Huo Qin had to work overtime today due to company matters, so he caught Xie Jingcheng for dinner.
After a satisfying meal, Chaochao leaned back on the sofa, intending to enjoy watching an episode of Peppa Pig. She said with a hint of regret, "It would be great if Brother Yu Ci were here too."
You can watch it with her!
That would be so great!
Xie Jingcheng replied to Xie Yulin, who was still working for free at the company, on his phone, saying, "He should be home celebrating his birthday."
When he came out of the office, there were very few people in the classroom, and Yu Ci had already left.
Chaochao even stopped watching TV: "What?! Today is Brother Yu Ci's birthday?!"
Xie Jingcheng: "...Yes."
If the registration information is correct.
Chaochao tilted her head: "But Brother Yu Ci said his parents aren't home."
Xie Jingcheng paused as he typed; it was as if all his important family members were no longer alive.
Chaochao jumped off the sofa and circled around on the floor like a distressed puppy: "Will my brother spend his birthday alone? Wouldn't that be lonely? ...Do we get birthday presents? Let me think, Grandma gave me a hand-knitted sweater before...but I don't know how to knit...Brother Jingcheng, have you ever received any birthday presents?"
On his birthday, Xie Yulin, Meng Lan, and Mrs. Xie, who are retired abroad, would all transfer money to his account.
This is clearly not applicable to Yu Ci.
"……No."
Chaochao stared wide-eyed at him, her gaze heavy with pity: "Brother, you're so pitiful."
Xie Jingcheng: "..."
Chaochao awkwardly comforted her, "It's okay, I'll give it to you after I finish with Brother Yuci."
As Xie Jingcheng listened, he inexplicably felt like the eldest child competing for attention with the second child, but inevitably, he began to look forward to his birthday this year.
Xie Jingcheng grabbed the flustered little dumpling, saying that spinning her around any longer would make her dizzy.
He suggested, "Let's put the gift aside for now and buy a cake instead."
"Oh, right." Chaochao seemed to wake from a dream, her dark pupils filled with sparkling admiration. "Brother Jingcheng, you're so smart!"
Xie Jingcheng: Cough cough...
...
As darkness fell, the city lights illuminated the sky.
Yu Ci, having returned from the seaside, slowly walked towards her home.
A faint sound came from behind, and shadows flickered on the ground under the streetlights, but Yu Ci remained unfazed.
Seeing that the path was becoming increasingly winding and secluded, the man cursed under his breath and quickened his pace.
Just as he was about to leave the alley, the man was caught off guard and tripped, immediately wincing in pain.
Yu Ci emerged from the shadows in the corner, her eyes smiling, but then turning icy cold. "What are you doing?"
"Nephew, it's your uncle, happy birthday!" Yu Yang got up from the ground, fawning over you. "It's your fault for not replying to my messages. You and my sister moved into such a nice house without even telling me... Your uncle came all the way here to see you, thinking about your birthday... Oh, I've run out of money, and those people are pressing me for money. Do you think I could lend you some to tide me over?"
It was called a loan, but it was nothing more than a blatant demand.
Yu Ci shook his head regretfully: "Uncle, I don't have any money either."
Yu Yang got anxious: "Nonsense! I know you're a good kid who works outside to earn money. You're also Gu Kai's only son. Why wouldn't he give you money? Besides, isn't this house quite valuable?"
The greed in the man's murky eyes was blatantly obvious.
"Yu Ci, help your uncle! Those loan sharks are all gangsters. If I don't pay them back, they'll break my hands!"
Yu Ci's eyes were icy, and the smile on his lips gave the illusion of being easy to talk to. Under the man's expectant gaze, he asked:
"How much interest do you want me to pay back?"
Yu Yang became excited: "Five hundred thousand, five hundred thousand it is!"
"Then I'll give them an extra 100,000, and break your legs."
Yu Ci spoke with a light laugh, her voice as cold and indifferent as a venomous snake flicking its tongue.
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head. After a long while, Yu Yang let out a cold laugh. He secretly weighed the brick he had picked up from the ground with his hand behind his back, his face gloomy.
"Yu Ci, this is meaningless. Is this how you treat your uncle?"
"Back when your mother was ill, I was the one who kindly took care of you and your mother!"
"Is this how you repay me—"
Before he finished speaking, he viciously swung a brick and smashed it over the boy's head.
He's gotten familiar with the area over the past few days, so he can get the keys and at least take all the valuables from the house before he runs away.
But the scene I imagined didn't happen.
In a flash, Yu Yang found himself with his hands tied behind his back, slammed against the wall, his face burning from the rough sand.
Yu Ci gripped the back of his neck, her dark eyes as calm as a pool of frozen water. "Take care of her? Tie her to the bed like an animal for days and nights, and take all the money in the house?"
Humiliation of self-esteem, betrayal by loved ones.
It was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Perhaps because she had been by the sea for too long, Yu Ci could smell the salty sea breeze again.
He tightened his grip, and Yu Yang broke out in a cold sweat from the pain, cursing loudly, "How the hell was I supposed to know she was so desperate? Who knew she'd go and die—ahhh!"
Yu Ci slammed his head against the wall repeatedly, once, twice, three times, splattering crimson, dirty blood that stained the boy's snow-white collar.
He curled his lips into a smirk, his eyes as cold as if he were looking at a lump of rotten meat. "Go on, keep talking."
The man's forehead was a bloody mess; he hadn't had any drugs for a while and was already delirious. He was in a fit of despair: "Who do you think you are, you brat? My sister is mentally ill, and you're just a little mentally ill person. You heartless bastard! My sister is truly pitiful; her son was afraid to die and left her alone in the sea. Yu Ci, let me tell you, my sister is watching you! Bah!"
Yu Ci's jawline tightened, and his knuckles turned white from the effort.
At the alleyway entrance, a small pebble rolled around.
He thought the police had arrived, so he loosened his grip.
However.
The familiar little dumpling stood at the alley entrance, staring blankly at him.
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