Chapter 7: The Scumbag Father and Stepmother Exposed

Liu Doctor helped Liu Xinghe along as she wiped away her tears, and she didn’t forget to grab a long bench from inside the house.

Gossiping is human nature, and Dr. Liu was no exception. She helped Liu Xinghe to the doorstep, set the bench down, and sat beside her. While protecting Liu Xinghe, her eyes were fixed on the scene ahead, clearly interested in the drama.

Liu Xinghe didn’t care about Dr. Liu’s presence; she continued her role with full professionalism. Tears clung to her eyes as she looked ahead, anxious and fearful.

She couldn’t help but give herself credit. If she hadn’t retired and hadn’t time-traveled, her natural acting talent and professionalism would have guaranteed her a foothold in the entertainment industry—maybe even a little golden statuette to bring home.

Meanwhile, the scene ahead was indeed lively. Upon hearing the tape’s playback, the guilty couple instantly fell silent, panic written across their faces. Li Xiuhua yelled that it was fake, her voice hoarse from shouting.

“This is your voices, both of you. Still trying to argue? Let’s play it again, fully, so you have no excuse.”

Aunt Meihua, who had listened to everything, fiddled with the tape recorder to play it again as the couple protested.

“Listen carefully. At the start, it’s Shen Qiang’s voice, then Li Xiuhua’s.”

“It’s not us, we….”

“Shut up. Keep yelling and you’ll be taken away,” Director Zhang barked, cutting off Li Xiuhua’s protest.

Aunt Wang, standing nearby, stuffed rags into Li Xiuhua and Shen Qiang’s mouths to silence them.

Shen Qiang’s eyes were deep and silent, already plotting his next move.

“Zzzz—”

After the static, the tape played words that shocked everyone further:

[Li Xiuhua, I considered you a friend…]

[…Friend? Hmph… Liu Ruyan, you don’t know, but your husband has long been mine. The daughter you’ve raised for over ten years is mine too. Hahaha, once you’re gone, your proud house, dowry, and job will all be mine. Hahaha~]

Everyone stared in disbelief at Li Xiuhua, who collapsed on the floor.

“…Zzzz….”

The tape continued, static crackling, followed by a weak, distressed voice:

[I am Liu Ruyan. I… I’m going to die. Shen Qiang and Li Xiuhua poisoned me with mandala toxin. I… worry about my daughter, Xinghe. If… you hear this… you must stay vigilant and seek help from the police. I fear… their heartless cruelty… could harm you… zzzz—]

Hearing this, combined with what Liu Xinghe had endured, made the tape incredibly convincing.

The courtyard fell silent, so quiet that even a pin dropping could be heard.

Suddenly, someone swore, breaking the silence, and the courtyard erupted. People shouted, cursed, and even threw whatever they could find at the two culprits, beating them while shouting.

“No wonder they rushed to cremate her—they were guilty and nervous!”

“You damned treacherous bastards! Two lives you took, and you think no one will stop you? Let me show you what happens to ungrateful scum!”

Aunt Wang, who had a close bond with Liu Ruyan, was furious and couldn’t stand it. She ran forward, slapping, kicking, and clawing at the two culprits.

Others followed suit.

“Stop, stop hitting them!” shouted the police, waving their hands to intervene. They only stepped in fully when the situation seemed under control.

“All right, everyone, stop,” Director Zhang commanded, and the crowd obeyed. The two culprits were left bruised and battered in the center like dead dogs.

Dr. Liu looked at Liu Xinghe, holding her trembling hands in concern.

Liu Xinghe’s face was streaked with tears, her eyes red and expression numb. She stared blankly at the tape recorder, utterly devastated.

She murmured, “How… how could it… how could it be like this…?”

Dr. Liu shook her head, sighing. Such injustice!

Everyone else in the courtyard felt sympathy for Liu Xinghe. Her real father killed her mother and tried to kill her as well—no one could accept that, it was a devastating blow.

Director Zhang, worried about the young girl, knelt beside her, speaking softly:

“You must take care of yourself. Your mother’s last worry was for you. For her and for yourself, you must stay strong. Your health is the priority. We will handle the rest and give you justice.”

Hearing this, Liu Xinghe’s blank gaze shifted to Director Zhang. She held back her sobs for a moment, then broke down, crying uncontrollably, gasping as she said:

“Police… please… give my mother justice! She was such a good person. She shouldn’t have died like this… ahhh…”

Wiping tears with her sleeve, Liu Xinghe turned to the two pathetic figures in the yard, face full of despair and rage:

“One of you was my respected father, the other my beloved stepmother, and you were friends of my mother! How dare you! How dare you treat my mother that way? She loved you, she loved my sister, treated you so well, and your conscience—did the dogs eat it? Give me back my mother, give me back… sniff sniff…”

Dr. Liu grabbed her waist to prevent her from lunging, shouting worriedly:

“Calm down, Xinghe! You need to stay calm. Don’t let your neck wound reopen. Take care of yourself, and watch the bad people get their punishment. We can’t let them succeed.”

“Yes, I can’t let them succeed. I must take care of myself. I can’t have anything happen again. I’m the only one left of the Liu family. I must avenge my mother. I have to get better. I can’t cry. I have to watch them be punished with a smile.”

Liu Xinghe stopped moving, wiping her tears with her sleeves, forcing a bitter smile, and obediently sat back on the bench.

The onlookers felt a pang in their hearts; some even wiped tears themselves.

Seeing everyone moved, Liu Xinghe looked straight at Director Zhang, eyes full of determination:

“Police officers, I request to sever the father-daughter relationship publicly. I want them to pay for their crime. I want justice for my mother, so she can rest in peace in the afterlife.”

Aunt Wang’s strong voice supported her:

“Yes, sever the father-daughter bond. Shen Qiang was once a starving boy; his family was poor, barely surviving. Without the Liu family’s help, he wouldn’t be here today. He’s a living, ungrateful wretch. Xinghe, Aunt Wang supports you in going public.”

“We all support you,” others added.

“Thank you, everyone. I’m so grateful you’re here,” Liu Xinghe bowed deeply, moved.

Director Zhang patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, leave it to us.”

“All right,” Liu Xinghe sniffled, her voice full of trust.