Jian stood at the end of the road, waiting for those familiar footsteps to draw near.
Lunchtime was here, and his grandpa would come home exactly on time. He just needed to ensure the scene of his abuse happened before the old man's eyes.
Timing was key.
Just then Jian heard soft, hobbling footsteps approaching from the end of the road.
'is it him?' He peeked out.
His grandpa was slowly walking with a bag full of apples.
Jian smiled. 'Right on time. It's time to start my act.' He ran to his house with slippers still on.
He had only one plan: to incite anger any way possible.
Smirking, he smeared mud all over the floor.
First He went to Bian's room.
Bian was his grandmother's kryptonite. if he could incite trouble with him she would abuse him for sure. He slightly opened the door. Bian was sleeping, hugging the pillow tightly. 'tsk, too bad he is asleep. I could have exposed this bastard's face to my grandpa.'
Jian then quickly went to the kitchen where his grandma was. "Grandma... dear, oh dear, grandma..."
The old lady glared at him. "Oh, you're home. You really have the guts?" She picked up a rolling pin. "You hurt my dear grandson and yet have the courage to waltz into my house with a grin."
Jian chuckled. "Hurt him? I wanted to kill him... I wanted to stab him in his eyes, watch his pitiful eyes roll out."
"Y-you wouldn't..." The old lady looked at him with complete fear.
"I would..." He leaned close. "Bitch... I will kill him."
"AHHHH!!!" The old lady hit him right on his face.
The hit made him dizzy and disoriented. He had not expected her to be so heavy-handed. In the past, she would hit him, but she always used a belt or her hands to make sure it didn't bruise. But his words really ticked her off. Jian fell to the ground with a thud, his right eye swollen instantly from the hit.
"You dare to!" She continued to kick him. Jian rolled up, protecting his vitals. He had no plans to die today. 'Damn... it burns...' His right eye was burning.
"What is going on here!!!" a loud shout echoed. He saw his old man run in and grab his wife. "What are you doing to my grandson!!!"
"Your grandson?! This vermin is not your grandson! It's a fucking imposter!!!" She screamed, kicking him again.
"You bitch! Stop it!"
"I will not stop! That thing deserves to die today! I will not let it live!"
Jian watched the drama with his tear-filled eyes. 'Yes, come on, I'm expecting more...'
The old man looked fuming. "You!! Have you been beating him up like this every time I'm away!! Is that why my precious child is always black and blue?"
Jian closed his eyes. In his past life, he had never told his grandpa that he was abused. Every time he had a wound on his body, he would lie that he fell. The old man didn't really believe him, but Bian always 'vouched' for his lies.
"That thing deserves to die!!!" She screamed out loud, tossing the rolling pin his way. "You move out! You don't know anything!! That thing is here to destroy us!!"
"Shut it, you bitch!" The old man slapped her hard. The old lady froze. "You... you hit me? How dare you hit me." She raised her hand to hit her own husband.
Jian could not watch it any longer. He weakly stood up and grabbed her arm.
The old lady was physically very strong. One slap, and his grandpa would end up in the ER.
"Grandma... you... you can hit me all you want. Please leave grandpa out of it." He whispered with fake tears in his eyes, but in reality, he was glaring intensely at that woman. He leaned close and whispered softly so that only they both could hear. "Touch him, and I will kill you... tear you limb to limb... you know I'm capable of that. After all, I'm a monster..." He grinned softly. He watched the woman's pupils tremble in fear.
"Grandma, don't hurt him. Please." He knelt down and hugged her thick thigh. "Hit me... I can take it." He cried.
"Jian...." The old man snapped out of his dazed state. "Get up, child." He pulled him up and hugged him close. "You... did she hit you before?"
Jian hesitantly gazed at the old lady.
The old lady backed away. "You're pretending, monster... what do you want?"
"Monster?! You're the monster! You've gone senile!!" The old man screamed.
Jian hugged his grandma tightly. 'It's all going according to plan.' His eyes subtly fell on the door.
The neighbors had heard the fight and were watching from outside, whispering between themselves. 'Yes, gather around my dear crowd... witness the 'crazy' old lady.'
"Grandpa..." He weakly clung to him. "C-can we go... I don't want to be here..." He gazed down at him with tears streaming down his face. "I want... want to live a day without being hurt."
The old man looked broken hearing this. "My poor child..." He hugged him tightly. "We... we'll leave... I will not let this monster hurt you anymore."
Jian grinned widely inside. 'Yes! Plan success!'
The old man pulled away slightly. "Go pack your stuff... you'll stay with me from now on." He then glared at his wife. "Does she hurt Bian?"
Jian lowered his head. "No... but will she allow us both in the construction site..." He whispered doubtfully. 'Say no! I don't want that fucker to come along!' "No..."
That small bed would not be enough.
Jian lowered his head. "I want to leave, grandpa..." The old man did not think that deeply.
"Go, go... I'll help you pack." They both walked into his small room.
Jian picked up his school books and a few pairs of old clothes he had. Seeing the holes in his underwear and his shirts, the old man gritted his teeth.
"Did she ever buy you a new clothes?"
Jian just smiled softly. "Grandma loves Bian... and I understand... it's okay, grandpa."
"It mustn't be like that. She..." He looked at him tearfully. "You are just as lovable."
Jian hurriedly hugged him. "Thank you..." Tears streamed down his face. This time real tears. He was glad he had his grandpa.