CHAPTER 375: 348 HUMAN DEMONS_2

Seeing their display of motherly love and filial piety, their happy family facade, disgusted him.

So, he swept aside the apple Zhao Xinyuan offered, took a fruit knife from the drawer, and began peeling apples for himself and his sister.

He considered the apple Zhao Xinyuan had peeled to be dirty.

Wang Shuqiu’s mother also noticed her children’s discomfort and, without dawdling, said directly, "Qiuqiu, you and Xiao Du need to hurry up with your marriage plans. Your father and I have agreed on 18,000 yuan for the betrothal gifts, just enough to cover our expenses for hosting guests. You and Xiao Du should also discuss when our families can meet to settle this."

Wang Shuqiu, who had been gloomy all day, suddenly brightened, looking at her mother with pleasant surprise.

However, just as Wang Shuqiu’s joy began to bubble up, her uncle interjected, "Elder Sister, this is where you’re wrong. How can you not ask for betrothal gifts? Xiao Du is a leader now. If you don’t ask for any, where will Xiao Du put his face? People will say you look down on him."

Wang Shuqiu was nearly driven mad with anger, glaring furiously at this uncle.

But her uncle, completely ignoring her gaze, continued, "Besides, Elder Sister, think about it. Our Qiuqiu is good-looking, a university graduate, and has a stable job. If you don’t ask for a single penny in betrothal gifts now, others will gossip. It will make people think you’re trying to curry favor with Xiao Du, giving away the daughter you worked so hard to raise."

At this point, her aunt chimed in, "Elder Sister, if Qiuqiu doesn’t ask for betrothal gifts, then after she gets married, her husband’s family will look down on her. They’ll think Qiuqiu isn’t worth much, that she just stuck herself onto them. How could Qiuqiu have good days after that?"

Wang Shuqiu’s face turned ashen with anger. Just as she was about to speak, her aunt cut her off with a smile, saying, "Qiuqiu, don’t worry. When you receive the betrothal gifts, we won’t keep a cent. When you get married, half you’ll take as dowry, and half will be left for your parents’ retirement. It’s a win-win situation."

Wang Shuqiu truly felt like she was about to explode. Suppressing her voice, she said, "My parents’ retirement is not your concern."

Hearing this, her uncle put on a reproachful expression, looking as if he were genuinely considering Wang Shuqiu’s family’s welfare. "How can you, child, speak like that? As the saying goes, ’A married daughter is like spilled water.’ After you marry, you’ll definitely have to look after your own little family. And later, when you have children, you’ll have to divide your attention to care for them. Your parents only have you, their daughter. How can they not save some money for their old age?"

As soon as these words were out, not only did Zhao Xinfang and Wang Shuqiu become upset, but even Wang Shuqiu’s mother frowned.

The uncle’s words blatantly disregarded Zhao Xinfang as a person; this was too hurtful.

Wang Shuqiu was furious and about to erupt, but suddenly felt Zhao Xinfang’s leg beside her tremble.

Quickly looking back, she saw Zhao Xinfang’s eyes were wide open, and the veins on the hand gripping the fruit knife were bulging.

Wang Shuqiu once again grabbed Zhao Xinfang’s hand, holding it tightly in her own, managing to barely soothe him.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xinyuan, sitting opposite them, still wore that unhurried look, a faint smile on his face, and offered another piece of apple to Wang Shuqiu. "Sister, eat an apple."

Wang Shuqiu glared at Zhao Xinyuan and ignored him. Looking at her uncle, she said, "You don’t need to worry about this. My mom and my dad have Fangfang. I believe they will definitely have a better life than you in the future."

Her uncle shook his head, with a look of ’you don’t understand.’ "Let’s not even mention Fangfang’s illness. Besides, he’s not your mom and your dad’s biological child. Who knows what will happen in the future? And Fangfang has found a rich girlfriend now; do you think a rich young lady will serve peasant in-laws?

So, it’s still your own daughter who is reliable. Asking for four hundred thousand yuan in betrothal gifts, for a leader like Xiao Du, isn’t much. It’s just a matter of him lifting a hand, wouldn’t you say?"

Wang Shuqiu laughed from extreme anger, yet her mindset surprisingly calmed. "Four hundred thousand yuan? Is that my mother’s idea? I think it’s your idea, right? You want to get this money and then spend it on that good-for-nothing son of yours?"

Wang Shuqiu said in a very serious tone, "Not a single cent! Sucking my mom’s blood isn’t enough, now you want to suck my blood too? Go on with your pipe dreams!"

Seeing that her mother still had no intention of speaking, Wang Shuqiu didn’t mind directly tearing face. Besides, this was an idea she’d had for a long time.

Just as she finished speaking, Wang Shuqiu saw a hand flash violently before her eyes, and her face felt a cool sensation pass from left to right.

Looking at the perpetrator, Zhao Xinyuan, sitting opposite her, he still had the same smile as before, only now there was a trace of red blood on the fruit knife in his hand.

"What are you doing?!"

Wang Shuqiu was stunned.

But next to her, Zhao Xinfang went berserk.

He saw a line of blood appear on his sister’s face.

Starting from the left, it crossed her upper lip and extended to the right. A flap of flesh hung loose, and blood began to gush out violently.

Zhao Xinfang’s eyes turned red; he instantly lost the ability to think.

While everyone was dumbstruck, not yet reacting to what had happened, the half-peeled apple in his hand dropped to the ground. His other hand shot the fruit knife forward, very smoothly plunging it into the neck of the still-smiling demon opposite him.

"AAAAAAAAHHHH!"

The sudden pain caused Wang Shuqiu to let out a horrifying shriek. Her hands trembled as she touched her aching face.

And at that moment, she suddenly felt as if her upper lip... was gone.

The remaining three people were stupefied.

When Zhao Xinyuan had swung the knife, they hadn’t reacted.

When Zhao Xinfang used the knife, leaving only its handle protruding from Zhao Xinyuan’s neck, their minds were a complete blank.

It was too fast; everything happened too fast, without a single warning.

It wasn’t until Wang Shuqiu’s tragic scream rang out that they awoke as if from a dream.

However, Wang Shuqiu’s mother crumpled to the ground, while the uncle and aunt shrieked and lunged at Zhao Xinfang.

After delivering that first stab, Zhao Xinfang’s eyes became utterly dead; there wasn’t the slightest ripple in his heart.

Seeing those two rise and charge at him, he had only one thought: to send the knife out again.

Even though his own chest ached, a very intense pain, the hand he extended did not tremble in the slightest.

After a moment of chaos, the cramped and narrow living room fell into silence. Even with Wang Shuqiu’s cries of pain, it still seemed deathly quiet.

Wang Shuqiu’s mother felt her vision swim with red. This red filled her eyes, filled her brain, then rushed into her heart. After her heart pounded "THUMP, THUMP" twice, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

Wang Shuqiu’s face ached, her lips even more so, but the sight of the four people fallen on the floor terrified her far more.

Trembling, she took out her mobile phone. She dialed Du Heng’s phone number. Right now, the only person she could think of was Du Heng.

However, the phone call was disconnected.

At this moment, Wang Shuqiu’s heart was gripped by extreme fear.

Trembling, she dialed 110.