Chapter 25: No Way Out
1360 Words
"Who is it? Come out!"
As the security guard was halfway through explaining, Shao Hang suddenly turned and shouted toward the shadow under the streetlight outside the gate.
"Come out now, or we'll take action!"
"Is it not okay for me to pass by here?" Tang Yili, shivering, emerged from the shadows, speaking while still sneaking glances inside the community.
"Did you come with the two women just now?" Shao Hang asked.
"Uh, that's my girlfriend. I came to catch her cheating!" Tang Yili replied nervously.
"Oh?" Shao Hang smiled faintly. "Catch her cheating? But that's not what that lady said. How do you prove it?"
Of course, Tang Yili had no way to prove it.
"Do you plan to go inside and confront her?"
Seeing Tang Yili's confused look, Shao Hang grew concerned and slowly guided him with his words.
"Yes, yes, I want to confront her."
"But why should I let you in? The people living here are all rich. I don't want to offend anyone for no reason."
"Bro," Tang Yili, now a little less anxious, leaned closer to Shao Hang and whispered, "I can give you a bribe, just tell me which apartment she went to, and I'll make sure you won’t get dragged into anything."
"You think you can just get away with it like that?" Shao Hang laughed coldly. "Why don't you come to my office and explain everything?"
Not thinking things through, Tang Yili agreed and followed Shao Hang to the office.
Meanwhile, Zhou Lin's family—along with Black Zai, their rabbits, and poultry—had just arrived home.
Seeing Zhou Caijun covered in blood, Zhou Li couldn't help but gasp despite being mentally prepared.
Wu Xue remained calm, though she seemed a little nervous.
"Dad, Mom, go upstairs," Zhou Lin nodded at Wu Xue. "Sorry to trouble you."
"No need to apologize. We'll head upstairs." Though Wu Xue didn’t fully understand why Zhou Lin suggested they go upstairs, she didn’t question him. They had barely made it upstairs when the doorbell rang.
As Zhou Lin opened the door, Ai Bing and Yang Qiqi walked in, and the warm air inside felt like a stark contrast to the cold outside.
"You, why didn’t you wait for me?" Ai Bing asked with a flirtatious tone as she walked past Zhou Lin, about to wrap her arm around his.
Normally, such tactics would work on any man, but this time, Zhou Lin stepped back with a cold expression.
"Do you need something?"
Ai Bing’s smile stiffened. "What do you mean? Didn’t you invite me here to have fun? Don't forget, I also have a stake in this house!"
Zhou Lin didn't deny her claim to the property, but at times like this, who cared about ownership? Everything depended on strength.
"I don’t care. I’m staying here!" Ai Bing pushed past him and boldly marched into the living room, letting out a satisfied sigh as she felt the warmth.
She soon noticed the snacks and fruit on the coffee table, immediately grabbing a handful and munching.
"Is there more to eat? I'm starving!"
As Zhou Lin locked the door and turned around, Ai Bing thought she had won again, giving her usual commands and acting as if she had control.
"There is food," Zhou Lin said with a sneer. "But do you deserve it?"
Ai Bing paused, staring at him with wide eyes, unsure of whether she recognized the man before her. She glanced at Yang Qiqi for confirmation, wondering if she had made a mistake.
"Still don’t get it?" Zhou Lin walked over, grabbed Ai Bing by the arm, and pointed to the sealed-up floor-to-ceiling windows. "The apocalypse is here, Ai Bing. The end of the world."
"W-what apocalypse? Didn't they say the abnormal weather would pass soon?" Ai Bing stuttered.
"Pass?" Zhou Lin scoffed, shoving her aside. "Weren't you supposed to be with your friend? Why aren't you staying there?"
"I was just checking on him! It’s nothing serious, I’m your girlfriend!"
"Don’t flatter yourself! We’re not together."
"Do you think you deserve to be my sister-in-law?" Zhou Li, with a cold face, descended the stairs and joined Zhou Lin’s side. "Why did you let them in, bro?"
Zhou Lin ruffled Zhou Li's hair with a smile. "What do you think?"
"Bro, you wouldn’t have done anything weird, right? That would be so messed up..."
Ai Bing swallowed hard, her eyes filled with panic as she stared at Zhou Lin. "W-we’re still together, right? Don’t kick me out!"
"Leave? You wish."
Since Zhou Lin had already seen blood today, he wasn’t going to hold back. He stepped forward, slapped Ai Bing hard, knocking her to the ground. Yang Qiqi screamed in fright, but she didn’t dare stop him, unsure of where to run.
"Shut up!" Zhou Lin swiftly moved in front of Yang Qiqi and punched her in the stomach. She gasped, her eyes rolling back as she fell to the ground, unconscious from the pain.
"I’m calling the police, I’m calling the police!" Ai Bing scrambled to get up, her left cheek swollen and bleeding as she spoke through a cracked mouth.
"Call whoever you want!"
The pent-up anger inside Zhou Lin burst open. He charged at Ai Bing, grabbed her by the arm, and slammed her against the ground. The reinforced floor groaned under the impact as the sound of her bones cracking echoed. Ai Bing, unable to scream from the pain, flopped like a dying fish, gasping for air.
"You thought you could use me as your backup plan, huh?"
"ATM!"
"Maid!"
"Bodyguard!"
"You begged me to help you find food, and yet you slept with someone else!"
"You openly cheated on me and mocked me for being useless!"
"You pushed me off the cliff!"
...
Enraged, Zhou Lin completely lost control. He didn’t use any weapons—just his fists and feet—beating Ai Bing until she flew into the air with each blow, her body lifting off the ground and remaining suspended for several seconds.
"Wow, so violent... Oh, you’re awake? If you’re awake, come over and watch. If you don’t like what you see, I can offer you an alternative," Zhou Li said with a laugh, addressing Yang Qiqi, who was trembling in fear.
Seeing Ai Bing lying on the floor in a broken state, Yang Qiqi couldn’t hold back her dry heaves. "I... I didn’t see anything! Please, don’t kill me. I won’t say a word, I swear."
At this point, Zhou Lin wasn’t even paying attention to Yang Qiqi. Ai Bing wasn’t dead yet, but she was close. Zhou Lin’s punches had destroyed most of her organs, and black blood oozed from her seven wounds.
"Ai Bing, Ai Bing, I bet you’re curious, right? Why am I doing this? Let me tell you..." Grabbing her ear, Zhou Lin whispered as he tortured her wounds. "I’m reborn. In my past life..."
About ten minutes later, Ai Bing finally took her last breath.
Zhou Lin sighed in relief, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
Looking at Ai Bing's body, he felt some regret—not enough pain for him.
Then, he turned to Yang Qiqi.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute! Didn’t you say the apocalypse was coming? I have a friend, a real rich guy. Even if the apocalypse happens, he can help us live well. You don’t believe me? Look, here’s our chat record. If you don’t kill me, I’ll bring you along when he comes to pick me up."
Yang Qiqi raised her phone.
Zhou Lin wasn’t interested, but when he saw the contact name—Cao Zong—his mind raced.
His thoughts flashed, and he quickly grabbed Yang Qiqi by the arm. "Your friend’s last name is Cao? What’s his full name?"
"Cao, Cao Bowen, Cao Zong."
"Cao Bowen? Are you sure?"
"Yes, yes, I’m sure. You... you know him?"
Of course, Zhou Lin knew him! He knew him all too well!
"He said he’d come pick you up?"
"Yes, yes."
"Alright, you can live for now. But first, clean up this mess, and then take care of the breeding room upstairs."
- Writer
