Chapter 115: A Bleak Life

"What do you think you're doing? I'm warning you, it's broad daylight!"

Pei Zhijun had seen Qin Tian's skills before, so as Qin Tian closed in on him, he instinctively retreated, hiding behind his three lackeys.

"Are you going to accuse me of robbery in broad daylight, in the middle of a clear sky? Too bad you aren't a girl," Qin Tian shrugged, brushing the three lackeys aside.

Having suffered at Qin Tian’s hands before, the lackeys dared not step forward to intervene.

"Don't come any closer! Stay back!" Pei Zhijun continued to back away.

"Is bullying people that fun? Well, I'm going to bully you a little then!" Qin Tian grabbed Pei Zhijun by the back of his neck and hoisted him up like a chick.

"Bullying? He’s just a dog my family raised! I can bully him however I want!"

"Didn't you say you were his brother? I don't know if you're his brother, but I am certainly his!" Pei Zhijun screamed.

Qin Tian froze. What was this? He turned to look at Tang Bo, who instinctively lowered his head.

"Don't you know? Tang Bo was adopted by my family; he's nothing more than a dog we raised!"

"For all these years, he's eaten our food and used our things. So what if I bully him? I’m his brother!" Pei Zhijun yelled.

Qin Tian was stunned. So, it was Pei Zhijun’s family who had adopted Tang Bo! However, a flash of anger crossed Qin Tian’s face. Even if he was adopted, he was still family! How could family bully family? Was the only reason they adopted Tang Bo to bully and order him around? If that was the case, why not just hire a servant?

"This is our family business, so it has nothing to do with you!" Pei Zhijun pushed Qin Tian aside and walked toward Tang Bo. "Fatty, come with me!" he commanded, pointing at Tang Bo.

Tang Bo’s expression was pained, yet he followed obediently. Years of abuse had cultivated a sense of servitude in him; he dared not resist Pei Zhijun.

"Wait!" Qin Tian stepped forward and blocked the two of them. He wasn't going to let this go. Was he supposed to let Tang Bo be bullied by Pei Zhijun for the rest of his life?

"What do you want now?" Pei Zhijun asked, frowning. He knew he couldn't beat Qin Tian, so he was swallowing his pride for now, but he wouldn't let this slide. He planned to call his cousin and get some people to deal with Qin Tian.

"This is essentially domestic abuse, and I hope we can resolve it peacefully," Qin Tian said.

"Resolve your sister! This is my family's business; it’s not your place to interfere!" Pei Zhijun snorted. He felt he was in the right, so he wasn't as afraid anymore.

"I want to resolve this properly, but if this is your attitude, I'll have to use my fists," Qin Tian said expressionlessly.

"Hmph! You can protect him for a moment, but can you protect him for a lifetime? Just you wait!" With that, Pei Zhijun left with his three lackeys. He realized that a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him; he would let Qin Tian have his moment.

"Brother Tian, I..." Tang Bo looked at Qin Tian and sighed.

"Let's find a place to talk," Qin Tian replied with a sigh of his own.

Eventually, they found a small café, ordered two coffees, and sat in silence. Qin Tian waited for Tang Bo to speak first, while Tang Bo waited for Qin Tian to ask. The steam rising from the coffee made the atmosphere hazy.

"Brother Tian, half a year after you were adopted, I was adopted too—by Pei Zhijun’s parents," Tang Bo finally began.

Qin Tian nodded for him to continue.

"They adopted me because Pei Zhijun’s mother couldn't conceive at first. They tried for years with no luck. At the start, life in the Pei household was truly happy. I had plenty of food and clothing, and I was carefree. They treated me like their own son, and I thought my good days had finally begun."

"But half a year after they adopted me—I remember it was an afternoon—I heard them come home. I was standing on the stairs and saw them holding a piece of paper, looking absolutely ecstatic. Dad even picked Mom up and spun her around."

"Then Mom saw me and signaled to Dad. I saw Dad frown slightly when he looked at me, and I suddenly had a bad feeling."

"Later, I snuck a look at that paper. I was young and didn't know what it was, but when I grew up, I realized it was a pregnancy report."

"Watching Mom’s belly grow day by day, I felt empty. They stopped paying attention to me. Sometimes they would even forget to call me for dinner."

"Once Pei Zhijun was born, my nightmare began. I was kicked out of the upstairs rooms and moved into the storage room on the first floor."

"All the chores in the house fell to me. I was only four years old then!"

"As Pei Zhijun grew, the nightmare worsened. He bullied me in every way possible. Even though he was four years younger than me, he always made me call him 'brother'."

Tang Bo fell silent, reopening his old wounds as he recounted the past.

"So, he’s only fifteen now?" Qin Tian asked, surprised. Pei Zhijun didn't look fifteen at all; he looked like he was eighteen or nineteen.

"Yes. Perhaps because my parents had him so late, Pei Zhijun was unusually bright from a young age. He grew quickly, too. He finished elementary school at nine, middle school at eleven, and high school at fourteen. Now, he’s a freshman in college, just like me," Tang Bo said.

Qin Tian was surprised; the kid was a genius!

"Brother Tian, don't worry about me. Things are okay now; at least I'm not hungry or cold," Tang Bo said.

"How can you say that? Are you willing to be bullied by him for your entire life?" Qin Tian shook his head. He had to find a way to help Tang Bo escape this misery.

"It’s no use. I’ve thought about suing to leave the Pei family, but every lawyer refused me the moment they heard it involved the Pei family. Because of the 'Four Dragons of the Capital,' no one dares to offend them," Tang Bo said with a bitter smile.

"The law is the most logical path, but not necessarily the most effective. Don't worry, leave this to me. If we can use the law, great. If not, then I will..."

"Please don't kill anyone!" Tang Bo said, startled.

"What are you thinking? I don't do illegal things!" Qin Tian was speechless. He was just thinking about threatening the Pei family.

"Oh, right," Tang Bo nodded.

"Stay with me for now, until this is settled," Qin Tian said, wanting to keep Tang Bo out of harm's way.

"Alright," Tang Bo hesitated, then agreed.