Additional Inheritance - Chap 14

Chapter 14

Wen Xiaohui left his house and hailed a taxi. Throughout the journey, he kept urging the driver to speed up. The radio played Guo Degang’s stand-up comedy1, and the frequency that he mocked people was so high that it ended up irritating Wen Xiaohui.

Once when Sydney was drunk, she told Wen Xiaohui all about her ex-husband. They got together when they were in secondary school, dated for many years and eventually married as soon as they graduated from university. Whilst Sydney’s career flourished, her ex-husband turned into an alcoholic after encountering many difficulties in finding employment and under pressure from all sources, including from his wife’s success. His personality completely changed; he became violent and easy to anger and he bummed around every day, growing increasingly paranoid. The ex-husband repeatedly asked Sydney for money, and resorted to violence whenever they had a minor disagreement. She fled her hometown to escape from him.

She reached the pinnacle of her career as a presenter after relocating to the capital, but the harassment she received from her ex-husband continued. It was clear that the bastard had somehow managed to obtain her new address again.

Wen Xiaohui kept clenching his fists and then relaxing them again in an attempt to relax his nerves. He wasn’t scared of him; how fit could a chronic alcoholic be? He recalled how Sydney had been continuously extorted by such a scumbag, and he was unable to disguise his frustration at his own helplessness.

His mobile phone suddenly rang, which startled him and he took out his phone to see that it was Luo Yi calling. He said, “Mister2, please turn off the radio.”

It became silent inside the car, and Wen Xiaohui picked up the call. “Hello, Luo Yi.”

“Xiaohui-ge, have you had a shower yet?”

“Eh, yeah.”

“Did you see the text message I sent you? XX Road will be closed tomorrow, which is on your way to work. Remember to leave a bit earlier and don’t turn up late.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll take a look now.”

Luo Yi became momentarily silent. “Where are you now?”

“I’m home.”

The person on the other side of the line became silent once again.

For some unknown reason, Wen Xiaohui grew nervous.

Luo Yi started to talk in a deeper voice, “Why are you telling lies?”

Wen Xiaohui gulped down his saliva.

“The background noise at yours differs from where you are now. You don’t have to lie to me if you want to go out. Where are you going?”

Wen Xiaohui felt his scalp go numb; it was as if he could see Luo Yi’s unfathomable, but bright eyes through the call and they stared at him in close scrutiny. He responded in a vague manner, “Eh, my friend is drunk. I’m going to pick him up.”

“Then once you’ve picked up your friend, let me chat to him.”

Wen Xiaohui grew angry due to his embarrassment, “Why the heck are you butting into the business of grown-ups?”

He regretted his words once he’d finished speaking because the person on the other side of the line was silent again. Luo Yi had good intentions and his silence made Wen Xiaohui feel guilty.

“Xiaohui-ge, are you a grown-up? You’re not considered a grown-up just because you’re over 18.”

The small flame inside Wen Xiaohui’s heart fired right up. “How am I not a grown-up? You’re not the only sensible person in the whole wide world.”

This was the first time they had a disagreement in the three months that they’d known each other, and Wen Xiaohui felt very unhappy. On one hand, he was worried about Sydney-jie and on the other, he had just quarrelled with Luo Yi. However, his character was such that he never yielded to a softer approach, and he didn’t do anything wrong, he just wanted to avoid Luo Yi being implicated in this matter.

Luo Yi replied, “We can discuss this later. Tell me where you are now and what you’re trying to do.” He said with a greater emphasis, “Don’t try to lie. I can tell.”

The tone of his voice had an unspeakable air of domination, as if there was no room for negotiation. Wen Xiaohui sighed and wanted to hang up, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it because he was worried that Luo Yi would be angry.

Luo Yi’s tone warmed up. “Xiaohui-ge, you promised me today that you’d tell me no matter what happened and that you’d never try to hide things from me. Were you just fibbing?”

“Of course not.” Wen Xiaohui couldn’t help but divulge Sydney’s matters.

Luo Yi took a deep breath and said solemnly, “How can you keep this from me? Aren’t you worried that it’ll be dangerous?”

Wen Xiaohui took exception to his words. “How could I lose to a drunk?”

“What if he wasn’t drunk today? What if he’s not alone? What if he has a weapon? Even if one of these scenarios becomes reality, you…” Luo Yi sighed in succession. “Tell me the address.”

Wen Xiaohui felt ashamed3 due to Luo Yi’s words; not everyone could calmly accept criticism from someone younger than them and he was unable to refute Luo Yi.

Luo Yi repeated his words. “The address.”

The tone of his voice was serious and Wen Xiaohui could tell that he was really angry. He became flustered and blurted out the address.

“You’re not allowed to go inside until I arrive.” Luo Yi hung up as soon as he finished speaking these words.

Wen Xiaohui used all his strength to rub his hair and he felt that his head was about to burst.

When he arrived at the ground floor of Sydney’s apartment, he wondered whether he should wait for Luo Yi or if he should rush upstairs. He received Sydney’s call while he was debating the two options and his heart clenched as soon as he picked up because he could hear someone kicking the door and shouting.

Sydney was crying so much that her voice trembled. “Where are you, Xiaohui? I’m so scared.”

Wen Xiaohui tried his best to put on a calm voice to placate her. “I’m already downstairs and I’m on my way up. Don’t be scared.” He rushed into the corridor and wanted to grab something for self-defence. However, this community was too upper class and he wasn’t even able to find a sweeping brush lying against the wall. He simply grabbed a rubbish bin to take with him.

As soon as he arrived at the door of Sydney’s apartment, he frantically rang the doorbell. He felt like the blood in his entire body was boiling.

Although he hadn’t been in a fight for a good few years, ever since childhood, anyone who dared to mock him for being effeminate was sure to get beaten to the ground, begging for mercy. He finally showed those idiots which one of them was actually a man. In any case, he had his ex-special forces father who used military training methods on him from a young age. He’d never lost in a fight, which was why he was brave enough to come by himself.

A drunken yell came from inside the house. “Who is it?”

“I’m Sydney’s boyfriend. Who the fuck are you?!”

“That whore, I knew she was seeing another man!” Footsteps thudded and then the front door opened.

Wen Xiaohui thrust his leg out to kick violently when the door opened,

When it comes to fighting, the first strike gains the upper hand; Sydney’s ex-husband had been kicked to the ground and Wen Xiaohui hoisted the rubbish bin into the air and smashed it down on him. The drunkard couldn’t even react before Wen Xiaohui battered him with the rubbish bin. The bin was made from galvanised steel so it wasn’t heavy, but it was enough to prevent someone from getting back up. Half a minute after entering the apartment, that person was already lying on the floor groaning.

Wen Xiaohui flung the bin away and kicked his calf. He said with contempt, “You’re a coward for beating up women.”

He stepped over him and headed over to the bedroom. “Sydney-jie, everything’s fine now. Open the door.”

The bedroom door opened, a dishevelled Sydney threw herself into his arms and sobbed loudly.

Wen Xiaohui lightly patted her on the back. “Okay, please stop crying. Your eyes are going to be swollen and you won’t be able to cover those eyebags with makeup tomorrow. Crying will also bring out fine lines and it’s impossible to get rid of them.”

Sydney sobbed, “Xiaohui, what should I do? What should I do?”

“Why don’t you call the police?”

“My career will be over if I call the police. I’ve worked so hard for everything that I have…”

Wen Xiaohui sighed, “Do you really want to be blackmailed by him for the rest of your life? Your personal safety is in danger.”

Sydney shook her head and wailed. She was normally a strong and domineering kind of woman, but she was now as frail as a candle in the wind.

Wen Xiaohui stroked her hair and said softly, “Go wash your face first, and I’ll make you something to eat.”

After escorting Sydney to the bathroom, Wen Xiaohui went downstairs and the drunkard was still lying on the floor with a swollen face that may have been caused by drinking or by Wen Xiaohui’s beating. He grabbed Sydney’s scarf from the coat hook, intending to tie him up with it and then figure out what to do.

As he walked over, the man on the floor suddenly opened his eyes and kicked out at his ankle.

Wen Xiaohui collapsed to the floor with a bang from the pain of his ankle and he hit his head on the solid wooden coffee table as he fell. This made him dizzy and he thought to himself that he was done for when he rolled onto the floor.

Sydney’s ex-husband sprang back up and sat himself down on Wen Xiaohui’s stomach. His hands violently squeezed Wen Xiaohui’s neck. With scarlet red eyes and unfocused pupils, his appearance didn’t resemble a normal person at all. Alcohol had already rid him of all reason, and he became a monster that was full of wrath, envy, resentment and discontent.

A short while later, Wen Xiaohui’s neck felt tighter, and he began to struggle as he was unable to breathe. He used his fists to viciously beat the drunkard’s face and head, as if his life depended on it, but it was unlikely that a person who lost their rational thinking would feel pain. His eyes were very red, and it seemed like he was determined to strangle Wen Xiaohui to death.

Wen Xiaohui was unable to make a sound, so he could only continue kicking as if his life depended on it. The gurgling noise of water came from the upstairs bathroom, making it impossible for Sydney to have heard them. His eyes became bloodshot from the decreasing amount of oxygen in his lungs and also the pain of suffocating. He felt dizzy and his struggles became weaker and weaker. He was in disbelief – was he actually going to die here?

Luo Yi…

Bang!

A vase smashed to pieces from contact with the side of the drunkard’s head; the drunkard’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and blood gushed from the wound. His body became floppy and just as he was about to fall on top of Wen Xiaohui’s body, the collar to his shirt was grabbed and his 75-80kg4 body was thrown to the side as if it were rubbish5.

Wen Xiaohui’s bloodshot eyes gazed at the god who was standing in front of him, Luo Yi, who had saved his life in an emergency.

Luo Yi carried Wen Xiaohui and set him down on the sofa. Gently persuading him to copy his breathing, he said, “Don’t worry, breathe slowly.”

Wen Xiaohui grabbed Lui Yi’s hand; he felt a bit scared, moved and also a little wronged. All sorts of emotions were mixed together, which caused his eyes to tear up.

Luo Yi wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes. “Everything’s fine, I’m here now.”

Luo Yi didn’t say anything like “I already warned you”, “I told you to wait for me” and so forth, and instead he comforted Wen Xiaohui gently. Wen Xiaohui, who had just been scared, felt a wave of warmth and relief. In particular, he regretted not listening to Luo Yi’s words. As he was about to be strangled to death, the only thought that flashed through his mind was whether Luo Yi would come to rescue him; the amount of trust and reliance that he placed on the youth had already exceeded his imagination.

Luo Yi poured him a glass of water and fed it to him. Wen Xiaohui’s neck was in so much pain that it felt like it was about to break. He forced out a hoarse sound, “Thank you.”

Luo Yi stroked his hair. “You really scared me to death! You’re not allowed to do this again.”

Wen Xiaohui nodded.

“Have a rest. I’ll deal with it.”

Luo Yi went to fetch his mobile phone as he spoke, but Wen Xiaohui grabbed his hand. “You can’t call the police, Sydney-jie is a TV presenter.”

With a frown, Luo Yi said, “What should we do then? This person broke into an apartment illegally and injured another person. He’s hurt too. What should we do if we don’t call the police?

Wen Xiaohui was stumped by this question.

Sydney happened to be heading downstairs at this time. She was frightened by what she saw, and began to shriek, then covered her mouth with her hands. Her heart was still thumping. “Xiaohui, are you alright?” Her fearful gaze rested on her ex-husband who was covered in blood and lying on the floor.

Wen Xiaohui shook his head. “What should I do now?”

Sydney was so anxious that she looked like she was going to cry again. She didn’t have a clue about what they should do.

Luo Yi glanced at her with a frosty expression. “You should call the police. Are your career prospects more important than your life?”

Sydney shook her head with all her might. Her expression looked very awkward.

“Your only other option is to kill him.”

Both Sydney and Wen Xiaohui were stunned by his words.

Luo Yi said calmly, “You have sufficient evidence to show that he broke into your house, he was violent towards you and blackmailed you for money. You murdered him out of self-defence, so you don’t have to assume any responsibility. You won’t be harassed by him in future.”

Wen Xiaohui suddenly grabbed Luo Yi’s collar. “What are you talking about? Don’t joke about these sorts of things.”

Sydney bit her lip, and she was unable to control the trembling of her slender body.

Luo Yi continued to speak,”His head has only split open and his life isn’t in any danger in the next few hours, or you can leave him there until he bleeds out. However, the forensic examination results might not be in your favour. You can give him a bit longer, because this kind of crime scene is enough for you to construct a reasonable defence.”

Wen Xiaohui suddenly sat up, his voice was still trembling, “Stop talking, Luo Yi. Are you crazy?”

Luo Yi tilted his head down to stare at him, his obsidian pupils were like two astrological black holes, which made Wen Xiaohui a bit fearful. Suddenly, Luo Yi laughed, “I’m sorry, I was only joking. I was just too angry that this bastard hurt you, and I really hope he goes to hell.”

Wen Xiaohui breathed a sigh of relief. “Don’t scare me like that. How about we send him to hospital in case something bad happens to him? Sydney-jie, can you tidy your house by yourself? If not, then you could move somewhere else?”

Sydney nodded and replied with tears in her eyes, “Xiaohui, thank you.”

Wen Xiaohui endured the pain and smiled at her. “It’s okay, I won’t let people bully my big sis under my nose. Get some good rest and speak soon.”

Luo Yi smiled faintly at Sydney, his smile oozed traces of icy-coldness, which made Sydney develop goosebumps all over her body.

Wen Xiaohui and Luo Yi carelessly scrubbed the drunkard’s head clean and they called an ambulance as soon as they went downstairs. They paid the medical bills directly to the doctor, who took him away.

Once the ambulance departed, Luo Yi stared at the purple strangulation marks that had been left on Wen Xiaohui’s neck and he frowned. “Don’t go home, it’s too late. Come home with me and I’ll help you apply some medicine.”

Wen Xiaohui gently caressed his own neck with his finger and he hissed in pain. He thought to himself, what should I tell my mum? He nodded dejectedly and sent his mum a text message to tell her that he was staying overnight at a friend’s house. “Let’s go.”

Footnotes:

This refers to a Chinese xiangsheng or crosstalk show.

Shifu, a respectful term used in this context to refer to the driver, but also men of certain professions.

Another reference to losing face.

The raws use 150-160 catty, a measurement unit used in China which I’ve converted to kg.

Please do not throw rubbish like Luo Yi and use bins appropriately.