Witnessing her mother being struck again, An Qian was so enraged her eyes nearly split. Struggling beneath Tangxi Li’s foot, she screamed furiously, “Mom, call the police! Call them now… Ah—!”
Before she could finish her shout, a piercing shriek tore from her throat.
The reason: the stiletto heel pressing on her ribs suddenly bore down with force.
One of her ribs was precisely snapped under the pressure.
“Ah—! Ah—!” An Qian’s face turned deathly pale, her screams echoing through every corner of the villa like a slaughtered pig.
The servants working downstairs all paused simultaneously, looking up curiously toward the source of the noise.
Meanwhile, Gu Yuqing, momentarily deafened from the earlier blow, finally steadied herself against the wall and roared, “Tangxi Li, stop this at once!”
“Stop?” Tangxi Li blinked, feigning an innocent, harmless expression. “Ms. Gu, I haven’t used my hands—only my feet.”
To prove her point, she applied pressure once more, casually snapping An Qian’s second rib as if in light conversation.
“Ah—!” Another agonized wail erupted from An Qian, cold sweat beading on her forehead as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
“An… Tangxi Li, you lunatic! I won’t let you get away with this!” she snarled through gritted teeth, attempting to shove Tangxi Li’s foot away.
But the excruciating pain in her chest left her utterly powerless.
Gu Yuqing’s heart ached unbearably. Since childhood, her precious daughter had been coddled and cherished, never subjected to such injury or humiliation.
Initially, given Tangxi Li’s enigmatic demeanor earlier, Gu Yuqing had assumed their conflict would remain a battle of wits without bloodshed.
She never anticipated Tangxi Li’s tactics would sink so low.
It had caught her completely off guard.
Thus, abandoning any pretense of fairness, Gu Yuqing snatched a nearby vase and hurled it viciously at Tangxi Li’s head.
Tangxi Li responded with a contemptuous smirk. Lifting her foot from An Qian, she swiftly kicked Gu Yuqing in the stomach with lightning speed.
Despite wearing a dress, her movements were sharp and agile.
Gu Yuqing barely registered the kick before she and the vase were sent flying to the floor like a discarded kite.
After kicking Gu Yuqing, Tangxi Li’s foot returned to rest on An Qian, gazing down at the mother and daughter with the detached coldness of one observing ants.
“Ms. Gu, do you recall that incident at the suburban villa seventeen years ago?”
“Your daughter falsely accused me of stealing her toy, then stomped on me just like this, while her playmates drenched me with cold water—and you stood by, watching coldly without intervening.”
The last sliver of sunset cast an orange glow on the corridor windowpane. Tangxi Li’s gaze drifted toward that light, as if traversing the passage of time back to seventeen years prior.
“It was already winter then. The icy water soaked through my clothes. I begged them through tears to let me go, but they only laughed harder. After the bullying, they locked me in an abandoned warehouse.”
“That was the longest night of my life. When I was found the next afternoon, I was unconscious.”
It was after that night she developed severe claustrophobia.
“After that, I had a high fever for two days, with lung inflammation and a myocardial infection. So…”
A chilling, eerie smile spread across Tangxi Li’s lips. “Breaking just two of An Qian’s ribs—is that really too much?”
Clutching her stomach as she rose from the floor, Gu Yuqing’s expression darkened at these words.
“Tangxi Li, even if you came prepared, don’t forget—this is the An Family!”
She had merely been caught off guard; she was not someone to be easily manipulated or bullied!An Qian lay on the floor, sobbing in pain. Hearing Gu Yuqing’s words, she became emboldened like a dog backed by its master and began cursing viciously.
“You wretched bastard, why didn’t you just die out there? If you have the guts, kill me and be done with it! Otherwise, I’ll make you kneel and beg for my mercy!”
“Is that so…” Tangxi Li laughed as if she’d heard the most absurd joke, her shoulders shaking with mirth.
She withdrew her foot, bent down, and violently dragged An Qian up by her hair, forcing her head back. Her gaze swept across An Qian’s face, appreciating the distorted agony with a mixture of mockery and pity. “Then I’ll be waiting. I’m curious to see what tricks you’ll use to make me kneel and beg.”
Thud! She threw An Qian beside Gu Yuqing like garbage, kindly reminding them, “The game has begun. Being too stupid will get you eliminated. You all… better be smart about this.”
After speaking, she turned and walked away with the same elegant, high-heeled gait she’d arrived with.
Like a fragrant yet poisonous blossom—lonely, aloof, and wicked.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” As if recalling something, she turned back just before entering the elevator, adding with a smiling face, “Elimination has only one outcome: death. Looking forward to our next encounter.”
The moment the elevator doors closed, all expression vanished from Tangxi Li’s face. She emotionlessly dialed a number: “Intercept that shipment from the An Family passing through the South Seas…”
In the corridor, An Qian was fuming. Gritting her teeth, she pointed toward the elevator and cursed, “Who does she think she is, daring to provoke me? Tangxi Li, just you wait! I’ll make you pay! Ouch…”
Gu Yuqing glanced at her, both sympathetic and irritated. “Enough, save your energy. We have plenty of time ahead.” She took An Qian’s phone from her pocket and dialed 120.
Night fell, and the lights in the hall illuminated the space.
A massive crystal chandelier worth millions hung suspended in the ten-meter-high ceiling, radiating dazzling brilliance.
When Tangxi Li reached the first floor, the servants were preparing dinner.
The rich aroma of food filled the air, and her stomach growled involuntarily—she hadn’t eaten all day. She quickened her pace.
As she reached the entrance, a middle-aged man in a dark suit entered.
The man changed into slippers and paused when he saw Tangxi Li.
The young woman before him had exquisite features, stunningly beautiful.
For a moment, he thought he was seeing that dead wretch again, and his face instantly turned cold.
Tangxi Li, however, smiled, acting as if they were old acquaintances. “Good evening, Mr. An. Long time no see.”
An Minghe studied her, showing neither joy at their reunion nor any paternal affection. His only concern was the alliance between the Ji and An families.
Now that the second son of the Ji family had broken off the engagement, he was filled with resentment. Even though this was their first meeting in years, he offered Tangxi Li no warmth.
After a curt nod, he headed upstairs via the staircase.
Watching his cold, unfeeling back, Tangxi Li mused thoughtfully, “Old Dog An is as detestable as ever.”
An Minghe, who hadn’t gone far: ???
He turned back, a flicker of doubt in his eyes, unsure if he had imagined what he just heard.
As he was about to confirm, his phone rang from his briefcase.
A minute later, after taking the call, his face contorted with towering rage.
“That vile creature! Seize her! Go bring that wretched girl back to me!”
Damn that ungrateful daughter! So all of this was her scheme from the start!They instigated An Qian to flee from the marriage, exposed her scandal with a male celebrity, and sabotaged the alliance between the two families.
To give him such a “grand gift” right after returning to the country—fine, very good indeed!
The butler led the servants rushing out to capture Tangxi Li.
However, they were a step too late, only to see Tangxi Li being picked up by a fleet of cars.
At the same time, the ambulance arrived, pushing a medical stretcher into the An Family—