Chapter 11: Conflict Erupts Again

Chapter 11: Conflict Flares Up Again

"When Sea Eagle first sees you, which part of you do you think he'd be most interested in?"

Quan Ruifeng stood with his waist leaning against the table, arms crossed, his cold gaze fixed on Xia Xian as he posed the question—one that was way too loaded and suggestive.

Xia Xian nervously fiddled with her hair, pausing before venturing a guess,

"The ring finger of my right hand?"

She figured Quan Ruifeng wasn’t just messing with her. Remembering Sea Eagle’s habit of taking his victims' ring fingers, she gave that response.

"No, it’s the eyes. A pair of sorrowful, tear-filled eyes."

"You don’t understand him well enough. Acting recklessly will only expose you and alert him. If he escapes this time, who knows where he’ll go next?"

"Start over."

Like a stern professor, Quan Ruifeng dismissed her answer and placed another stack of documents in front of her, indicating she had to memorize everything—even the details of previous victims.

The pile was a finger’s width thick! Xia Xian got goosebumps at the sight. If she'd put this much effort into her college entrance exams, she would’ve succeeded.

She tried to protest.

"I’m just the decoy. Do I really need to know this much?"

"And have you memorized all this yourself?"

If he hadn’t even memorized it, how could he demand it of her?

"Is it difficult?"

Quan Ruifeng frowned in confusion, locking eyes with her with a deep—

Ugh, Xia Xian gave up on looking at him. She’d just memorize it!

She quickly looked back down at the documents and buried herself in the task, reciting diligently.

A decoy’s gotta act like a decoy! Just do as you’re told! Just follow orders!

Quan Ruifeng seemed satisfied with her compliance and took out his own notes to refine his plans further.

They stayed in the basement until evening before preparing to leave. Though Xia Xian hadn’t fully memorized everything, another day or two would likely be enough.

"What time should I come tomorrow?"

Xia Xian neatly arranged the documents, their dynamic a bit more casual now.

"Your call. If you’re free, come at 10 AM. If not, then 2 PM."

Despite their arrangement, Quan Ruifeng didn’t outright command her.

"Alright, I’ll come at 10 AM tomorrow then."

It wasn’t like she had anything better to do. She might as well focus on catching this goddamn serial killer before he harmed anyone else.

The more she read the files, the angrier she became. How could someone so vile exist? Targeting young girls! How come she’d never heard about this last time around?

Seething with disgust for "Sea Eagle," Xia Xian hurried home.

Dinner was on the table when she arrived, but the moment she stepped inside, she immediately noticed her dad’s stormy face and the heavy atmosphere.

"Dad, what’s wrong?"

She had a gut feeling this was about her. She pressed her lips together and asked softly.

"Let’s eat. Since you’re not doing anything now, help out at home with cooking. Stop running around outside."

Her father avoided the question, his voice clipped.

Was he pissed that she was home but not helping?

"I have things to do these days—"

"What things could you possibly have?! Since you’re back, just stay put! Stop embarrassing me outside! Do you know how awful the rumors are? I can’t even show my face anymore!"

Her father suddenly flew off the handle out of nowhere.

"Why are you yelling at her? A few words from outsiders won’t kill anyone! It’s not Xiao Xian’s fault!"

Lei Juan also slammed her bowl on the table, shouting back. Things were about to blow up.

Xia Xian’s two older brothers and their wives kept their mouths shut, eating silently as if they weren’t there.

Only Xia Yuan, the baby of the family with the biggest mouth, dared to confront his father.

He wiped his mouth and squared his shoulders, banging the table and shouting right back.

"Those people talk trash about Sis, and now you do too? What kind of father are you?! If I were her, I wouldn’t even call you Dad!"

"You little shit, have you lost your mind?! Talking to me like that! I’ll tan your hide with this broom today!"

Her father, too proud and feeling humiliated by his daughter, couldn’t very well beat his grown daughter. But Xia Yuan had made himself the perfect target. Eyes blazing, he went for the broom to take it out on him.

Xia Yuan, a veteran at avoiding whoopings, immediately snatched his bowl and made a break for his room. Xia Xian and Lei Juan jumped in to stop him.

"Dad, don’t take it out on him!"

"You hit my boy and I swear—I’ll fight you! What did Xiao Yuan say that was wrong?!"

"Talking to me like that isn’t wrong?! You coddle kids and they turn out rotten!"

Furious, her father pushed past Xia Xian and Lei Juan and kicked the door open.

Xia Yuan, still holding his bowl, eyes bugging out in terror as his father stormed in. He hastily gulped down the last of his food.

"Dad—Dad! Calm down! I won’t say it again, okay?!"

"Sis! Mom! Save me!!!"

In blind panic, he tossed the bowl away, ducking and weaving as he tried to escape, screaming.

"Lei Datian! Cut it out! You wanna make this whole house miserable?!"

Lei Juan and Xia Xian threw themselves at him to hold him back, but he had already whacked Xia Yuan with the broom, leaving a bleeding gash right above his eyebrow, way too close to his eye for comfort.

When things got physical, even the older brothers and sisters-in-law couldn’t just sit by. They rushed in to break it up, plunging the whole scene into chaos.

An angry Mr. Xia was harder to hold down than a greased pig at a county fair.

After finally managing to restrain Father Xia, Lei Juan quickly said,

"Xiao Xian, take your brother downstairs to hide!"

"Okay!"

Without hesitation, Xia Xian grabbed her brother's hand and dashed downstairs—clearly well-practiced.

The two ran quite a distance before stopping, bending over slightly, panting heavily.

"Does your face hurt? What happened today - did someone say something? Why did Dad get so mad?"

Ever since she came back, only her mom and little brother had her back. Now, seeing her brother beaten bloody, Xia Xian felt a pang of heartache and couldn’t help but gently touch his still-chubby little face.

She wiped the blood from his eyebrow.

"It doesn’t hurt! I’m a man! Just a broom—yowch! Okay, that really hurts! Sis, stop pressing on it!"

Xia Yuan couldn’t keep up the tough act anymore. His lips quivered as he tearfully buried himself in Xia Xian’s arms.

Tough as he acted, he was still just a kid. Of course, getting hit hurt. He sniffled and complained,

"I hate Dad so much! Why is he always like this?"

"This morning, Chu Sheng and his mom came to our house and said someone with a big mouth spread the rumor about you stealing money! They said if you weren't guilty, why would rumors spread? They insisted you stole money! Called you a husband-killing widow who can't behave, and if you steal money now, you’ll steal men next!"

"They even blamed Mom and Dad for raising you wrong. Dad heard that and came home seeing red! It’s all those big-mouthed busybodies' fault—waaaah! Sis, you've got it so rough!"

Xia Yuan clung to Xia Xian’s leg, wailing loudly. He had been raised by Xia Xian since he was little, so his bond with her ran deep—no wonder he was so upset.

Only after hearing her brother’s explanation did Xia Xian understand what had happened. Her temper shot through the roof, and she couldn’t help but curse those gossipers too! These people had mouths but no brains!

"Don’t cry! Who told Dad this? Tomorrow, I’ll go settle the score with them! We'll see who's dumb enough to buy that crap! Even the police said I’m no thief!"