My Childhood Enemy Spread Rumors About My Mom, Then Karma Came for Her

After school, when I came home, our residential complex was cordoned off. People who were watching said that a man on the third floor of Building 17 had stabbed his cheating wife to death.

My classmate Jin Caixia leaned close to my ear and whispered, "It's over! Third floor of Building 17—that's your home!"

"Your dad stabbed your mom to death. Your mom was a slut. I saw it coming long ago."

"Hahaha, let's see if you'll still be so vain! Sooner or later, you'll be stabbed by a man too!"

I trembled all over in fear.

Suddenly, a large hand pulled me away. I looked up and saw the aunt who lived upstairs from me.

"Qingqing, your mom called me. She asked me to take you out for something to eat. She said she can't come out right now."

I wiped away my tears: "What? It wasn't my family that had the accident? Whose family was it?"

The aunt gestured with her chin toward Jin Caixia, who was clapping with glee.

"Her family, thirteenth floor. Her dad stabbed her mom to death."

Chapter 1

Actually, our families were on good terms. My mom and Jin Caixia's mom had always been very good friends. That's why Jin Caixia and I had been around each other a lot since we were young.

But I knew she had always hated me.

After we started high school, her animosity was almost blatant.

She grabbed the class monitor Gu Yu, whom I had a crush on, and said with a smile, "Monitor, let me tell you—the accident happened on the third floor of Building 17."

Gu Yu frowned slightly: "Oh? So what?"

Jin Caixia raised her slanted eyebrows, her eyes glancing toward me.

"You don't know? That's Du Qingqing's house! Her mom has always been a slut. Well, now she's been stabbed to death for cheating! She totally deserved it!"

"Oh my god, really?"

Other classmates who lived nearby also gathered around.

"I told you all pretty women are vixens—none of them are any good!"

"Exactly! Shame on her! She deserved to die!"

Jin Caixia turned and spat at me.

"If I were you, I'd jump off a building right now! Something so shameful has happened—your mom was cheating, so you'll definitely cheat too! Your family doesn't produce any good women."

I was panicking completely.

My whole body trembled uncontrollably.

How could this be?

My mom and dad loved each other so much. I had seen how they interacted all the time—it couldn't be fake!

Besides practicing yoga, my mom usually spent her time either taking care of me at home or going out to eat delicious food with my dad.

I would never believe she was having an affair!

But the onlookers said it so certainly: Building 17, third floor.

At eighteen, I was overwhelmed with terror. With just a few months left until the college entrance exam, was God trying to drive me to my death?

Just then, a large hand suddenly pulled me away.

Chapter 2

I looked up quickly and saw it was the aunt who lived upstairs who had pulled me away.

"Qingqing, there's been an accident and the building is sealed. Your mom can't come out right now. She was worried you'd be hungry, so she asked me to take you for something to eat."

I tilted my head: "What? It wasn't my family? Whose family was it?"

Before the tears on my face could dry, I heard another shocking piece of news.

The aunt gestured with her chin toward Jin Caixia: "Thirteenth floor, it was her family. Don't ask—it's tragic!"

I looked at Jin Caixia in horror.

At that moment, she happened to look at me too, with an extremely triumphant expression.

It was as if seeing the person she hated being torn apart made her feel thoroughly delighted.

"Let's go. What do you want to eat? I'll take you."

I numbly pointed toward the KFC ahead: "I'll just have a hamburger."

The aunt didn't say anything and took me directly into the restaurant.

She ordered for me and told me to read a book after eating.

"I'm going to see what's happening over there. If you need anything, just call for me, okay?"

I nodded: "Okay, Auntie. Thank you. You should hurry over!"

The aunt had been gone for barely two minutes when Jin Caixia barged into the restaurant with a crowd of classmates.

The moment she saw me, her eyes lit up instantly.

Like a wolf that hadn't eaten for a week seeing a big fat sheep.

"Oh my! Look, she's hiding here!"

Several people quickly sat down beside me.

Jin Caixia said insincerely, "I know you're upset now. As your childhood friend, I specifically brought our classmates along to comfort you."

Comfort me? I think you brought people to laugh at me!

Chapter 3

Gu Yu looked grave and carefully sat down opposite me.

A middle-aged aunt walked up behind him.

The aunt patted his shoulder: "Xiao Yu."

Gu Yu looked up and called out: "Mom? What are you doing here?"

Gu Yu's mother said to him lightly, "I saw you come in and wanted to remind you not to make friends with girls from questionable families. There will be many troubles later."

Hearing this, Jin Caixia immediately covered her mouth and snickered, then turned to whisper with the classmates beside her.

She kept winking, gesturing for everyone to look at me.

Gu Yu responded awkwardly: "Mom, I know what I'm doing. Don't worry about me."

After Gu Yu's mother left, Jin Caixia pulled my bag of french fries over to her.

"I say, Du Qingqing, you've got some nerve! Your slut mom is dead, and you can still eat? Look at these fries—don't they look like your mom's fingers!"

I angrily pulled the fries back: "Your mom is the one who's dead! Watch your mouth. Spreading baseless rumors is just making things up!"

She snorted disdainfully: "Hmph! Still talking tough when you're about to die!"

After saying that, she grabbed a handful of my fries and stuffed them into her mouth.

Her eating was uglier than a pig's.

She talked with her mouth full: "Your mom is dead, your dad is going to prison, what are you going to do now?"

Suddenly, she thought of something and burst out laughing.

Bits of fries sprayed all over me.

I stood up angrily, brushing the filth off myself.

"Otherwise, why don't you come to my house and be my foot-washing maid in the future, hahaha!"

Several female classmates who had never gotten along with me also burst into thunderous laughter.

"Yes, yes, let the class beauty wash your feet, help you dig out the dirt from under your fingernails!"

"Exactly, that dirt smells the worst. Du Qingqing, you should smell it and tell us what it's like."

I felt disgusted by them and wanted to vomit.

Gu Yu coughed lightly: "How can you girls be more disgusting than the boys when you want to be?"

The girls immediately shut up, too embarrassed to look at him.

"Nothing has been confirmed yet. Everyone had better not jump to conclusions."

He nodded lightly at me.

I showed a strained smile, thanking him.

"What hasn't been confirmed? If one person said it was her house, it might be speculation. But when a whole group of people say it's her house, how could it be fake? Moreover! I have evidence!"

Chapter 4

What evidence do you have! The accident wasn't even at my house!

She made me so curious I almost wanted to eat melon seeds from my own family drama.

"Wait!" I quickly stopped her.

She lifted her chin: "What? Are you scared?"

I waved my hand: "Scared? Not really. I just wanted to say, what if your evidence is fake?"

"Fake? Impossible! I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Then how about this—you two make a bet."

The classmates nearby started egging us on.

"Bet then!" Jin Caixia slapped the table and stood up.

"That's not what I meant—I just wanted to say..." I quickly stopped her.

"You're just scared! You don't dare to bet, do you?"

Her face turned vicious, and her terrifying expression made me a bit afraid.

I shook my head: "What's there to be afraid of? I just think betting is meaningless."

"Then bet with me!"

I raised my eyebrows: "What are we betting?"

"If I can prove your mom cheated, then you can't answer the Chinese language section on the college entrance exam. You must turn in a blank paper."

The others chimed in: "Wow! That's great! I like this bet!"

"Brilliant! Too brilliant!"

"Turning in a blank paper for Chinese means you won't get into college. How thrilling!"

I looked coldly at Jin Caixia: "And if you can't prove it?"

"Then on exam day, I'll turn in a blank paper for my Chinese exam."

My heart pounded heavily.

Thinking of the aunt who had watched me grow up being stabbed to death made me very sad.

Now her daughter actually wanted to bet with me.

And I knew full well she would definitely lose this bet—how could I agree?

Isn't this just watching her jump into a pit of fire?

I frowned and waved my hand helplessly: "Forget it. I don't want to bet with you. We shouldn't joke about our futures."

Chapter 5

But Jin Caixia wouldn't let it go. She tilted her head: "You have to bet with me. Don't you believe I can prove it? I have to prove it to you!"

She leaned close to me and whispered in my ear: "Let me tell you, I secretly took photos of your slut mom changing clothes at your house. If you don't want your mom to die without peace, you must bet with me."

I was so angry my heart raced and my breathing almost stopped.

"You've gone too far!"

"Hmph, I don't care. From childhood to now, you've always been one step ahead of me. This time, I can finally ride over your head!"

I slammed my fist on the table: "Fine! Let's bet! Jin Caixia, you'd better not regret this!"

"Oh, what would I regret? You pathetic thing with a dead mom and a dad on the run."

"You! You remember this—whatever happens in the future is your own doing!"

"You'd better worry about yourself!"

In front of all our classmates, I was forced into making the bet with her.

Then, she leisurely began to describe the evidence she had.

It turned out that one day after school, she saw my mom struggling with a man.

The man looked vicious and very frightening.

People nearby said he was a murderer who had just been released from prison.

They said he was looking for his wife and child.

He and my mom were about to start fighting.

Jin Caixia's mom rushed out. I don't know what she said, but she finally persuaded them to stop.

The more I listened, the more afraid I became. I suddenly remembered overhearing my parents whispering when I was half-asleep as a child.

Something about Caixia, about her not being their biological child, about her being a disaster in the future.

In that moment, everything clicked.

So Jin Caixia wasn't actually her father's biological child. That so-called man my mom was having an affair with was her real father!

And her real father was a murderer who had just been released from prison!

So her current father found out about all this and stabbed her mother to death.

The more I thought about it, the more afraid I became. Tears flowed unconsciously from my eyes.

What to do?

How would she live in the future?

Murderer biological father, stepfather had stabbed biological mother.

My chest grew tighter, and tears began to fall.

"Tsk tsk tsk! Scared into crying, are you? A bitch's daughter can cry too. How delightful!"

Chapter 6

"Who are you calling a bitch!"

Jin Caixia's words deeply hurt me. She could insult me, but she couldn't insult my mom!

"I am! Besides, I'm not wrong!"

Just as we were about to start fighting.

A classmate beside Jin Caixia suddenly tugged at her sleeve: "Stop arguing. Look! It's on the news!"

All of us turned our attention to an uncle's tablet computer nearby.

Seeing that we wanted to watch the news too, the uncle deliberately turned up the volume.

[A serious assault has occurred in our city. Ms. A was injured at her home by an attacker armed with a fruit knife from her home. Ms. A has been sent to the hospital for treatment and is in critical condition. The attacker has fled, and Mr. B, Ms. A's husband, is the primary suspect. The police quickly sealed off the scene, but Mr. B was not found in the building. Citizens are advised to be careful when going out to avoid accidents.]

The news included a blurry photo.

It showed a severely injured woman, but her face was blurred, making it impossible to tell who she was.

She lay on a stretcher, looking pitiful.

Jin Caixia curled her lips: "Look at this woman. Even on the verge of death, she still looks like a cheap piece of trash."

I said softly, "Caixia, have you thought about it? If it were your mom who had been stabbed, could you still say such things?"

She glared at me: "Hmph, if my parents did something so shameful, I'd jump off a building immediately! People like that don't deserve to live in this world. Taking the initiative to die would be a service to society."

Before I could say anything, the upstairs aunt walked into the restaurant.

She handed me a phone: "Qingqing, it's your mom. The residential complex is now accessible."

I took the phone and met Jin Caixia's surprised gaze.

"What phone call? How could it be her mom? Her mom is already dead."

The aunt's face darkened: "What nonsense? Her mom is perfectly fine."

Then, she held the phone to my ear.

My mom's voice came through: [Qingqing, have you eaten enough? Do you want me to cook some congee for you?]

I don't know why, but I felt as if I had survived a disaster.

Hearing my mom's voice, tears instantly filled my eyes.

[I'm... I'm full, Mom.]

[Today was your lucky day, you naughty child, getting to eat the hamburger you've been craving. No more hamburgers this week. That stuff isn't healthy.]

I nodded repeatedly: [Yes, Mom. No more. They don't taste good anyway. Your cooking is the best.]

Mom laughed on the other end of the line.

But Jin Caixia snatched the phone from my hand.

"I don't believe it! It can't be your mom. You're all acting!"

Chapter 7

She pressed the speakerphone button and yelled rudely:

[Who are you? What are you pretending for?]

Mom paused for a second: [Is... is it Xiao Xia? It's your Aunt Chen.]

Hearing my mom's voice, Jin Caixia was completely stunned.

She had heard this voice since she was little—there was no way she could mistake it for someone else's.

[Wh... what... It really is Aunt Chen. You... how come you're not dead?]

My mom sighed deeply on the other end of the line.

She understood everything.

Jin Caixia still didn't know the truth.

I reached out and took the phone back from her frozen hand.

[Mom, can I come home now?]

Only then did Mom speak again: [Yes, come on back. Mom will come downstairs to get you. It's not safe outside now.]

After hanging up the phone, I thought again about everything Jin Caixia was about to face.

I wanted to cancel the bet for her mother's sake.

But as I turned to face her, before I could speak.

She preempted me: "Even if it wasn't your mom who died, your mom still cheated. My evidence is absolutely reliable!"

I shook my head helplessly: "Suit yourself."

She grabbed my upper arm tightly: "I'm telling you, our bet is still valid."

I tried to push her hand away, but she seemed to want to break my arm.

"It's valid, it's valid. Let go of me."

Just then, Mom pushed open the restaurant door, panting.

"Qingqing, huff, I'm exhausted. Mom still didn't feel right letting you walk outside alone. It's already getting dark."

I ran forward and hugged Mom.

A sense of grievance filled my chest.

I was such a mama's girl—with any little headache or discomfort, seeing Mom made me feel wronged.

With any little accident or scare, seeing Mom made me feel wronged.

She smiled and patted my back: "Alright, alright, still feeling wronged. Will an ice cream make it better?"

I looked up and saw several policemen walk in through the door.

They asked cautiously: "Excuse me, is student Jin Caixia here?"

I slowly turned and looked at her.

Her body trembled slightly.

She forced a smile: [Wh... what do you want with me? Hehe, is it because no one is at my house, and you're afraid the man who did the stabbing is hiding at my house...]

Chapter 8

The policeman looked very troubled.

Mom also sobbed.

She took a step forward: "Xiao Xia..."

But she choked up, unable to say another word.

Jin Caixia suddenly got angry: "What are you doing, Aunt Chen! Why are you crying at me!"

She grew more agitated as she spoke, throwing herself back into her chair: "I'm not going with you. I haven't broken any law. I'm not going."

The classmates looked at each other, none daring to step forward to persuade her.

The policeman walked to her side: "Student, something has happened at your home..."

But she didn't let him finish: "What happened, what happened! It wasn't my home! Go find whoever it belongs to."

"Building 17, unit 1306. That's your home, isn't it?"

Tears welled in Jin Caixia's eyes. She stubbornly lifted her head, the veins on her neck bulging.

"What? Did my house get burglarized?"

The policeman sighed helplessly: "Your mother is lying in the hospital with only her last breath left. Her final wish is to see you."

"Yes, you decide for yourself whether you want to come with us, to see her one last time."

"No, I'm not going. It can't be my home."

I was furious. To save face, she would even disown her own mother?

"Jin Caixia! Stop being crazy! It was your home! Everyone said thirteenth floor from the beginning, not third floor! That's your biological mother. If you don't go see her one last time, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

I shouted these words angrily, my mind filled with the tragic image of Aunt Song at that moment, expecting her daughter.

"Quick, Xiao Xia. Auntie will go with you. Let's go."

Only then did she stand up stubbornly, walking out while muttering: "Du Qingqing, I see you're plotting something, trying to shift this onto me, aren't you? I tell you, I saw correctly. I'll go! When I do, I'll have my mom tell you the truth herself!"

This girl was like a stone in a dry toilet—stinky and hard.

We accompanied her to the hospital.

Guided by a nurse, we found the ward.

Aunt Song lay dying on the hospital bed. When she saw Jin Caixia walk in, her dead eyes suddenly lit up.

Jin Caixia froze, standing stiffly at the doorway.

My mom gently pushed her forward from behind: "Quick... go quickly, Xiao Xia. See Mom one last time."

Aunt Song struggled to reach out a hand: "Xi... Xiao Xia... Mom... Mom is sorry..."

Jin Caixia rushed forward.

I was moved to tears, and Mom sobbed until she could barely breathe.

Chapter 9

Jin Caixia ran to Aunt Song's side. Aunt Song showed a pitiful smile.

She reached out, wanting to touch her precious one last time.

But Jin Caixia suddenly spoke: "Mom, before you die, tell me first. Did Aunt Chen cheat? That murderer was Aunt Chen's lover, right?"

Hearing the word "murderer," Aunt Song opened her mouth wide in an instant.

Her jaw moved, but no sound came out.

After a long while, she slowly squeezed out a few words: "No... no... that, that man is... your..."

Jin Caixia stamped her feet impatiently: "No, no, it's not! You're lying! You wicked woman! Do you want to kill your own daughter? I hate you! You're lying!"

She punched her own mother, then suddenly turned and ran frantically toward the outside.

Aunt Song's body convulsed violently from her punch.

Medical staff rushed in panic and began resuscitation efforts.

Actually, resuscitation was meaningless. Aunt Song probably wouldn't have made it through the night anyway.

But originally, she could have had a good talk with her daughter and left this world in her daughter's company.

She never imagined she would leave so unclearly.

The police followed Jin Caixia, afraid she might do something rash.

Mom stepped forward and held Aunt Song's hand, crying uncontrollably.

Aunt Song used her last bit of strength to gasp: "Xi... Xiao Chen... I... I beg you... help... help me take care of Xiao Xia... please... please..."

Aunt Song passed away with me and Mom by her side.

Even in her last second, she was still thinking about her daughter.

But her daughter was hiding somewhere, hating and blaming her.

Mom wept inconsolably beside Aunt Song's body.

That was her good friend who had accompanied her from youth to middle age.

She had thought they could grow old together, often imagining them as old best friends.

At that time, they would still dress colorfully, drink coffee together, and do square dancing together.

But now everything had become an empty fantasy.

Aunt Song entrusted her newly adult daughter to her, and she had to accept.

Her body weak, she supported herself on a chair and stood up.

"Xi... Xiao Xia, come home with Auntie..."

Chapter 10

Following the police's directions, Mom found Jin Caixia.

Her face was full of anger, but she hadn't shed a single tear.

Seeing us approach, she turned back and glared at me fiercely: "I haven't lost! You don't have evidence, so I haven't lost."

No one paid attention to what she said.

Mom reached out and grabbed her: "Xiao Xia, your mom is gone..."

She threw my mom's hand off: "Dead then she's dead! Man-killer. If she hadn't angered my father, how could he have stabbed her to death?"

Mom shook her head in despair: "It's too late. Come home with Auntie."

"What? To your home?" She vigilantly took a step back, "Du Qingqing, you're so ruthless!"

"You're humiliating me like this just because I joked about you being my foot-washing maid?"

I grabbed Mom's hand: "Mom, let's go. Leave her alone. She's crazy."

She tilted her neck: "I'm not going! I have a home. I'll go to my own home. Don't think you can humiliate me. Do you know how formidable my dad is? Be careful, or I'll have him stab all of you!"

Mom's chest heaved with anger: "You... you child, how can you be so heartless!"

The policeman stepped forward: "Miss Jin, we've confirmed that your father is the murderer. He's still at large. You can't go home alone. It's very dangerous."

"Stay out of my business. I'm an adult. I know my limits!"

No one could persuade her. She was stubborn beyond cure.

I called my dad, who drove to pick up Mom and me.

I heard the police took Jin Caixia back to her own home, only leaving after confirming the entire house was safe inside and out.

The next day, she came to school as if nothing had happened.

She told everyone: "Do you have such good luck? Just turned eighteen and I've inherited an estate. Once I get into college, I'll sell the house, and I'll be the richest person on campus. Then I'll just find a rich second-generation heir to marry, and my life will reach its peak!"

Classmates couldn't understand her and kept several meters away, unwilling to approach her.

Probably their parents had all told them to stay away from the murderer's daughter.

It wasn't yet certain which man was her father.

But whichever it was, he was a desperado.

Seeing no one would talk to her, she resentfully returned to her seat.

Her mouth kept muttering: "Hmph, you're all secretly jealous of me. When you inherit your family estates, it'll be decades from now. Maybe you won't even outlive your parents, and they'll inherit your estates."

A classmate whispered.

"She's crazy."

"Exactly, I heard she beat her own mother to death."

"So vicious."

Chapter 11

After school that day, Mom took me to eat pig trotter noodles.

Then we walked home.

But just as we entered the building entrance, we heard commotion inside.

"Quick, quick, go up and take a look. It's getting intense!"

"Which floor?"

"Thirteenth floor, the family where the stabbing happened."

"Oh my, it's their house again. Wait for me, I'm coming too!"

Hearing "thirteenth floor," Mom immediately panicked.

She grabbed my hand, tightening it suddenly.

I looked at her gently: "Mom, I'll go up with you to see."

She bit her lower lip and nodded.

We arrived at the thirteenth floor just in time to see Jin Caixia's grandmother and aunt-in-law pushing her around.

Refusing to let her enter the house.

She wasn't easy to bully either, pushing against two women by herself to get inside.

"On what grounds won't you let me in! This is my home, this is my house! What right do you have!"

Her grandmother stood behind the aunt-in-law, pointing at her and cursing loudly: "You little hussy, you should think about what you are!"

"You old thing, you just want to give my house to your grandson, don't you? Dream on. This is mine!"

Her grandmother suddenly laughed, without a trace of sympathy in her contempt: "Yours? Keep dreaming! This is my son's!"

Jin Caixia also laughed: "That's my dad's! My dad isn't dead yet! I'll have him write a will leaving everything to me, not a cent for you, you old hag!"

"Phooey! Give it to you? Open your eyes and see what this is!"

With that, her grandmother threw a stack of photocopies in her face.

"Everyone, judge for yourselves, look at these things.

"These were all given to me by my son.

"This child Jin Caixia isn't my son's at all!

"My son had a paternity test long ago, but his wife refused to admit it.

"If that dead woman hadn't pushed him to his limit, my son would never have stabbed her!

"My son was ruined by that evil woman!

"My poor son!

"This house was bought by my son before marriage, definitely premarital property.

"Now my son has already written his will. This house will be inherited by me alone.

"He called me just last night, telling me to immediately drive Jin Caixia, that bastard child, out!"

Someone in the crowd secretly took out a phone and dialed 110.

The police offered a reward of 500 yuan for information on the murderer's whereabouts.

Chapter 12

Always proud and stubborn, Jin Caixia truly felt fear for the first time.

She was afraid.

Her hands trembled as black and white documents became blurry before her eyes.

"No... impossible... these documents are fake, they must be fake..."

Her aunt-in-law rolled her eyes: "Your biological father is a murderer just released from prison."

She froze, turning blankly to look at me: "Du Qingqing, go tell them it's impossible. He's not my biological father, he's your biological father! Go tell them quickly!"

She grabbed my arm desperately.

Seeing I remained unmoved, she turned her gaze to my mom: "Aunt Chen, you go explain. That's your lover. My mom was just helping you out of a jam. You can't be so ungrateful. Go help me explain!"

My mom patted her hand and spoke carefully.

"I know you saw it that day. But Xiao Xia, that really was your biological father.

"Your mother had just become pregnant with you when he went to prison.

"Later, your mother met your father through a blind date. She didn't know she was pregnant at the time.

"But as time went on, she felt more and more that something was wrong and always suspected you were the murderer's child.

"That day he was released, he insisted on seeing you.

"Your mother was terrified of being chased by him, so I stepped in to help drive him away."

"Impossible!" Jin Caixia stamped her feet angrily, then suddenly pushed my mom, "You're lying! You're lying! You slut! Liar! You were the one cheating, not my mom! You're lying!"

Jin Caixia's grandmother couldn't wait any longer: "You'd better take a good look at these documents. Don't come into my home again. This house will have nothing to do with you from now on."

Only then did she steady herself, crying as she read through the documents.

It was conclusive, beyond doubt.

Her aunt-in-law also spoke: "Our family supported you for eighteen years for nothing. Not asking you to pay us back is enough. Get lost!"

Her grandmother said as she prepared to close the door.

Jin Caixia knelt before my mom: "Aunt Chen, I'm my mother's only bloodline left. You can't watch me die. My mother is watching you from heaven! If you don't help me, aren't you afraid she'll come to you in your dreams seeking revenge?"

My mom stepped forward and carefully said to Jin Caixia's grandmother: "Auntie, please at least let the child pack her things."

Jin Caixia's grandmother reluctantly nodded: "She can pack her things, but no gold or jewelry. Those were all bought by my son."

And so, we accompanied Jin Caixia as she packed her clothes.

She pulled her suitcase, following us back to the third floor.

"Aunt Chen, I'll endure some hardship and live at your house from now on. I'm not picky, so don't feel burdened."

Mom froze, the hand reaching out to open the door suspended in mid-air.

Chapter 13

A few seconds later, she turned back.

"Xiao Xia, you can't live at my house."

Jin Caixia grew anxious again: "Why? Then where will I live? Don't tell me you want me to live on the street. Be careful, or your mother..."

"You shut up!" For the first time, I saw Mom so angry, "How dare you mention your mother?

"What did you do to her the day she died? Have you forgotten?

"It's been so many days, have you burned a single piece of paper for her? Have you worshipped her once?

"You don't even know where your mother is buried!

"Your maternal grandmother wanted to take you in, but when she saw what you did, her heart went cold!

"She asked me to tell you that their family has completely severed ties with you. No one will help you!

"As for why you can't live at my house, you should know the reason.

"How you treated Qingqing, how you maliciously speculated about me—do I need to repeat it to you?"

Jin Caixia's arrogance faded: "Th... then where will I live... my mother is up there..."

"You shut up! Don't you dare use your mother to pressure me anymore.

"I'll find you a place to live, but this is only for the sake of my old friendship with your mother.

"She must have hoped I could help you. But someone like you doesn't deserve my help at all.

"I have a small bungalow. You can move there.

"After you leave for college, I'll take that house back immediately!

"Take care of yourself from now on!"

Mom didn't even let Jin Caixia step into our home.

She found a key from a drawer by the door, told me to stay home and read for a while and have some fruit.

Then she left with Jin Caixia.

Based on tips from concerned citizens, the police quickly arrested Uncle Jin, who was hiding in a shabby house in the suburbs.

He was completely disheartened, looking as if he were just waiting to die.

Jin Caixia wanted to see him, begging him to give her the house for the sake of having raised her since childhood.

But Uncle Jin refused to see her and had someone pass a message that his only heir was his nephew.

The house would belong to his nephew alone.

Jin Caixia—she wouldn't get a single cent from him.

Things finally came to an end.

Life had to go on.

Going to school, coming home, preparing for the college entrance exam.

But there were always classmates who couldn't keep their mouths shut, deliberately mocking Jin Caixia.

"Jin Caixia, you lost your bet with Du Qingqing. Don't forget, you can't answer the Chinese exam!"

"That's right, you were the one who insisted Du Qingqing bet with you."

I didn't want to participate in this topic.

But Jin Caixia, facing mockery from her former followers, actually fixed her gaze solely on me.

Cold and venomous.

Chapter 14

Uncle Jin had been arrested, and my parents thought there was no more danger outside.

So they let me walk home with classmates again.

The evening study session ended at 9:30, and my home wasn't far from school.

Moreover, the whole route was well-lit.

My parents had been busy with work recently. Although they came to pick me up whenever they could, most of the time I still walked with classmates.

That day was particularly hot, and I drank a few extra sips of water.

It tasted a bit bitter, but I didn't think much of it.

I stood up drowsily, my backpack feeling much heavier than usual on my shoulders.

The backpack weighed me down, making me walk very slowly.

At the corner, my classmate turned into their residential complex.

Past this row of shops was the gate to my residential complex.

There weren't many pedestrians on the road. I checked my watch—it was almost 10 PM.

My eyelids grew heavier, and I felt I might fall asleep any second.

Just then, I heard a low male voice behind me.

He sounded to be in his forties or fifties, very unfamiliar.

"Little bitch, you're Du Qingqing, aren't you?"

I dragged my feet and turned around.

A man full of murderous intent glared at me with red eyes.

"You... who are you..."

He turned his neck, something reflecting the streetlight.

"Me? I'm Jin Caixia's biological father." This statement woke me up halfway, and I slowly backed away.

"What do you want?"

He pressed forward: "What do I want? I heard you've been bullying my daughter. Today I'm going to chop you to death. Then my daughter will sweetly call me 'Dad,' and I'd die willingly!"

Only then did I clearly see the meter-long machete he held in his hand.

Then in an instant, he charged at me.

I ran forward frantically.

There was one shop that hadn't closed yet, and I was about to rush in.

But the person inside looked terrified and frantically closed the door tight.

Chapter 15

I cried, pounding on the door: "Please, save me! Open the door, save me!"

In that instant, I locked eyes with the person inside the door.

He looked so afraid, so timid.

He was the class monitor, Gu Yu.

Suddenly, I felt an arm wrap tightly around me as heat enveloped me from above.

I passed out.

I don't know how much time passed before I opened my eyes.

I lay in white sheets, suddenly wanting to cry.

Tears flowed from my temples into my hair.

"Qingqing is awake. Quick, husband, bring a cup of hot water."

It was Mom's voice.

A warm hand gently wiped away my tears.

Then, her forehead pressed against mine.

"I'm sorry, baby. It's all Mom and Dad's fault. We didn't take good care of you."

It turned out that day, my parents happened to see me from around the corner.

Just as they were about to call my name, they saw Jin Caixia's biological father calling to me.

At the same time, my dad grabbed a chair from outside a shop and struck him at the critical moment.

Mom called the police nearby.

When the police arrived, Jin Caixia's biological father had run to the rooftop of the adjacent residential complex.

Tears streamed down his face, standing just meters away from the furious Jin Caixia.

"Daughter, my daughter, call me Dad once, okay? Just once!"

Jin Caixia yelled angrily: "I won't call! You useless thing. You couldn't even handle such a small task! Useless! Useless!"

The desperate man fell backward, plummeting straight into the dust.

My parents said Jin Caixia would soon be sentenced.

She couldn't even take the college entrance exam.

Because she had put sleeping pills in my water and incited others to commit crimes.

She might get two years.

She had my parents pass on a message to me: "Du Qingqing, although I lost the bet, I keep my word. I really didn't answer the Chinese exam!"

What a psycho!

Her whole family was psychotic!

You wanted to take it but had no chance!

A few months later, I achieved great success in the college entrance exam.

I got into the same city as Gu Yu.

After that incident, I never spoke to him again.

On the day we returned to school, he walked up to me and confessed his feelings:

"I know there's a misunderstanding between us, but I hope you can understand me.

Anyone would choose to protect their own family first in that situation.

So I had to close the door.

Can you be my girlfriend? That way, you'll be my family too, and I'll definitely protect you well."

I looked at him expressionlessly: "No."

"Why?" He stepped forward eagerly.

"Because you're too disgusting!"