In the winter of Yuncheng, the chilly wind was heavy, and the lights were bright as day.

Song Fengwan sat in the car as it sped along. The various neon lights made her side profile flash between bright and dark. Her heart felt a little bitter, but she also felt relieved, as if there was a weight off her mind.

When the car reached the city center, there was some traffic congestion. Her phone vibrated. “Hey, Mom.”

“Do you still want to eat barbecue?” Qiao Aiyun thought that she would definitely not be in the mood to eat after completely falling out with Song Jingren. But she didn’t expect that after tearing off his fake mask in front of everyone, she would feel so relaxed like never before.

“Does Uncle Yan eat it?”

“It doesn’t matter to him.” Qiao Aiyun had asked him, but he still kept a straight face and didn’t speak for a long time. “Ask Fu Chen?”

Song Fengwan tilted her head and looked at Fu Chen. “Third Master, do you eat barbecue?”

Fu Chen raised his eyelids…

“He says he eats it.”

Fu Chen raised his eyebrows. Did I speak just now?

This girl might as well be my spokesperson.

“Then let’s go to the one in the city center. It’s your favorite charcoal barbecue.” After a busy night, everyone hadn’t eaten for the whole night. She called Geng Ying along too and asked Song Fengwen to bring Shi Fang along.

This made Shi Fang feel flattered. But he didn’t dare to show off impudently in front of Fu Chen and could only send a message to Qian Jiang, saying that Qiao Aiyun was treating them to meat.

Qian Jiang looked down at the cabbage and plain porridge in front of him. He pursed his lips and turned off his phone.

Fu Chen’s phone started vibrating non-stop. It was none other than Duan Linbai jumping around in the group chat.

Why is it so quiet? Everyone, let’s get high together. Tonight’s live broadcast was really satisfying.

I knew it. If this man can’t control his lower body, he’s no f*cking different from a beast.

He should be slapped to death.

…

He even sent countless emojis of beating people up until Fu Chen sent a message.

Duan Linbai, when I get back, I’ll invite you to ski.

Duan Linbai felt a chill run down his spine. Oh f*ck.

Skiing? In the wilderness? What is this guy trying to do to me?

I was very obedient tonight and didn’t do anything.

Fu Chen sneered. He truly didn’t do anything other than sending Song Fengwan a message.

The group arrived at the barbecue restaurant. Qiao Aiyun asked for a private room. It was already past dinner time, so there were few people but many private rooms. If it was during usual hours, they would definitely have had to book a room in advance.

Fu Chen was too polite, and Yan Wangchuan was too stuffy. Shi Fang didn’t dare to order anything, so the ladies ordered.

When the waiter started the charcoal barbecue, sparks suddenly jumped out and splattered onto Qiao Aiyun’s hand, almost scalding her.

The men sat to one side, so Yan Wangchuan’s seat was a little far from hers. He stood up straight away in agitation.

“Madam, I’m sorry,” the waiter hurriedly apologized.

“It didn’t touch me.” Qiao Aiyun frowned, and her eyelids twitched. She had a bad feeling.

***

Under the escort of the hotel’s security guards, Song Jingren staggered and stumbled into his car. Along the way, he was even kicked a few times. It was obvious that someone was aiming at him in the chaos and took the opportunity to hit him.

There were too many people, so he simply could not find who secretly attacked him. He could only glare helplessly in anger.

“President Song, shall I send you to the hospital?” Secretary Zhang suggested timidly. His heart was still pounding at this moment.

“There are so many reporters! Go to the hospital? Do you think I haven’t been embarrassed enough tonight?” Song Jingren kicked him twice angrily. “Go home!”

Although the Song family mansion was a detached house, the security there was good, and it was still within the villa district. Previously, when he held the filiation banquet, he had allowed the media reporters to enter in order to create hype. If he didn’t want to, the security naturally wouldn’t let them in.

There was no place safer than home.

“Then how should we deal with tonight’s matter…?”

“Deal with what? Let’s go back first!” When Song Jingren spoke, half of his face was numb from the pain.

He thought that he would be safe at home, but little did he know that danger was slowly approaching inch by inch.

***

On another side, Qiao Xiyan was still looking at the person beside him from the corner of his eye while driving.

To get to the Song family residence, they had to pass through the city. There was a traffic light crossing every few steps, so the car was driving very slowly.

“Dad, this Song Jingren is really a piece of work…”

“Beast.” Someone corrected his choice of words.

“Yes, he’s a beast. When we see him later, you have to control yourself a little. There’s no need to do anything stupid for this kind of person.”

“Is your father such an unrestrained person?”

Qiao Xiyan smiled awkwardly. When have you ever restrained yourself?

In the blink of an eye, the car arrived at the Song family residence. The two families were in-laws, so Qiao Xiyan’s car used to frequent the villa district. The security guards didn’t stop them and let the car pass directly.

“Dad, we’re almost there.”

“Yes.”

“Later…”

“You aren’t a person with poor judgment. Can’t you see that I don’t want to listen to you talk?”

Qiao Xiyan was stunned.

“By the way, I’ll settle the score with you regarding the matter of you hiding this from me.”

Qiao Xiyan’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel. He just knew he’d have to die sooner or later for this. He could only beg his aunt and cousin to put in a good word for him then.

When the car stopped in front of the Song family residence’s entrance, the house was brightly lit. The windows were full of water vapor, and the interior wasn’t clearly visible. They could only vaguely make out the silhouettes of people.

As soon as the car came to a stop, the person beside him had already unbuckled his seatbelt with a loud smack. He opened the door and got out of the car, his fury raging.

Qiao Xiyan hurriedly got out of the car and chased after him.

Secretary Zhang had just sent Song Jingren back and was waiting for the doctor to arrive before preparing to leave. As soon as he opened the door, he saw a black shadow rushing toward him. Only when the shadow reached the porch and the light shone over did he finally see the person’s face clearly.

The man was in his early forties. He looked lean and capable, wearing a refined black cloth shirt and walking with an air of elegance. His eyes were dark and cold, and he was even holding a…

Knife?

His heart pounded. Isn’t this…

… the head of the Qiao family.

The light glided over the edge of the knife. The chill spread in the air.

“…” Secretary Zhang didn’t dare to speak and timidly made way.

“Uncle Zhang, let me see you out.” A girl’s coquettish voice traveled out from inside the house. Just as Jiang Fengya walked to the door, she happened to come face to face with the person walking forward…

She was wearing a beautiful and exquisite lace nightdress. The floor heating was on in the house, and the warmth was inviting. In her hair, there was also a delicate crystal hair clip. Recently, she had been learning how to dress herself up. From her appearance alone, she already started to look like a rich family’s young lady.

“Um… you are?”

Jiang Fengya’s heart trembled when she saw him. The man was too thin, and his narrowed eyes seemed to contain the power of thousands of soldiers and horses. His clean buzz cut was cold and sinister.

His clothes were thin, but he still stood tall and proud. He looked at her, disdain and loathing gleaming in his eyes. The sharp brows made the biting cold wind pale in comparison.

He ignored Jiang Fengya and walked straight into the house.

“Mister, who exactly are you?” Jiang Fengya reached out to try and block his path as he passed through the entrance.

“Get lost!”

“You’re trespassing on private property. Do you believe that I will call the police?” Jiang Fengya had lived here for more than ten days, and she already regarded herself as the owner.

“Eldest Miss…” Secretary Zhang hurriedly ran over and pulled her aside. “This is Mr. Qiao. Please be quiet and stop spouting nonsense. ”

“Qiao…” Jiang Fengya felt that this man looked slightly familiar. She had seen his photo in Song Fengwan’s room before.

Song Fengwan’s uncle—

Qiao Wangbei.

“A turtledove taking over the nest of a magpie1. Do you really think you’re something important?” Qiao Wangbei glanced at her.

“You can’t choose how you were born. You may not have had a good life for the past ten-odd years, but if you use this as a reason to commit evil, you are vicious and evil. You look like a pretty young lady, but you’re incapable of doing anything human.

“Eldest Miss, huh? Don’t you feel guilty?”

Jiang Fengya’s face instantly paled, and her delicate body trembled slightly. She was obviously quite angry.

“Even if you are Song Fengwan’s uncle, you aren’t qualified to make a big fuss in someone else’s house.” It was her first time meeting Qiao Wangbei, and she had already been humiliated. Naturally, she was furious. Besides, they were about to get a divorce. He had absolutely no right to be here.

“I’m not qualified? Then who do you think you are to live here so shamelessly?”

His tone was scathing, and his words were crafty. Every time, he could accurately strike her sore spot. Jiang Fengya couldn’t out-talk him and could only stare helplessly in anger.

Qiao Wangbei sneered. “Even Song Jingren doesn’t dare to shout at me. Are you worthy?”

Qiao Xiyan had already caught up to him. Looking at his father’s insolent manner, he reached out and touched his nose. Is Jiang Fengya a fool? My dad is in a fit of anger, yet she still jumped in front of the gun directly. Isn’t she courting death?

***

Song Jingren was originally lying in the bedroom on the second floor and having his wounds treated by a private doctor. When he heard the commotion downstairs, he thought that someone had chased him to his house to cause trouble and became even more furious.

Now that he was back in his own territory, how could he still allow others to ride on his head and make a fuss?

Ignoring the doctor’s obstruction, he put on his slippers and headed downstairs.

“… Who’s kicking up a huge fuss outside again? Are you all dead? Just throw them out. Why are you all standing there!” Before Song Jingren reached the first floor, he saw a few servants standing in the living room, not daring to move. “I’m f*cking raising you for nothing!”

He already had a stomach full of anger tonight and found everyone unpleasant to the eye.

“How dare you cause trouble at my house? I want to see who has such guts…”

Song Jingren walked to the first floor and saw the two people standing at the entrance. His face, which was red from anger just now, instantly turned green and white. His expression was full of fear as if he had seen a ghost.

“Who? I am your f*cking uncle!” Qiao Wangbei gripped the carving knife in his hand and rushed directly toward him.

Song Jingren staggered and took two steps back. His back hit the handrail of the stairs, and his body went crooked and almost fell. Someone grabbed his collar, lifted him up completely off the ground, and pressed him against the wall.

“You… how did you…”

“Song Jingren, when you married my sister back then, didn’t I warn you? If you dare to let her down, I’ll take your dog life!”

Qiao Wangbei’s fingers were ice-cold. With him grabbing Song Jingren’s collar with great strength, the collar tightened around his neck and strangled him to the point that he couldn’t breathe.

“I…” Song Jingren resisted instinctively. The moment his fingers touched his arm, a cold sensation pressed against his face.

The sharp, severe edge of the blade pierced through his skin upon the lightest touch, and a drop of blood rolled down the blade.

His face turned pale from terror.

The few people around them didn’t dare to move. Jiang Fengya stood by the side, gasping heavily with a terrified expression.

Song Jingren could vaguely see the carving knife in his peripheral vision, and he was scared out of his wits. “Calm down…”

“Calm down? You even dared to bring your illegitimate daughter home and chased my sister and niece out of the house. Who gave you the f*cking guts!

“Song Jingren, I haven’t bothered with you for the past two years. Do you think I’m dead?

“Or do you think there’s no one else in the Qiao family?”

The turbid breath he exhaled from his mouth carried an eerie chill as he held the carving knife and continuously patted Song Jingren’s face.

Song Jingren was so scared that his legs went soft. He had seen how sharp this thing was in the Qiao family residence. It could easily cut iron, let alone to cut him?

A chill ran up from the bottom of his feet, and his legs felt weak.

“I watched the press conference just now. I really didn’t expect a coward like you to dare to cheat on my sister. Weren’t you very manly just now, saying that you want to lay your hands on my sister?

“Try touching a finger on her.

“See if I can’t chop off your fingers one by one!”

The carving knife landed on the back of Song Jingren’s hand, making his entire body weak with fear.

“This is my fault. My fault…” Song Jingren had been taught lessons ever since he entered the Qiao family, and the two of them had never gotten along.

Qiao Wangbei had a stubborn and explosive temper. A word of disagreement, and he would act immediately.

A craftsman like him had incredible strength. Song Jingren had never gained the slightest advantage from him when he was young, let alone now.

“You think everything is settled by saying that you’re wrong? You’ve f*cking wasted my sister’s entire life…” Qiao Wangbei raised his knife and was about to stab his face. The blade was aimed at his eyes.

Song Jingren’s pupils dilated as he saw the blade approaching inch by inch. He was so frightened that he almost peed.

“Ah—” Jiang Fengya lifted her hands and covered her eyes.

Qiao Xiyan narrowed his eyes, his heart in his throat as well.

When his father went crazy, he couldn’t stop him. He could only take out his phone and send Qiao Aiyun a message…

***

Qiao Aiyun was worrying about how to solve the plate of meat in front of her.

Yan Wangchuan didn’t say a word, but he had roasted a pile of meat for her. She didn’t have much of an appetite and didn’t eat much. But a certain someone didn’t listen. He ordered a plate of raw meat, and after it was cooked, half of it fell onto her plate.

There were still juniors around, and Qiao Aiyun was terribly flustered.

Most importantly, he didn’t know how to roast meat at all. In fact, some of it was burned and hard to swallow.

Just as she was fretting, her phone vibrated twice. It was a message from Qiao Xiyan.

She clicked on it.

Song residence. My dad is killing someone.

She jumped out of her chair in shock.

“Mom?” Song Fengwan licked the sauce at the corner of her lips. What happened? Why did she have such a big reaction?

“Your uncle is here. He’s at the mansion.” She pulled on her clothes and ran outside.

Fu Chen put down his chopsticks. They finally came. I thought the father and son had gotten lost.

“So what if he’s here? Why are you so frightened?” Geng Ying was the one who didn’t understand Qiao Wangbei the most in this group. She put on her jacket and hurriedly chased after her.

“My uncle has a nickname called ‘Mad Qiao’. When he goes crazy, no one can stop him.” Song Fengwan ran out in her down jacket.

Fu Chen and Yan Wangchuan looked at each other.

Yan Wangchuan’s eyes were dark. He was sure that Qiao Wangbei’s appearance wasn’t an accident. The most likely possibility was that someone had informed him. When he heard that he was here, even he was slightly surprised. Only Fu Chen remained calm.

As if everything was within his expectation.

The Fu family was good at scheming and gaining the goodwill of others. Fu Chen was the same. He was young but had such deep thoughts. It was terrifying.

***

Song family mansion…

Seeing the blade approaching, Song Jingren was so frightened that his mind went blank. He didn’t even have the strength to struggle. He instinctively closed his eyes, but the expected pain didn’t appear.

His eyelids fluttered, and he opened his eyes shakily. The blade was already close to his pupils, about half a centimeter away. The distance was precise. Just an inch forward would turn him blind.

“Don’t shake. If you bump into it yourself, it’s none of my business.” Qiao Wangbei smiled deeply. What a f*cking coward.

Song Jingren pressed his back tightly against the wall, not daring to move.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll leave your eyes for you. I’m afraid of dirtying my knife.” Qiao Wangbei raised his hand and stabbed the carving knife into the wall. The knife pierced through the bricks and firmly embedded itself into the wall.

“…” Song Jingren thought that he had escaped a calamity and panted heavily.

He didn’t expect Qiao Wangbei to twist his wrist, clenched his fingers into a fist, and punch his face several times ferociously.

His strength was extremely ruthless, and his eyes were dyed with blood. Clearly, he was immensely furious.

He hit him a few times and then let go.

Song Jingren’s breathing was very faint. After leaving his shackles, he collapsed to the ground like a pile of mud.

“If I remember correctly, this house is registered under Wanwan’s name. You shouldn’t be qualified to live here.”

Dead silence.

Qiao Wangbei glanced at Jiang Fengya. “Hey, you. Why are you still in a daze? Come over and help your dad up. Get out of here immediately.”

She shuddered and ran over to help Song Jingren up. “Dad, slow down…”

“Um… Mr. Qiao, it’s already so late. We still have a lot of things to pack…” Jiang Fengya had never seen such a crazy person before. She was so frightened that her voice was trembling.

“You brought things in? What is yours here? What else do you want to take away?” Qiao Wangbei looked at her seriously.

“I…”

“Let’s go!” Song Jingren was really afraid of him and simply wanted to get away from him as soon as possible.

“I’ll get someone to clean up your garbage and throw it out later. If you want them, you can pick them up by the garbage cans tomorrow morning.”

Qiao Wangbei’s eyes were red. He wanted to kill someone.

…

When Qiao Aiyun and the rest arrived at the Song family residence, Qiao Xiyan had ordered takeout. The Qiao father and son were eating at the table.

“Big Brother—” Qiao Aiyun was breathing heavily. The cold wind blew her face red.

“Have you eaten? This sour beef soup is good.”

“Big Brother, you… to him…”

“Don’t worry. I was very restrained. I didn’t take his dog life.”

Shi Fang was the last to enter. Hearing this, he almost fell down.

His tone…

How arrogant.

1 This means that someone has occupied a place belonging to another person.