Chapter 4: “Xie Shiyu, I Scared Your Mom Unconscious.”

Naturally, Xie Jingzhou and Xie Jingting didn’t leave right away.

Greeting Zhang Xuefeng was still necessary—manners matter.

They learned that Zhang Xuefeng wasn’t moving back to Nancheng, only here briefly for a case, and would soon return to Yun City.

Once they reached the airport exit, everyone parted ways. Zhang Xuefeng left in a police vehicle that had come to pick him up.

Today, to pick someone up, the Xie brothers had driven a spacious Maybach. Otherwise, most of their cars were sports models—not suitable for extra passengers or large luggage.

The trunk opened.

Tushan Jiu collapsed the telescopic handles of her suitcases, preparing to lift them into the trunk.

Xie Jingzhou pressed his lips together. He still felt it was improper for a girl to carry her own luggage.

But… back at the airport, after saying goodbye to Zhang Xuefeng, the brothers had tried to take the suitcases from her.

Despite Xie Jingting’s clear reluctance, he had at least intended to help—he wasn’t so ill-mannered as to leave her struggling alone.

The shameful part?

Neither of them could lift her suitcases.

Xie Jingting couldn’t take it anymore. Leaning against the car door, he watched as Tushan Jiu effortlessly lifted a suitcase that he had failed to move even using all his strength.

“What the heck did you pack in that thing? Why’s it so heavy?”

Tushan Jiu looked down at the suitcase in her hand, ignored his question, and said mildly, “It’s fine. I didn’t think it was heavy. You need to work out.”

Not particularly hurtful, but deeply insulting.

Xie Jingting exploded. “Lack of exercise? Do you even know—I hit the gym for two hours every day! I can run marathons without even—without even breathing heavy!”

“If you don’t breathe, you’d be dead.”

Xie Jingting choked. “No, that’s not what I meant—I meant I don’t even pant while running!”

“That’s impossible,” Tushan Jiu replied seriously. “When a human undergoes high-intensity exercise, their muscles require a large amount of oxygen for aerobic respiration. The longer the workout, the higher the oxygen demand, which causes an increase in both respiratory rate and depth. So breathing naturally becomes labored. Heart and lung capacity also plays a role, but I won’t go into that. The conclusion is: no one can run a 1500-meter race without breathing heavily.”

She calmly and earnestly delivered this scientific explanation, leaving Xie Jingting completely speechless.

Xie Jingzhou scratched his temple with a finger. This sister-in-law of ours is really something.

Seems like, aside from their big brother, the Xie family had now gained someone else who could put Xie Jingting in his place.

Tushan Jiu climbed into the car. Behind her, Xie Jingting kicked a roadside curb in frustration.

Xie Jingzhou stood at the driver’s side door and knocked on the car, grinning. “Still kicking? Your match has arrived~”

Xie Jingting: “……”

Inside the car, Tushan Jiu unwrapped another lollipop and popped it into her mouth, letting out a soft chuckle.

The Xie family was pretty fun.

Except… there was a faint patch of black qi hovering over Third Brother’s fate line—it gave her a bad feeling.

Clunk—the car door closed.

The engine started.

Xie Jingting didn’t get in. Instead, he angrily hailed a taxi and left.

In the back seat, Tushan Jiu played with the jade bracelet on her wrist. Thinking back to Xie Jingting’s reaction, she suddenly realized—oh. He had been angry.

After a moment of reflection, she asked Xie Jingzhou, who was driving, “Was I too blunt? Did I make Third Brother angry?”

Xie Jingzhou froze.

He tried hard not to laugh, shoulders shaking.

So all this time, she didn’t even realize Xie Jingting was mad?

Grandpa sure had found their eldest brother a real treasure.

“Jingting’s always like that. He’ll get over it soon. Don’t mind him, Sister-in-law.”

Tushan Jiu let out a breath of relief. She really wasn’t good at interpersonal stuff—it was all too complicated. She preferred to just say what was on her mind.

“It’s fine. I won’t hold it against him.”

That ended the conversation. The car fell into silence.

Only when they arrived at the Xie family estate did the conversation pick up again.

After getting out and retrieving her luggage from the trunk, Tushan Jiu turned to Xie Jingzhou and said, “Second Brother, would you like to pawn a blade?”

Xie Jingzhou was familiar with this line—Grandpa had talked about it endlessly.

To be honest, he was a scientist, someone who believed in logic and evidence.

But he wouldn’t outright deny what he couldn’t yet prove. Still, he wouldn’t believe it until he saw it with his own eyes.

That said, since she brought it up, and she was his sister-in-law, he couldn’t refuse.

“Alright, Sister-in-law. I’ll pawn one too.”

He was curious—what prophecy would this sister-in-law give him?

Tushan Jiu raised her eyebrows, turned, and opened the white suitcase on her right.

The moment it opened, Xie Jingzhou sucked in a breath.

No wonder it was so heavy—inside were knives of every size and shape.

Cleavers, chef’s knives, fruit knives, scissors, even nail clippers.

Basically, any common blade you could think of—her suitcase was packed with them.

There had to be at least a hundred inside.

The most numerous were nail clippers and baby nail scissors.

That made sense—easy to carry, easy to trade.

Xie Jingzhou didn’t say anything. He just waited for her to make a move.

She casually pulled out a pair of tiny scissors, shut the suitcase, and handed them to him.

“Even though we’re about to be family, rules are rules. I still need payment. Hmm… let’s say 1,000 yuan.”

1,000 yuan—enough for a hotpot dinner. Her appetite was bigger than most and not cheap to maintain.

Xie Jingzhou took the scissors.

Tushan Jiu’s lips curved. “The transaction is initiated. After 10 p.m. tonight, don’t let Third Brother touch anything red—otherwise, he’ll suffer a blood-related misfortune. In severe cases, he could injure his leg and be permanently disabled.”

Just then, Aunt Xu Airu, who had come out to welcome Tushan Jiu, cried out in alarm:

“Oh no! Jingting got home before you. He went straight to the garage—and he took his favorite red Lamborghini!”

Xie Jingzhou froze. It must be coincidence.

But Xu Airu had personally witnessed a Blade Debtor’s abilities. Since Tushan Jiu had made the deal, then her youngest son would definitely face this calamity. She panicked.

While Xie Jingzhou was still in a daze, she smacked his back.

“Why are you just standing there?! Call Jingting! My phone’s inside!”

Snapping out of it, Xie Jingzhou glanced at Tushan Jiu, then pulled out his phone to call his brother.

The call went through—no answer.

He tried again—still no answer.

Xu Airu was now pacing in circles, frantic. “What are we gonna do?! Why isn’t that brat answering?! Jingzhou, hurry and call the boys he hangs out with—see if they’re with him!”

Xie Jingzhou felt she was overreacting.

Even if this was real—and he wasn’t saying it was—there were still four hours until 10 p.m. They’d definitely find Xie Jingting in time.

Tushan Jiu pressed her lips together and said, “Auntie, there’s no need to panic. It’s just a weak little female ghost. Since I’ve already pawned the blade, I’ll handle it. You don’t need to worry.”

But the moment Xu Airu heard the words “female ghost,” her whole body trembled. She didn’t even hear the rest.

Her mind was stuck on: There’s a ghost?!

Eyes rolled back—she fainted.

“Mom!” Xie Jingzhou reacted quickly, catching her.

Tushan Jiu said urgently, “Press her philtrum!”

Xie Jingzhou immediately complied.

By then, the house staff had heard the commotion and rushed out—some calling emergency services, others performing first aid.

At that exact moment, Tushan Jiu’s phone rang in her pocket.

She pulled it out.

Xie Shiyu appeared on the screen.

She answered.

A pleasant voice came from the other end:
“Hello, Miss Tushan. This is Xie Shiyu. I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you at the airport due to work. You should be arriving at the estate about now. I’ll be there in about half an hour—see you soon?”

Tushan Jiu silently glanced at the chaotic scene around her, subconsciously raised her thumb to her mouth, and lightly bit it as she said—

“Xie Shiyu, I scared your mom unconscious.”