Chapter 27: Psychopathic scum

Xiao Jiao almost instantly scrambled off the bed, her hands and feet trembling uncontrollably with fear. Her beautiful eyes brimmed with tears like torn silk.

As she tried to escape, the man ruthlessly grabbed her arm and yanked her back, his icy gaze piercing through her.

“Why are you running? Is that country bumpkin really so great?”

Yuan Ling’s eyes were filled with rage as he forcefully tore at her clothes, his tone turning manic. “You’re mine. You’re mine.”

Meanwhile, Xie Zhi had just finished helping Qin’s father carry a large package upstairs, arranging it in the hallway as instructed. His eyes instinctively searched the room, scanning for something—or someone.

With a cold expression, he turned to Qin Fang. “Where’s Jiao Jiao?”

Qin Fang, lounging casually in a chair and idly picking at her slightly chipped nails, smirked. “Oh, she went to the restroom.”

Xie Zhi’s face instantly darkened. He took a heavy step forward, his voice laced with an ominous edge. “Impossible. Jiao Jiao is scared of going to the restroom alone. Where is she?”

“What are you yelling for?” Qin Fang retorted. “She’s a grown woman. Can’t she walk off on her own?”

Xie Zhi took a deep breath, knowing he’d get no answers from her. He began searching the room on his own, an unsettling emptiness gnawing at his heart. His sharp, dark eyes meticulously scanned every corner, leaving no spot unchecked.

Eventually, his gaze lingered on a particular door at the far end of the hallway. It was tucked away in the corner—the northernmost room and the best in terms of layout.

With a pointed look at Qin’s mother, Xie Zhi’s icy voice demanded, “Where is Xiao Jiao?”

Qin’s mother, frail and thin, visibly trembled under his oppressive aura. Her gaze flitted nervously to the corner door.

Without hesitation, Xie Zhi strode forward, his body emanating a bloodthirsty intensity. He raised his foot and delivered a powerful kick to the door. The flimsy wooden frame, unable to withstand the force, instantly gave way.

As the door swung open, the scene that greeted Xie Zhi made his blood run cold.

Inside, Xiao Jiao’s pale upper body was exposed, her lips gagged, and her face soaked with tears. A man was burying his head in the crook of her neck.

In that moment, Xie Zhi acted on instinct alone. Before his mind could process anything, his body had already moved.

Yuan Ling was violently yanked to the floor. Xie Zhi’s thick leather boot came crashing down on his waist and abdomen with brutal force. The murderous rage in Xie Zhi’s eyes was unmistakable.

He quickly pulled a jacket over Xiao Jiao, shielding her trembling body. Her tear-streaked face was a blur, but the sounds of fists pounding into flesh were crystal clear.

Xie Zhi’s fury boiled over as he beat Yuan Ling mercilessly.

“How dare you… How dare you… How dare you do this to Jiao Jiao!”

Punch after punch rained down on Yuan Ling’s chiseled jaw until blood filled his mouth.

Despite the beating, Yuan Ling’s eyes gleamed with a sinister glint. He licked his lips as though savoring the moment, his voice dripping with provocation.

“She’s so soft, so fragrant. She trembled in my arms… I loved it.”

Xie Zhi’s eyes burned red with rage as he launched another ferocious punch.

Qin’s father, terrified by the commotion, stepped forward to intervene. He feared for Yuan Ling’s safety—after all, the boy’s parents were his direct superiors. This situation could not be allowed to escalate further.

Amid the struggle, Yuan Ling managed to regain his footing. He stood with a cocky smirk, his bloodied face resembling a painted actor in a tragic play.

“So, your name is Xie Zhi,” he sneered. “You know, people with mental illness don’t go to prison.”

Xie Zhi responded with a swift, high kick that sent Yuan Ling crashing to the floor. Even Qin’s father was shoved aside in the chaos.

Slamming the door shut behind him, Xie Zhi turned his attention to Xiao Jiao.

Her vacant, tear-filled eyes stared blankly ahead, her small frame trembling uncontrollably.

Gently, he draped his jacket over her shoulders and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Tears fell silently from his eyes. “Jiao Jiao, I’m so sorry. I came too late. I should never have left you here alone. I’m so sorry.”

Her trembling hands reached up to touch his face, her fingers grazing his warm skin as if to confirm he was real.

As soon as she felt his presence, the dam broke. “Xie Zhi… you finally came. I was so scared… you have no idea how scared I was.”

“I’m here now,” he murmured softly, cradling her as though she were the most fragile thing in the world. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”

After what felt like an eternity of comforting whispers, Xie Zhi helped Xiao Jiao to her feet and adjusted her disheveled clothes. He even tied her hair back neatly, as if to erase any trace of what had just happened.

Outside the room, Yuan Ling’s predatory gaze lingered on Xiao Jiao, even though she was now fully covered. His obsessive stare seemed to penetrate every layer of fabric she wore.

“Hello, 110? I’d like to report a crime,” Xie Zhi said, his voice cold and firm.

“Oh, it’s Yuan Ling? That kid’s a diagnosed psych patient. He’s confined to his home and can’t leave. As long as he doesn’t step out, we can’t intervene,” came the indifferent response from the other end of the line.

Hearing this, Xiao Jiao took the phone from Xie Zhi and hung up. Her sharp gaze locked onto Yuan Ling.

Xie Zhi’s hands clenched into fists. His desire to kill reached its peak, but he was painfully aware that he could do nothing. In this era, a girl’s reputation was everything.

Yuan Ling, unbothered by the tension, smirked lazily. “Don’t look at me like that, cupcake. I’m only interested in you.” His tongue flicked across his teeth in a lewd gesture.

Xiao Jiao’s voice dripped with venom. “You disgust me, you psychopathic scum.”

Turning her fiery gaze toward the Qin family, she grabbed a nearby bag and swung it hard at Qin Fang. Her sharp nails left deep, bloody scratches across the woman’s face.

Qin Fang screamed in agony. “Ahhh! Xiao Jiao, are you insane? How dare you do this to me!”

Qin’s mother rushed to console her niece, scolding Xiao Jiao. “How could you act so viciously? Even if Xiao Fang was wrong, you shouldn’t have scratched her face!”

Xiao Jiao sneered. “You’re next.”

With that, she delivered several hard slaps to Qin’s mother, leaving the older woman’s face swollen and bloody.

“Just looking at you people makes me sick.”

Not satisfied, Xiao Jiao stormed through the house, smashing everything in sight. Glass cabinets, clocks, electronics—anything of value was reduced to rubble.

Throughout her tirade, Xie Zhi stood silently by her side, handing her objects to break. His expression was cold and unyielding, showing no sympathy for the Qin family’s plight.

Meanwhile, Yuan Ling leaned casually against the wall, watching her every move with a twisted smile.

“She’s fiery. I like that.”