Chapter 19 – The Scumbag Father’s Family Locked in the Basement and Tormented

“Step aside, let me take a look!”

Disguised as a middle-aged man and speaking in a deep voice, Song Kexing strode over.

Song Jian eyed her warily. “Who are you? Where’s Song Kexing?”

Song Kexing replied, “You mean that disfigured comrade? She brought me to the basement door and then left. I don’t know where she went.”

He Ling rushed over. “Doctor! Hurry and check on my son—how is he?!”

Song Kexing assessed Song Fubao’s condition and replied in a low voice, “He’s in a high fever-induced coma. I’ll give him antipyretics and antibiotics. He should wake up soon.”

She pulled out some medicine from her shoulder bag and handed it to He Ling to feed to Song Fubao.

“Wait a second!” Song Jian looked at her suspiciously. “Where exactly did Song Kexing find you? What if that medicine is dangerous?”

“I’m a street doctor she paid for on the black market. Whether you believe me or not, that’s your decision.”

Feigning anger, Song Kexing flung her sleeve and walked away in large strides.

Once outside, Song Kexing ordered coldly, “Maruko, find an iron chain from the space and lock the basement door!”

That scumbag still didn’t understand the situation.

Fine—let him savor what it’s like to be trapped and suffer!

——

In the basement.

After some hesitation and under He Ling’s urging, Song Jian finally gave Song Fubao the medicine.

By the afternoon, Song Fubao’s fever had broken, and he regained consciousness.

Song Jian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He Ling collapsed to the ground, tears in her eyes, crying to the heavens for mercy.

That day, the three of them only drank some water. They hadn’t eaten a single bite of food.

There was only one box of pastries left.

Starving, Song Fubao ate half the box.

Song Jian had some too.

Staring at the remaining half, He Ling swallowed hard but couldn’t bring herself to eat any.

Song Fubao asked, “Mom, why aren’t you eating?”

He Ling smiled. “It’s fine, I’m not hungry.”

Song Fubao: “Oh, then I’ll have another one!”

He Ling: ……

——

After a sleepless night of torment.

Their injuries were slightly better, and they decided to take the initiative.

But when they tried to open the basement door, they realized it was locked from the outside.

No matter how hard they shook it, the door didn’t budge.

By the third day of being trapped in the basement, the scumbag family was at their breaking point.

Song Jian howled furiously toward the ceiling:

“Song Kexing, you ungrateful wretch! If I’d known you’d be this unfilial, I should’ve strangled you at birth!”

He Ling’s face twisted in rage as she screamed:

“Song Kexing, you bitch! Open the door! Bitch!”

“AHHH!” Song Fubao vented all his anger on the door, kicking it madly.

But no one responded.

Exhausted, the three collapsed on the floor, their stomachs rumbling.

Counting the pastries left, there were seven pieces.

In the end, Song Jian ate two, He Ling ate one, and Song Fubao ate two. That left two pieces.

The pastries were about the size of sponge cakes—gone in a few bites, offering no real satiety.

Another day passed in agonizing hunger.

——

Day Four.

The last two pastries were split between Song Jian and Song Fubao. He Ling didn’t eat any.

The water bottle was empty. The food was completely gone.

After four days of not eating properly, all three looked pale and sickly.

——

Song Jian clutched his empty stomach, bitterness in his mouth.

“This can’t go on. We have to talk to that unfilial girl, or we’ll starve to death!”

That night, Song Jian stood by the basement door shouting wildly, finally drawing Song Kexing over.

Song Jian pleaded, “Let us out! I’ll agree to any condition!”

Song Kexing replied coolly, “Sure. Hand over all of my mother’s dowry and your family’s ancestral property, and I’ll let you out.”

Song Jian’s face instantly turned dark. “I told you—I don’t have it! Why can’t you let this go? Are you mentally ill?!”

Song Kexing sneered. “If you won’t tell me, then I’ll be leaving.”

“Mom, I’m so hungry…” Song Fubao cried.

Unable to bear her son’s suffering, He Ling said, “Jianye, maybe we should just give her the property…”

“Shut up!” Song Jian slapped her hard. “I told you it’s gone! You idiot, saying such things!”

He Ling clutched her cheek, eyes full of sorrow.

Her ex-husband, Song Chengye, was strict but always respectful and caring—he had never hit her.

But now, within just a few days, her current husband had already hit her multiple times.

She knew he was frustrated from all the terrible events lately, but… she felt deeply wronged.

Outside the door, Song Kexing listened in without emotion.

Her scumbag father had always been selfish. He turned against anyone who threatened his interests—family meant nothing to him.

The so-called “loving couple” relationship shattered in that moment.

Heh.

Song Kexing gave a cold laugh and turned to leave.

Hearing her footsteps fade, Song Jian finally relaxed a little.

Seeing his wife sulking, he grew impatient.

“He Ling, do you realize you nearly ruined everything just now? If that unfilial brat finds out the property still exists, she’ll never let it go.

If we give her everything, what will we live on once we move abroad? Fresh air?”

Song Fubao quickly added, “Dad, Mom only said that because she’s worried about us. Don’t scold her anymore.

Besides, what if Song Kexing never lets us out? What if we miss the ship in two days? We have to figure out a way to get out.”

Hearing his son speak, Song Jian’s tone softened a bit:

“I already told my friend—if I’m not there the night after tomorrow, he’ll come looking for me at home…”

Hearing this, Song Fubao lit up.

So, there was still hope of escaping!

He turned and tried to comfort his mom. “Mom, don’t be upset. Dad didn’t mean to hit you.”

“I understand.” He Ling forced a smile at her son’s words, but inside she felt bitter.

She suddenly realized that the son she had raised so painstakingly was just like his father—selfish to the core.

——

Day Five.

No food. No water.

All of them were listless, on the verge of collapse.

He Ling was still resentful over being hit and refused to speak out of spite.

Silence engulfed the basement.

She had eaten the least over the past few days.

That night, her body finally gave out.

It felt like a thousand starving ants were gnawing at her insides—she writhed in agony.

“Ahhh! It hurts! It hurts so bad! Help me…”

Clutching her stomach, she rolled on the ground in pain.

The sight terrified both Song Jian and Song Fubao—they had no idea what to do.

For two hours, He Ling thrashed on the floor, drenched in sweat as if she had been pulled out of water.

After a while, Song Fubao cautiously asked, “Mom, are you feeling better?”

He Ling gritted her teeth. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

But she still felt a twinge of disappointment.

When her son had a high fever, she had knelt and begged Song Kexing for help.

Now that she was in unbearable pain, her son only asked once—and did nothing else.

As for that so-called husband of hers, he was even worse.

In that moment, He Ling’s heart went completely cold.