Chapter 20: A Midnight Attack

Xie Zhi stood silently at the doorway, listening to the conversation between the two women. Hearing Jiao Jiao’s words, his heart swelled with indescribable emotions, and his usually calm face softened with warmth.

The door creaked open as someone knocked. Xu Jiaojiao glanced at Hongyan before stepping forward with a smile to open it.

Xie Zhi walked in carrying a bowl of noodles topped with a fried egg, accompanied by a small plate of meat and a bottle of orange soda—a rather decent meal for the night.

Xu Jiaojiao took the food and placed it on the table. “Hongyan, have something to eat. You’ll sleep with me tonight.”

Hongyan nodded, tears streaming down her face as she stuffed the food into her mouth as though it were her last meal.

Jiaojiao stepped outside with Xie Zhi, her soft body leaning against him. They held each other tightly. After a while, Jiaojiao tilted her head up and said, “Husband, thank you.”

Xie Zhi raised an eyebrow. “What are you thanking me for?” Sweat beaded his forehead, but he still carried that familiar woody fragrance.

He gently took her hand and pulled out a small jar of ointment from his pocket. His warm and cool fingers touched hers, sparking an uncontainable sense of intimacy.

The ice-cold ointment soothed her burning wounds. Smiling, Jiaojiao rose on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on the corner of his mouth. “Husband, I love you so much. You don’t know how scared I was today.”

“I was scared too, Jiao Jiao,” Xie Zhi admitted, his strong arms pulling her closer, his head resting in the curve of her neck as he inhaled her scent with a mix of obsession and tenderness. “I can’t wait to marry you.”

“Me too,” Jiaojiao replied mischievously, blinking as she stepped back.

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Late at night, the sound of cicadas chirping outside mingled with the gentle hum of the table fan blowing warm air over their bodies.

Qin Hongyan carefully removed Jiaojiao’s arm draped over her and turned around, staring at the girl’s sweet sleeping face in the silent darkness.

She murmured, “Jiao Jiao, thank you,” before slipping out of bed.

She grabbed a random piece of clothing to wrap herself in and clumsily applied makeup from the cosmetics Jiaojiao had given her earlier. Her movements were both unfamiliar and familiar.

Before marriage, these things were a regular part of her life. But since marrying into the Li family, she hadn’t bought any—too expensive, too impractical. She had even been foolish enough to let her mother’s parting gifts be taken from her.

The vivid red lipstick painted her lips, bringing a hint of color to her pale face. She smiled bitterly at her reflection in the mirror before glancing at the sleeping Jiaojiao one last time and quietly stepping out.

The humid summer night air wrapped around her as she stepped into the courtyard, breathing deeply, perhaps for the last time.

She picked up the axe they used for chopping firewood and weighed it in her hands. Having grown accustomed to heavy labor, she swung it easily a few times in the air. The blade, recently sharpened, glinted coldly under the moonlight.

As she walked out of the courtyard, she startled slightly at the sight of Xie Zhi leaning against a corner wall.

“If you’re here to stop me, don’t bother,” she said flatly, gripping the axe tighter.

Xie Zhi’s narrow black eyes squinted slightly, landing on the axe in her hand. “Jiao Jiao and I can send you to the city. We’ll cover all your expenses. If you kill them, you won’t escape either.”

“I know,” Hongyan replied with a laugh that sounded more like a sob. “But I can’t swallow this rage. After I kill them, you can find me a decent lawyer.”

Xie Zhi watched her disappear into the night with a heavy heart.

Hongyan knew the family only had one fan, which the old woman would likely give to her son and husband. First, she’d deal with the old hag.

Sneaking into the Li family’s house, she found the dog tied at the door miraculously silent.

The snores inside the house were thunderous, making the sound of the door creaking open seem faint in comparison.

Hongyan’s gaze landed on the old woman sleeping soundly. Her hatred surged—why should these monsters sleep peacefully while she bore the brunt of their sins? If the heavens were unjust, she would seek justice herself.

Her grip on the sharp axe tightened. Human bodies were fragile; one swing was all it would take.

She closed her eyes, her hands trembling as she raised the axe.

Just as she was about to bring it down, a pair of strong hands caught her mid-swing.

Startled, she opened her eyes to meet the calm, determined gaze of Xu Yan.

Xu Yan forcibly wrestled the axe from her hands and clamped his hand over her mouth to keep her silent. Half-dragging, half-carrying her, he brought her back to the courtyard.

Once outside, he finally released her, his voice hoarse as he said, “You can’t kill them.”

Hongyan let out a cold laugh, her tear-streaked face twisted with despair. “Why shouldn’t I kill them?”

“If they die, you won’t survive either. Have you thought about your parents?” Xu Yan’s voice softened as he tried to reason with her.

“Even if you survive, you’ll have a criminal record. People might pity you, but they’ll never forget you’re a murderer.”

Xu Yan looked at the trembling woman with deep pity. “The law will punish them. What you’re doing will only destroy yourself.”

“But I’m not satisfied—I’ll never be satisfied! Every night, I dream of killing them. Xu Yan, you’ve never lived my life. How can you tell me to let it go?”

Hongyan’s words were soaked in blood and tears, her eyes bloodshot and filled with pain.

“They tell me to endure, to forgive, but I can’t!”

Xu Yan’s heart ached at the sight of her agony. He threw the axe to the ground and said hoarsely, “If you want revenge, wait for the police to come. There are ways to fight back without destroying yourself.”

“You don’t understand, Xu Yan. Sometimes, killing the person who hurt you is more satisfying than anything else. Even if I try to forget the pain, the scars remain.”

Tears streaming down her face, Hongyan bent down and picked up the axe, slashing it across her own wrist. Warm blood gushed out.

“I can still feel pain. That proves I’m human.”

“Go back. I don’t want you to get involved,” she said quietly, walking back into the house, leaving Xu Yan standing there, powerless as her frail figure disappeared into the shadows.