Qi Zhifang lay motionless, like a blood-soaked gourd. Zhao Yunxiang, trembling, placed his finger under Qi Zhifang's nose, then collapsed to the ground, his face drained of color. "Fangfang, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I couldn't control myself, please, save me!" he cried, kneeling on the ground and slapping his face with his bare hands until sparks flew. Tears and sobs streamed down his face. "Fangfang, forgive me, I just care about you too much, I can't live without you..." he pleaded, grabbing a kitchen knife and shoving it into Qi Zhifang's hand. "I can't live without you, kill me! Please, only by dying can I finally let go of you!"

Wang Fang cried and pulled her hand back. "No, Yunxiang, don't do this. I know you didn't mean it." As she spoke, she touched his face tenderly and choked out, "Does it hurt?"

Zhao Yunxiang held Wang Fang tightly and shook his head violently, "As long as you don't leave me, I'll give you my life!"

Wang Fang nestled in his arms, crying and nodding. Neither of them had expected the unknown fate of Qi Zhifang beside them; they had completely forgotten about her. It must be said that this is a tragic love story that even the God of Love couldn't break apart—you torment me a thousand times, yet I love you as much as my first love.

It was Xiao Cui, who had just finished work, who saw the door was unlocked and was about to rush over to Qi Zhifang when she discovered this scene. She screamed, "Ah! Murder! Murder! Help! Help!"

Zhao Yunxiang, like a madman, rushed forward to grab Xiao Cui, just as Qi Zhijun returned. Xiao Cui, terrified, screamed, "Zhijun, Zhijun, he's going to kill me! Help! Catch the murderer! Catch the murderer!..."

Qi Zhijun quickly stepped forward to shield Xiao Cui behind him. The able-bodied young men who had finished work all came over with carrying poles and iron bars to grab Zhao Yunxiang. Wang Fang came out and shouted, "Don't hit him! It's all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding... Yunxiang isn't a bad person!"

"He beat Fangzi to death," Xiao Cui said, still shaken. "She's inside!" Qi Zhijun's expression changed. Although he was truly disappointed in Qi Zhifang, he didn't want her to die! He rushed into the house and screamed, "Fangzi... Fangzi..." He trembled as he checked her breath; there was still a faint breath. He came out and cried, "Neighbors, don't let this murderer get away! He killed my sister! Please, someone come and help me get my sister to the hospital!"

People were still quite simple-minded at that time, and they quickly came over to help take Qi Zhifang to the hospital. Wang Fang grabbed Qi Zhijun and cried as if her mother had died, "Uncle, tell them to release Yunxiang! Yunxiang didn't do it on purpose! He didn't..." Qi Zhijun slapped Wang Fang hard, making her spin around and fall to the ground. "Don't call me! You heartless wretch, that's your mother! No matter how bad she is, she's been sincere to you. How could you just stand by and watch this beast beat your mother like this? If anything happens to your mother, I won't let you get away with it!"

At this moment, Zhao Yunxiang was taken to the police station. Wang Fang ran crying to Secretary Zhao's house, hoping to tell someone to save Zhao Yunxiang! Everyone rushed to take Qi Zhifang to the hospital. After a series of examinations, bandaging, and injections, Qi Zhijun sent someone to deliver a message to Wang Dong and Wang Hong.

The two people didn't show up, but they brought a message: they don't have a mother, and whoever caused the trouble should take responsibility.

Qi Zhijun had no choice but to call Xiao Hu, and Xiao Hu's recently calmed heart was thrown into turmoil again. Without even a five-second hesitation, he decided to come to the hospital.

Just as Xiao Hu was about to leave, Li Nianjun arrived with Lin Huaihua, their three children, and their daughter-in-law. Seeing Xiao Hu about to go out, Li Nianjun cheerfully said, "How about that? I told you Xiao Hu knew he was wrong. He knew we were coming and came to greet us. I've brought your wife and children over. Let bygones be bygones. Neither of us is allowed to bring up the past, understand? Let's live a good life together."

Xiao Hu frowned and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I have to go out for a while!"

Li Nianjun's smile froze, and he said unhappily, "What could make you happier than seeing your wife and children?"

Xiao Hu bit his lip and remained silent, while Lin Huaihua angrily asked, "Is it that vixen? Are you going to see her again?"

Xiao Hu also got angry, "Stop talking about vixens! Fangzi is a good woman..."

Li Nianjun slapped him across the face. "Good my ass! I shouldn't be gossiping like this, but I just can't take it anymore. Your 'good woman' even tried to seduce Liu Dahai, but too bad she made a mistake. Isn't Liu Dahai better off than you? Isn't he better looking than you? His wife isn't even as good as Huaihua! How come he could stay faithful, but you can't? Don't you have any shame? In front of the kids, are you going to be all lovey-dovey? If you keep this up, you might as well retire!"

Xiao Hu, with tears streaming down his face, said, "You don't need to pressure me with this. I had already decided to give her up, and I told her today, but now I'm not going to put up with it anymore. Fine, I'll back down! If I can't even protect the woman I love, who else can I expect to protect..." As he was about to leave, Li Nianjun looked at him with disappointment, "If you step out of this door today, believe me, I'll take over your wife and children!"

Xiao Hu stiffened. "Then thank you! You've relieved me of my worries about them!"

Lin Huaihua, with tears streaming down her face, said, "Kneel down and kowtow three times to Xiao Hu. After that, you will be people without a biological father, because he is dead."

The four children knelt down in unison and kowtowed three times. Xiao Hu felt a pang of heartache, but mostly a sense of relief. He turned and said, "Huaihua, I've wronged you in this life... I..."

Lin Huaihua wiped away her tears and said, "Stop talking nonsense. You haven't wronged me enough in this life, do you want to wrong me in the next? Xiao Hu, I have done right by you. Today, our relationship ends here. From now on, we are strangers. We will never see each other again, even in life or death. You go your way, and I will go mine!"

After saying that, he took the children and left...