"How does this kid not know where he's going?"
"Why did he run straight into me?"
"What kind of parent are you, letting your kid run around like that?"
The man launched into a tirade.
He'd been in a good mood...
But that sudden collision had been like a bucket of cold water dumped over his head, jolting him out of his pleasant daydream.
The man's expression darkened.
His tone was no better.
"What did you say?"
The woman's shrill voice rang out without warning, startling the man.
W-what?
The woman stood up.
She held the child close against her.
Faint sounds came from time to time.
The child still seemed to be sobbing.
The woman gently patted the child's back with one hand.
She soothed the child without a word.
"You're a grown man. Aren't you ashamed of picking a fight with a child?"
The woman's eyebrows shot up, her expression displeased.
She wasn't the least bit intimidated by the man's dark expression.
"Besides, why don't you admit you weren't paying attention?"
"This kid came running over, making a racket the whole way. Anyone with working ears could hear."
"You were the one daydreaming, and you have the nerve to blame the child?"
The woman unleashed a torrent of words at the man.
Her booming voice nearly drowned out all the commotion nearby.
She didn't give the man a chance to argue back.
The woman's aggressive demeanor had the man somewhat cowed.
The volume and relentless stream of her words gave him a slight headache.
He reached up and rubbed his temples.
His already unpleasant expression darkened even further.
What a shrew.
He cursed her viciously in his heart.
The unexpected turn of events left everyone stunned.
"Huh...?"
Zhao Luzheng's mouth fell open.