Chapter 35: Slaughter Imminent

"Oh, so it was you who deceived my parents in my past life."

"Your whole family is a curse. It wasn't enough to ruin me; you had to ruin my sister's entire life, too."

Cheng Shi felt a surge of rage rush to his head. Gritting his teeth, he spat out, "Bullshit. You shameless old hag, you’d push my sister into a fire pit for a bottle of liquor and two packs of cigarettes! If you think he’s such a catch, marry your own daughter off to that piece of human trash. We aren't interested."

Auntie Qian’s face flushed red. "Now, Cheng Shi, I’m trying to be kind. Why are you insulting me?"

In the past, Cheng Shi had been polite to her out of respect for Qian Xiaoying, but she had always looked at him with disdain.

Cheng Shi retorted, "I don't know how much powder you had to cake on that thick-skinned face of yours to come here and play matchmaker for the Liu family. Get out! If you dare say another word, I’ll beat you so hard your own daughter won't recognize you."

With that, he grabbed a broom from the corner and stood up.

Auntie Qian had seen Cheng Shi fight before; three or four strong men couldn't even get close to him. Someone like her wouldn't be able to take a single slap from him.

Terrified, she jumped up and bolted for the door. Her legs went weak, and she was moving so fast that she missed a step on the stairs and nearly tumbled all the way down. After finally steadying herself on the railing, she looked back to make sure Cheng Shi wasn't chasing her and shouted, "Cheng Shi, you little brat, you have no sense of decency! I was trying to do a good deed for your sister, and you treat me like this!"

Cheng Shi pointed the broom at her and said coldly, "If you ever dare come to my house to arrange a marriage for Liu Jie again, I will throw you off this balcony. And I will make sure your whole family meets a miserable end."

Just moments ago, Cheng Shi had been like a roaring lion—loud, but merely trying to frighten her. Now, his voice was low and icy, sounding more like a bloodthirsty Asura—someone who would truly kill without batting an eye.

A neighbor across the hall peeked out, then immediately slammed their door shut.

Auntie Qian’s face turned pale. Daring not to say another word, she scurried down the stairs. Once she was far away, she clutched her chest, panting, "That scared me to death. That little bastard is terrifying. He was wild before, but I’ve never seen him like this."

She returned home, retrieved the gifts Liu Jie had given her, and headed to Factory Director Liu's house.

When Liu Jie saw her, he asked, "Well? Were they happy? Did they agree?"

Auntie Qian slumped into a chair. "Don't ask. I was practically thrown out."

She embellished her story, claiming that Cheng Shi had insulted Liu Jianshe, calling him incompetent and saying he would be out of a job sooner or later.

Liu Jianshe’s face turned the color of liver. He cursed, "Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! This Cheng Shi..."

If they didn't want the match, that was one thing, but how dare they insult his son and himself!

Liu Jianshe’s wife was skeptical. "Did you say something wrong?"

Hearing this made Auntie Qian even angrier. "No! It’s not like it’s my first time playing matchmaker. Besides, they might not know other people, but everyone knows your family. Do I even need to explain?"

Liu Jianshe said, "Enough. That’s enough. You can go home now."

Auntie Qian cast a lingering glance at the gifts on the table. "What about these..."

"The job wasn't done," Mrs. Liu snapped. "I should be scolding you, yet you want the gifts? Get out!"

Auntie Qian had only intended to make a show of refusing, but she hadn't expected the Liu family to be truly this stingy. She left indignantly, and once she was a distance away, she spat in the direction of the Liu house. "No wonder the Chengs don't think much of you. You’re truly despicable."

Liu Jie slammed the door and paced around his house. "Damn it! That bitch Cheng Juan, how dare she refuse me?"

Liu Jianshe sighed, "Forget it. She isn't the only pretty girl in the world. I’ll find you someone better."

Liu Jie didn't dare defy his father. "Fine."

He knew Cheng Shi and Cheng Yongjin would be out working, so he left his house and headed straight for the Cheng residence.

When he knocked, Cheng Juan opened the door.

Liu Jie smiled. "Juan'er, I’ve come to propose."

Cheng Juan’s face darkened. "Get out. Who gave you permission to call me that? How can anyone be as thick-skinned as you? You just caused trouble at our house and stole our things, and you have the nerve to come here and propose?"

Liu Jie replied, "That was business. This is personal. I’ve always been one to separate the two."

Cheng Juan snapped, "Get lost. Don't even dream of it. I’d rather stay single for the rest of my life than marry you."

Liu Jie persisted, "Don't be like that. I know you have some misunderstandings about me—that it's just love turning into hate."

Cheng Juan warned, "If you don't leave, I won't be polite."

Cheng Juan had just finished showering. Her damp hair hung over her shoulders, and her fair neck and arms were flushed with a faint pink, making her look as enticing as a ripe peach.

Liu Jie was mesmerized. He reached back and slammed the door shut. "Don't be so heartless. Once you’ve tasted that pleasure, you’ll realize how good I am."

Cheng Juan cried out, "What are you doing? This is my home!"

Liu Jie grabbed her wrists, pinned her against the wall, and covered her mouth. "Don't scream. I don't want to hurt you; I just want to love you properly."

Outside, Cheng Shi knocked on the door. "Sister, are you in there?"

Hearing Cheng Shi’s voice, Liu Jie immediately bolted toward the window, only to remember they were on the seventh floor.

Cheng Juan shoved him aside and threw the door open.

Cheng Shi walked in and saw Liu Jie standing there, with Cheng Juan looking shaken. He understood immediately. A buzzing sound erupted in his brain, and he picked up a wooden stick from by the door and slowly approached.

*This is the beast. This is the one who made my sister suffer until her dying breath.*

*That broken, pale corpse... she looked like a withered flower crushed to pieces.*

*No matter how much I held her and cried, she would never wake up.*

*I will avenge her. I will make you pay with your life.*

That was the only thought in his mind. His gaze was icy and filled with murderous intent, staring at Liu Jie like a wolf eyeing its prey. His slow pace wasn't out of uncertainty, but because he was calculating how to make his prey suffer the most agonizing death possible.

When Liu Jie met Cheng Shi’s eyes, he felt as if he had been frozen solid. He was terrified, yet unable to look away; even his breathing seemed to stop.

Cheng Shi’s demeanor made even Cheng Juan feel a sense of dread and unfamiliarity. She bit her lip, trembling, as she stepped forward to hug him. "No, Shi, he hasn't hurt me yet. If you kill him, you’ll have to pay with your own life."

Cheng Shi didn't seem to hear her. He kept his eyes fixed on Liu Jie, gripping the stick tightly as he pulled Cheng Juan behind him.

Cheng Juan was sobbing, tears streaming down her face. She struggled to stand in front of him, shaking him, trying to wake him from the hellish trance that seemed to have possessed him. "Shi, listen to me! It’s not worth it for someone like him. You are the hope of our entire family. If you ruin your life for me, I’d rather die right here."

Liu Jie suddenly felt a warm liquid soak his trousers, trickling down to the floor, and a pungent scent of urine began to fill the room.

Cheng Shi blinked, and his mind suddenly cleared. *Yes, it’s not worth sacrificing my life for someone like this. I have been reborn; I have a chance to start over. I need to take care of my parents, save money for Mom’s medical treatment, and watch my sister marry a good man.*