“Uncle, my dad’s hospital fees are not enough, I want to…”
“Long Xiao, my family isn’t a landlord either, and besides, even landlords don’t have surplus grain. The three thousand I lent you last time, I don’t want it back. This time, I have no money to lend you.”
“Aunt, my dad’s…”
“Your mom has been missing for how many years, and you still come to my house to borrow money? I don’t owe you anything.”
“Uncle Wang, my dad needs money for dialysis, can you…”
“No, even if your dad had money for dialysis, he wouldn’t live for a few more months. I advise you not to waste money. Although your dad helped me, you need to accept reality…”
After running around for an afternoon, it was getting dark. After borrowing from all relatives and friends, all he received were cold rejections.
Wearing simple and plain clothes, with a face full of exhaustion and disappointment, Long Xiao rode his dilapidated bicycle back to the Lin family. All the way, his mind was filled with thoughts of borrowing money.
Ever since he became a live-in son-in-law in the Lin family, not only did the Lin family not allow him to publicly declare himself a son-in-law of the Lin family, but they also fired the nanny and made him take on the nanny's duties.
This afternoon, Long Xiao first went to borrow money from his mother-in-law and father-in-law. Not only did he fail to borrow money, but he was also severely reprimanded by them. In their eyes, Long Xiao was a good-for-nothing, a freeloading pauper. Lending him money was no different than feeding it to dogs.
Long Xiao felt a blockage in his heart. He washed dishes, cooked, and cleaned the villa. He was treated worse than a servant in the Lin family. Yet, his low-profile tolerance was met with endless scolding, contempt, and refusal to help his dying adoptive father.
Long Xiao was married into the Lin family by Lin Wei, the head of the Lin family. It was one of the conditions for Lin Xuan to become the CEO of Lin Corporation.
He claimed that his purpose was to prevent too many suitors from pursuing Lin Xuan, so she could focus on her work. Most members of the Lin family didn't believe this reason, but since he didn't state the real reason, no one dared to ask.
The roar of the car engine grew louder. Long Xiao, lost in thought, didn't have time to react before he was hit and sent flying with a bang.
He fell heavily to the ground, rolling more than ten meters before his head hit the curb, and he finally stopped.
His body was in severe pain, and blood flowed from his head. His vision was obscured by blood, and the world appeared a bloody red.
The BMW stopped with a screech beside Long Xiao. Two young men jumped out of the car.
One wore an Armani suit and a Rolex watch, his face full of smiles, appearing refined and generous.
The other had a buzz cut, a feminine face, and a pair of impeccably polished derby shoes.
“Xiao Hui, why is it you?” Long Xiao asked, surprised, looking at the man with the buzz cut.
Xiao Hui and Long Xiao had been classmates from middle school to university. In school, Xiao Hui had always looked down on this classmate from a poor background.
“Xiao Hui, this classmate of yours is such a poor loser. He’s so pathetic. I wonder what Lin Xuan sees in him?”
The young man in the Armani suit, with a smile full of contempt and disgust, looked as if he were facing a mangy dog.
“Young Master Jin, didn’t I tell you? Those wealthy second-generation heirs pursuing Lin Xuan were all tricked by the Lin family. Long Xiao’s marriage to Lin Xuan is fake; he’s being used as a shield by the Lin family.”
Last night, at a class reunion, Long Xiao, burdened by worries, had drunk too much and said a few extra words, revealing his situation to Xiao Hui. He never expected Xiao Hui to betray him today.
Young Master Jin took a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and said, “Let’s get down to business.”
Xiao Hui took it, crouched down, and said, “Long Xiao, Young Master Jin has an agreement for you to sign. Otherwise, I can’t protect you next time.”
Long Xiao found it strange. Young Master Jin was a stranger to him; what agreement was there to sign?
His gaze fell on the agreement. It stated that Long Xiao would divorce within half a month, and Young Master Jin would give him two hundred thousand yuan, with a tenfold penalty for breach of contract.
Long Xiao felt conflicted. He desperately needed money right now to save his father.
He really wanted to take the money, but his adoptive parents had always taught him to be loyal and honest. Although the Lin family didn't treat him as a human, Lin Xuan treated him very well. His father's illness was also sustained by her repeated payments for hospitalization.
“Xiao Hui, what do you take me for?” Long Xiao said angrily, “You hit me with your car and are now forcing me to sell my wife.”
“Sell your wife? Heh, Long Xiao, you think too highly of yourself. Young Master Jin didn’t intend to give you any money; he just wanted you to sign an agreement.”
Xiao Hui looked at Long Xiao with disdain, seeing him as an idiot.
During school, Long Xiao was honest and upright, kind and sincere, favored by the class teacher, and always academically surpassed Xiao Hui. He always got the good things in class.
“Xiao Hui, you are a real piece of trash.”
“Whether I’m a piece of trash or not is none of your business, you poor loser. Sign the agreement now.” Xiao Hui took out a pen and shoved it into Long Xiao’s hand.
Anger burned in Long Xiao’s mind. He had endured humiliation and disdain for the past few days, constantly suppressing his emotions. After holding back for so long, his heart felt like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
He had no connections and no money. To raise money for his girlfriend's treatment, he had miserably become a live-in son-in-law, enduring endless humiliation, unable to even fight back.
Humiliation, frustration, and sorrow pressed down on Long Xiao’s anger, torturing his fragile heart. He felt as if his heart were about to shatter.
“Sign it yourself!” Long Xiao threw the pen away and shouted.
“Young Master Jin, I was right, wasn’t I? This guy is like a rock in a latrine, stinking and hard. It’s better to just run him over.”
“Indeed. If we run him over, Lin Xuan will become a widow. Then, we can pressure the Lin family, and I’ll have my chance.”
Young Master Jin looked at Long Xiao with a smile. For him, hitting a person to death was like crushing an ant.
“Xiao Hui, you bastard, you’re ruining me!” Long Xiao roared and swung his fist at Xiao Hui.
As he swung, his ribs, legs, and arms ached simultaneously, causing him to tremble. His fist landed on Xiao Hui’s face, but his head only tilted slightly.
“Still got the strength to fight back? Looks like you’re not hurt too badly,” Xiao Hui said with a face full of disdain.
Young Master Jin stood up and kicked Long Xiao in the head. At the same time, Xiao Hui’s fist landed.
In their eyes, poor losers should have the awareness of poor losers. If they dared to fight back, they deserved to be beaten to death.
His head buzzed. Young Master Jin and Xiao Hui continued to kick Long Xiao’s head, body, and legs. His broken bones were severely dislocated, and several ribs pierced his internal organs. Coughs of blood erupted from Long Xiao’s mouth.
“Stop hitting him, Xiao Hui. If you kill him, have him sign the agreement first.”
Young Master Jin didn’t care about Long Xiao’s life or death; he was concerned about whether Long Xiao could sign the document. If Long Xiao died, it would only mean losing some money.
Xiao Hui nodded, crouched down, and shoved the pen into Long Xiao’s hand again. He grabbed Long Xiao’s hand and made him sign the agreement and press his thumbprint.
Young Master Jin took the agreement, looked at it with satisfaction, and said, “Xiao Hui, let’s go.”
Long Xiao’s chest was stained red with blood. A piece of ancient jade hanging on his chest was also covered in blood.
With a crack, the ancient jade shattered into powder. A faint green mist emanated from the jade, enveloping Long Xiao.