Chapter 12 - Vicious Little Crow

Wu Yaya arrived at the apartment twelve hours ago with a plastic bag and a covered metal bucket in hand.

Along with her was a weary-looking middle-aged couple.

A woman opened the door and immediately fell into disbelief when she saw the couple—her parents, who had cut all ties with her—in front of her place.

They had disowned her since the disgraceful videos spread online.

“Mom, Dad, why- why are you here?” Drops of tears fell from her eyes as soon as she opened her mouth. Who knows how many nights she had dreamt about such a reunion only to wake up in despair, knowing that she no longer had a home to return to.

She was a filthy piece of trash. She was a shameful stain that shouldn’t exist!

“Oh, my child! Why didn’t you tell us that it wasn’t your fault? We thought you posted those videos yourself without an ounce of self-respect! But those were secretly taken by your boyfriend, right? Why didn’t you say anything about it? Why did you keep quiet, huh? We’ll sue him!”

The mother drew the woman into her arms and patted her back while crying. The father closed the door and watched over them as tears also streaked his cheeks.

Wu Yaya sat herself down on the couch, knees closed like a well-behaved little girl, and waited for the family to calm down.

The woman leaned into her parents’ embrace with an expression of dreamlike daze on her face. She promptly agreed when her parents suggested taking her away.

Unlike Lin Xiuzhu, who was beyond help, this woman still longed for her parents, still longed for home.

Wu Yaya saw the family off from the balcony before opening her bucket and emptying it haphazardly on the floor. It was a bucket of pig’s blood. She hummed as she set up her “crime scene”. All that was left was to wait for Yu Haowei merrily.

The moment someone pushed open the door, the girl sitting on the couch tilted her head and spoke in a sickeningly sweet voice, “You’re back?”

It was the scene of a gentle, loving girlfriend waiting on the couch under the warm lamplight for her boyfriend, who had been out all night. That was if you could ignore all the blood.

Yu Haowei was still kneeling by the entrance, eyes full of unspeakable fear. He vaguely realized that some irrevocable horror had happened whilst he was out fooling around. 

“I prepared this gift for you.” Wu Yaya tossed over the spherical object she had been holding on her lap.

The man caught it out of reflex. Every one of his hairs was standing on end the moment he took a close look. [i]What- what is this? Is this what I think it is?[/i]

Had Lin Xiuzhu actually killed her girlfriend?

Sure enough, bringing home her removed organ should’ve been a warning sign for the slippery slope to hell she was on. Too bad Yu Haowei failed to recognize it.

This woman was completely out of control now!

The man who had been accused as a menace countless times felt like he was an innocent and good person for the first time. What were his petty tactics compared to what this woman did?!

Many things flashed across his mind—fragments of memories, jumbled feelings, and an overwhelming fear. He should've tossed away the bloody thing in his hands already, but his body was paralyzed from the immense fear. He was nailed in place, without so much energy as to even open his mouth to scream. Everything was still, including him.

He just sat frozen in the entryway, cradling that dreadful thing.

Just then, came several blinding flashes accompanied by soft clicks. That was enough to awaken him from his stupor.

He blinked a few times before realizing that Wu Yaya had taken photos of him sitting in a pool of blood.

The man immediately flung that thing away and let out a bloodcurdling scream. Unfortunately for him, with all his tendency to solve everything with harsh words and heavy fists, this sound wasn’t anything unusual coming from this apartment unit.

“Shh~” Wu Yaya pressed her long index finger to her pale lips. She ordered him in a voice barely above a whisper, “Don’t scream, or someone might call the police. Once they come, they’ll only be taking you in.”

Step by step, she walked to the entryway. She bent down with hands on her knees, leaning over the man who was slumped like a limp rag with a hint of mirth playing at the corner of her mouth.

The innocent yet wicked expression on her face told Yu Haowei that she had lost it. Her sole purpose in life was to get her boyfriend back, and that meant she would resort to anything, no matter how horrific the means. 

And it was Yu Haowei who pushed her this far. It was every venomous word slashed at her. Every brutal beating met her flesh.

He was only reaping what he had sown, even if the result was scaring him out of his wits.

The man clamped his mouth shut and stared at Lin Xiuzhu in endless fear and regret. If he knew this day would come, he never would’ve gotten involved with this crazy woman!

“Clean up this bloody mess and come back with me. I have those photos of you. If you dare to leave me, I’ll be handing them to the people in uniform.” The girl waved her phone in front of him.

“After all, you abused that woman every day. It wouldn’t be a stretch for you to have accidentally killed her, don’t you think? Your neighbours would back up this claim. I only took these photos because you forced me. You’ve only hit me harder than you’ve hit her. I’m just a victim. Oh, poor me,” She crouched down with hands making the motion of rubbing her eyes and her mouth in a pout to fake crying.

She let out a few whimpering sobs before pulling away her hands to reveal a sinister grin.

Yu Haowei felt a chill run down his spine as he watched her expression change on the dime, seeing the malice in her eyes.

He came to the sharp realization that he had fallen into a bottomless abyss. The thick stench of blood in the room filled him with fear and nausea. He scrambled to his feet and dashed to the bathroom, vomiting into the toilet like there was no tomorrow.

The girl lay on the couch languidly. The sounds of the man’s retching brought a sly smile to her face.

What the man thought was a human head was merely an overly realistic silicon model. Had he had the guts to examine it closely, he wouldn’t have fallen for such a cheap trick.

Several dozen minutes later, Yu Haowei staggered out of the bathroom.

Never in his life had he been more off-guard, more terrified, more confused, or more helpless. As regret flooded his dazed mind, he thought, [i]Is this my retribution?[/i] 

It was he who created this demon called Lin Xiuzhu through all the inhumane treatment. Now, the demon had turned on him and was about to devour him whole.

Another wave of self-reproach washed over him, crashing into his chest. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. Then, he knelt down slowly and repented, “Xiuzhu, I was wrong! I’ll go back with you and won’t ever leave you again.”

Meanwhile, Lin Xiusong put a withered woman and her parents on a plane to another province. If Yu Haowei were here, he would recognize the woman as the one he thought had just been killed.

Wu Yaya had hired a hacker to get into her boyfriend’s phone and obtained the conversation history between him and the woman.

Then, she sent the revolting record to the woman’s parents, asking them if they wanted to save their daughter. If they did, she could pay for everything and arrange for the woman to be sent to a rehabilitation center elsewhere. The only condition was that none of them were allowed to make contact with Yu Haowei anymore.

The parents were overjoyed at the proposal and rushed overnight to take their daughter away. Lion Xiusong took charge of their following itinerary.

It was already early morning when Yu Haowei drove out to the countryside and buried the silicone model in a deep hole.

Wu Yaya stood on the edge of the pit, filming on her phone. The man was anxious to death, and kept begging her to stop filming. She only laughed in response.

How could she not record something so hilarious? If anyone were to find out, she would tell them they were burying a toy.

Tsk tsk tsk, Yu Haowei was such a coward, he was about to piss his pants. If he still had the courage to run away from Lin Xiuzhu, she would write her own name backward*.

Once they successfully buried the silicone head, the pair drove back to Lin Xiusong’s mansion covered in dirt.

“You’ve handled it?” The older woman asked calmly.

She was lounging on the couch with a cigarette between her lips. Clearly, she knew what happened that night. And just like Lin Xiuzhu, she was completely unfazed.

Didn’t they just spill a bucket of pig’s blood, then bury a toy model? None of it was illegal. At most, it would be considered a prank.

“He was the one who dealt with it all. Sister, can you safekeep these photos and videos for me?” Wu Yaya handed her phone to the other woman.

Lin Xiuzhu took the phone and walked up the spiral stairs. “Stay and live with me from now on, you two. Have you decided on the wedding date?” Her voice came calmly.

“Sister, pick a day for us. I don’t mind either way.” The girl kicked off her heels, stretching as she walked.

“Alright, I’ll arrange it. You don’t need to worry about anything. The prenups and your wills have all been prepared. You just need to sign them. I won’t let you lose out.”

The sisters’ casual conversation and tone only sent chills throughout Yu Haowei’s body. He came to the realization that this was it for him. He was trapped. There was a massive false accusation placed on him, and he was against a lunatic who could kill without batting an eye.

With Lin Xiusong’s wealth, they could track him down no matter where he ran. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what the aggravated, deranged lady that was Lin Xiuzhu might do at that point.

Perhaps, the next body would be his…

The man bent down to change his shoes, only to find his limbs going limp. He stumbled forward and caught the doorframe, taking the chance to wipe the cold sweat on his forehead. A profound regret leaked from his eyes. Marriage was a matter to be discussed between two people, but he, the groom, didn’t even dare to voice his opinion on it.

The girl peeked her head out of the kitchen at the noise, a tube of yogurt in her mouth, mumbling her words, “What are you doing standing there? You don’t want to come in?”

“No- That’s not true. I’m coming right in. I’ll prepare breakfast. You can go rest in the living room.” Yu Haowei immediately put on his slippers and drifted into the kitchen.

He was willing to do anything as long as it appeased this crazy woman.

————

The next day, Wu Yaya went to the research center as usual for her appointment with Yi Ling. Yu Haowei served as her chauffeur and purse-holder.

As she entered the office, she motioned with her mouth to the man behind her. “Doctor, let me introduce you. This is my dog, his name is Haohao.” Her smile was bright and her tone playful. 

The man showed no sign of being insulted. Instead, he shrank back with a servile smile and nodded.

That was a smile that had made countless appearances on Lin Xiuzhu’s haggard face. 

Yi Ling was at a loss for words.

It has been only a few days, but the little child seemed to have become even more vicious.