Trương Vũ’s toadying voice was the first to ring out. “The boss really knows how to handle this bitch.”
Before long, Khương Siêu’s mocking voice rang in my ears.
“I told you, I’m going to make sure it dies by my own hand.”
“But…”
My legs felt weightless, as if someone had picked me up.
Khương Siêu stroked my face.
“This bitch is gorgeous. Ever since that last time I played around until someone died, I’ve had to restrain myself. It’s been way too long since I’ve had any fun.”
“She’s hot and pretty, boss. After you’re done with her, let us have a taste too, haha…”
Lewd whistles and teasing laughter sounded all around me.
A weak male voice spoke up. “All right, don’t go too far.”
It was the buzz-cut kid.
Khương Siêu let out a mocking “Oh?”
“Who do you think you are, telling me what to do?”
The next second, the sounds of punches and kicks filled the air, along with the buzz-cut kid’s muffled groans.
“All right, don’t let him hold up my business.”
Khương Siêu tossed me into his car. “Forget this bitch. Let’s go have some fun at the bar.”
The sounds of fighting stopped abruptly, and a group of people climbed into the car, laughing and joking.
Where they couldn’t see, the corner of my mouth curled up slightly.
The bar really was a wonderful place.
10.
The bar belonged to the Khương family. Wanting to have some fun, Khương Siêu told the manager to clear out all the customers.
“No matter how much noise you hear tonight, don’t come in. Understand?”
“Yes, young master.”
Khương Siêu carried me straight to his private VIP room.
His lackeys set up cameras around the room, then laid out a pile of toys for Khương Siêu.
“I’m in a great mood today, so I’ll let you watch live!”
A string of other obscene remarks rang through the room.
“Boss, this drink was specially prepared for this bitch, just like you ordered.”
The moment I felt the chill of the glass against my lips, I opened my eyes.
Khương Siêu’s pupils trembled.
Everyone in the room instinctively took a step back. Only Khương Siêu, whom I’d psychologically affected, stood frozen in place.
“You, you…”
Khương Siêu stammered “you” at me for a long time without managing to form a complete sentence. He could only turn toward his followers and yell, “For fuck’s sake, hurry up and help me!”
No one dared move.
I slowly rose from the sofa, gently took the glass from Khương Siêu’s hand, then kicked his legs out from under him and made him fall to his knees.
“There’s good stuff here. Don’t waste it.”
With that, I gripped Khương Siêu’s chin and poured it into his mouth.
Khương Siêu’s eyes reddened as he struggled desperately, but he was still forced to drink every last drop.
As soon as I let go, Khương Siêu fell to his knees and vomited violently.
I turned to look at Trương Vũ.
“How long before this stuff kicks in?”
Trương Vũ stammered, “T-twenty minutes.”
I smiled gently and pointed at a few people at random.
“You, you, and you stay. In twenty minutes, the rest of you bring me a sow.”
“Those who stay, turn on every camera for me, adjust the lighting, and make sure you get good footage.”
“Anyone who disobeys…”
I smiled very gently.
“Just look at Khương Siêu to see what happens next.”
I counted down from three, but before I could say “one,” everyone began scrambling into action.
It really was easy for a bunch of rich kids to buy a pig in no time.
I slowly approached Khương Siêu, who was trembling all over, then whispered in his ear.
“Do you remember how you tortured Bạch Lộ?”
“I’m going to make you suffer every last thing she went through.”
11.
Screams rang out without end.
At dawn, a few of the underlings emerged from the room trembling and handed me a USB drive.
“All the videos have been copied onto this.”
After checking the contents of the USB drive, I smiled with satisfaction.
The underlings looked as if they were about to cry.
If the Khương family found out they’d been through this and had even helped someone else film it, they’d never let them off.
Someone awkwardly spoke up. “Hai… Sister Hai—no, boss, Khương Siêu’s passed out from exhaustion. What should we do with this pig?”
I slipped the USB drive into my pocket and pointed at Trương Vũ, who was standing among the crowd.
“Go get a few people to stew this pig, then feed Khương Siêu every last bite.”
“It’s food, after all. We can’t waste a single piece of meat.”
As soon as I finished speaking, someone gagged and looked ready to throw up.
I smashed the bottle in my hand in disgust and said, “Swallow it back down.”
Perhaps fear of my brutality made a girl with a nose piercing burst into tears.
I glanced over.
When Bạch Lộ was humiliated, the girl with the nose piercing had laughed the loudest and been the first to slap her.
Crying? What right did she have?
Hadn’t she laughed happily enough when she was bullying someone else?
I pursed my lips and slapped her on the head.
“You’re so damn noisy. What the hell are you crying for? Swallow it back down.”
I gave Trương Vũ a gentle glance, and his whole body began to tremble.
Right after that, he rushed over and slapped the girl with the nose piercing across the face.
“Sister Hai is so down-to-earth and approachable. What are you crying for? Come on, stew the pig with me.”
The followers didn’t dare stay in the same room as me, so they all hurried off to stew the pig.
Once the pork was stewed, Khương Siêu was woken with a basin of cold water, then forced to eat a whole basin of pork.
Khương Siêu’s face was covered in food, and he spat out countless threats through clenched teeth.
“Haisha, I’ll… kill you, just you wait.”
This time, before I even had to say anything, Trương Vũ slapped him across the face.
“How dare you talk to Sister Hai like that?”
Then Trương Vũ smiled ingratiatingly at me. “Sister Hai, don’t let something like this ruin your mood.”
I could see straight through Trương Vũ’s thoughts.
Trương Vũ knew the Khương family would definitely take revenge on them in a frenzy after tonight.
So he was trying to curry favor with me and secure my protection.
But he was getting ahead of himself.
Protection was out of the question. He was lucky I hadn’t beaten him up already.
I had no interest in Khương Siêu’s sorry state, so I turned and walked away.
12.
I went to Triệu Lâm’s house to pick up Tiểu Bạch and give her the USB drive.
Triệu Lâm kept rubbing the USB drive’s metal casing, intense hatred showing in her eyes.
Tiểu Bạch raised its tail high and meowed, leaving a few scratches on the USB drive’s casing.
Triệu Lâm bent down and kept soothing Tiểu Bạch as I watched her.
“I’ll ask you one last time: if you step into this muddy mess, will you regret it?”
Triệu Lâm shook her head. “Do you know what a good person Bạch Lộ was?”
“I came from a poor family, and everyone at school ostracized me.”
“Bạch Lộ was the one who stood up for me. She took my hand and told me that your family background doesn’t determine your place in the world.”
“Bạch Lộ was my best friend, but when she was humiliated, I didn’t stand up for her in time.”
“I’m not asking her to forgive me. I just hope I can get justice for her and find some peace for myself.”
As Triệu Lâm spoke, Tiểu Bạch’s tail slowly curled around her arm.
It gently leaped onto Triệu Lâm’s lap, stretched out a paw, and softly patted her on the head.
After a moment of silence, I gave a quiet laugh.
“Maybe Bạch Lộ never blamed you.”
13.
Two days later, news broke that Khương Siêu’s parents had rushed back from overseas.
In response to a reporter’s question, Mr. Khương managed a perfunctory smile.
“My wife and I have returned this time to discuss establishing a charitable fund for scientific research in China. We hope everyone will look forward to…”
That evening, I received a call from Mr. Khương requesting a meeting.
I showed up as agreed.
After dealing with those little brats, I might as well take care of the adults, too.
As soon as I walked into the five-star hotel, I heard Khương Siêu roaring nearby.
“What’s with that look, you lowly housekeeping staff? Do you think I’m dirty?”
“Sir, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it…”
I pulled the server, who was trying to explain herself in a low voice, behind me. “Go on. This table doesn’t need service anymore.”
The server gave me a grateful look, then hurried away as if fleeing.
Mr. Khương was a well-maintained man with deep, unfathomable eyes and a commanding presence.
Compared with Khương Siêu, who sat beside him and kept wiping his hands, he didn’t seem like such a useless scumbag.
Ever since the video was recorded that night, Khương Siêu had been left deeply shaken.
Whenever something didn’t go his way, he felt that people were looking down on him and thought they considered him dirty.
Evil begets evil.
I walked over and sat across from the father and son.
Khương Siêu glared at me, the veins on his face bulging. His hand, gripping his knife and fork, trembled from the strain.
Mr. Khương patted his hand, then looked at me calmly.
“Ms. Hải, name your price. We need to get that video back.”
I slowly ran my finger along the rim of my cup, then looked up with a smile.
“I’m afraid you can’t afford the price I have in mind.”
Mr. Khương curled his lip disdainfully. “Go ahead. There’s nothing the Khương family can’t afford to buy.”
Since he was so confident, I saw no need to be polite.
“I want the Khương family’s entire fortune.”
As soon as I said it, Mr. Khương’s calm expression cracked.
He took a sip of tea to steady himself. It was a long while before he regained his composure, then he gave me a crooked smile.
“Ms. Hải, that price is too high for this video. It’s not even what Khương Siêu is worth.”
Khương Siêu turned around and cried out in anguish, “Dad…”
Mr. Khương ignored him and poured tea for me himself.
“Ms. Hải, I hope you’ll think this through carefully.”
“Even though it’s in your hands, I have plenty of ways to stop you from releasing it.”
Mr. Khương’s tone grew sterner.
“Besides, it’s not worth risking your life over a little USB drive, is it?”
I shook my head.
I’d given him a chance, but he didn’t want it.
And now he dared threaten me. I hate being threatened more than anything.
“If you’re unwilling to cooperate, Mr. Khương, there’s no reason for me to waste my time here—and spoil everyone’s appetite, to boot.”
“As for the Khương family’s businesses…”
I smiled. “What I want, I’ll take for myself.”
I stood up and left.