Pale as a ghost!
She must have suddenly remembered the porridge still on the stove. Without a word, she took off, running faster than a rabbit!
"Heaven help me! My house!"
Old Woman Chu was beyond tears. Regret washed over her—she shouldn't have left the stove unattended while she went out. You can’t teach some people, but one bad experience is all it takes to learn a lesson.
She rushed back, breathless, only to see her house truly in flames. It was nearly gone, nothing left but the frame!
"Oh, Heavens! My house! Waaaaah!"
Enraged and distraught, she threw herself onto the ground, rolling about. She didn't even notice Xia Yuan and Xia Xian standing nearby, nearly rolling right into their feet.
"Hmph!"
Xia Yuan let out a heavy, indignant scoff, drawing Old Woman Chu’s attention. She glanced at the two of them and immediately stopped her theatrics. With a spring-like motion, she sat up, lunging to grab Xia Xian’s leg with a shrill cry.
"You wretch! It was you, you vile creature, who set fire to my house! You venomous, heartless bitch! How has the Chu family ever wronged you that you’d want to destroy us all?"
"Someone help! I’ve caught the arsonist!"
This mother and son were masters at ordering others around; they needed an audience for everything they did, someone to watch, someone to do the labor, someone to pass judgment.
Everyone was busy fighting the fire, and few had time to spare her. Only Director Mei paused, panting, her clothes soaked through with sweat.
The heat from the fire was stifling, enough to roast a person alive. Her face was flushed deep red, as if she might suffer a burn herself.
Xia Xian couldn't be bothered with Old Woman Chu’s accusations; instead, she looked at Director Mei with concern.
"Director Mei, please, take a rest. You’re burning up. If you keep this up, you’ll end up hurting yourself!"
"I know, I know."
Director Mei, realizing she had reached her limit, didn't intend to keep fighting the fire. She had done all she could.
"Director Mei, you must be thirsty, right? Have some soda! My sister bought it specially for you. It’s delicious!"
Xia Yuan grinned, showing his little white teeth, and offered a bottle like he was presenting a treasure. He even used a large leaf he’d picked up from somewhere to fan her, looking both obedient and clever.
Director Mei felt an instant fondness for him. They were siblings, after all—both so sensible.
"No, thank you, I’m not thirsty. You two should drink it..."
"That won't do! My sister bought it just for you! You’ve sweated so much, how could you not be thirsty? Don’t be so formal with my sister. Thank you for being willing to help her, Director Mei. You’re truly a wonderful person!"
The child’s innocent praise was far more sincere than any adult’s flattery. Director Mei beamed, and with Xia Xian adding her own gentle persuasion, Director Mei found it hard to refuse. She was indeed parched, so she took the soda and drank.
Throughout the ordeal, no one paid any attention to Old Woman Chu. If she wanted to cling to Xia Xian’s leg and howl, she could.
With no audience left, she finally lost the will to continue her performance. She eventually dusted herself off, got up from the ground, and went to fetch water to fight the fire herself.
By the time the fire was finally extinguished, only half the house remained standing; everything else was nothing but charred charcoal! It crumbled at the slightest touch, and the contents inside were ruined.
Chu Sheng and his mother collapsed in despair. He grabbed his head and kicked a wooden bucket.
"Damn it!"
Why did all this bad luck have to happen to him?
Even as a mama's boy, he couldn't help but complain to his mother.
"It’s all your fault! If you hadn't gone off to take a dump while the rice was cooking, the kitchen wouldn't have caught fire!"
Old Woman Chu hurriedly defended herself.
"How was I supposed to know it would catch fire? I’ve always done it that way, and nothing ever happened before! It must have been Xia Xian! Why else would she suddenly come to our house?"
She immediately pointed her finger back at Xia Xian, determined to pin the blame on her, regardless of the facts.
Xia Xian’s eyes filled with tears of indignation.
"Suddenly? If you hadn't come to my place yesterday to spout nonsense, spreading rumors that I stole money and was having an affair, why would my father have been so angry that he hit me and kicked me out? If that hadn't happened, why would I have come to find Director Mei to help me seek justice, and why would I be at your house today?"
"And you accuse me of arson! If I had the nerve for that, would I have let your family bully me this way? Waaah... Fine, let’s go to the Public Security Bureau and report it. Let the officers give me justice!"
As Xia Xian spoke, she covered her face and sobbed, a sight so pitiful it could break any bystander's heart.
Hearing that this mother-son pair was up to their old tricks again, the crowd couldn't help but look at them with disgust.
It was truly shameless—the height of depravity!
Chu Sheng gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Xia Xian. He wanted to say "let's go," because even if there was the slightest chance, he couldn't let Xia Xian go—he needed to recoup his family's losses!
But Xia Xian didn't wait for them to speak, adding:
"You’ve slandered me time and again. The charges this time will certainly be heavier than before; they’ll definitely keep you locked up for more than just one night!"
At the mention of their previous time in detention, Chu Sheng’s rage faltered.
The Public Security Bureau wasn't a place where they could just act out. They had already been humbled there twice; to go a third time would be pure stupidity.
Chu Sheng stubbornly refused to go!
His gaze shifted, and he turned his target to Xia Yuan, changing his tune with practiced ease.
"You say it wasn't you, but who’s to say it wasn't your little brother? He’s at that mischievous age! There’s nothing he wouldn't do!"
"You're lying!"
"I wouldn't do such a thing! I didn't even go near your house! You’re framing me! You’re just picking on me because I’m small, waaah! I want my mom and dad, waaah!"
Xia Yuan sat right down on the ground and let out a wail, his mouth wide open. He couldn't produce real tears, but his volume was enough to overwhelm Old Woman Chu, leaving her unable to muster the strength to howl back.
She stood there, stunned, unable to find the words.
Xia Xian wanted to give her little brother a thumbs-up. He was truly a quick study!
"The child wouldn't lie! He said he didn't do it, so he didn't! You frame the sister, and now you want to frame the little brother? Your whole family is rotten to the core!"
The crowd was furious. Whether it was Xia Xian, who became a widow right after her wedding, or young Xia Yuan, both fit the image of the vulnerable. Seeing the mother and son bullying both of them, anyone with a conscience couldn't stand by.
"Exactly! They aren't even human! We’ve been helping them fight this fire for ages, and they haven't even said thank you!"
Under the pressure of the crowd, everyone pointing fingers at them, Chu Sheng and his mother were overwhelmed. They couldn't take it anymore and offered a hollow, forced apology to the two siblings.
In the end, Director Mei made them apologize to the neighbors as well, clarifying the misunderstanding about the stolen money.
Their faces were so dark and twisted they were barely recognizable—looking as lifeless as corpses.
No wife, no money, no house, and no dignity left! Damn it all! How did things turn out like this?!
Xia Xian didn't care about their feelings; she was in high spirits, humming a song as she headed toward the basement.
Quan Ruifeng had been waiting for some time. He lifted his eyelids, watching Xia Xian appear, her eyes curved into crescents and her lips curled into a faint smile. He spoke coldly.
"You’re late."
"Xia Xian."