Xia Jingmo's nails dug deep into his palms as he stared at the disheveled Pei Zhi curled up on the beige sofa. A brown bandage was wrapped around Pei Zhi's exposed ankle, and his mud-stained sneakers rested on the freshly washed sofa cover.
Everything about him was revolting.
Xia Jingmo's words rubbed Pei Zhi the wrong way. He snapped, "Who are you calling a bum? Is that any way to talk to someone?!"
Xia Jingmo was about to argue, but Song Yixiao caught his wrist and pulled him aside. "He's Pei Yang's father. He sprained his ankle, so he's staying with us for a few days. As soon as he's better, I'll send him on his way."
"Pei Yang's father?! Are you fucking insane?!" Xia Jingmo's pupils contracted sharply as he stared at Song Yixiao, unable to fathom him. He glanced back at Pei Zhi, then dragged Song Yixiao into the bedroom in alarm. "Don't you know he killed someone?!"
"What do you mean, killed someone? That's taking things out of context. You believe those rumors from school too?" Song Yixiao said helplessly. "He didn't murder anyone. Someone just died because of him. If he'd really committed murder, would he only have gotten five years?"
"I don't care whether he actually murdered anyone! He has someone's death on his hands. Where the hell did you pick him up? Take him back wherever you found him."
"I've already brought him home. How can I kick him out now?!"
"What are you, a reincarnated saint? Why can't you?" Xia Jingmo glared at Song Yixiao. "He's Pei Yang's father, not yours. Is anyone going to accuse you of being an unfilial son if you throw him out?"
Song Yixiao didn't dare admit to Xia Jingmo that he had kept Pei Zhi around to