He was waiting for the moment her mind would shatter.
"Go ahead, curse me all you want. After all, my name is Xia Liu."
Xia Liu laughed heartily, his eyes carrying the same manic vengeance as Mrs. Zhou's: "Twenty years ago, I couldn't have her; twenty years later, I'll watch her daughter writhe before me, willingly throwing herself into my arms."
Her? Daughter?
Qiqi's struggling mind gained a sliver of clarity—twenty years ago? Could the person he meant be her biological mother? The woman in the photo? If so, then the black-clad assassins who tried to kill her before must have been sent by Mrs. Zhou and Xia Liu too? Was this Xia Liu, unable to have her mother, turning love into hate and taking revenge on her?
But what did Mrs. Zhou have to do with all this?
"What did my mom do to you? Tell me, I'll make it up to you," Qiqi said, gritting her teeth against the overwhelming temptation clawing at her heart, biting her lower lip until a bloody mark appeared.
"Your death is the best compensation. They'll never know... hehe." Xia Liu reveled in the thrill of his successful scheme, his eyes narrowing into slits as he laughed.
They? Who were they? Mrs. Zhou's enemies? My allies? God, whoever you are, please come save me.
Qiqi groaned and collapsed to the floor. Waves of immense agony surged through her—a surging, primal desire that stained her clear eyes with a rosy hue.
Just then, an unbelievable ringtone echoed through the basement—"Chrysanthemum Terrace, wounds everywhere, your smile has faded to yellow..."
It was Qiqi's phone. Her phone was ringing, and it was Rong Yi calling.
(Since the Wolf King got his phone, Qiqi had set that as his专属 ringtone...)
Qiqi's mind cleared a bit more, but Xia Liu snatched the phone first. He glanced at it and sneered, "Rong Yi? That all-powerful cousin of yours? Too bad, I can't let him hear your voice anymore."
He hurled it with force, and the phone slammed hard against the wall. Though it didn't shatter instantly, the ringing stopped—probably broken.
Qiqi leaned against the wall, drenched in sweat, her face flushed, staring at the shattered phone and murmuring, "Rong Yi, come save me, come save me..."
"Not bad, little girl, still holding on after all this time," Xia Liu said, growing impatient as he heard faint footsteps on the stairs.
Click-clack, click-clack—the sound of nine-centimeter heels on the steps.
Probably Mrs. Zhou returning.
Xia Liu stepped forward eagerly, ready to pull the girl into his arms and fuel her burning mind further. But then the door was kicked open with a bang, and a shout rang out: "Let her go!"
Oh, it was Zhou Zhibi, the eldest Miss.
Qiqi's body instantly relaxed, and she slumped to the floor again—at least Zhou Zhibi seemed to be here to save her.
Zhou Zhibi rushed in and first checked on Gu Qiqi's condition—her eyes were complex, carrying a hint of concern mixed with disgust and something else.
Gu Qiqi shook her head at her, signaling she wasn't hurt and could hold on.
But Miss, if you're going to save me, hurry up. If you don't take me away soon, I might end up putting on a live show here.
Xia Liu was startled: "Zhibi, why are you here?"
Zhou Zhibi said, "Uncle, you need to leave now. I've already called the police."