Chapter 31 Loss (Bonus Chapter for 2k Favorites) "I really want to become human..."
In early August 2016, Xie Pingxue, while drunk, followed and threatened a female student who had just finished evening self-study, causing the student to suffer a heart attack and die. Xie Pingxue was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for the crime of provoking trouble.
Xie Shijin had been living in a daze for the past two years and had almost forgotten about this person.
It was He Sumei and Yang Shengnan who reminded him that today was the day Xie Pingxue would be released from prison.
About half an hour later, Ni Jiaqi got out of the taxi and saw the boy at the entrance of the residential area in the distance. He jogged over and asked, "Xie Shijin, where's the cat?"
Xie Shijin said, "In my schoolbag."
He was making a lot of noise just now, but he ran out of energy after a while. Xie Shijin handed him the schoolbag and said, "Thank you for your help."
Ni Jiaqi took the schoolbag, but instead of being particularly happy, he was worried: "Your dad... he's back?"
Ni Jiaqi had heard about Xie Pingxue's story.
In early September 2016, Yichuan City began selecting outstanding students. The school submitted the names of him, Xie Shijin, Yuan Shao, and several other students with excellent grades. The day after the results were announced, the academic affairs office received an anonymous report.
"The body of the female student who was murdered by the murderer is barely cold, yet the murderer's son is about to be awarded the title of 'Three Good Student'."
"Manslaughter is still murder."
"Good grades can't cover up the fact that his father killed someone!"
"I oppose Xie Shijin's selection of 'Three Good Students'!"
Although Xie Shijin had long since severed ties with Xie Pingxue, such rumors still greatly affected him.
Under pressure from public opinion, the school disqualified Xie Shijin from the evaluation.
At that time, Ni Jiaqi was angry with Xie Shijin because of Cheng Shiyun's death, and he was quite gloating when he heard the news.
Looking back now, Ni Jiaqi only feels that he was too naive and immature at the time.
He rubbed his nose and asked, "Did he come looking for you?"
"If not today, then tomorrow; it will come eventually," Xie Shijin said.
Ni Jiaqi clicked his tongue: "Let's just call the police."
Xie Shijin looked at him, her face expressionless, and asked in return, "Was it useful?"
Xie Pingxue didn't do anything wrong, so the police can't arrest him; at most, they can only give him a few warnings.
“Why don’t you come to my house for the next few days?” Ni Jiaqi said. “Xie Pingxue might leave if he can’t find you.”
Xie Shijin lowered his eyes and shook his head: "Take good care of the cat. I'll pick it up in a few days. I'm leaving now."
"I'm impressed," Ni Jiaqi muttered to himself. "I wonder where he got his stubborn temper from."
Xie Shijin didn't turn around. Her slender figure slowly walked up the dimly lit stairwell, looking smaller and smaller.
Ni Jiaqi stared at the retreating figure for two seconds, then called upstairs, "Be careful, call me if anything happens."
Before going to prison, Xie Pingxue compensated the female student's family with 100,000 yuan for funeral expenses and a pension. He borrowed almost all the money from his relatives and friends, and sold everything he could in his house. After being released from prison, he was penniless and had nowhere to stay. The first thing he thought of was coming here.
Xie Pingxue noticed immediately that the door lock had been changed. He knocked on the door, but no one answered.
He wasn't sure if his wife and son had moved or not, and he had nowhere else to go, so he sat on the corner of the stairs leading to the rooftop on the sixth floor and smoked.
After finishing a pack of cigarettes, it was already dark, and no one had returned. Xie Pingxue was getting impatient and wanted to go downstairs to inquire, but he heard footsteps coming upstairs.
One by one, the motion-activated lights in the hallway turned on, indicating that someone was coming up.
Xie Shijin smelled a strong tobacco odor, and there was a pile of cigarette butts crushed by shoe soles at the door.
The world is full of beauty.
Xie Pingxue's favorite brand of cigarettes is this one.
The voice-activated light went out, but a faint glow remained in the darkness.
Xie Shijin looked toward the firelight, and the figure sitting on the steps stood up.
The motion-activated light turned on, and the man grinned: "Don't you recognize your old man?"
"Xie Pingxue".
Xie Shijin spoke.
Every word he uttered was spoken with a voice as cold as ice.
Xie Pingxue stubbed out his cigarette, rubbed the cigarette butt against the sole of his shoe, and walked down the steps: "Open the door, I've been waiting for you all afternoon, aren't you going to invite your old man in for a seat?"
Xie Shijin said, "This is not your home, and I have no money."
Xie Pingxue laughed: "Didn't you score over 700 points on the college entrance exam? You were the top scorer in the province. You truly deserve to be my son, Xie Pingxue. The prize money is 150,000 yuan, right?"
He saw the huge honor roll posted at the entrance of Yichuan No. 7 Middle School. If he didn't have money, who was he trying to fool?
"Besides, didn't that bitch send money to your grandmother every year to support your education? She hasn't sent any for the past two years?"
Xie Shijin frowned deeply.
Xie Pingxue came down and said, "Why are you still standing there? Open the door. It's been two years since we last met. Your dad really wants to catch up with you."
He put one hand on Xie Shijin's shoulder.
Xie Shijin looked at him coldly: "Take it away."
"You've grown taller, and your temper has gotten worse too." Xie Pingxue gritted his teeth. "Just like your mother, a real jerk..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xie Shijin swung his fist and punched him in the left cheek.
"Damn it!" Xie Pingxue spat, coughing up blood. "You even dare to hit your own father? You've gone too far!"
Xie Shijin grabbed Xie Pingxue's clothes and slammed him against the wall: "She's a slut, and what are you?"
Xie Pingxue hadn't even realized it yet. Two years had passed, and Xie Shijin had indeed grown much taller, even taller than him. He was no longer the little kid he could pick up and beat at will.
But Xie Pingxue only panicked for a moment before he started cursing: "She's a slut, and you're a slut too, a bastard!"
"That bitch ran away without taking you with her, do you know why? Because she doesn't even know you're the son of some random man she had! I'm willing to let you call me Dad, you should be grateful to me!"
Xie Shijin gripped his collar tightly and tightened his grip around his neck: "Shut up."
"You think we can't even talk about a bitch? And you want to defend her?" Xie Pingxue, realizing he'd hit a nerve, unleashed a torrent of profanities. "You saw that bitch sleeping with some random guy, didn't you? And rightly so, if she didn't sleep with men, where would you be? You'd better keep a close eye on your woman from now on, or she'll end up like your mother, sleeping with any random guy she wants—"
Before Xie Shijin could finish speaking, another punch was thrown straight at his face.
...
Cheng Shiyun felt very flustered.
She had never heard of Xie Pingxue before, but from his surname and the conversation between Ni Jiaqi and Xie Shijin just now, Cheng Shiyun could guess that he was Xie Shijin's father.
Cheng Shiyun had met Xie Shijin's father. He was a very fierce person who showed no respect for his own child.
Once in the taxi, Ni Jiaqi opened his backpack a crack and teased the little tabby cat, saying, "You must be suffocating, right? Your dad didn't even leave you a crack to breathe. He's abusing the cat, so mean."
The driver asked, "Where are you going, young man?"
Just as Ni Jiaqi was about to give his home address, the cat, which had been listless a second ago, suddenly broke free from his hand and darted out of the passenger window.
"Holy crap! Come back!" Ni Jiaqi opened the car door and chased after him.
Cheng Shiyun ran very fast.
As she ran back to the bottom of her apartment building, she vaguely heard shouts and curses coming from upstairs, so she ran even faster, leaping up several steps at a time.
But when she ran up to the sixth floor, it was surprisingly quiet.
Cheng Shiyun stood two steps down and saw Xie Shijin and Xie Pingxue choking each other to death outside her door.
They have similar appearances, but the resentment and hatred in their eyes make it impossible to tell whether they are father and son or enemies.
Cheng Shiyun was a little startled: "Xie Shijin?"
Xie Shijin seemed to have seen her, turned his face away, and closed his eyes briefly.
Xie Pingxue became even more smug, feeling that he had the upper hand, and he exerted even more force, determined to fight Xie Shijin to the death.
It was only then that Cheng Shiyun noticed that Xie Pingxue had a fruit knife in his other hand.
After serving two years in prison, Xie Pingxue had nothing left. Xie Shijin, on the other hand, was rich and had a promising future. He came today only wanting some money, but Xie Shijin refused to give it to him.
If you don't give it to him, don't blame him for being ruthless.
The gleaming blade tip was slowly pushed into Xie Shijin's hand.
Xie Shijin just held on like that, seemingly not feeling any pain, refusing to let go no matter what.
Bright red blood dripped onto his canvas shoes, the color glaringly obvious.
Cheng Shiyun only hesitated for a moment before jumping onto Xie Pingxue's face, scratching his face hard with her claws, and biting his eyes and nose.
"Fuck your mother, what the hell!" Xie Pingxue cried out in pain, and the hand that was gripping Xie Shijin's neck loosened first.
"Dead beast!"
He ripped the cat off his face and slammed it heavily onto the steps.
Cheng Shiyun felt a wave of dizziness, followed by pain.
It hurts a lot.
It felt like the car had run her over.
All the bones in his body were broken and crushed.
She was in so much pain that she couldn't make a sound or move, and her body slid down the steps.
She looked at Xie Shijin and saw that the young man's face had turned shockingly pale at that moment.
"Cheng Shiyun!"
Xie Shijin blurted out her name, pushed Xie Pingxue away, and tried to pick her up.
Xie Pingxue's face was covered in cat scratches, and when they bled, they stung like needles; he hadn't recovered yet.
Seeing that Xie Shijin had his back to him, Xie Pingxue immediately raised the fruit knife in his hand.
Cheng Shiyun tugged at his sleeve and spoke with great difficulty.
"What?" Xie Shijin couldn't hear her voice.
Xie Pingxue shouted, "You bastard, you dare to hit your father!"
"careful!"
Ni Jiaqi threw a schoolbag at him.
Xie Pingxue turned his head away, and before he could see who was coming up from downstairs, he was kicked in the stomach.
With that kick, Xie Pingxue felt as if his internal organs had shifted, and the money in his pocket spilled out. He clutched his stomach, gritted his teeth, and glared fiercely at Ni Jiaqi before raising his knife again.
But he was injured and reacted slowly. Ni Jiaqi kicked the knife out of his hand, then used the strap of his schoolbag to strangle Xie Pingxue, cursing, "Damn it! Who do you think you are! You dare to brandish a knife and try to kill me?!"
"Hey, Xie Shijin, are you alright?"
Xie Shijin seemed not to hear him, and kept saying, "Where did you fall, Cheng Shiyun?"
He wanted to pick up Cheng Shiyun, but the kitten's body was too soft for him to lift.
Just like the day of the car accident.
He tried his best, but he couldn't hold her.
The scenes before my eyes overlapped with that rainy night.
In the next scene, Cheng Shiyun will die in his arms.
The ending he had tried to change countless times in his nightmares, but could never change, was about to come true before his eyes once again.
"Cheng Shiyun, Cheng Shiyun, open your eyes... Don't sleep... Hold on, Cheng Shiyun, please, Cheng Shiyun..."
His hands were covered in blood. Cheng Shiyun could smell the blood, but she couldn't even touch his wounds. She could only ask him very softly, "How... did you get hurt again..."
It seems that ever since she met Xie Shijin, this young man has been constantly hurt.
I've been feeling sad.
I've never been happy.
She clearly said she would watch over him and make sure he lived a good life, but now it seems like she can't do anything about it.
Cheng Shiyun sometimes couldn't help but think about it.
If Xie Shijin hadn't seen her that day.
If she hadn't died.
Will he have a better and happier life in the next two years?
The moment Xie Shijin heard her voice, his heart seemed to skip a beat. He held her tightly, stammering, "Cheng Shiyun, hang in there...we're going to the hospital right away..."
Cheng Shiyun shook her head.
She has experienced death and is not afraid to die again.
She just felt really sorry.
"Xie Shijin..."
The sharp wail of police sirens blared downstairs—
The police, Xie Pingxue, and Ni Jiaqi were all calling him, but amidst the noise and chaos, he only heard Cheng Shiyun's voice.
The girl curled up in his arms, calling his name with her last bit of strength.
"I really want to become a human..."
"Let me give you a hug."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Transformation countdown! [Sprinkling flowers] I'll be back soon, believe me!
By the way, I'd like to recommend my pre-order novel, "Unsold Cemetery Plots? I'll Livestream to Sell Them," a hilarious and refreshing story!
The metaphysical master Pu Yao transmigrated, becoming a recent female college graduate.
While her classmates went on to higher education or received job offers, Pu Yao chose to return home to inherit the three thousand burial plots left to her by her grandfather.
On her deathbed, her grandfather entrusted her with the task of selling these cemetery plots.
Nowadays, sea burial, tree burial, wall burial, and ash storage are all popular. Who would still buy a cemetery plot that costs tens of thousands of yuan?
With cemetery plots not selling well, Pu Yao started a live-streaming sales event to promote them.
However, her method of selling products is not singing and shouting, but fortune telling via live stream.
"How much longer can the elderly in your family live? Don't rush to remove the oxygen tube. Wait three more days, and the compensation for the demolition of your old home will come through. You can then order a double grave to give the elderly some dignity."
"Asking about your studies? You're guaranteed to get into university. By the way, your grandfather said he wants a sunny burial plot because his bones will get moldy if he doesn't get any sun."
"Are there any pet cemeteries? Yes, but it will outlive your second child and go to college. You should book a cemetery for yourself first. Your husband has been wanting you to die 'accidentally' for a long time."
The live stream was ridiculed beyond its original audience:
Are cemetery plot sellers getting this greedy now?
[Gravesites are more expensive than houses; streamers should stop scamming people.]
[Reported for spreading harmful ideas.]
However, not long after, my mother asked me why I was kneeling while watching the live stream.
"Thank goodness they didn't pull the oxygen tube. I didn't realize my dad left me such a huge inheritance. I'm such a terrible person!"
"I listened to the master and moved my grandfather's grave. That very night, my grandfather appeared to me in a dream and said that the new house was big and spacious, and that I wouldn't have to worry about not having enough room to live even if I married a few more wives!"
"Waaaaah, I checked my husband's dashcam footage! He really was plotting to kill me! That damned 'phoenix man' has already left with nothing!"
The live stream is a hit!
Celebrities and the wealthy are scrambling to get a spot.
A billionaire worth billions: "Do you have a family bucket? I've booked gravesites for three generations of my family, so everyone can be buried together!"
Top celebrity: "Master, please leave me a secluded spot for a private grave, and don't carve my name on it! I'm afraid my fans will come to pay their respects to me every day, and it will be too noisy for me to sleep."
As the three thousand cemetery plots gradually sold out, the funeral association also came knocking on their door.
Pu Yao thought they were there to check for violations, but to her surprise, they handed her a banner: "Thank you, Master Pu. Nowadays, young people are taking the initiative to book graves for their elders to show their filial piety. Our eco-friendly burial subsidies are almost gone!"
Pu Yao is famous!
The copy was written on December 5, 2025.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com