Chapter 75.2

Lin Xiao had the closest relationship with Bai Qingzhu. In fact, she had raised him. His hatred for Commander Xie surpassed even that of Xie Yanzhao!

“True,” Commander Xie wiped the blood from his lip, grinning annoyingly. “If it weren’t for you, I’d never have gotten close to Qingzhu or become who I am today.”

“You don’t deserve to speak my sister’s name!”

Mentioning the past, Lin Xiao’s eyes turned bloodshot. Looking at Commander Xie’s cold and ungrateful face, he punched him again.

He felt a surge of anger, wishing he could kill Commander Xie. But the latter was no pushover, and he quickly caught Lin Xiao’s fist.

“Lin Xiao, I’m being polite, but don’t overstep!”

“Someone like you deserves to die!”

With a swift kick, Lin Xiao sent Commander Xie flying.

He crashed onto the coffee table, knocking everything off it. The items fell to the floor with a loud crash.

“Commander!”

Watching the two fight, Xiao Zhou was anxious, but their movements were too intense for him to intervene.

Lin Xiao had been training his body for many years, preparing for this day. Commander Xie, on the other hand, had been worn out by indulgence and was much older—he was no match for Lin Xiao.

Though he wasn’t being beaten down entirely, he was definitely taking more hits.

Seeing the situation escalate, Xiao Zhou ran outside to call for help.

When they finally managed to pull the two apart, both were injured.

Lin Xiao’s fist was bruised, and he had a swollen mark by his eye.

In comparison, Commander Xie looked significantly worse.

His clothes were torn, and he had been hit hard enough that his face was swollen and blood streamed from his nose, making him look utterly miserable.

Lin Xiao’s chest rose and fell with anger. “Old Xie, remember this. If I find out your mistress or your burden comes to trouble my nephew’s wife again, I’ll break you!”

He shouted, and those holding Commander Xie quickly released him.

Like Qi Yangyan, Lin Xiao had recently become a familiar face in the army. Among the people present today, half of them recognized him.

Knowing he was a high-ranking official from the Foreign Ministry and that he was seeking revenge for Commander Xie, the soldiers had no intention of troubling him. Given how badly Commander Xie was beaten, they almost wanted to set off firecrackers in celebration.

The gossip about the nanny causing a stir in the family compound had already spread, and military wives had dug up all the dirt on both of them.

Afterward… ugh!

It turned out to be such a disgusting piece of gossip.

Now, the biggest talk in the family compound was about the nanny and Commander Xie’s scandal, with rumors even reaching the military hospital.

Otherwise, that mother and daughter wouldn’t have been discharged while still injured.

Lin Xiao adjusted his clothes, looking mockingly at the beaten Commander Xie, surrounded by people.

“You’d better remember my words.”

Commander Xie pointed a trembling finger at Lin Xiao’s retreating figure. “You… you’ve gone too far!”

As he was leaving, Lin Xiao coincidentally bumped into Xie Yin. He shot her a cold glance before turning away.

Xie Yin frowned, muttering, “Crazy!”

Just as she turned her head, she saw Commander Xie being carried out, covered in blood.

Xie Yin gasped and rushed over, panicking, “Dad! What happened to you, Dad!”

Her eyes were red with worry as she grabbed the hem of Commander Xie’s clothing.

“Dad… who did this to you?”

Commander Xie didn’t respond. He had already fainted from anger at Lin Xiao.

Seeing Xie Yin’s distressed expression, Xiao Zhou felt a bit comforted.

At least all the pain he endured wasn’t in vain for this girl.

“I’ll take the Commander to the hospital. You wait for your mother to come back,” he instructed briefly. “Then you can come together.”

“Okay!”

Xiao Zhou hurriedly took Commander Xie away. Although Xie Yin was frantic, his instruction helped her keep her composure.

When she returned, she was greeted by a complete mess.

There were several drops of blood on the previously pristine floor. Xie Yin wrinkled her nose in disgust as she stepped around it and sat on the only intact sofa in the living room.

She raised her hand to check the time: 3:40 PM!

She wanted to call Bai Qianzhu but had no idea where she was. It was strange. Her mother had been going out frequently lately, staying away for two or three hours each time.

If only her mother occasionally brought back some pretty jewelry or clothes, she might know where Bai Qianzhu had gone.

After waiting for a long time, just when she was about to lose her patience, Bai Qianzhu returned, beaming with joy.

“Mom, where have you been?”

“I went to get my hair done,” Bai Qianzhu said, twirling around proudly. “Does it look good?”

Xie Yin’s eyes widened in shock. “Mom, you cut your hair?!”

Bai Qianzhu smiled slightly.

However, instead of answering, she walked past Xie Yin.

Feeling exhausted, she didn’t bother to get herself a glass of water. When Bai Qianzhu saw the messy living room, she exclaimed, “What happened here?!”

“I was just about to tell you,” Xie Yin quickly responded, remembering the serious matter at hand. “Mom, something big happened! Dad was beaten and is in the hospital.”

Bai Qianzhu was genuinely shocked.

“In the hospital?” She seemed not to fully grasp what she had heard. “Who beat him?”

Xie Yin shook her head.

“I don’t know,” she leaned in closer and whispered, “Mom, Dad is a commander, and he was beaten up like this. What should we do?”

Xie Yin gestured with her fingers as if indicating they should run.

“Fool!”

Bai Qianzhu shot her a glare.

“Your dad was just beaten up. There’s no need to run!”

Xie Yin pressed her lips together.

She didn’t want to run either, but the person she had encountered that afternoon had such fierce eyes that it frightened her.

Thinking back, she couldn’t help but shiver.

Bai Qianzhu quickly made a decision in her heart. “Let’s hurry to the hospital.”

Given Commander Xie’s status, even if he was hospitalized, he would be in a military ward. Even without anyone telling them, they knew where to find him.

By the time Bai Qianzhu arrived, Commander Xie was already awake.

“Old Xie, how are you? Are you okay—”

With a loud “smack,” not only did it startle Xie Yin and Xiao Zhou, but it shocked Bai Qianzhu herself.

She had always known that Commander Xie wasn’t a very patient person. Thanks to her gentleness, he had never laid a finger on her. She had thought she had entered this man’s heart, but today’s slap brought Bai Qianzhu back to reality.

“Mom!”

Bai Qianzhu covered her face, stepping sideways to shield Xie Yin from further harm.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she pitifully said, “Old Xie, are you okay?”

Seeing that her first response was not to question but to care about his well-being, Commander Xie relaxed slightly, though he still looked ominously grim.

“Why did you go looking for trouble with Yanzhao’s wife?”

Bai Qianzhu’s heart skipped a beat.

“Old Xie, I—”

“Dad,” Xie Yin jumped in fearlessly, “you already know, don’t you? Who locked us in that place? I couldn’t stand it, so I—”

She tugged at her clothes, muttering, “…It’s not like they were in the right.”

“Xie Yin!”

Bai Qianzhu glared at her.

“Old Xie, she’s just a child talking back. Please don’t take it seriously,” she sighed. “Ultimately, it’s my fault…”

“Bullshit!”

Commander Xie’s face turned dark as he swept everything off the bedside table.

Hot water that Xiao Zhou had just brought spilled onto the floor, splattering some drops right onto Bai Qianzhu’s foot. The intense burning sensation quickly surged through her, but she didn’t dare cry out in pain.

In fact, she didn’t dare show even the slightest sign of it.

Bai Qianzhu bit her lip, trying to endure the pain.

“That ungrateful child, Xie Yanzhao!”

The more Commander Xie thought about it, the angrier he became.

Did he really think he couldn’t handle his own son?

“Xiao Zhou, go fetch that bastard Xie Yanzhao for me.”

“Commander…”

Xiao Zhou, who had been with Commander Xie the longest, understood their complicated relationship. He also knew that Xie Yanzhao would absolutely not come.

“Can’t I give you orders? Go!”

Commander Xie was already in a rage. Bai Qianzhu had been slapped, so Xiao Zhou didn’t dare provoke him further and had to comply.

His chest heaved with anger, gasping for breath.

At that moment, Bai Qianzhu didn’t dare to approach, and the hospital room fell silent.

She quietly took Xie Yin and stepped outside.

Once they were out of the hospital room, Bai Qianzhu’s face darkened. She touched her slapped cheek, her eyes reflecting a cold glint.

Ever since she got involved with Commander Xie, it had been a long time since she had faced such humiliation.

“Mom,” Xie Yin looked at her, “are you okay?”

“Shut up!”

Bai Qianzhu shot her a fierce glare.

The menacing look frightened Xie Yin.

“Do you want to die?” Bai Qianzhu pulled her away from the ward, reminding her in a low voice, “If your dad hears you, do you know what the consequences will be?”

Xie Yin, filled with dread, covered her mouth.

“Mom, why is Dad so terrifying today?”

Bai Qianzhu took a deep breath, a mocking expression on her face.

What else could it be?

He had been beaten so badly; anyone would be angry.

Bai Qianzhu shook her head.

She hoped that Xie Yanzhao would come quickly so that Commander Xie could vent his anger. This way, their lives would be better.

However, it was destined to disappoint her.

Xiao Zhou walked in dejectedly, followed by even louder shouts and curses from the hospital room.

Xie Yin shrank her neck and anxiously clutched Bai Qianzhu’s clothes.

“Mom…”

“Don’t be afraid.”

As the thunderous scolding echoed in her ears, Bai Qianzhu’s eyes flickered with impatience.

……

By evening, Mrs. Ruan finally returned, her mood visibly heavy and serious.

“Mom, where have you been?” Ruan Mingfu wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction. “Why did you come back so late without calling me?”

How infuriating!

“You sleep like a pig. Who told you to?”

“Mom!”

Every time, she belittled her. If it weren’t for their previous life connection, Ruan Mingfu might really think she was adopted.

“By the way, come with me tomorrow to rescue someone.”

“Rescue someone?” Ruan Mingfu frowned tightly, “Who?”

“Your cousin.”