Two-faced pillow man, disgusting relationship

I had been in a relationship with my boyfriend for four years, and we were nearing marriage. While I was immersed in the bliss of love, his original partner showed up at our doorstep with a little girl. It was then that I realized the terrifying aspect of human nature.

1.

"What do you mean?" I raised an eyebrow, looking at the woman and the child at the door. I turned to my boyfriend, Zhu Yuankai, and smiled, "What's going on?"

The woman, in her early twenties and somewhat timid, kept fidgeting with her clothes as she stood up from the floor.

The little girl, around four or five years old, timidly hid behind her, revealing only half of her face.

Their clothes were patched up, contrasting with the upscale apartment building we were in, and exuded a simplicity that didn't seem to match.

As the daughter of a wealthy businessman and with a boyfriend who was a distinguished graduate of a famous university, it didn't seem like we should have any connection to them.

"They... they..." Zhu Yuankai was in a state of panic, looking at the woman and then at me, his words incoherent. "No, I don't know... wait, she's a distant relative from my hometown... I'm not familiar... really!"

His words sounded somewhat sincere, but the woman cautiously spoke up, "Li Xue, I've come to find you. Our daughter really misses you."

"Li Xue" was Zhu Yuankai's original name.

He thought his birth name sounded too plain, so he changed it after entering university.

And apart from the people in his hometown, no one else knew his real name.

Zhu Yuankai froze in an instant, his expression briefly contorting.

The little girl stuttered, "Daddy..."

"Slap!"

The sound of a crisp slap echoed through the air, accompanied by the girl's loud crying, making the scene particularly distressing.

The woman immediately crouched down to comfort her daughter while tearfully looking up at Zhu Yuankai. "What... what did you do?"

She appeared angry, but her voice was gentle, carrying a hint of coquetry.

"Why would you hit a child?"

I caught Zhu Yuankai's hand as it rose again, glancing at him gently, suppressing my anger and putting on a smile. "Come inside first. It's not appropriate to talk out here."

As I spoke, I even bent down, intending to pat the girl's head.

But the woman immediately pulled her into her arms, and the girl stumbled a few steps back, raising her eyes to glare at me with a look of resentment, as if I were the one who had hit her.

[...]

Expressionless, I stood up, unlocked the door with my key, and entered first.

From behind me, I heard Zhu Yuankai's suppressed growl, "What are you doing? Why did you suddenly come here?"

"Why aren't you coming in?" I turned my head and asked.

"Come in. You should change your clothes first," Zhu Yuankai hurriedly entered the door, followed by the two cautious little tails.

The two of them seemed somewhat uneasy. The woman had a smile that tried to please, but it made me feel disgusted.

I only took off my coat and changed my shoes, then gestured for them to sit.

"Please have a seat. Let's get to the point."

"It's already nine o'clock. It's late at night, and we shouldn't waste any more time. Do you live nearby? Or have you booked a hotel? Should I drive you back later?" I asked.

The woman glanced at Zhu Yuankai and finally sat nervously on the edge of the sofa. She rubbed her pants with her hands, showing signs of nervousness.

"We didn't book a hotel... we planned to stay here," she said.

2.

The girl still had the look of treating an enemy and shouted loudly, "This is my dad's house, this is my home!" but she was immediately pulled back by the woman.

I looked at Zhu Yuankai, who was standing, and noticed his Adam's apple bobbing. "If they have nowhere to stay, then..."

"I didn't ask about that," I interrupted him. "'Daddy'? Who is she referring to? Is it you?"

"No, it's not..."

"Not what? She's not your daughter? You're not her dad?" I stared at him. "Don't tell me you adopted her."

Surprisingly, Zhu Yuankai fell silent!

I could hardly contain the anger welling up within me, and then the woman spoke again, "I'm Li Xue's wife."

"Where is the marriage certificate?"

"I didn't bring it, but... I have, I have photos."

"You're Li Xue's girlfriend, right?" Before I could react, the woman said something astonishing. "It's okay. If he really likes you, we can all live together."

"What do you mean by 'live together'? Is that even a human thing to say?" I was speechless, almost shocked as I looked at her.

"Are you suggesting I become a mistress or advocating polygamy?" I asked. "Are you living in the Qing Dynasty?"

Zhu Yuankai quickly intervened, "Calm down, let me explain. She... she's actually..."

At that moment, I really wanted to slap him and teach him a lesson, but after weighing the options, I held back for now.

Zhu Yuankai pushed me towards the bedroom. "Can you calm down for now? Let me explain everything to you when we wake up tomorrow. Didn't we agree to go..."

"Why not explain it now?" I pulled away from his push, pushing him back a few steps with my hand. "Do you think you won't live to see tomorrow?"

"What else do you want to say?"

"So you have a wife, and even a daughter, and yet you came to harm me? To be in a relationship with me?"

"When did you get married?"

With each word I spoke, Zhu Yuankai's face grew paler.

"We've been together for four years, from college to work, and when did you secretly get married behind my back?!"

I was almost hoarse, while Zhu Yuankai gasped for breath, completely at a loss.

"It was my mother who insisted, I couldn't resist her..."

"Do you know how hard it was for my mother to raise me? She wants a grandson..."

"What does your mother have to do with me? Did she raise me?" I shouted angrily. "You're willing to hurt me for the sake of your mother? Do I deserve this?"

"You're also an educated person. Don't you know what infidelity means? How can you be so self-righteous?"

I cursed with satisfaction, but I ignored the hateful gaze of the girl.

3.

Zhu Yuankai was almost unable to lift his head under my scolding.

The woman stood up in anxiety and unease, not knowing what to say.

"Isn't everything clear enough? There's nothing more to say."

I pointed towards the door. "Now, immediately, get out of my house."

Zhu Yuankai hurriedly approached, but the girl was faster. She let out a piercing scream, "Don't you dare insult my dad!"

She pushed aside the obstacles and lunged at me, sinking her teeth into my arm with force, slamming me into the wall.

"Ouch!—"

Caught off guard by the attack, my eyes widened. The pain in my arm jolted me awake, and within seconds, beads of sweat formed on my forehead.

The anger in my heart surpassed the physical pain.

I grabbed the girl by her hair and pulled her back, but she was stubborn. She clamped down and refused to let go. She even stared at me with a ferocious expression, as if I were her mortal enemy.

Unable to restrain myself, I reached back and squeezed her throat, applying pressure to make her release her bite. Finally, I flung her away.

My entire arm went numb and trembled uncontrollably. There was a distinct bite mark, oozing blood.

"Nian Di!"

That name made me shudder.

The woman quickly embraced the girl, her actions as swift as her frail appearance suggested.

But initially, she did not stop her daughter from biting me.

"She's just a child!" Her eyes welled up with tears as she held onto her daughter, kneeling on the ground, pleading, "If something is bothering you, take it out on me. Why do you have to clash with a child? If you feel unhappy, hit me instead, okay..."

[...]

Her attempt to shift blame almost drove me to the edge of madness.

To my surprise, even Zhu Yuankai criticized me. "Kaiyu, how could you be so harsh on a little girl? Look at how scared Lanruo is!"

So this woman's name was "Lanruo."

He went to help her up, but she was too distraught, completely ignoring Zhu Yuankai's "kind intentions."

I sneered through clenched teeth. "When you slapped her, did you consider that she was just a little girl?"

"Look at my arm!" Taking advantage of his speechlessness, I exposed the wound for them to see. "Are children incapable of malice? Do children know nothing at all?!"

4.

The woman seemed like she wanted to say something, but I interrupted her loudly, saying, "If she's still young and doesn't understand, then it's the responsibility of adults to teach her not to bite!"

She immediately shrunk back and remained silent.

This woman is not to be underestimated; she has raised a daughter who is equally shameless.

And they have the audacity to use the excuse of "children not knowing any better," as if it makes them invincible and leaves us helpless.

But they are wrong; I am determined to suppress such shameless thinking.

I initially wanted to teach that little girl a lesson, but my arm was too sore. So, I grabbed my phone and wallet, turned around, and prepared to leave. Zhu Yuankai quickly grabbed hold of me and asked, "Where are you going?"

"To get a rabies vaccine!" I struggled free, stared at him with anger, and said, "Zhu Yuankai, listen carefully. It's this woman who suddenly emerged and disrupted my life. If you have any anger, don't direct it at me, understood?"

After speaking, I pushed him away in a fit of rage, opened the door, and stormed out.

Zhu Yuankai is no better than this woman; they are birds of a feather!

He didn't try to stop me this time.

I could hear the woman's cries for mercy growing louder, but they were still overshadowed by Zhu Yuankai's furious insults, followed by the sound of several crisp slaps and the helpless cries of the girl, pleading, "Daddy, please don't be angry... Daddy, please..."

Everyone's gone mad, completely mad!

I slammed the door, causing a thunderous noise, took a stumbling step back, and walked unsteadily into the elevator. My hands trembled as I pressed the button for the ground floor.

I illuminated my phone screen and opened the contacts. After hesitating for a moment, I dialed one of the priority numbers.

The phone rang only a couple of times before it was answered by a deep male voice. "...Hello? What's up? Don't you have anything to do in the middle of the night?"

"Brother...please help me..." I gritted my teeth, unable to hold back the tears any longer.

"Brother, please help me..."

5.

Initially, it was just a regular bite wound. The doctor applied medication and bandaged it up. Feeling guilty for bothering him so late, I thanked him.

My brother rolled his eyes, almost reaching the heavens. "Do you know that I changed out of my clothes casually and drove over as soon as I received your call? Do you realize that?"

"So, it turns out you got dumped? And someone hit you? Weren't you all tough? Couldn't you have just slapped them back?" he remarked.

"Don't go telling people you're my sister once we're out of here!"

My dear brother, Lu Ziyue, is a fitness coach by profession.

He has a strong and muscular build, towering over others.

He presents himself as a scholarly and refined individual but has a mouth that could make even the most respectable people curse. Most importantly, he takes pleasure in mocking me.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the energy to engage in a verbal battle with him today.

Holding my bandaged arm, a surge of pent-up emotions filled my chest, and with a slight curl of my lips, I burst into tears. "Wuwu, Brother, it hurts so much... she bit me..."

"Oh my, oh my, alright, alright, calm down!"

My brother couldn't stand it and quickly crouched down to wipe away my tears, saying, "It's just a guy. Is it worth it, seriously?"

Angry, I pushed my arm forward, and he changed his tone, saying, "Alright, alright, he's a scumbag, and you're in a miserable situation, okay?"

I pouted and stopped the tears, but I still felt incredibly wronged.

"To be honest, I had suspected that he might cheat before..." I started to say, but when I saw my brother's shocked and angry gaze, I forced a bitter smile and swallowed my words. "It's okay, I'll just break up with him..."

This cheating incident was just a minor episode.

Zhao Yuankai and I were classmates at the same school and also a great couple. Even after graduation, my QQ still had confessions from our university's confession wall.

By chance, I discovered that there was a junior student who openly confessed to Zhao Yuankai by name, which infuriated me. I directly confronted this junior student in the comments section.

To my surprise, Zhao Yuankai had actually claimed to be single to her!

Because of this incident, Zhao Yuankai spent several days trying to appease me, taking me out to meals and giving me gifts, before we moved on from it.

However, this overlooked detail became the painful lesson of today.

Lost in the memories of the past, I couldn't withstand my brother's shouting.

"It's nothing? How can you say it's nothing?"

"He beat you up, and then you come back here all crestfallen. Do you think you're cool and composed?"

My brother cursed loudly, and a nurse immediately came out and warned him, "This is a hospital! Lower your voice!"

He immediately backed down, saying, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have cursed at my little sister."

That instantly made me laugh in anger. I playfully kicked him and couldn't help but feel like crying again.

"Is it hurting that much? Please stop crying, okay? Your brother feels sorry for you, ah."

He patted my head as a comforting gesture and muttered to himself, "But for a guy to bite a woman, it's so embarrassing, so shameless..."

"...It wasn't him..." I lowered my head and stuttered, "...it was, it was his daughter..."

My brother was startled and nearly jumped three feet high. "Daughter?!"

The nurse from earlier immediately popped her head out again. "Quiet! This is a hospital!"

He quickly made a gesture and pulled me along until we reached the entrance of the hospital before raising his voice again.

"A daughter?! When did he have a daughter?!"

"Weren't you planning to get engaged after four years of dating?!"

"Whose daughter is she? Whose child?!"

"She couldn't possibly be yours, right?!"

6.

Being concerned leads to chaos, seemingly the universal response of humans.

I was both annoyed and amused. "Brother, calm down. There's no way she's mine! She's his wife's child from their hometown."

"His wife from his hometown? He's already married?... Bigamy?" My brother stared at me in disbelief.

I was speechless. "...We haven't even registered our marriage yet."

"What? When did he get married? How come I didn't know?"

"Don't act like you knew either. If they hadn't shown up at my doorstep, I would still be clueless."

I let out a bitter smile, remembering that they were still at my house.

"They're at home right now... I haven't figured out what to do yet."

"But I won't let them off easy."

"Evil and despicable people must face consequences!"

7.

Zhuyuan Kai came from a remote and backward village in the southern countryside, where he was the only college student in over a decade. His family was not well-off, and one could even say they were poor. He had elderly parents, a young grandchild with braided hair, and four sisters of different ages, all named "X Di" in order.

His family embodied the typical patriarchal values. They heavily favored males over females, and their behavior could be described as remnants of feudalism. As the only man who had ventured out of the mountain village and seen the outside world, Zhuyuan Kai naturally shouldered the burden of his family.

I met him during my internship in my third year of college.

He was charming and had a decent appearance, and soon we fell in love with each other.

At first, Zhuyuan Kai was very reluctant to talk about his family, and he rarely mentioned them.

It was only after I repeatedly pressed him for answers that he reluctantly revealed some details.

At that time, I thought he was strong and determined. After all, he had received a university education, and it was only natural to expect his thinking to have progressed and changed, minimizing the influence of his family background.

I, on the other hand, was the daughter of a local wealthy merchant, coming from a middle-class family that provided more than enough for my upbringing.

After graduation, I was determined to be with Zhuyuan Kai, even though my parents were initially not supportive of him. They only arranged a low-level position for him in the company.

But Zhuyuan Kai gradually climbed the corporate ladder and eventually gained my parents' approval.

I didn't want to label him as a "phoenix man."

However, now it seems that I might have been wrong.

8.

My brother started searching through my phone, and I quickly stopped him, saying, "What are you doing? Don't tell Mom and Dad about this!"

"Why would I tell them? You're such a worrisome person."

My brother rolled his eyes at me and said, "It's already late, and our parents have gone to bed. Why would I wake them up?"

"I'm just going to inform my boss that I'm taking a leave. Let's sort out your situation first."

I felt embarrassed and replied, "Oh."

My brother was always decisive and efficient. After taking a leave, he drove to my house in just twenty minutes.

In fact, this house was bought by my parents for me. The property deed is in my name, but now I live here with Zhuyuan Kai.

"Bang! Bang!"

I just tried to open the door with my key, but it was unexpectedly locked from the inside.

My older brother, with a quick temper, immediately started pounding on the door. "Open up!"

"...Who is it..."

It was the voice of a woman, sounding a bit groggy from sleep.

My heart skipped a beat.

"Who are you?" someone opened the door, but only a narrow slit, and their eyes peered out cautiously.

It was the woman named "Lanruo."

But when she saw me, she instinctively tried to close the door!

"Tsk!"

I quickly grabbed the doorknob, and my brother inserted his hand into the gap, using his body to forcefully keep the door open.

"Who are you?" He, standing at a towering height of 1.9 meters, looked down at her, exuding an air of authority.

Only cold words came out, "This is my sister's place. Who are you and how dare you stay here?"

The woman retreated in fear, unable to utter a word, and hurriedly ran towards the master bedroom.

I turned on the living room lights and found everything in order, even neatly arranged. There were just two additional glasses on the table, and two pairs of women's slippers were missing from the shoe cabinet.

Upon checking the bathroom, I discovered two extra toothbrushes.

It turns out they really settled in here!

Anger surged within me as I strode towards the master bedroom, where the woman stood, looking lost.

Zhu Yuankai was still lying in bed, his eyes half-closed in a daze, as if he hadn't fully grasped the situation.

There were slight signs of disturbance around him, indicating that someone had slept there.

Expressionless, I thought to myself: I'll burn this bed tomorrow.

"Ke... Ke Yu?" Zhu Yuankai blinked, seemingly surprised that I had returned. "Why are you back?"

"This is my house." I pointed at him. "You, this woman, and her daughter, all of you, get out of here."

Just as I said that, my brother roared angrily, "What are you doing? Are you trying to start a fight? Don't think that just because you're a kid, I can't do anything to you!"

9.

I immediately rushed outside and saw that the girl had also woken up. She stood fiercely in front of the side bedroom door but couldn't break through my brother's defense.

I knew at a glance that she had been sleeping in the side bedroom.

And the side bedroom had always been Zhu Yuankai's bedroom. I slept alone in the master bedroom.

These three had clearly arranged themselves without hesitation. If someone didn't know any better, they would think I was the intruder.

"You bit me just now, and I didn't make a big deal out of it. Can you compensate for the medical expenses?" I stared at her. "You're young, it's fine. You have your guardian, your mother."

"If you keep causing trouble, I'll have your mother arrested!"

After all, she was just a six-year-old girl, not deserving of physical altercation. It would be quite troublesome if she actually called the police and we had to deal with the consequences. My words were only meant to scare these law-ignorant individuals.

Indeed, she was frightened by my words and immediately fell silent, running to her mother's side, tightly hugging her mother's leg. Her gaze towards me remained filled with hostility, as always.

"Who are these two?" My brother's gaze was intense as he looked at Zhu Yuankai. "Why did you inexplicably bring two strangers to our house? Huh? You're sleeping soundly! My sister is still in the hospital getting treated, and you just went to sleep without a care in the world!"

Zhu Yuankai lowered his head and remained silent.

The girl shouted in dissatisfaction, "Who gave you the right to say that about my dad!" The woman immediately pulled her, silencing the girl's protest.

My brother laughed, "Who am I? I'm her real brother!" He pointed at me and scolded, "Do you even know who she is? Huh? How can a little girl like you have no sense of right and wrong?!"

"She's just a homewrecker!" Unexpectedly, the little girl, undeterred by the woman's restraint, shouted back, "Daddy belongs to my mom! My mom and dad are a couple! She's just a homewrecker!"

"Haha!"

I laughed without anger. "Do you think I ruined your family? If it weren't for me, your dad would have gone back to live a peaceful life with your mom, right?"

"You're wrong." I softly said, squatting down and pulling her towards me, forcing her to meet my gaze.

"Your dad is a complete jerk, and I'm an innocent victim of his deception. But your mother's tragedy won't end because infidelity doesn't happen just once—it happens countless times."

She tried to run, but I grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back, holding her face firmly with one hand, looking directly into her eyes as I calmly said, "I pity you."

Her pupils dilated greatly, indicating that my words and actions had greatly alarmed her.

10.

"I pity you."

"You have a foolish and ridiculous typical feudal mother, and a shameless and despicable wolf-like father..."

"You won't receive proper education, nor will you experience the warmth of a normal family."

"The remainder of your life stretches out before you, a life that will be mundane and boring."

"You take pride in backward feudalism, and your values will never be reshaped. You'll only repeat the mistakes of your mother."

"I see your miserable and pitiful future, and you no longer have a chance to start anew."

"I pity you. You can only have sympathy from an enemy without a trace of mercy, but you will never know that you are nothing more than a pawn."

When she couldn't control her desire to bite me, I released my grip and allowed her to break free and quickly escape.

I don't think I'll ever forget the look of terror and confusion in her eyes.

She's only six years old, an age where she shouldn't have to deal with such matters. She may not understand the depths of my words, but she instinctively senses the malice and pity behind them.

I couldn't bring myself to harm a child who is merely six years old, but she is destined to become a shameless shrew. Perhaps that is the deepest and heaviest punishment for her?

However, on some night in some year, will she remember a certain phrase spoken by a certain person and deeply pity her own fate because of it?

11.

The house was in a mess, and I threw out all of Zhu Yuankai's belongings.

The woman was comforting the crying girl.

Zhu Yuankai was blocked by my brother and could only plead with me helplessly. "Keyu, Keyu! Please, can we calm down and talk properly?"

I stopped and looked at him innocently.

"I am perfectly calm right now."

"Zhu Yuankai, don't try to use your family or parents to pressure me. They have nothing to do with me."

"You've received higher education, and I thought you had at least a basic sense of morality. It turns out I was wrong, and now you want to argue?"

He became anxious. "I don't want to argue, I..."

"Then you really do have a wife and a daughter, and you still wanted to have a relationship with me." I laughed and forcefully snapped the toothbrush in my hand into two halves.

"That's enough. I don't want to see you anymore."

Feeling a bit weary, I waved my hand, and my brother grabbed Zhu Yuankai by the collar and threw him out the door. The woman immediately chased after him, shouting, "Lixue! Lixue, are you okay?!"

"Mama!" The girl cried and followed them. I took a few steps back, observing their affectionate family scene, and couldn't help but find it ridiculously amusing.

I forcefully closed the door, took a deep breath, and suddenly felt a sense of emptiness and confusion.

Outside the door, various noises mixed together, giving me a splitting headache.

Zhu Yuankai, refusing to give up, even started banging on the door madly. I kicked it and finally found some peace and quiet.

I don't know how much time had passed, but when I looked through the peephole, I saw that they had already left.

It was now the early hours of the morning.

My brother gently touched my head and said, "Go to sleep now? I'll stay here with you."

"Or you can go back. It's too late, and I don't want to bother you anymore," I replied, feeling a bit down and lacking energy.

"What are you saying!" He firmly rubbed my head. "I'm your real brother, alright? Don't be so distant."

I had intended to tidy up the guest room for my brother to sleep in while I slept in the master bedroom, but I felt a tightness in my chest and almost felt like throwing up.

So, I brought the bedding to the sofa, making him sleep in the living room, while I went to the study and made a makeshift bed on the floor.

I was so tired. Right now, all I wanted to do was lie in bed and empty my mind.

"Can't you listen to my explanation?" Zhu Yuankai was still messaging me, pleading desperately.

Without hesitation, I replied, "We've already broken up. Tomorrow, I'll change the locks, so don't bother me anymore! If you come back again, I'll report you for trespassing!"

After saying that, I angrily blocked him and hesitated for a moment before deciding not to delete his contact.

Because his shameless actions had caused me great pain, how could I let him off easily?

12.

It was late at night, and even though my body was exhausted, my mind was incredibly active, keeping me tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

In the early hours, I was still contacting real estate agents, planning to sell the house.

But as I continued to chat with them, I surprisingly fell asleep, although it was a restless sleep, struggling within the realm of dreams.

I slowly opened my eyes as I felt a slight sinking sensation beside me.

There was another person's breathing in the study.

I didn't make any sudden movements; I simply listened quietly to the sounds of that person.

The intruder fumbled on the bedding, even ruffled my hair, as if to confirm it was me.

I heard the sound of a lock and felt him slowly kneeling beside me.

Since there were only my brother and me in the house, and I trusted him completely, I hadn't locked the door.

Besides, if he needed to find me or something else, there was no need for such caution.

So, apart from him, there was someone else with a reason, motive, and capability to enter the room and find me.

Zhu Yuankai.

I tried to steady my breathing, not wanting the intruder to sense anything amiss.

Lying on my side with my back to him, I saw a hand reaching in front of me, gently pushing me back into position.

I hurriedly shut my eyes, allowing the intruder's hand to rest on my face.

He began touching me.

From my face to my arms, then my abdomen, and finally, he began unfastening my sleepwear.

A chill ran through my entire body as he reached downward. Unable to bear it any longer, I abruptly opened my eyes and delivered a swift kick to his face!

"Ah!"

It was Zhu Yuankai's voice!

The kick didn't inflict much damage on him, but it caught him off guard, causing him to fall backward. Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed his arm and sank my teeth into him!

"Ah—"

An eye for an eye! Let your daughter bite me!

13.

Anger had consumed my rationality. My mind was filled with thoughts of "taking him down with me." Therefore, I viciously attacked without showing any mercy.

I also threw various objects in the study, creating loud noises as much as possible.

"Are you alright? Are you alright?" It was my brother pounding on the door. It seemed our commotion had awakened him.

I could only respond with a muffled sound, refusing to let go, while dealing with Zhu Yuankai.

Soon, I even caught a whiff of a metallic scent, and at the same time, felt a sharp pain in my scalp as a powerful blow struck my back.

"...Ugh!"

This bastard! He thinks he can rape me and get away with it!

My eyes narrowed in fury. The accumulated grievances of the day surged in my heart. I raised my hand and aimed for his eyes.

But my strength was still too weak to cause him harm. The only way to injure him was with my teeth.

Zhu Yuankai, perhaps also driven by rage, began to struggle frantically, throwing punches and kicks at me.

Under the influence of adrenaline, I couldn't feel the pain. While still biting down, I twisted his fingers and made my way towards the door, finally managing to open it with great difficulty.

"A loud bang!"

And awaiting Zhu Yuankai was a powerful blow from my brother!

"You bastard!" My brother roared, relentlessly pounding Zhu Yuankai's face with his fists. Only then did I release my grip, stepping back a few steps, and leaving the battlefield.

It wasn't until the danger was over that I felt a piercing pain all over my body.

I wiped the blood from the corners of my mouth fiercely. "He tried to rape me! A rapist!"

Upon hearing this, my brother unleashed even more fury, and the sound of bones cracking was audible.

After all, he had training, and while Zhu Yuankai dared to bully me as a weak woman, he was completely powerless against my brother.

Zhu Yuankai was already dazed from the beating. I heard him gasp for breath, "Stop... spare me..."

"Brother!" I immediately rushed over to stop my brother. "Stop, he's already begging for mercy. The criminal act has ended. If we continue to hit him, it won't be considered self-defense."

"Is that so?" He spat out, reluctantly stopping, and gave me a sly look. "You didn't waste your time at school after all."

I smiled. "Knowledge is power."

"Let's call the police." I took a deep breath. "The law will give us a fair judgment."

14.

The police arrived quickly after receiving the report and first took us to the hospital.

Zhu Yuankai had a fractured shin bone from the beating, while I had bruises of varying sizes on my body.

After a medical examination, it was confirmed that he had minor injuries, while mine were classified as minor.

However, since my brother was preventing the commission of a crime and acting in self-defense, he didn't face any punishment.

As for my medical expenses, naturally, Zhu Yuankai was responsible for them.

Collecting evidence, reviewing surveillance footage, and making statements had kept us busy until the early hours of the morning. I felt drowsy and on the verge of sleep. My brother drove us to our parents' house.

Our sudden return surprised our parents, and they asked, "Why did you suddenly come back home? Weren't you supposed to stay there?"

I raised my hand in surrender. "Let me wake up first, okay?"

"Let me wake up first."

Meanwhile, tears were swirling in my eyes.

"Mom and Dad, let Ke Yu go back to her room and rest for a while. I need to talk to you." My brother quickly took our parents to the study, and I composed myself. In the room, I slept soundly until the afternoon, finally waking up from hunger.

As I entered the kitchen, I saw the three of them ready and waiting, with a table filled with a dozen delicious dishes.

I walked over in confusion. "...Can we finish all of this?"

"We made all this because both of you are back, and we're happy," Mom said, inviting me to sit down, but her eyes were secretly filled with tears.

Dad sat up straight. "Come and eat, stop dawdling."

I chuckled and haphazardly stuffed a few bites of rice into my mouth when I heard Dad speak up. "About Zhu Yuankai..."

Mom glared at him fiercely, and I put down my chopsticks and calmly said, "Dad, I won't let him get away with it."

"He's married and he came to find me. At most, he disgusts me," Dad said.

"But he still intends to rape me, then I will make him pay the price."

"That's right!" Dad patted the table excitedly, "I have already contacted Lawyer Liu and let him sit for ten years

Prison!"

"I notified the finance department and the personnel department this morning, and told Zhu Yuankai to leave immediately!"

Lawyer Liu is actually a colleague of the company's legal counsel and a high school classmate of my dad.

I majored in law in university, and I often study with Lawyer Liu, and now I work in his firm.

Hearing this, I smiled faintly: "Let's fire him after he is sentenced, otherwise what will happen if he goes to the Labor Bureau."

"He dares!" Dad stared.

"Uphold the law."

"The labor contract with him can only be terminated after he is held criminally responsible, otherwise it is illegal."

I laughed.

"The same goes for his rape case."

"Dad, don't worry, you forgot that your daughter is a Fa-study, and I will definitely make him pay the price he deserves."

15.

Because the police called the police in time, the police searched a lot of evidence.

Including fingerprints on pajamas, fibers of his skin under my fingernails, and surveillance footage.

Most importantly, Zhu Yuankai admitted that he really wanted to touch me and rape me.

The purpose is not to let me break up with him.

"After she's done with me, she definitely doesn't want to leave." He said, even very confidently, "If

It would be nice to be able to conceive and give birth to a boy. My mother just wants to have a grandson. "

Because he admitted the crime, Zhu Yuankai was directly detained by criminals.

"You scum." That's how our family commented.

The police also got his mobile phone and accidentally saw the chat records between Zhu Yuankai and his mother.

A kind policeman showed me some screenshots of the records, the contents are as follows:

Zhu Yuankai: Mom, Keyu already knows about Lan Ruo.

Mother Zhu: How did she know??? You told her??

Zhu Yuankai: No, it was Lan Ruo who came to the city to look for me...I happened to be going home with Keyu.

Zhu Yuankai: I told you before, I will secretly bring you to live in the city for two days, and you can also tell me the address

How much is Lan?

Zhu's mother: [angry] [angry] angry] What's wrong with what I said? I'm your mother, I can't live in your house for a few days, sneaky, and you still have to hide it from her?!

Zhu's mother: She is too domineering [embarrassed] Let's dump her early, can't we find someone better than her on the condition of my son? [Hug] [Hug] [Hug]

Zhu Yuankai: Mom, don't say that... Now Keyu is going to break up with me.

Mother Zhu: She still dares to break up? A girl like her is already dirty, you know, without my son, who would she have the face to go to?

Mother Zhu: Did you give her a face? [angry] [angry] [angry] Isn't there a Lan Ruo, she didn't give birth to a boy, I want you to divorce her.

Zhu Yuankai: Lanruo, don't mention Lanruo anymore. It was you who told me to go back and make her pregnant first, have a son, and then get married... But we got married without her getting pregnant.

Zhu's Mother: So now you blame me, huh? How dare you talk to your mother like this? [Angry][Angry]

Zhu's Mother: Let's not talk about Lanruo for now. Let's deal with this woman in front of us first. Don't break up with her just yet. At least get the house from her before making any decisions. If she really wants to break up with you, ask her for the breakup money! After spending so many years on her, how dare she not give it?

Zhu Yuankai: She and her brother are very stubborn. It's probably hopeless.

Zhu's Mother: How dare she! [Angry] You should go straight to her! Get things settled, and it would be best if she gets pregnant right away so I can have a grandchild.

Zhu's Mother: Once the matter is settled, she will be trapped. Will she still dare to leave?

Zhu Yuankai: But she's quite determined...

Zhu's Mother: After doing everything, what else is there to say? Does she dare to say that she's no longer a virgin? She'll have to obediently marry you, won't she?

Zhu's Mother: And when she gets pregnant, with a big belly, can she tolerate being judged by others?

Zhu's Mother: In the end, she'll have to enter our home with a big belly. Fight for your dignity, get everything done at once!

Zhu Yuankai: Alright.

Zhu Yuankai: Then I'll give it a try!

After carefully reading it, I sat on the couch for a minute, lost in thought, before forwarding it to the family group chat.

Within a minute, I heard my brother's furious roar: "Damn it! What kind of scum is he? He came to harm my sister!"

A few more minutes passed, and my father stormed out of his study, followed closely by my equally angry mother.

"Fire him! Fire him immediately!"

"And tomorrow, we'll take him to court! Let him spend the rest of his life in prison!"

"Let's calm down a bit. We need to think long-term." I made a gesture to signal quietness.

"But yes, taking legal action should be on the agenda."

16.

This person, along with his mother, disgusts me to no end.

In fact, I didn't have much interaction with his family.

Due to Zhu Yuankai's savings and frequent financial support for our family, their family was considered relatively wealthy in the village.

They had all kinds of electronic devices, so his mother was quite knowledgeable about things like WeChat.

During our previous relationship, Zhu Yuankai made various promises, saying that after we got married, he wouldn't make me go to his hometown. At most, we would visit for Chinese New Year, and he wouldn't bring his parents to live with us.

I never expected that he had already planned to take over my house. I didn't even know when he brought his mother to live with us.

Zhu Yuankai's family is extremely peculiar and bizarre.

Although it's a typical patriarchal household, where the father holds most of the authority, he doesn't take charge of anything. Both internally and externally, it's his mother who is in control.

His mother is also very domineering and makes all the decisions.

Not only did she arrange the marriages of their four daughters, but she also has an inexplicable obsession with having a grandson.

I genuinely dislike such a family dynamic.

But at that time, Zhu Yuankai was incredibly misleading, repeatedly assuring me that there would be no connection between me and his family. I reluctantly chose to overlook it.

In light of the case being filed and the conclusive evidence, with the suspect readily admitting to the crime, the prosecutor's office quickly brought charges against Zhu Yuankai and submitted the indictment to the local court.

He was charged with rape.

I contacted lawyer Liu and hired him as my attorney, appearing in court as the plaintiff.

I didn't inform Zhu Yuankai's parents, nor did I want any contact with his family. I let him be, and whether he sought a lawyer or not was not within my concern.

What more is there to say when the evidence is conclusive?

Three days before the trial, I suddenly received a call from an unknown number.

Initially, I thought of hanging up, but after a moment of contemplation, I answered.

"Hello?"

A timid voice of a woman came from the other end. "Are you Lixue's girlfriend? I am his wife."

It was that woman called Lanruo.

I felt an inexplicable pity for her and simply asked, "Yes, what can I do for you?"

"Can... Can I visit Lixue?"

"I'm sorry, but you can't. During the period of criminal detention, family members of the suspect are not allowed to visit the suspect. Only the lawyer can."

"Then who is his lawyer? Who is representing him...?"

"Sorry, I don't know," I interrupted her. "He has no connection to me, and I have no knowledge of his current situation. All I want is for him to be imprisoned. Is there anything else? If not, I'll hang up."

"But he's your husband! How can you treat him like this?" The woman sounded on the verge of tears.

I couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. "My husband? Don't put a false label on it!"

"How old is your daughter? Five, right? I've been in a relationship with him for nearly four years, and he goes and marries you, has a child, and still wants to be in a relationship with me!"

"How old was he four years ago? Eighteen? Nineteen? Can't control his own desires, huh? Should I help him take care of that?"

"How old were you four years ago? Were you eighteen? You stopped going to school and came home to have a baby, right!?"

"Do you think you're so great because you can carry on the family name? Do you still think men are everything?"

"Please, wake up! The Qing Dynasty has already fallen!"

"Do you have a brain? Do you have independent thinking?"

"He is a rapist, and he even complains that you didn't give him a son to inherit the throne. Can't you see the true face of their family? Don't jump into the fire pit again!"

I angrily hung up the phone, feeling a deep sense of emptiness and powerlessness that followed.

After an unknown amount of time passed, just as I was about to continue working, the same phone call came through.

"I want... I want to see the sentencing. Can I?" She pleaded, "Xuandian really wants to see daddy..."

I told her the time and address of the trial, my heart filled with mixed emotions. "Family members are allowed to observe, but you must adhere to the rules, especially your daughter. I sternly warn you, if she causes harm to me again, I will seek legal protection as well."

The woman mumbled in response, and I hung up the phone, suddenly feeling disinterested in work.

Two days before the trial, the woman told me again, "Xuandian's parents have come to the city..."

"Oh," I responded, "Is there anything else?"

"You should drop the charges... after all, he is your..."

17.

Here we go again.

"This is a criminal prosecution case initiated by the prosecutor's office. I have no right to drop the charges, and I don't accept any mediation."

I spoke rapidly, with evident anger.

Even if his parents came and begged me on their knees, I would not agree to a settlement. He doesn't deserve it.

"What right do you have to make us beg you?! Who do you think you are!"

Another woman's voice came, filled with indignation. She sounded like a middle-aged or older woman, most likely Zhu Yuankai's mother.

This was my first real encounter with her, and I suppose neither side had a good impression of the other.

"My son is your boyfriend! Who has a partner and doesn't let them sleep together! So what if he slept with you once? Aren't you our daughter-in-law?"

"If you don't like Zhang Lanruo, just divorce her. If she can't give birth to a valuable child, you can give birth to a boy, right?"

Her language was vulgar, and she treated me as nothing more than an appendage to Zhu Yuankai, disregarding my worth as a person.

Seeing an opportunity, I interjected, "Since you think women are so useless, why don't you jump off a building? Aren't you a woman yourself?"

After saying that, I hung up, somewhat regretting that I didn't record the conversation.

It was clear that his parents showing up unannounced was related to Zhu Yuankai. However, rape is a serious crime that harms society, and it's a public prosecution case. The plaintiff cannot withdraw the charges, and even if they did, it wouldn't affect the trial. I was powerless.

Not to mention, I never even considered giving up. Zhu Yuankai must pay the price.

The trial was scheduled in two days, and I didn't want any more mishaps at this crucial moment, so I decided to block her number directly.

However, what I never expected was that I would still run into them.

18.

The day before the trial, I decided to relax a bit.

Coincidentally, the real estate agent messaged me, saying that someone wanted to view the house, so I decided to go and help.

The problem was, I didn't realize that they would also be there.

"...It's you again."

I sighed deeply, looking at the uneasy woman and her daughter, Nian Di, along with the old man squatting beside her smoking and the domineering-looking middle-aged woman.

I had forgotten that Zhang Lanruo only knew the address of this house. How could she not find me here?

"Mom, she is Li Xue's girlfriend..." The woman timidly glanced at me, lowering her head and fidgeting with her clothes. Her voice was feeble, barely audible.

Nian Di loudly exclaimed, "She's Dad's mistress!"

This time, the woman didn't make any further moves.

I simply smiled faintly and said, "I'm sorry, is there something you need? I have some personal matters to attend to, so if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."

"What personal matters could you have? Is there anything more important than Li Xue?" Zhu's mother spoke up, her voice booming like a machine gun.

"What can possibly happen between two people in a relationship? In my opinion, let this matter go! Don't bother with lawsuits or crimes. There are always ups and downs between couples!"

She reached out to grab me, but I discreetly evaded her grasp.

"I'm sorry, I didn't understand what you said," I replied calmly.

"Firstly, Li Xue and I have already broken up."

"Secondly, we have no relationship whatsoever, and we are not husband and wife."

"Lastly, I disagree with a settlement."

"The harm he caused me is unforgettable. If you don't apologize to me and still blame me for making a fuss, what can I say?"

"What are you talking about?" Zhu's mother couldn't bear losing face and had an insincere smile on her face. Her tone was displeased. "You are our family's daughter-in-law!"

"Li Xue did all this just so you could give birth to a fat boy to carry on our family line, right?"

I couldn't help but laugh and glanced at the little girl. "Well, this isn't the right place to talk. How many days have you been here? Let's have a meal first."

Zhu's mother appeared displeased, saying, "You, girl..."

"There's a restaurant nearby that I often go to. They have abalone, lobster, chicken, duck, fish..." I smiled. "Won't you come along?"

Half an hour later, we were seated in a private room, and we had already placed our orders.

Zhu's mother continued to babble on with her words, but I couldn't be bothered to engage in the conversation. I sent messages to my parents and brother, asking them to come over.

Withdrawing the lawsuit was impossible.

Reconciliation was nothing but a dream for them.

But today, I would make it clear to them that I had no relationship with Zhu Yuanke anymore and that they should stop entertaining baseless fantasies.

"...Husband and wife quarrel but make up in bed. Why bother going to court? Are you even listening to me?" she continued.

I made a gesture to pause her words.

"I understand what you want. You want to withdraw the lawsuit."

Facing her bewildered gaze, I continued to explain kindly.

"It means no longer pursuing legal action, right?"

"Yes, yes!" She nodded eagerly and started rambling again. "Between husband and wife..."

Let me make it clear to you then, it's impossible."

The air felt stagnant, and all three adults looked at me simultaneously. Zhu's mother stared at me and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what it means." I relaxed my body and sank into the seat, crossing my arms. "Rape is a serious crime that poses a threat to society. It falls under public prosecution, and the plaintiff cannot withdraw the lawsuit. Even if I wanted to withdraw, it wouldn't affect the trial. I have no power to do so."

"But he didn't actually..." the woman started to say, growing anxious.

"Attempted rape is still a serious crime, and I reiterate once again, I won't accept any reconciliation," I firmly stated.

"Do you really have to escalate this matter to this extent?" Her words seemed to be squeezed out through her teeth.

The door to the private room was forcefully pushed open with a loud bang.

"What else can we do?!" My brother entered the room first, his brows furrowed and his anger palpable.

19.

"Do you have a wife and children and still go out to find a girlfriend? Have you no shame? You all are a bunch of snakes and rats gathered together, aren't you?"

"What has your son achieved without relying on my family? His job is in our company, the house was paid for by our family. What else do you greedy people want?!"

"Now you've hurt my sister, and instead of discussing compensation, you're distorting the truth and making baseless accusations. Do you think my sister is in a hurry to get married?!"

These words made several people flushed with anger. Zhu's mother retorted directly, "We've been talking about this for years! Doesn't the time wasted by my son count? So what if our Zhu family's daughter-in-law wants to run away and have a child?"

"You're simply unreasonable!" Father pointed at her angrily, his face red and panting heavily. I quickly intervened to calm him down. "Dad, calm down, don't get angry. Anyway, Zhu Yuankai is going to prison!"

"No! What will we do if Yuankai goes to prison?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu's mother burst into tears and lay on the ground, rolling around without any dignity.

"You owe my son... you owe my son! My son, a prestigious university student, can't go to prison... I worked hard to raise him, I can't let him go to prison... I'm seventy years old, I rely on him to support me in old age..."

"You shameless person! Go to hell! Are you trying to kill me?"

"You give me money! You have to compensate me! Give me back my son's years of hard work... you're trying to kill this old woman..."

I immediately stopped my brother from approaching and pointed at the woman named Zhang Lanruo who was screaming.

"I find it hard to understand your thinking. At first, you wanted her to give birth to a grandson for you. When that didn't work, you let Zhu Yuankai find another partner, and now you blame others and claim they're guilty."

"She just gave birth to a money-losing burden!" Zhu's mother immediately stood up and cursed loudly, "If it comes to divorce, so be it! Divorce and marry someone else. Isn't that perfect for my son and you?"

I noticed Zhang Lanruo trembling uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, Zhu's father put down the cigarette in his hand, seemingly wanting to say something, but was glared at by Zhu's mother.

"You truly... disgust me to the point of nausea," I whispered, surprising everyone. However, Zhu's mother was unexpectedly delighted. "Nauseous? Could it be that you're pregnant?"

"If you are, hurry up and get married! Quickly release Li Xue!"

[....]

"Unreasonable."

With that, I gave her one last glance and turned away.

Behind me, Zhu's mother screamed harshly, "You slut!"

"No matter how 'slutty' I may be, I am not as despicable and filthy as you, a wicked person."

I pulled my family away and before leaving, I told the restaurant manager that there was no need to serve the food. This place was somewhere I frequented, and the manager was already a good friend of mine.

I never actually ordered any dishes from the beginning; I just wanted them to put on a show. I wouldn't spend money treating them to a meal.

I can only imagine how embarrassed and furious these people must be right now...

20.

In the following days, Zhang Lanruo changed her phone number and kept calling me. Even Zhu's mother and father bombarded my phone.

I blocked all their numbers and warned Zhang Lanruo that if she continued, I would report her to the police. Only then did things calm down a bit, as Yuankai was still unable to come out.

On the day of the trial, I attended as the plaintiff, while my family and Zhu's family attended as family members of the plaintiff and defendant, respectively.

The whole process went smoothly. Zhu Yuankai confessed to the criminal charges and was sentenced to five years in prison. He was also ordered to compensate me for my mental distress and medical expenses.

At the moment the judge pronounced the verdict, Zhu's mother let out a scream and fainted on the spot.

Several court bailiffs immediately approached to assess the situation and, after confirming that it was only due to emotional distress, helped her back to her seat.

I sighed, refraining from taking any further action against that despicable woman.

Based on the chat records, it was evident that Zhu's mother had clearly encouraged Zhu Yuankai to commit rape against me, making her an accomplice to the crime of rape. Incitement is a form of joint criminal liability, and if I were to pursue it, she would also be held accountable and face imprisonment.

My father had already informed the HR department to dismiss Zhu Yuankai, and my house was still listed with the real estate agency, waiting to be sold.

From now on, I have no connection whatsoever with these people.

21.

After leaving the courthouse, Zhang Lanruo stopped me. "Can we talk?" she asked, with her daughter standing by her side.

My brother had one hand on my shoulder, while my parents stood near the car.

I replied, "You can say whatever you want now."

She bit her lip and asked, "Do you... hate him this much?"

"He deceived me and harmed not one, but three families," I replied. "I seem to have every reason to hate him."

"Why did you ruin my dad?" It was the girl named Niandi, looking at me angrily. But my heart remained calm, unaffected.

I looked at her, but it felt like I was seeing Zhang Lanruo, Zhu Yuankai's four sisters whom I had never met.

"Do you really love your dad that much?" I said, squatting down to meet her gaze. "Or is it because you think if he comes back, your mom will be happy?"

"Because I want my mom to be happy, I want to bring back your dad, and that's why you view me as the enemy who supposedly took him away?"

"Do you really understand or not? Both your mother and I are victims!" I grabbed her shoulders, trying to make her realize. "And you, you're continuing her tragic fate!"

Zhang Lanruo forcefully pushed me away, causing me to stagger back a few steps. Just as I was about to get angry, I saw her tightly holding her daughter and murmuring, "Niandi, don't be afraid... Niandi, don't be afraid..."

That child had hollow eyes, a lifeless gaze, and a face that exuded a profound silence.

I had no words.

What else could I do to them?

Despicable people often have pitiful aspects.

The trials and tribulations of life will teach them how to be human, but of course, this process will make this mother and daughter duo suffer greatly, enduring torment.

22.

After Zhu Yuankai was sentenced, Zhu's mother almost called me every day, causing trouble.

Sometimes, she demanded forcefully that I rescue him.

Other times, she pleaded for my forgiveness and suggested that Zhu Yuankai and I should live a good life together.

Or she would throw tantrums and demand a breakup fee.

I recorded everything and reported it to the police.

This pitiful woman should have had her own tragic fate in life.

She invested all her efforts into her son, and when the last straw was gone, she crumbled, becoming even more miserable... Well, it has nothing to do with me anymore.

After more than half a year, I gradually began to forget that person.

Zhu Yuankai, his family, and the most heart-wrenching Zhang Lanruo and her daughter have all exited my life.

I am now a lawyer, and due to my own experiences, I mainly handle marital issues.

However, occasionally, I still think of Zhang Lanruo and her daughter.

I cannot deny that when Zhang Lanruo first came to me, her intention was to sabotage my relationship with Zhu Yuankai.

Perhaps she still had a trace of conscience left.

She was not as shameless as Zhu Yuankai and his mother, who knew that cheating after marriage was wrong.

So, from the beginning, she wanted to force me to end my relationship with Zhu Yuankai by assuming the role of a lawful wife.

Did she truly love Zhu Yuankai?

I'm not so sure.

She didn't receive a proper education and was instilled with the wrong idea that "men are superior." Subconsciously, she believed that a family needed the presence of a man.

Hence, she desperately wanted to reclaim her own husband, but as for who her husband was...

It wasn't really important to her.

How old was she when she got pregnant?

She was around the same age as me, perhaps just barely an adult when she married Zhu Yuankai.

After that, Zhu Yuankai rarely returned to his hometown in four years. Wasn't it difficult for her, as a woman, to give birth and raise a child alone, especially a girl who was not favored? Wasn't it pitiful?

And her original family? It's probably a nightmare as well.

As for her daughter, even her name, "Niandei" (which implies favoring sons over daughters), vividly depicts the bias against girls.

Perhaps she will follow in her mother's footsteps.

And that might be the greatest punishment for both of them.

"Are you done yet? It's the weekend, isn't it?" My older brother peeks out from behind the door, looking sneaky. "Hurry up and come down for dinner!"

I smile and reply, "Coming."

Nowadays, I no longer care about those trivial matters.

I have a normal life, loved ones, and a stable job, and that is enough.

Life, perhaps, is just like this,

Real and miraculous. Living one's own life to the fullest is the ultimate truth.

-The End-