Xia Wan's almond-shaped eyes widened, shooting out a cold, icy light like two sharp blades as she stared intently at Zhou Jing, as if scrutinizing a heinous, hopelessly depraved creature.
She was convinced that the person in front of her was a demon who had stolen someone else's identity and was plotting to destroy her warm family.
Xia Wan's hands clenched unconsciously, her knuckles turning white from the force. She secretly vowed to protect her family and never let this "imposter" succeed.
Zhou Jing's outburst of insults, like a sudden storm, carrying boundless malice, instantly tore apart the already tense and oppressive atmosphere in the room. Her sharp and sarcastic words were like razor-sharp blades, slicing through the last vestige of peace in the air.
Each word was like a sharp pebble, striking hard into everyone's hearts.
The already tense atmosphere intensified to a suffocating degree under this malicious attack.
The room reeked of gunpowder, as if a single spark could ignite a raging fire that would burn everything beautiful to the ground. Xia Shuqin trembled with rage, her clenched fists shaking uncontrollably. If not for the chaotic situation before her, she would have already rushed forward to confront Zhou Jing.
The younger members of the Xia family hid in a corner, watching all this in horror, their eyes filled with confusion and fear.
Xia Xiong sat on a carved wooden chair, the paint on which was mottled and bore witness to the vicissitudes of time.
The faded Zhongshan suit he was wearing had a patch on the collar; it was his late wife's last needlework.
Upon hearing Zhou Jing's outrageous words, his face instantly turned as gloomy as the sky before a storm, so dark it seemed like it could be wrung out of water.
On his weathered forehead, veins bulged, resembling angry, writhing snakes.
His chest heaved violently, each breath heavy with rage—a sign of being consumed by extreme fury.
His eyes held a mixture of anger towards the person before him and longing for his former daughter; these complex emotions made it almost impossible for him to breathe.
"What did you say? That's your older brother!" Xia Xiong asked, enunciating each word clearly, his voice low and filled with boundless anger.
The sound was like a roar from the deepest abyss of hell, carrying a power that pierced the soul, making everyone present feel a sharp pain in their eardrums.
He never imagined that the foul-mouthed, ill-mannered person in front of him was actually wearing his daughter's face, and was the daughter he had raised with great care since she was a child.
Once upon a time, Shuhua was so well-behaved and sensible. During the busy farming season, she would get up early to help with laundry and cooking. Her thin figure would be busy in front of the stove, just so that her family could have a hot meal.
During the off-season, she would massage her father's back and shoulders after he returned home exhausted, gently comforting him with sweet words about his day's hard work. But now, the "Shuhua" before her eyes was so unfamiliar, so heartbreaking.
Zhou Jing was initially stunned by Xia Xiong's thunderous rage, and for a moment she was at a loss, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes.
Her body trembled slightly, as if she realized her words had gone too far. But soon, madness and resentment completely overwhelmed her mind.
She suddenly threw her head back and laughed loudly. The laughter was sharp and piercing, like the cry of an owl in the wilderness. It echoed in the silent room, sending chills down one's spine and raising goosebumps all over one's body.
"Big brother? What kind of big brother is he! He's just a cripple, dragging his useless body around. What right does he have to come back and claim a share of the Xia family's assets!"
At this moment, Zhou Jing had completely lost her mind. The resentment and jealousy in her heart were like a flood that had burst its banks, surging and uncontrollable.
In her distorted perception, Xia Jianguo's return from afar shattered her original plans.
She firmly believed that since she had been married off for many years, she had no claim to the Xia family's wealth. Now that Xia Jianguo had returned with his son, she felt even more that she had been completely abandoned by the Xia family.
Thinking of all the hardships she had endured in her husband's family over the years, and all the efforts she had made to please the Xia family, now all of which had vanished, her anger grew wildly like weeds.
Thinking back to today, Xia Xiong had sent a message early in the morning, insisting that she come back. She was already seething with anger.
In her opinion, if Zhao Guodong hadn't been there to persuade her with kind words, coaxing her with the excuse that "she might be able to get some benefits from the Xia family," she wouldn't have stepped foot inside that house. She wholeheartedly thought that Xia Xiong couldn't possibly have any business with her; he was just trying to introduce Xia Jianguo's good-for-nothing son so that she would help him out in the future.
Zhou Jing grew angrier the more she thought about it, feeling like she had been completely played. She had no desire to sit down and have a meal with them insincerely, nor did she want to pretend that she still had any feelings for this family.
She thought back to how carefully she had spoken and acted in order to behave properly in front of the Xia family, and now it all seemed so ridiculous.
Looking at the crazed woman before him, Xia Xiong felt all the love and expectations he had accumulated over the years shatter completely like a beautiful bubble.
His reason snapped completely, and he could no longer suppress the surging anger within him. He suddenly raised his hand and, with all his might, slapped Zhou Jing hard across the face.
This slap carried his heartache over his daughter's "deterioration," his anger at her disobedience and lack of filial piety, and his fear of his family's impending collapse.
A sharp "snap" rang out clearly in the empty, silent room, like a heavy hammer blow striking everyone's heart. The sound echoed for a long time, as if telling the story of the family's pain and sorrow at that moment.
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