Cockroaches crawled not only from the shattered bottle but also from the gaps of the overturned table, trembling.
The largest ones were the size of ping pong balls.
One by one, the small black insects swarmed towards everyone.
Yu Wenli, disgusted, took his cigarette and walked out.
Xing Jiahe calmly stared at the crawling little cuties all over the floor, lost in thought.
The sudden influx of so many cockroaches had terrified the woman.
"Aaaah! Don't come near me!"
The woman screamed and jumped onto a stool, then pointed at Xu Kexin and commanded.
"You hurry up and clean away these disgusting things! Or else you'll regret it! Hurry!"
Xu Kexin frowned at the mess.
She had only neglected cleaning the house for a few days, and it had become a paradise for cockroaches.
Indeed, this place was never meant to be her home.
It was meant for cockroaches and rats.
Xu Kexin ignored the woman's shouting and knelt in front of the open suitcase.
She unhurriedly began to pack the clothes that had been thrown out.
Wen Tingxue calmly navigated around the cockroaches and went to help.
Xu Kexin said, "Don't want anything that's been crawled on by cockroaches."
She used to have many clothes; her mother loved buying them for her.
She owned everything, regardless of style or brand.
Since her mother's death, she hadn't bought a single new piece of clothing.
Even many of her old clothes had been taken by Xu Ziliang to pawn for gambling debts.
Therefore, she didn't really have much to pack; she just wanted to keep some mementos.
Xu Kexin was grateful to Aunt Yu for buying her this new outfit.
It would allow her to leave this wretched place clean.
"Xu Ziliang!"
Seeing that she couldn't order Xu Kexin around, the woman immediately grabbed the bowl she had just finished eating from and smashed it at the still-unconscious Xu Ziliang.
She shrieked, "Why aren't you managing your daughter! She's about to run off with some man! What are you waiting for!"
The iron bowl landed precisely on Xu Ziliang's nose, making tears stream down his face from the pain.
Just as he was about to curse, he saw Xu Kexin pick up her suitcase and move to leave, so he quickly lunged forward.
He tightly gripped Xu Kexin's calf, crying with feigned sincerity.
"Xinxin! Dad knows he's wronged you, but no matter what, I'm still your father!
"There are no unfilial parents in the world. Even if Dad made mistakes, you can't just leave like this!"
Xu Kexin was amused by his scummy logic.
She turned and looked at him, asking, "There are no unfilial parents? Xu Ziliang, put your hand on your heart and tell me, do you deserve to be a father?!"
Xu Ziliang was startled by Xu Kexin's gaze and averted his eyes slightly.
"How can I not be worthy? I was so good to you when you were little, you only wanted me and not your mother.
"Who knew you'd grow up to be so rebellious and dare to reject your father!"
"You still have the nerve to bring up my childhood?!"
Xu Kexin was truly astonished by his shamelessness.
She simply squatted down to make things clear with him.
"Xu Ziliang, I could work like a mule and horse to serve you, that woman, and that child.
"It was entirely because you were good to me in the past! But dare you say that your goodness towards me was truly because you were my father?
"Or did you want to use me to threaten my mother for more gambling money?!"
Xu Ziliang's expression changed slightly, and he opened his mouth to retort.
Xu Kexin gave him no chance, saying loudly,
"You don't need to quibble. I'm no longer the fool you could manipulate with a few words!
"I won't earn money for you, support your family, or pay off your gambling debts anymore. And put away your calculating pleas.
"Xu Ziliang, our father-daughter relationship was completely exhausted the moment you sold me to a casino to pay off your gambling debts!"
Xu Kexin stood up and looked down at him expressionlessly.
Her tone was mocking.
"So, do you think I still care about your identity as a father? Are your pleas still meaningful?"
Xu Ziliang was stunned.
He thought she was just a child, and no matter how capable she was, she couldn't escape his control.
As long as he coaxed her patiently, she would forgive him for the gambling debts.
He never expected to have miscalculated.
Xu Kexin grabbed the suitcase handle again and said without looking back,
"Xu Ziliang, without you, my mother and I would have lived much better lives. When I was little, I was ignorant and stupid!
"I was led around by you, desperately helping you cheat money from my mother, but from now on, that will never happen again.
"I've already found a lawyer to handle the guardianship matters. You... take care of yourselves."
As her voice fell, Xu Kexin stepped out of the home she had lived in for over two years.
Perhaps, it couldn't be called a home.
Wen Tingxue gently held her hand and said with a faint smile,
"Class monitor, let's go home."
Home?
Did she still have a home?
No, she did.
She had her aunt, and the care of the Wen family.
"Yes, let's go home."
Xu Kexin clasped Wen Tingxue's hand back and led her downstairs.
Inside the house.
Xu Ziliang came to his senses amidst the woman's scolding.
He stumbled out, his face contorted with rage, and roared,
"Xu Kexin!
"You unfilial daughter! I am your father!
"I am your biological father who raised you! You dare not support me?!"
His voice was so loud that the entire building could hear it.
But his path was blocked by several neighbors.
"Have some shame! I even want to hit you, with a father like you."
"A family of three leeching off a young girl and doing it shamelessly, I'm truly impressed."
"Just let your daughter go, don't ruin her any further."
"You! You ruffians!"
Xu Ziliang's veins bulged with anger, but he couldn't move an inch.
The car drove back to the Wen family's residence.
Xu Kexin hardly spoke.
Wen Tingxue, worried about her mood, wanted Yu Wenli to take her to a bar to listen to music and dance.
At least to release some of the pressure.
Yu Wenli nodded, so when the car stopped at the Wen family's doorstep,
he and Xing Jiahe didn't get out.
Wen Tingxue accompanied Xu Kexin into the house and found that Yu Xiuxiu had already returned, with a pile of newly bought clothes on the sofa.
Next to them was even a store manager from a high-end boutique, and some new suit sets.
"You're back just in time."
Yu Xiuxiu smiled and beckoned to the two of them. "Come quickly, come quickly, see if there are any styles you like."
Wen Tingxue was already used to her mother's way of buying clothes.
It wasn't really buying; it was more like wholesale.
Xu Kexin pursed her lips uncomfortably; she wasn't used to such kindness.
Just as she was looking for an excuse to go upstairs, Yu Xiuxiu smiled and said, "Although all the clothes delivered are for Yiyi's size.
"But I see that your heights and builds are similar, so if you don't mind, you can pick some together. It's also a token of my appreciation."
Xu Kexin then nodded and walked over.
Although she could tell that some of the clothes were sized for her,
Aunt Yu was taking such good care of her that she couldn't refuse.
She could only repay her kindness in the future.
Upstairs.
After a simple arrangement of decorations and clothes, Wen Tingxue helped Xu Kexin put up posters.
One by one.
Most of them were of currently popular celebrity idols.
"Class monitor, are you a fan?"
She had wanted to ask this at Xu's house but didn't find the time or place to speak.