“Xia Zhi, have you lost your mind?” Chen Xiuping stared at the girl before her in disbelief.  

In the past, Xia Zhi had never once raised her voice at them, let alone barged into the house wielding a knife like this.  

The gleaming blade reflected the sunlight, casting a chilling glint.  

Xia Zhi’s expression was cold as ice as she stared at them, her gaze frosty.  

Seeing the fear in their eyes, she tightened her grip on the knife. Sure enough, they were nothing but spineless bullies who only preyed on the weak.  

In the end, Chen Xiuping had no choice but to take Hao Liping and clean up Xia Zhi’s room.  

The entire time, Xia Zhi stood motionless at the doorway, knife in hand, like a silent statue.  

The warm sunlight gently bathed her dry, yellowish hair, adding a faint, almost ethereal glow to her already weary appearance.  

Her small, delicate face bore a barely perceptible coldness that sent shivers down the spine.  

To the others in the courtyard, she looked like a vengeful spirit.  

The Gu family had long shut their doors and windows, afraid she might come for them next.  

“Done.”  

Chen Xiuping and Hao Liping walked to the doorway, clutching the soiled bedding, their eyes flickering warily to the knife in Xia Zhi’s hand.  

Hao Liping pressed her lips into a thin line, studying Xia Zhi with suspicion.  

Why was this version of Xia Zhi different from the one in her past life?  

Could it be…  

Had she also been reborn?  

Hao Liping’s alarm bells rang loudly. As she passed Xia Zhi, she stopped abruptly and hissed, “Xia Zhi, I won’t let you steal Yunshen from me!”  

“Ah—!”  

The moment the words left her mouth, a sharp kick sent her sprawling face-first into the dirt.  

“Xia Zhi!”  

Hao Liping scrambled up from the ground, ready to retaliate.  

But with a loud thud—  

She was struck again as she rushed forward.  

Inside the house, Xia Zhi climbed into bed, pulled the covers over her head, and ignored the stream of curses outside.  

Hao Liping clutched her throbbing nose, tears streaming down her face.  

The onlookers in the courtyard exchanged stunned glances.  

Xia Zhi must have finally snapped from the pressure—she’d gone mad!  

Over in the Gu household, Zhang Xiao paced anxiously, stealing occasional glances outside.  

“Mom, stop pacing. You’re giving me a headache. I can’t even focus on my books,” Gu Yunshen snapped, slamming his book shut in irritation.  

His handsome brows furrowed as his gaze drifted to the bookcase beside him.  

A pang of reluctance struck him. Even though Xia Zhi had bought every single book in that case, he had read them all with genuine care.  

Zhang Xiao watched her son staring at the bookcase and couldn’t help but remind him, “Yunshen, if even your father can’t resolve this, we’ll have to return these things to Xia Zhi tomorrow. Otherwise, it’ll damage our family’s reputation.”  

Gu Yunshen averted his eyes.  

It’s just Books? As if I can’t afford to buy my own.

That evening, Gu Chonglin returned to the compound with the elderly matriarch in tow. The moment they stepped inside, they noticed the neighbors casting strange glances their way.  

“Chonglin, has… something happened at home?”  

The old woman on his back wore a heavily patched but warm coat.  

Early that morning, Gu Chonglin had taken his mother, Liu Guifang, to the military hospital for a check-up.  

Before they could even ask what was going on, Zhang Xiao flung the door open in a panic, quickly pulling them inside. Before shutting the door, she glanced nervously at Xia Zhi’s tightly closed room.  

“What’s gotten into you? Sneaking around like a thief,” Gu Chonglin grumbled as he settled the old woman down. His frown deepened when he noticed the empty dinner table.  

“Where’s Zhizi? Why isn’t there even a hot meal ready at this hour? That girl’s getting lazier by the day.”  

Zhang Xiao froze, realizing that in her panic, she hadn’t prepared anything all day.  

“Oh dear, my mistake! I’ll go heat up the leftovers right away,” she said, slapping her thigh as she stood up, deliberately avoiding any mention of Xia Zhi.  

From the bed, the old woman groaned dramatically.  

“Zhizi! Where’s Zhizi? My legs are killing me again—she needs to come rub them! And where’s my foot bath?”  

Liu Guifang reclined halfway, her voice booming with vigor, sounding anything but sick.  

“Mom, stop shouting. Xia Zhi… she won’t be coming to our house anymore,” Zhang Xiao blurted out as she hurried back in.  

Gu Chonglin paused mid-drag from his pipe, glaring at her. “What do you mean?”  

With a sigh, Zhang Xiao recounted everything that had happened during the day.  

“WHAT?!” Gu Chonglin slammed his hand on the table. “Six hundred yuan?! Who the hell does she think she is? She’s worth six hundred now?  

“Pah! A little orphan brat with no parents dares to demand money from me?”  

Zhang Xiao’s eyes lit up—so he had a plan.  

Six hundred yuan was no small sum. Handing that over would feel like cutting flesh from her bones.  

“But dear, Xia Zhi has roped in Battalion Commander Lu. He might even write a report against us. We can’t let that happen.  

“The college entrance exams are just a few months away—we can’t afford any delays.”  

She was still worried. After today, it was clear Xia Zhi had truly lost her mind—she’d even threatened people with a knife.  

Gu Chonglin took a long drag from his pipe, brows furrowed. Xia Zhi was easy to deal with, but Battalion Commander Lu wouldn’t be so easily fooled.  

Just then, Liu Guifang scoffed from the bed. “What’s so hard about it? As the saying goes, even an honest official can’t settle family disputes. This is our business.  

“What does that Lu Beiting have to do with it?”  

Gu Chonglin’s eyes brightened. “You’re right! Battalion Commander Lu is always at the barracks, not here in the compound. He doesn’t know anything—truth and lies are just a matter of words!”  

“Here’s what we’ll do. Let’s get our story straight. Zhang Xiao, first thing tomorrow, go talk to the neighbors and get them on our side.  

“By the time Lu Beiting shows up, we won’t have anything to fear!”  

Zhang Xiao nodded hesitantly, then leaned in as the family huddled together, plotting their next move.  

The next day, before dawn had even broken, Zhang Xiao stepped out with a basket in hand, ready to spread their version of the truth.