“No, no! Please don’t! I’ll give you money! I’ll pay double whatever she’s offering!” Zhou Zijiao shrank completely behind Yu Wen in terror.
Yu Wen no longer had time to settle accounts with Zhou Ye over her daughter’s matters!
“Big brother, don’t listen to that bitch Zhou Ye! She doesn’t know how to save people – all she knows are deceptive tricks! You’ve been fooled by her! I’ll give you money, as much as you want! Our family is rich! Really, we’ll give you whatever you ask for, just don’t hurt us, please!”
Zhou Yuanyao let out a deep sigh, suppressing the fear in his heart as he persuaded: “Xiao Ye, I know your parents’ situation hit you hard! Did outsiders say something to you? How would your uncle ever harm you? No, child, we’re family! How about this – give your uncle some face! Let’s forget about today’s matter. When we get home, uncle will buy you new clothes, alright?”
Zhou Yuanyao still treated Zhou Ye like a fifteen-year-old child who could be pacified with small favors!
“Heh…”
Zhou Ye suddenly laughed.
“How could I forget about you, old thing!”
Uncle? In her previous life, it was precisely because the Zhou family were relatives that she always put them first, even when her own life was miserable.
But they were all ungrateful wolves.
Zhou Yuanyao’s expression changed, his face showing disappointment as he said: “Xiao Ye, your parents entrusted you to me, so I have the responsibility to take good care of you! Don’t worry, I know Ziyue’s death wasn’t your fault! You’re just deliberately trying to anger us! How could a little girl like you accomplish such things? Be obedient!”
“Gag his mouth!”
Zhou Ye said softly without even looking at Zhou Yuanyao!
“You… Xiao Ye… Mmmph…”
Bald Head said with a chuckle: “Old fool, still playing the family card? You’ve already kidnapped her, and now you say you want to take care of her? Even I’m not as shameless as you!”
“Miss Zhou, how should we handle this?”
“Up to you! Use every torture method you know on them, just don’t kill them!”
Zhou Ye’s casual tone made the Zhou family panic.
Zhou Zijiao begged loudly: “Zhou Ye… please don’t… I’m begging you! Your family matters have nothing to do with me. It was all my parents’ doing! Please spare me!”
But their pleas for mercy didn’t soften Zhou Ye’s heart.
After all, showing mercy to enemies is being cruel to yourself!
Having been in the underworld for so many years, Bald Head had plenty of methods at his disposal.
In the end, he even made them turn against each other – the siblings Zhou Zijiao and Zhou Zijun biting each other…
Until they were tearing at each other violently…
Looking at the family’s miserable state, Bald Head almost wanted to put them out of their misery!
When Zhou Ye left, the torture still wasn’t over!
Out of habit, she sat under the big tree in front of her home, looking at the Zhou family’s house.
“Xiao Ye?”
Zhou Ye turned her head: “Sister?”
Tang Yun was the daughter of their neighbor Aunt Li, and her only child – very spoiled. Before Zhou Ye’s parents went to the countryside, the two had been very close!
Especially after Zhou Ye’s parents left, whenever Zhou Ye suffered injustice, Tang Yun would always protect her.
Tang Yun sat down beside Zhou Ye, putting an arm around her shoulder as she said gently: “Why are you sitting here alone? Have you eaten? I brought you some Great White Rabbit candy!”
Still using that child-coaxing tone, Zhou Ye blinked and looked at Tang Yun: “Sister, why are you back? Weren’t you helping Aunt Li with her work?”
Tang Yun unwrapped the candy and slipped it into Zhou Ye’s mouth, saying affectionately, “You silly girl, still worrying about me? How come you’ve lost weight again? Did the Zhou family bully you again?”
Zhou Ye lowered her head without speaking.
Tang Yun sighed, “Ah… it’s really hard on you! By the way, Xiao Ye, have you ever seen a green metal box at your uncle’s house?”
Zhou Ye looked at Tang Yun blankly, “What metal box?”
Something flickered in Tang Yun’s eyes, “Oh, it’s nothing, just asking casually! I remember your uncle used to treasure a green box, and I quite liked it too, but I never saw it again! Hehe… Never mind. Just pretend your sister never said anything!”
“Oh!” Zhou Ye responded as if dazed.
Seeing Zhou Ye’s despondent appearance, Tang Yun’s heart ached as she pulled her into an embrace.
“You silly girl, if life at home is hard, write to your sister or come find me. Sitting here alone just breaks my heart! Why not come with me this time?”
For once, Zhou Ye felt a trace of warmth beside her. Leaning on Tang Yun’s shoulder, she said, “Sister, I’ve missed you so much!”
“Mm, your sister has missed you too!”
“But… this is my home after all. Where else could I go? Still, sister, I’m going to get married!”
Tang Yun grabbed Zhou Ye’s shoulders in shock, “What did you say? Married? To whom?”
Zhou Ye pursed her lips and whispered, “A fool.”
“No! I won’t allow it!”
Tears welled in Tang Yun’s eyes as her breathing quickened, lips trembling slightly, “You foolish child, how could you not tell me about something this important? If I hadn’t returned, would you have just married like this? A fool? The Zhou family are utterly heartless! How dare they make you marry a fool? They’re even living in your house – what gives them the right?”
Tang Yun’s heart broke as she kept defending Zhou Ye’s case.
Zhou Ye smiled and returned the embrace, “Sister Yun, you’re the only one who truly cares about me!”
“Of course! You’re my sister! Though my mother only gave birth to me alone. But listen to me – I don’t agree to this marriage. Your sister can give you money, can support you! By summer, I’ll have saved up five thousand yuan. Then I’ll take you away and put you through school, alright?”
“Alright!”
Zhou Ye clung to this rare warmth like a fish deprived of oxygen for too long, greedily breathing it in.
Zhou Yuanyao watched helplessly as his daughter Zhou Zijiao had both legs broken, howling in agony, “Where’s your honor among thieves? We paid you! How will you survive in this world?”
“Heh… I’m serving heaven’s will! When have I ever seen someone like you? Kidnapping your own flesh and blood? I can’t stand the sight of it, got a problem with that?Zhou Zijiao now lay on the ground like a dead fish.
Zhou Zijun, tied to a chair, trembled before the man, instinctively curling up, breathing rapidly from pain, muttering pleas for mercy.
“Brothers, since we’ve taken the job, let’s do it properly! After all, our reputation precedes us – we need results too! We can’t ignore Miss Zhou’s instructions!”
With an evil grin, he leaned close to Zhou Zijun and whispered a few words.
Zhou Zijun suddenly screamed as if seeing a ghost!
“No… don’t…”
But these pleas for mercy only served as seasoning for Bald Head’s amusement.
Yu Wen watched as Bald Head approached Zhou Zijun with a hammer, instantly forgetting his own pain as he lunged forward and grabbed Bald Head’s pant leg.
“Please, don’t hurt my son! He’s my only child! I’m begging you…”
“Fine then, I won’t break his legs!”
Just as Yu Wen breathed a sigh of relief, Bald Head raised the hammer high.
“Ah!”
Witnessing the scene before him, Yu Wen’s heart skipped a beat and his mind went completely blank.