Chen Xiaoping sat on her sofa. She was curled up in a fetal position. She listened to the slow music playing from her phone.
A knock came and she went to get the door opened. Her friend had brought her daughter back. She looked sleepy and tired.
She thanked her friend and took her daughter in. She bathed her and changed her clothes. She then put her head onto her lap so she could sleep. Chen Wan'er fell asleep as Chen Xiaoping patted her head.
There was silence. Chen Xiaoping inhaled. It had been a long time since she enjoyed this much peace. Chen Wan'er wasn't screaming, she wasn't being abused by someone and she wasn't running around like a rat.
She didn't know how but her Wan'er had changed because of Yue Tian. After the night they had sex, Yue Tian had called Chen Wan'er to his side and spoken to her. She didn't know what he told her but afterwards she had become like this; placid. Chen Xiaoping couldn't believe it. She had taken Wan'er for therapy once, tried to talk to her or cheer her on, but all was to no avail. Chen Wan'er was a brat, she didn't listen to anyone, so Yue Tian had done something for a change. It was good.
Like before, she really took no liking to younger men. To her, Yue Tian was like a younger brother and she had no thoughts of a future with him. They were both just messing around now. They would both get over it soon like matured adults. There was nothing to think about or imagine.
She was at a point in her life, were she had become independent of men. She didn't fantasize anymore as she was a 25-year old single mother. She never really thought about getting together with someone and building a home. All she wanted was for Chen Wan'er to go to school and have a good life.
When she left the Chen family back then, she was vengeful, broken and saddened. She had always wanted to get back at them, get back at those people who had taken her life away. But three years after, she forgot all about the revenge. She realized that she hadn't lost her life, she had been with it the entire time. Chen Wan'er was her life and she wouldn't let anything ever happen to her.
When Chen Wan'er was young, she was loving and used to be cheerful. Yes, she was. She was a bundle of joy. If there was an award for the happiest kid in the world, she would win it. She was the bubbliest, most enthusiastic and most optimistic child you would ever come across. She believed the world was a great place and everyone should be happy. This made Chen Xiaoping the happiest woman in the world.
But when she turned five and joined the kindergarten, she was taunted by her peers for not having a father. Someone who was exceptionally happy was also emotionally vulnerable and slowly Chen Wan'er started drawing into herself.
"The world isn't fair. It isn't fair at all. Mommy! Fu Zichen called me a dog. He called me bitch!" She had sobbed at that time.
"It's okay honey. It's okay." Chen Xiaoping consoled her in a hug.
"Mommy it's not okay. Why don't I have a daddy like other kids? Mommy...sob...sniffle..." She looked up at her with big watery eyes. "...I'm sad." She said.
Chen Xiaoping's heart shook at that time as she felt her tears falling. Wan'er was never sad. It was heartbreaking. She wished she could have given her a better life. One where she had a father, siblings, a family.
That night, the mother and daughter had cried themselves to sleep.
The following day, Chen Wan'er was unwilling to go to school but Chen Xiaoping pushed her into it.
The heavens weren't smiling on her as she lost her job that day and Chen Wan'er was forced into a life threatening situation after being pushed by her classmate.
After footing the bills, Chen Xiaoping was rendered penniless and she couldn't even afford to file a lawsuit. She was heartbroken. Chen Wan'er was even more heartbroken. She started becoming naughty, wild and uncaring.
That day, June 19, changed Chen Wan'er and morphed her into something else.
Chen Xiaoping's thoughts went back to Yue Tian. She didn't know many people in Jiang City. She had been there for only a year. She had moved over from Kuang City when Chen Wan'er became so unpredictable and claimed she needed a change of environment. She had no friends here and although she was barely holding up, she couldn't ask anyone for help. Yue Tian was the first.
Chen Wan'er had finally been able to go to school after being at home for more than 2 months. Her attitude became a bit calmer after hearing she would go to school.
Yue Tian was good to her. She liked him.
She stood up from the chair and laid Chen Wan'er's head gently on it. She took her into the room soon.
Tianmu Beauty was launching the San Shui today. The whole show was airing live so she turned on her television. It was the TV Yue Tian had given to her. He said it was scrap and he didn't need it anymore, so she fixed it up and set it up.
She turned off the music playing from her phone. She took the remote and switched to the live channel.
After a few seconds, she realized that the whole show was falling apart. The scene had been filled up with reporters and people were screaming, pushing and fighting. There was no sight of any rich families.
She switched to the news channel to better understand what was going on. The headlines were all Tianmu Beauty.
"... It seems the much awaited show of the century has... The following footage is very disturbing, you might want to sit down." The rest of the broadcaster's words fell on deaf ears as the next footage was shown.
The TV remote in her hand fell to the ground.
...
Yue Tian made his way towards the elevator. It had been ten minutes. He circled around and moon walked. He seemed to be in the mood to watch a show.
He entered the elevator and pressed the button for the 2nd floor. The elevator started going down. He looked down at his phone seemingly unconcerned. The elevator abruptly stopped and someone stepped in after it opened.
Yue Tian didn't look up at all. The elevator continued moving down.
The person who entered started moving towards him and then Yue Tian understood what was going on. But it was too late as he was hit at the back of the head by a baseball bat.
He opened his eyes. His head was aching badly. He groaned.
"Let's get this over with. He's awake." A cold voice said.
Footsteps started approaching.
"No. No. No. No. We can't show him ourselves until the job is done." Another voice said.
"What's it matter?" He asked and Yue Tian felt that he shrugged.
The next moment, there was a searing pain in his lower abdomen. He was stabbed. The hands spared no time and stabbed him again, twisting the knife. Yue Tian yelped in pain. Who were these?
"Okay. Okay. Calm down. We can't scratch him too much. His death has gotta be believable."
The knife was pulled out rapidly.
"Take him away." The cold voice said.
Yue Tian groaned as he felt himself being lifted off the ground and then pulled. What did take him away mean? Yue Tian would be lying if he said he wasn't scared.
Suddenly, without warning, Yue Tian felt himself being tossed and the sound of wind filled his ears.
He understood. He said a short prayer in his heart and closed his eyes. If he survived this and got a chance, he would kill them all. He smiled and in a few seconds, a loud thud was heard as the body of a 21 year old popped like a grape.