The villa’s warm lights were still on, Zhang Ma had deliberately left a light on for her, casting a warm glow.
Jiang Wei pressed her fingerprint, the door clicked open with a “beep,” she pushed it in and changed into a pair of soft-soled light pink slippers with a cartoon bear design.
On the table was the white fungus and lily soup Zhang Ma had left for her, in a small silver-white porcelain bowl with a blue-and-white porcelain spoon, kept warm on a heating plate, covered with a light green mesh lid.
She washed her hands, then drank the white fungus and lily soup one spoonful at a time. The fungus was thick with collagen, sweet and soft.
After finishing, she walked into the kitchen, washed the bowl and spoon clean, and put them away.
Her stomach felt warm and cozy, washing away the chill of the night.
She looked out the window—the moonlight was thick and full.
She turned off the lights, went upstairs, and took a shower.
The bathroom, which had once been full of Qin Xiaoye’s traces, now had many feminine items since Jiang Wei used it daily, placed alongside Qin Xiaoye’s toiletries.
Next to the black pajamas hung light pink, lavender, and milky white pajamas.
Beside the dark blue toothbrush cup sat a gentle deep pink one.
Next to the black electric razor was a light pink headband.
Zhang Ma had carefully asked about Jiang Wei’s habits, afraid that when she tidied things up, she might intrude on Jiang Wei’s boundaries.
This made Jiang Wei think of Xu Mo, who from a young age would occasionally go into her room, rummage through everything, read her diary, and dictate who she should be friends with.
From elementary school, Xu Mo had been telling her who she should befriend.
Which child came from a poor family and should be ignored—people like that would never amount to anything.
Xu Mo taught Jiang Wei that family background and birth were the most important things. People of humble origins could never catch up to the starting point of the powerful and privileged. They would be trampled underfoot by the elite.
She strictly controlled what Jiang Wei wore, insisted she wear makeup wherever men were present, and dress to be delicate and alluring.
Her studies had to be excellent—that part was easy for Jiang Wei.
But she had to apply to schools according to Xu Mo’s requirements—and she didn’t.
This had sparked countless arguments with Xu Mo.
Thinking about it now, the current coldness had always been there, with signs to trace.
Nothing happens overnight.
Xu Mo thought she was spoiled and willful.
Now she attributed it to the fact that Jiang Wei wasn’t her biological daughter—indeed, not like her at all.
Right after the paternity test was done, Father Jiang Che had privately talked with her, saying that no matter what the genes said, Jiang Wei would always be his daughter, and she shouldn’t worry.
But when Jiang Wan deliberately pushed her down and her head hit the edge of the table, drawing blood, Jiang Che’s eyes were full of heartache—yet he said not a single word.
This often reminded Jiang Wei of the middle-aged woman who had brought Chief Wang over.
Did the middle-aged woman love Chief Wang? She did—otherwise, she wouldn’t have cried for hours.
But that so-called love ended there; it wouldn’t go any further. Any more, and her love couldn’t bear the weight.
That middle-aged woman’s feelings were cheap, worthless. Not worth the eighteen thousand yuan needed to treat Chief Wang.
The shower water cascaded down from above, forming mist that enveloped Jiang Wei, soaking her through.
She couldn’t tell the bitterness apart, couldn’t tell what kind of water was flowing.
The dampness at the corners of her eyes mingled with the steam.
After her shower, she dried her hair, wrapped herself in bed, and sank into a deep, dark sleep.
Qin Xiaoye’s scent lingered faintly, weaving slowly into her dreams, passing through like water flowing by.
Jiang Wei arrived at the hospital in the morning, dressed fresh and clean—a short-sleeved blue polo shirt with linen-gray trousers.
Paired with her pure, strikingly beautiful face, it carried a uniquely captivating charm.
Ever since she discovered that men’s clothing offered better value for money and was more comfortable to wear, she had swapped her nauseating daily work outfits for lighter, more practical attire—clothes that allowed her to run and jump, climb onto rooftops, or crawl under desks to catch all kinds of animals.
It was a far cry from the alluring, soft femininity Xu Mo demanded.
Jiang Wei sometimes wondered if it was simply a difference in their genes—that the two of them could never truly understand each other.
Sometimes when a cat got loose, she’d have to crawl under a desk, kneeling or lying flat on her stomach, meowing “meow, meow” to coax it out. A skirt would’ve been completely impractical for that.
And that was just for cats. If it were a lizard, crocodile, snake, chinchilla, or squirrel, things got even more complicated.
She plucked a few golden dog hairs from her clothes and tossed them into the sink.
After being slobbered all over the face by Chief Wang, who wagged his tail enthusiastically, she washed up, disinfected, and put on her white lab coat.
The white coat paired with her innocent-yet-alluring face added an air of restraint and cool detachment.
She was in the examination room.
A handsome young man carrying a reptile travel case looked anxious. “Excuse me, can you treat snakes?”
He wore a black T-shirt and looked to be about eighteen or nineteen.
Jiang Wei’s gaze settled on his reptile case. “What kind of snake?”
The young man: “A Mexican black kingsnake.”
Jiang Wei nodded. “Let me take a look.”
“What are the symptoms?”
The young man: “Mao Mao’s scales aren’t right. The texture feels off.”
Jiang Wei glanced at him.
He quickly explained: “It seems like something’s growing on its body.”
Jiang Wei reached her hand directly into the case, grabbed the snake by its neck, and pulled it out in one smooth motion. “Adult Mexican black kingsnake, large size.”
The young man nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes, that’s right.”
Jiang Wei examined it carefully. “Vitamin B deficiency. Its nutritional intake is too limited. We’ll need to do a fecal test to check for parasites.”
The Mexican black kingsnake was entirely jet black, over a meter long and about three centimeters thick. When Jiang Wei grabbed it, it obediently coiled around her wrist.
A smooth, cool, slightly slick sensation.
Jiang Wei stroked it and murmured softly, “Don’t be scared~ We’ll get you all better.”
The black snake flicked its tongue, letting out a soft “hiss.”
The young man was amazed and teased with a grin: “You’re just a human, and you got it to not be afraid?”
“But Mao Mao, as a snake, where’s your dignity? Why are you so well-behaved in this pretty sister’s hands?”
Jiang Wei looked at the snake, her gaze tender. “No matter how fierce something is, it still gets scared.”
“It’s just that some predators hide their panic behind aggression. You just can’t see it.”
“Mexican black kingsnakes have gentle temperaments. They generally don’t attack unprovoked. And they’re non-venomous.”
“It’s called Mao Mao?”
The young man laughed. “Yeah. It doesn’t have any, so it must want some. It has no fur, so it probably wishes it had fur—so I named it Mao Mao.”
“I’m Sheng Huaiyi, by the way.”
Suddenly, a loud “bang” sounded from the hospital entrance, followed by panicked shouts.
Jiang Wei frowned and walked straight ahead, through the hospital corridor, to the entrance.
A bloody, mangled mess—a wet lump of flesh with fur still attached—had been thrown at the hospital’s front door.
Blood had splattered everywhere.
Jiang Wei lowered her head and crouched down, looking at the mass of flesh. Her hands trembled slightly.
The big black cat from last night.
Jiang Wei bowed her head. A single drop of water fell, scalding hot, into the bloody mess.
When she raised her head again, there was not a trace of emotion in her eyes—cold, rational, detached—as she stared at the man standing directly in front of her.
A man grinned savagely, his voice dripping with provocation: “I did it. Come on, come catch me.”
He was waiting for this woman to cry her eyes out, waiting for her to break down. He held his phone in his hand, recording.
One dead cat to drive a woman insane—worth it.
Luo Xue heard the noise and ran out with the security guards, cursing directly: “You motherf—, I…”
Jiang Wei whispered something to her: “Call the police.”
Luo Xue quickly dialed the number.
Jiang Wei was still holding the black king snake. The snake obediently coiled around her wrist. Under the sunlight, it displayed a kaleidoscopic black, its scales becoming exceptionally vivid.
Her eyes were very pale as she walked toward the man, step by step.
That man had been so terrified yesterday he’d wet his pants.
His name was Shi Yuan. Back then, she’d only recorded that video to intimidate him—after all, criminal law couldn’t touch him.
Shi Yuan wasn’t the least bit afraid in public.
Yesterday he’d been scared she’d grab a chainsaw. Today, he didn’t believe this woman would really dare saw him in half in front of everyone.
At most, he’d be charged with picking quarrels and provoking trouble, detained for a couple of days. He’d been to prison before, was unemployed—what did he have to fear?
This woman had actually dared to shave half his head bald!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He picked up his phone and posted about it in the group called “Cats Are the Cutest, and the Tastiest.”
The group was for sharing cat torture videos, exchanging tips on how to make cats suffer more, ever-changing methods, venting emotions.
In the group:
An ID called “I Am the Tyrant”: “What are you afraid of? Her doing this to you definitely means she doesn’t want you to torture cats. What the enemy doesn’t want you to do, the more you should do it right in front of her. Make her cry, mock her, see if she dares stop you again.”
“Little Immortal Arrives” said: “Right. If all else fails, let’s dox her. Put a funeral wreath at her door. What right does she have to interfere with us? We haven’t broken any laws.”
“I know who you’re talking about—she’s a doctor at Weiguang Hospital. A lot of the cats I’ve tortured ended up being rescued by that hospital. It’s fucking disgusting. So damn hypocritical. I’ve had it out for her for a long time. If I get the chance, I’ll torture her to death.”
The ID “I Am the Tyrant”: “A woman dares to push her luck? If we don’t destroy her, all those cats and dogs we tortured were for nothing. Kill her!”
Now that the internet is so developed, all kinds of groups can find their followers and like-minded people. They revel online like cockroaches.