheng..."
Shi Qing called out pitifully, snuggling into the man's embrace as if he were scared. His voice still carried a hint of a sob, "I didn't refuse to pay. I even gave more money."
The commoners who had been bystanders originally didn't dare to speak up when Yin Mingzheng arrived. But now, seeing Yin Mingzheng's protective demeanor toward Shi Qing, they mustered the courage to chime in.
"That's right, General Yin. Young Master Shi is very generous with money."
"Yeah, yeah, my son made a grasshopper out of grass the other day, and Young Master Shi liked it. He not only bought it but also gave us extra money. Everyone on our street knows."
More and more people began speaking up, emboldened by the support of others.
"Indeed, Young Master Shi is a good person. He's easy to talk to. My son broke his leg while fighting the Insectoids. As a hired mercenary, we couldn't find a healer. Young Master Shi helped treat him. He has the healing ability. If he wanted money, he could have charged for treatment, but he didn't. He doesn't lack money."
"That's right! Moreover, this person we've never seen before. He's not from our street at all. We sell things in the outer district, and we all know each other here. He has never been here."
These words sparked a wave of agreement.
"Maybe he's a scam artist."
"That's right, it looks like a scam. He probably targeted Young Master Shi because he thought he was an easy target. And he's so vulgar, too. Disgusting!"
With so many people speaking up in defense of Shi Qing, it exceeded Yin Mingzheng's expectations. He had known that Shi Qing had a good reputation in the outer district, but he had assumed that people treated him differently because of his relationship with him.
Now, seeing so many people genuinely standing up for Shi Qing, Yin Mingzheng felt a subtle sense of pride as if he were witnessing his child's growth.
This must be what it felt like to raise a child.
He hugged Shi Qing and spoke, thanking the crowd, "Thank you all for helping Shi Qing today. He's young and doesn't understand much, so thanks for taking care of him."
Regardless of the true nature of the incident, it was best to let Shi Qing take on the role of a young and innocent victim for now.
Afterward, they would have to deal with the instigator who had come out of nowhere.
Yin Mingzheng didn't waste any more words. He surrounded the scam artist with a thin black mist and spoke in a stern tone, "Tell me, who sent you!"
The scam artist, surrounded by supernatural beings, was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he didn't dare to move. His original plan had been to corner Shi Qing and prevent him from leaving. But now, the situation had reversed, and he couldn't escape. Furthermore, Yin Mingzheng, known for his strength, was here. Even if he wanted to run, he didn't dare.
Zhao Miaomiao, who had hired the scam artist through several intermediaries, didn't know what to do when she saw the situation turning bad. She knelt down and desperately kowtowed to Yin Mingzheng, "General Yin, please spare me. Someone hired me to do this, saying they didn't like Young Master Shi and wanted to teach him a lesson. General, you're a big-hearted person, please spare me."
The supernatural beings nearby were also good at reading the situation. When they realized there was a conspiracy behind this, they immediately began to smooth things over. "The parents are here now. This matter can be resolved easily. Everyone, please disperse, and we'll find out what happened."
Yin Mingzheng's protective attitude towards Shi Qing had reassured the commoners, and now that it seemed there was someone pulling the strings from behind, they were also somewhat afraid.
Even though they were ordinary civilians, if someone with power or influence held a grudge against them, they would have no choice but to die.
The commoners all dispersed, clearing the area.
The scruffy man on the ground cautiously raised his head when he saw people leaving. However, when he made eye contact with the cold gaze of the man, he shuddered.
"G-General, I really didn't mean to do anything to the young master. You have to believe me. I just wanted to scare him a bit, just a little scare!"
Yin Mingzheng didn't respond to him. He glanced at his subordinate beside him, and the young supernatural being immediately understood. He used his wood-based abilities to tightly restrain the man.
"Boss, I'll take this guy back for questioning. You can rest assured."
Seeing the man being taken away, Zhao Miaomiao wasn't in a hurry. She had ensured that the man would die in plain sight earlier by administering poison into his body. She calculated that he had just over ten minutes left to live. Even if he spilled the beans before that, once he was dead, there would be no evidence against her.
Calculating that there were no flaws in her plan, Zhao Miaomiao, wearing a white dress, jogged up to the man. She spoke gently, "Mingzheng ge, it's just a coincidence that we met today. There's a restaurant owned by my family up ahead. How about we have a meal together?"
After saying this, she added, fearing Mingzheng wouldn't agree, "Shi Qing seems quite frightened. It might help calm him down."
Calm him down? Yes. Have a meal? No.
Yin Mingzheng thought about bringing Shi Qing back, comforting him properly, and not revealing anything on his face. He replied in a deep voice, "No need, Miss Zhao. I'll take Shi Qing back. Thank you for your offer. Goodbye."
Once again, she failed. Zhao Miaomiao gritted her teeth in frustration.
However, at this moment, Shi Qing, looking aggrieved, spoke up, "Mingzheng, my feet hurt. Can you carry me home?"
"Sure."
Yin Mingzheng directly picked up the young man, lowered his head, and gently bumped his cool forehead against Shi Qing's skin. "You're tired; you can sleep for a while. We'll be home soon."
"Okay."
The young man obediently agreed and snuggled into the man's arms, looking meek and docile.
Zhao Miaomiao, who was trailing behind them, couldn't help but seethe with resentment. Why did a crying child get all the attention? Didn't everyone know how to act?
She forced a smile, caught up to Yin Mingzheng carrying Shi Qing, and said, "Then I'll go back too. It's on the way. Let's walk together... Oops!"
As she walked, she stumbled and fell to the ground.
When Yin Mingzheng instinctively turned to look, she pinched her palm hard, squeezing out some tears, and holding her left ankle in pain, she looked up at him pitifully. "It hurts so much... Mingzheng ge, can you please help me? Take me back."
Yin Mingzheng: "Alright."
Zhao Miaomiao's eyes briefly flickered with joy. Her face was filled with guilt as she said, "I'm so sorry; initially, you said you'd carry Shi Qing back. But now, because of me, he has to walk."
So, this was the kind of person Yin Mingzheng favored?
In Yin Mingzheng's embrace, the young man, who had been quietly asleep, suddenly opened his eyes when he heard her words. Without a word, he extended two fingers from the hand that was pressed against the man's chest and pinched the man's flesh angrily.
Shi Qing's strength was quite surprising, but Yin Mingzheng didn't react. He calmly took out a satellite phone commonly used in the base and made a call. "Hello, this is at the intersection of the Outer District Commercial Street. General Zhao's daughter has been injured here. Please send someone to pick her up."
"Understood, thank you."
After the brief call, he turned his gaze to Zhao Miaomiao, who was lying on the ground in disbelief, "The medical team will be here within ten minutes. You can sit here and wait."
Yin Mingzheng said and politely nodded to her before turning around and walking away, carrying Shi Qing.
Zhao Miaomiao: "Wait! General Yin..."
"Oh, right."
Yin Mingzheng turned back, and Zhao Miaomiao's eyes brightened, thinking he might have changed his mind. However, Yin Mingzheng's expression remained serious.
"The emergency medical call to the treatment center costs one thousand star coins. Please remember to transfer it to me."
With that, he walked away without looking back, leaving Zhao Miaomiao dumbfounded on the ground.
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