TWMOV Chapter 9: The Poor Little Thing Who Suffered Domestic Abuse 09
The arrival of the ambulance and police car shattered the peace of the residential compound. Zhang Mei had already woken up when Yu Mu was banging on the Liang family’s door.
She and her husband Wang Bing came out to see what was happening, and witnessed Liang Han being carried into the ambulance. Yu Mu didn’t follow but stayed behind to speak with the police about what had just occurred.
“Let go of me! Can’t you understand human speech?!” Liang Hua, who had just woken up, was still drunk. Being held by the police with his arm twisted, he cursed loudly, “This is my home! It’s my son—I have every right to beat him! Why are you arresting me?!”
“Mr. Yu, what… what happened?” Zhang Mei came over and asked Yu Mu, “Why are even the police here?”
Yu Mu had just finished explaining everything to the police. Seeing Zhang Mei approach, he pulled her over and said to the officers, “Officers, this is our neighbor in the compound. She’s lived here longer than I have and knows more about what’s gone on in that household. She knows better than I do what Liang Hua has done to Liang Han and his mother all these years. If you don’t trust me, you can ask her.”
Then, turning to Zhang Mei, he said, “Sister Zhang, I’ve been holding back for months, but what Liang Hua did tonight went too far. He broke Liang Han’s leg. I don’t dare to think what would have happened if I’d come a little later—maybe the kid would’ve died at his father’s hands.
“I’m his teacher. I’ll help him fight this case in court. When the time comes, we’ll need witnesses. I hope you and your husband can help him—just tell the truth.”
He spoke sincerely, and Zhang Mei was moved. She nodded in agreement.
“Sigh, I don’t know what kind of sins that mother and son must’ve committed in a past life to deserve this kind of monster…”
She sighed and cooperated with the police, along with her husband Wang Bing, recounting years of domestic violence committed by Liang Hua.
Before being put into the police car, Liang Hua glared fiercely at Yu Mu, as if he wanted to skin him alive. He shouted, “You brat surnamed Yu, just you wait!”
Yu Mu watched coldly as he was handcuffed and taken away. The hatred and fury inside him didn’t subside.
He kept telling himself this was a fictional world—that he needed to stay calm, stay detached—but when Liang Han clutched at his sleeve and cried out in pain, he had truly, truly felt a murderous rage.
Such a good kid, going through such pain and misfortune at an age when he should be blooming with youth.
He wanted to do something for him.
But what could he do?
By the time everything in the compound was settled, it was already past 1 a.m.
Yu Mu didn’t sleep. He threw on a thin coat, got on his bicycle, and rode to the hospital where Liang Han was staying.
After parking his bike in the shed, he asked at the information desk for Liang Han’s room. He went up to the third floor, opened the door, and saw Liang Han lying there with a bandage wrapped around his head, a plaster cast on his right leg suspended on a support, eyes closed as if asleep.
Yu Mu pulled a chair over and sat by the bed, resting his elbows on it, hunching forward and burying his face in his hands, his throat tight with emotion.
He was full of remorse for everything that had happened that night.
But Liang Han wasn’t actually asleep.
His head was still spinning, but the sharp pain of his fractured leg kept him awake and alert.
So the moment Yu Mu entered the room, he was already aware of him.
After spending so much time together, Liang Han had come to understand Yu Mu’s personality well.
His teacher was mature and composed, had a clear sense of right and wrong, but he had a habit of taking all the responsibility upon himself.
This incident clearly wasn’t his fault. More accurately, it had nothing to do with him.
Even if Yu Mu hadn’t shown up in time and he had died at the hands of his father, Yu Mu wouldn’t have been to blame.
But seeing him like this, Liang Han felt a shameful sense of joy.
So he meant this much to his teacher…
He wanted to have a little more of that… maybe even a lot more…
“Mr. Yu…” Liang Han slowly opened his eyes, his lashes trembling slightly, brows furrowed in pain.
He gently grabbed the hem of Yu Mu’s coat and said hoarsely, “You’re here.”
As soon as he moved, Yu Mu noticed and quickly lifted his head from his hands, saying, “Why are you awake? The doctor said you had a mild concussion and needed rest.”
“It hurts. I can’t sleep…” Liang Han sat up, leaning against the bed frame. He instinctively held Yu Mu’s lowered hand, grasping it lightly, feeling the comforting warmth, and a strange emotion suddenly welled up in him.
He didn’t want to let go. He never wanted to let go again.
But what could he do with the way things were now?
If Liang Hua continued treating him like this, sooner or later, he’d make an irreversible mistake.
How could he live up to his teacher’s expectations then? How could he ever stand beside him?
“Teacher, actually I…” After a while, he thought of a way.
His eyes flickered with fear and pain. Liang Han’s cold hand clutched Yu Mu’s tightly, his face pale, voice choked with emotion, “I was scared today… scared I’d die at my father’s hands… scared I wouldn’t be able to protect my mom anymore… scared I’d never see you again… I don’t want to die, teacher… I don’t want to die…”
He perfectly portrayed the fear of a boy on the brink of collapse after years of abuse, even letting tears fall and stain the bedsheet.
If the moment he saw Yu Mu while half-conscious after the beating was his genuine vulnerability…
Then now, he was half pretending.
Only Liang Hua knew what kind of eyes Liang Han had when he beat him.
Eyes like those of a beast, eyes that wanted to kill.
Before passing out, Liang Han heard the sirens—Yu Mu had called the police.
He didn’t know if Yu Mu would help him press charges against Liang Hua, but this was his only chance.
He hoped Teacher Yu would help send Liang Hua to prison. He wanted to break free from his control, to stand in the sunlight beside Yu Mu and become someone he could be proud of.
The thin, pale boy just clutched the man’s hand, sitting on the hospital bed with his head down, shoulders trembling, his voice overflowing with despair.
It was the first time Yu Mu had seen Liang Han cry.
Liang Han always showed him his best side—always well-behaved, never crying, not even when treating wounds.
But now, it was like he’d finally exposed the fear buried deep inside him. Like a child, he broke down and wept, pouring out all his pain.
Yu Mu’s eyes stung.
He stood up and embraced Liang Han, gently patting his back. “Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid, Xiao Han. From now on, I’ll protect you. I won’t let him hurt you again.”
Liang Han sobbed and wrapped one arm around Yu Mu’s slim waist, holding tightly. Resting his head on the warmth of the man’s chest, a glint of light flickered in his eyes—then he closed them.
I’m sorry, Teacher Yu… for using you.
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