Volume 1 Chapter 60 This is Going Too Far

"We have only taken his statement. Qin Shaohu is still undergoing medical treatment, and his condition is severe, which does not meet the criteria for arrest," Officer Liu said.

A wave of dissatisfaction welled up inside me. Qin Shaohu deserved to be locked up immediately to prevent any future trouble.

However, the police's decisions were beyond my control, and I could only shake my head with a sigh of regret.

Officer Liu offered me a reassuring reassurance.

"Zhou Yan, you don't need to worry. As soon as Qin Shaohu's health improves, he will be taken into custody."

"Will he be able to flee during this time?" I asked boldly.

"The police will keep him under close surveillance. He wouldn't dare run, or he'll be placed on the wanted list, adding even more to his crimes," Officer Liu said with a resolute expression.

"Thank you! And thank the police as well."

My words came straight from the heart. The decisive action of the police was the only thing that truly gave me a sense of security.

"It's only our duty."

Kidnapping was a felony and would be prosecuted by the state, so it was no longer my concern.

Leaving the Municipal Public Security Bureau feeling much lighter, I first went to the bank to withdraw five hundred yuan, and then headed to the shopping mall to buy a brand-new Forever-brand bicycle.

Taking a taxi was too expensive; riding a bicycle was much more convenient.

I still had to make a trip home to gather all my old college entrance examination study materials, as I needed to tutor Chang Sisi tomorrow.

Officer Liu hadn't explained the entire case, and it seemed there were still hidden details.

My mind raced, and I began to piece things together.

That night, Director Chang Yong had called Director Qin to demand whether he knew about my kidnapping during the college entrance exams.

Director Qin panicked and rushed to the hospital to curse out Qin Shaohu.

Qin Shaohu, growing even more panicked, called the three kidnappers and confirmed my location at Anhe Residential Area.

Everything that followed fell neatly into place.

Chang Yong must have regretted contacting Director Qin, which had inadvertently triggered the second kidnapping.

Yet, I could never ask Director Chang about the origins of the kidnapping. Doing so would completely sever our relationship.

The world hardens a person; I felt myself becoming more sophisticated, beginning to see through the ways of the world.

When I returned home, it was already dusk.

The old building where I once lived was bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

Things remained, but the people were gone.

A tinge of melancholy arose within me, only to be swept away by the cool evening breeze.

Opening the door and stepping inside, the familiar lifeless atmosphere greeted me.

My father sat in his wheelchair, watching television, as silent as a statue.

Lacking physical activity, he had gained some weight, and his checkered pajamas fit him tightly.

Only when he saw me did his eyes flicker, squeezing out a meager smile.

"Xiaoyan, where have you been lately?"

"None of your business!" I snapped irritably, then demanded, "Where is Xu Li?"

My father pointed upstairs and made a shushing gesture.

"She just brought a man back. Your old man is useless, and since she has needs, she has no other choice."

Utterly shocked, I strained my ears to listen.

Faint, disgusting sounds drifted from the room where Fu Xiaoya used to live.

Xu Li was truly outrageous.

To brazenly bring a man back home!

Dammit, couldn't she at least go to a hotel?

She was humiliating my father right in his own house!

Yes, she knew my father wouldn't dare object, nor was he capable of it.

Fury surged within me, burning my eyes red. I pointed right at my father's nose and lashed out.

"You're nothing more than a useless piece of trash."

My father started, his lips trembling, but for once he didn't scurry to scold me.

Instead, a wronged expression crossed his face, and two cloudy tears welled up in his eyes.

"Your old man is reduced to this; what else can I do?"

"Damn it, you can't just bully people like this."

Blinded by rage and ignoring my father's feeble attempts to stop me, I stormed upstairs and kicked violently against the door, making the very walls shake.

Moments later, the door flew open!

A man in his early thirties emerged, zipping up his trousers.

He wore a black tank top and was built with bulging muscles, resembling a fitness instructor.

Annoyed at having his fun interrupted, the man glared at me and roared, waving his fist.

"You little punk, what do you think you're doing?"

"Shameless beast, get out of my house!"

My eyes widened in fierce anger, my fear of death entirely eclipsed by rage.

"Damn it, with a scrawny frame like yours, you dare yell at me?"

The man grabbed me by the collar. His grip was so strong that my toes instantly left the ground, cutting off my air supply.

Unwilling to be beaten up again, I had no choice but to fight back.

In a flash, I pulled the surgical scalpel from my sleeve.

Swish!

The blade sliced across the man's arm, leaving a long, bleeding gash.

"You... you dare use a knife!"

Terrified, the man's expression twisted into panic as bright red blood poured from his arm, a horrifying sight.

With an icy gaze, I raised the scalpel once more.

Panicking completely, the man released me, clutched his bleeding arm, and bolted down the stairs.

I heard the front door slam open and shut; he had fled in terror.

Only then did Xu Li step out, wearing a paper-thin spaghetti-strap nightgown. The sweat on her flushed face had yet to dry, giving her skin a greasy sheen.

"Who the hell do you think you are, meddling in my business?"

Xu Li shrieked the moment she saw me, her chest heaving violently, her eyes looking ready to devour me alive.

Undinted by her anger, I roared back.

"Xu Li, you've gone way too far! Who do you think you are? You're nothing more than a housewife, a shameless bitch!"

"I'll fight you to the death!"

Her face flushed crimson, Xu Li lunged forward to claw at me, only to be driven back by the flashing blade of my scalpel.

Devoid of reason, I hurled insults indiscriminately.

"I swear I'll kill you today and skin you alive!"

Xu Li hadn't expected me to go this crazy, my bloodshot eyes mirroring those of a wild beast.

Thud!

Abandoning the hatred in her eyes, Xu Li dropped to her knees in the hallway and pleaded, "Xiaoyan, I'm sorry! I was shameless, I was rotten to the core. Please spare me this once!"

"Xiaoyan, don't do anything reckless!"

My father's voice drifted up from downstairs, laden with sorrow and fear.

"Don't kill me! Your father still needs me to take care of him. I swear I'll never see another man again!"

Xu Li slapped herself across the face a few times before burying her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

I glanced down at my father in the wheelchair, who was pleadingly waving his hands at me.

Though the urge to kill Xu Li hadn't completely vanished, I slowly began to regain my composure.

"Xu Li, since my father won't stop you, you can see other men, but you are not allowed to bring them into this house. He's already in this state—how can you bear to torture him further? Have you no humanity at all?"

I rebuked her harshly. Xu Li kept her head bowed in silence.

"I'm packing some of my things and leaving. If you want to call the police, go right ahead."

Indifferent, I coldly added, "To be honest with you, I just walked out of the county police bureau. Someone like Qin Shaohu has already been brought down by me; he's completely finished."

Startled, Xu Li nodded hurriedly.

"I won't call the police, I promise! If word of this gets out, it's humiliating for me too."

Ignoring her, I walked into my bedroom, retrieved my old schoolbag, and stuffed it to the brim with my essential review materials.

As I headed downstairs, Xu Li stood behind my father, her hands resting gently on his shoulders.

"Xiaoyan, stay and live at home!"

Shamelessly, Xu Li tried to coax me into staying, sighing softly, "This house really feels like a prison, devoid of any life, and so quiet it often frightens the heart."