chapter 4

Shi Yu was sprawled on the ground, already unconscious.

After washing my hands, I dialed Song Wu’s number.

“Song Wu, the trouble’s been taken care of! We can go on our date now!”

“How many times do I have to tell you? Watch your wording.”

So insincere.

But he still comes out whenever I ask.

Finally.

Finally, I saw the man I’d been thinking about day and night.

Tall and upright, refined gold-rimmed glasses, deep and handsome features with a hint of seriousness.

My mind, which had been tense and anxious these past few days, finally found peace.

I ran over, ignoring the stares of passersby, and hugged him tightly.

Song Wu frowned: “How old are you? So childish.”

I buried my face in his chest, tears pouring out uncontrollably.

Uncle.

My Uncle, who belongs only to me.

This man is like a switch for my tear ducts-every time I fall into his arms, all my grievances surge up.

Even though I’d just cut off a Pervert’s lower half, in front of Song Wu, I became a fragile little girl again.

“What’s wrong?” His tone softened.

“I missed you,” I choked out.

If it were before, Song Wu would have immediately rebuffed my sappy words.

But this time, maybe because I was crying so miserably, he didn’t criticize me or get impatient. He just sighed softly, indulging my little tantrum.

Who says my life is hopeless?

I still have Song Wu.

Song Wu, who quietly cares for and loves me.

I stood on tiptoe, determined to kiss him no matter what.

Life is short. People in love should seize every second to be together-why waste time hesitating?

But before I could reach his lips, Song Wu suddenly frowned, his gaze landing on the necklace around my neck. He asked, “Is that blood on it?”

“…”

Bad luck.

“Maybe it’s rust,” I said, taking off the necklace and tossing it into the trash. I clung to his arm, acting cute. “Uncle, will you buy me a new one?”

Song Wu didn’t press further, trying to pull his arm free. I immediately held on tighter, so he gave up, asking helplessly, “Where do we buy it?”

So I dragged Song Wu around the mall all evening.

We went to a jewelry store to try on necklaces. Each time I put one on, I’d ask Song Wu if it looked good. He always replied with a straight face, “It’s fine.”

I was dissatisfied with his reaction, so I loosened my collar and tried on seven or eight different necklaces in a row, determined to make him show some amazement and praise my looks.

In the end, Song Wu simply raised his hand and told the clerk to wrap them all up, instantly dispelling all my annoyance.

Sigh, he really loves me.

We went to a nail salon. The clerk kept complimenting me: “Miss Song, your fingers are so straight and long, perfect for playing piano or painting.”

Hmm, also perfect for cutting things.

Song Wu sat nearby, head down, looking at his phone.

The clerk smiled, “Your boyfriend is so patient, coming with you to get your nails done.”

I was delighted, about to agree, when Song Wu coldly interjected, “What are you talking about? I’m her uncle.”

The clerk quickly apologized, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize you were Miss Song’s elder.”

“He’s only ten years older than me,” I emphasized.

“No matter how many years, he’s still an elder,” Song Wu insisted.

I turned and glared at him, but he looked away, burying himself in his phone again.

Pretending.

Still pretending.

One day I’ll make you drop the act.

We went to a lingerie store to try on bras. I deliberately shouted from the fitting room, “Song Wu! Come help me adjust the straps!”

No one responded for a long while.

When I came out, Song Wu’s face was dark, and the clerk was stifling laughter.

I waved the lacy bra at Song Wu, smirking, “Don’t you want to see me wear it?”

Song Wu turned and walked away.

I hurried after him, tugging his sleeve, “Are you mad?”

Song Wu looked serious: “Don’t joke like that again.”

Old man, so hard to please.

I pouted, quietly grabbed Song Wu’s hand, trying to interlock our fingers.

Song Wu immediately shook me off, keeping his distance.

Undeterred, I pulled out one of the necklaces we’d just bought, stood on tiptoe, and tried to put it around Song Wu’s neck. “Uncle, this is for you. Let me put it on!”

It was a couple’s necklace-one for him, one for me. I wanted to secretly mark Song Wu, telling everyone he’s mine.

Wearing matching necklaces with someone you love has always been my little wish. It’s childish, but that’s what makes romance fun. That clueless Fang Jian always said men wearing necklaces wasn’t masculine enough and never indulged me.

Thinking back, I’m grateful for his cluelessness-it let me give my first couple’s necklace to Song Wu.

But Song Wu was too tall, and I couldn’t reach, nearly hanging off him.

Song Wu pushed me away with a stern face, “Xingxing, why have you been acting so strange lately? I heard you made your Grandparents so angry yesterday they almost ended up in the hospital? They’re old, their bodies can’t take the shock. As their granddaughter, you should care more about their feelings. No matter what, they always want what’s best for you.”

Great, this gentleman hit my sore spot precisely.

“What’s best for me?” I sneered. “I’ve made it perfectly clear to Fang Jian that I broke up with him and don’t like him anymore. But my Grandparents still ignore my wishes and force me to get back together with him. That’s ‘what’s best for me’? Do you know they almost dragged me off to kneel and apologize to Fang Jian?”
Song Wu’s eyes suddenly darkened as he gripped my shoulders tightly. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Did they hurt you?”

I glared at him. “Do you even care?”

Song Wu’s expression froze, and he fell silent.

At a time like this, he couldn’t even say a single sweet word.

“Are you just like them? Do you want me to obediently marry someone I don’t love?” I pressed on.

Song Wu withdrew his hand from my shoulder, still silent.

Boring.

I tossed the couple’s necklace into the trash can and walked away without looking back.

I knew he was just holding back because of his status.

But I couldn’t help being angry.

Anyone else could refuse to stand by me, but not Song Wu.

Only he couldn’t.

If even he no longer belonged to me, then my life would be meaningless.

I walked alone for a long time, with no sound behind me.

Could Uncle really have just left me and gone home?

Is he even human!?

Fuming, I turned around, only to see Song Wu silently driving behind me. Our eyes met through the car window, and this time, he didn’t look away.

His gaze on me was always full of tenderness, pain, and restraint.

He had been watching me like this from afar for a long time.

When I was six, a mischievous kid snatched my favorite doll. I cried to my Grandparents, but they told me to let it go. It was Song Wu who stood up for me and got my doll back.

At ten, I felt sick at the sight of carrots in my bowl, but afraid of being scolded by Grandparents, I forced myself to eat them. Song Wu quietly took the carrots from my bowl.

At sixteen, the girls at school dressed up every day, but I wore my uniform all the time. Song Wu gave me my first white tulle dress, and wearing it, I looked like a beautiful little Bride.

At twenty, after being wronged, I threw myself into Song Wu’s arms and cried, but he pushed me away. I thought he hated me and grew resentful, never noticing the struggle and reluctance in his eyes.

It took dying twice for me to finally understand the look in his eyes.

In an instant, all my anger vanished.

I shouldn’t be mad at him.

I should never be mad at him.

Song Wu parked the car by the roadside. I opened the passenger door and obediently sat inside.

Then, I spread my arms, acting spoiled like I did as a child. “Hug me.”

It didn’t matter if he refused. In front of him, I didn’t need dignity.

But he didn’t refuse.

He unfastened his seatbelt, leaned over, and gently embraced me.

The car was utterly silent.

Only our mingled breaths could be heard.

“I do care,” he said hoarsely, his warm palm resting on my head.

I know.

Uncle, I know.

“You can do anything you want, as your heart desires. No one has the right to control you,” he said softly.

“Okay.” I pressed my face tightly against his chest.

Song Wu’s car carried a faint scent of coffee, bitter with a hint of sweetness. Ever since he started working, he developed a habit of drinking coffee, even keeping coffee sachets in the car so the aroma lingered. I grew to love the smell of coffee because of him.

I inhaled his familiar scent, greedily soaking up the warmth and peace he brought.

Only when I was with Song Wu did I feel like a normal person.

With a beating heart, childish temper, grievances, and hopes.

Heaven gave me a chance at Rebirth, surely so I could love Song Wu well.

Definitely.

Suddenly, my stomach growled.

Song Wu chuckled softly. “Alright, I’ll take you to eat.”

I clung to him, refusing to let go. “Let’s hug for another hour.”

Song Wu sighed helplessly. “Don’t be naughty.”

I still wouldn’t let go. “Then five minutes.”

Song Wu compromised.

First, I’d make an impossible demand, get rejected, then follow up with a small request-so small it was easy to grant. Most people would choose to compromise in such situations.

In psychology, this is called the ‘face-saving effect.’

Uncle, who seemed so stern and serious, was actually easy to handle.

So cute.

I lost track of how long we hugged, but it was certainly much longer than five minutes. Song Wu’s embrace grew warmer, his skin burning through his clothes, his breath on my forehead growing uneven and hot.

Did Uncle want me too?

I wondered, tilting my face up to look at Song Wu. Our eyes met, and beneath his glasses, his gaze was obscure-almost empty, yet swirling with hidden emotions. I leaned in to see more clearly, but he abruptly pulled me away.

“Get out and eat,” he said.

“Okay.” I obeyed.

Just as I was about to get out, Song Wu pulled me back. He leaned close, his breath light, silent as he buttoned up my collar all the way to the top.

Earlier, I’d unbuttoned it to try on the necklace and hadn’t fastened it back.

Which meant, from Song Wu’s perspective, he could clearly see the cleavage beneath my open collar.

Had he noticed all along?

Had he seen everything?

For how long?

Just moments ago, I’d shamelessly waved a lace bra to tease Song Wu, but now my cheeks and ears burned. Even though I hadn’t shown much, I felt like a bashful schoolgirl, suddenly too embarrassed to say another bold word.
Song Wu’s fingertips didn’t linger long on my button before leaving, but his warmth seemed to seep through the fabric and skin, settling in my heart. I lowered my head to examine the button he’d touched, deciding I’d enshrine this shirt when I got home.

After dinner, Song Wu drove me home.

I clung to his arm, reluctant to part: “Do you want to come to my place for a drink?”

And maybe sleep over, too.

Song Wu instantly returned to his cold demeanor, dropped me off at the Apartment entrance, stepped on the gas, and sped away.

Heh, men.

Isn’t he just worried he won’t be able to control himself?

Home, shower, into bed.

I hugged my phone, opened my chat with Song Wu, and sent two words: Good night.

I even added a pink heart at the end.

Song Wu replied quickly: Mm.

It was just a simple word, but I felt so happy and sweet.

Delighted, I took a screenshot of our chat and sent it to Jiang Yun: Isn’t this sweet? Doesn’t it feel like we’re dating?

Jiang Yun: ?

I don’t care, it’s sweet anyway.

With this sweetness, I fell asleep contentedly and didn’t wake until the next morning.

I stared at the ceiling in a daze for a long time before suddenly realizing I’d forgotten something.

Right-Shi Yu.

I opened the door to Shi Yu’s place and saw him still sprawled on the floor like a corpse, motionless.

The room was lifeless, filled with the scent of death.

So annoying.

I’d have to drag him to the Freezer again.

I walked over, squatted down, and reached out my index finger to check the man’s breath.

Shi Yu slowly opened his eyes, a smile appearing on his blood-stained face: “Good morning, Neighbor Miss.”

I was a bit surprised: “You’re not dead yet?”

Tough luck.

Shi Yu’s breath was weak, but he still tried to smile: “If I died, I’d just cause you trouble.”

True enough.

Dismembering is exhausting.

Earlier, I’d done some basic treatment on his wounds. Growing up under Song Wu’s influence, I’d picked up quite a bit of medical knowledge, knew a little about stitching and bandaging, and unexpectedly managed to save Shi Yu’s life.

I opened the Medical Kit and continued treating his wounds: “Please heal faster. I don’t have the patience to play the caring little nurse.”

Shi Yu’s face showed a sickly enjoyment: “To be cared for so attentively by Neighbor Miss is my honor.”

Even after being castrated, he still has the mood to act shameless. His mental resilience is something else.

I really wanted to punch him to death.

“How many people have you killed?” I asked.

The family of three upstairs hadn’t been harmed yet, but Shi Yu said he’d killed before. Which meant, besides me and the upstairs family, he’d killed others.

Given his Pervert level, he must have a lot of lives on his hands.

Shi Yu thought for a few seconds, then smiled helplessly: “I can’t remember.”

He actually can’t remember how many people he’s killed.

Locking up such a dangerous Pervert is basically doing justice.

I picked up an alcohol swab and pressed it hard onto his wound.

Shi Yu hissed, but wasn’t angry. Instead, a smile appeared in his eyes: “But I do remember the scene of my first kill vividly.”

“Who did you kill?”

“My Parents,” he answered with complete naturalness.

Of course. Not surprising at all.

For a Pervert, patricide and matricide are required courses.

“Why did you kill them?” I asked curiously.

Abused since childhood? Violated? Mind control?

Shi Yu curled his lips: “That night, I was lying in bed spacing out when I suddenly heard my Parents talking in the living room. They were discussing what to cook for lunch the next day, talked for a long, long time, and finally decided to make all my favorite dishes. Even though they deliberately lowered their voices, I still felt it was so noisy.”

“So, while they slept, I made them shut up permanently.”

“That way, no one would ever bother me again.”

“I was fifteen that year.”

Shi Yu smiled brightly.

My hand holding the swab suddenly trembled a little.

This man is a born monster.

It’s not that no one loved him, but those who did all died by his hand.

If there’s no hell, he’ll create one himself.

I used to think that the reason Shi Yu killed me in my First Life was because I didn’t treat him well. If I changed my attitude after Rebirth, tried to please him and reform him, I could raise his favorability and escape being killed.

Now it seems, his reason for killing is simply because he wants to.

Someone like Shi Yu, no matter how well you treat him, you can’t erase his urge to kill.

He kills those who treat him badly, and those who treat him well, too.

If I hadn’t locked him up, I’d definitely end up dying by his hand again.

A chill ran down my spine: “You’ll go to hell.”

Shi Yu replied leisurely: “Same to you.”

I slapped him: “Mr. Neighbor, mind your words when chatting.”

Who wants to be compared to him?

Unlike this self-indulgent scum, my future is bright.

After all, no matter what, I still have Song Wu.

A bright red handprint appeared on Shi Yu’s deathly pale face, and the wound on his head, which had just stopped bleeding, started to ooze again, slowly trickling into his eyes and staining them red.

He wasn’t angry or upset, and said calmly: “If you don’t want me to die, you’ll need to feed me water and food.”

Makes sense.

I turned and went into the bathroom, scooped a big cup of water from the toilet, then grabbed Shi Yu’s chin and poured the whole cup down his throat in one go.
The relentless pouring made Shi Yu cough and choke repeatedly. Just as he managed to expel the water from his windpipe, more was forced in, leaving him not a single second to rest. His breathing grew rapid, his face flushed, and he gasped for air with his mouth wide open, water streaming from the corners of his lips.

Finally, I set down the empty cup, watching Shi Yu’s wretched state with amusement. I said, “I heard that if a human only drinks water without eating, they can survive for about a month. Why don’t you help me test that out? Come on, don’t die too quickly.”

Shi Yu adjusted his breathing, gradually stopped coughing, and smiled at me, “Alright, I’ll do my best.”

“So obedient?” I looked down at him from above and casually ordered, “Then crawl for me.”

Shi Yu said nothing. First, he knelt on both knees, then pressed his elbows to the ground, and truly began to crawl like a Dog. His head hung low, his body trembled slightly from the pain of his wounds, yet he persisted, slowly crawling around the living room. With every step forward, the Chains on his body clinked crisply.

Eventually, Shi Yu crawled to my feet, lifted his face, and looked up at me with those beautiful, deep eyes, earnestly gazing as if longing for me to reach out and pat his head, to reward him.

Goosebumps suddenly prickled my back, and I kicked him away.

This lunatic.

In the First Life, he could push me off the Rooftop without hesitation. In this life, he could obediently crawl on the floor like a Dog.

Even being castrated, he could laugh it off.

I suspected he was a masochist.

Maybe the more I abused him, the more excited he became.

Wouldn’t that be letting him off easy?

What could I do to make him truly suffer?

I really wanted to see him in despair, to see him terrified, to see him wishing for death.

Forget it, if nothing else works, I could just kill him and rid the world of a menace.

After that, I would occasionally go next door to force toilet water down Shi Yu’s throat.

His serious injuries hadn’t healed, and with no food intake, Shi Yu grew thinner by the day, more exhausted and frail. After just a week, he didn’t even have the strength to speak, unable to provoke me with words anymore.

I was in a great mood.

No matter how much of a Pervert he was, his life was now in my hands, wasn’t it?

Soon, Shi Yu began to fall into long periods of unconsciousness. He’d never had much flesh to begin with, and now he was nothing but skin and bones.

Pathetic.

He promised to last a month, but after such a short time, he was already half-dead.

But considering his injuries, he couldn’t be compared to a normal person, so I decided not to hold it against him.

I kicked Shi Yu awake, then casually tossed a piece of bread onto the bedroom floor, ten meters away. If he had the strength to crawl over and eat the bread, he could survive; if not, he’d starve to death.

Shi Yu, like a dying maggot, struggled to wriggle and crawl, using up all his strength with each movement. His face was as pale as paper, his limbs trembled at an unnatural rate, even breathing became an exhausting task.

At first, I watched with interest, but as he crawled slower and slower, I grew impatient, yawned, and pulled out my phone to send Song Wu a coquettish voice message: Uncle, I really miss you.

Lately, I’d often gone to the hospital to see Song Wu, waiting for him to get off work on time, then forcibly dragging him out for dates and meals.

I’d also asked him for some medical advice, so I could treat Shi Yu’s wounds after tormenting him.

Over time, all of Song Wu’s colleagues got to know me. On the surface, Song Wu introduced me as his niece, but when he wasn’t around, I’d secretly correct them: “Actually, I’m Doctor Song’s girlfriend. He’s just too shy to admit it, so you all just pretend not to know.”

So, whenever I sweetly clung to Song Wu’s arm, the nurses would watch us with meaningful looks.

If Song Wu found out, he’d surely scold me harshly with a stern face.

It’s fine, being scolded by Uncle is a kind of sweetness too.

In response to my voice message, Song Wu replied with four words: Speak properly.

So I sent another text: Miss you.

After several minutes, Song Wu finally replied: The department is busy lately. I’ll spend time with you when I get a few days off.

-Spend time with you when I get a few days off.

-Spend time with you.

Doesn’t that sound like how you’d talk to a girlfriend?

My cheeks flushed again, and I couldn’t help but lower my head and giggle.

As I laughed, I noticed Shi Yu had somehow crawled into the bedroom and was now wolfing down the bread.

I wiped the smile off my face and stared coldly at this wretched man.

At this moment, he was no longer human.

After licking up the last crumb from the floor, Shi Yu slowly regained some spirit, looked up at me, and tried to smile: “I did it.”

I clapped along, “Mr. Neighbor, you’re amazing.”

So amazing, I wanted to stomp his face into the ground.

I stroked the wall connecting my home to his: “Since you love peeping at me so much, why not just smash through this wall and make a Secret Door? How about it?”

Lately, I’d been going in and out of Shi Yu’s home a lot, always wary of being discovered by other neighbors. It was quite a hassle.

Shi Yu gave a weak smile: “I’d love that.”

During construction, I gagged Shi Yu and locked him in the bathroom.

If he tried, he could easily make some noise and attract the workers’ attention.

But he did nothing.

“Why didn’t you call for help?” I was curious.

Those workers were all hired through my connections, paid handsomely, efficient and tight-lipped.

Although Shi Yu looked shabby, I found a bank card in his home with a considerable balance.
On reflection, it made sense. He had killed so many people, he must have seized a considerable amount of property.

The money used to bribe the workers came from this Bank Card.

As long as he called for help, the workers would notify me immediately.

Then, I would personally cut out his tongue.

Unfortunately, he never did.

“Why would I ask for help?” Shi Yu’s pale face was full of delight. “I like Neighbor Miss. I wish I could stick to you every day.”

I slapped him again. “Disgusting.”

Blood slowly seeped from Shi Yu’s nostrils. He didn’t care at all, always smiling, as if even a slap was a kind of reward to him.

From then on, a hidden Secret Door appeared on my bedroom wall.

Blending seamlessly into the wall, unnoticed by anyone, it connected 403 and 404.

Most of the time, I made Shi Yu kneel, fixing him in place with layer upon layer of Chains, so that only his head could move.

When I was in a good mood, I would leash him and make him crawl to the bathroom to use the toilet and wash up. After all, I didn’t want him to stink up the place and make me suffer.

Besides the Bank Card, I also found his ID Card at Shi Yu’s place, discovering that he was the same age as me-twenty-five, just a few months older.

Strictly speaking, my current physical age was not yet twenty-five.

But my birthday was next week, and Song Wu had promised to have dinner with me that day.

Although I had already celebrated my twenty-fifth birthday in the First Life, this time Song Wu would be with me.

So, I decided that everything before didn’t count; everything would be based on this life.

Yet, before my birthday arrived, the police rang my doorbell.

Had they discovered that I was holding Shi Yu captive?

I gripped the doorknob, paused for a few seconds, and opened the door.

The police officer looked serious. “Are you Song Xingdi?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

The officer continued, “Fang Jian is your Ex-boyfriend, right?”

I was stunned. “What happened?”

The officer spoke gravely, “On the night of September 21st, Fang Jian sent a message to his Parents saying he was going away for a while to clear his mind. Since then, his phone has been off and he’s lost contact. He hasn’t been seen since. When was the last time you saw him?”

No.

Something’s wrong.

How could Fang Jian be missing?

In the First Life, he was fine all the way up to the wedding day. In the second life, I chased him with an Axe for ages and still didn’t manage to kill him.

This time, there was no wedding, no girlfriend. Did he really go away to heal his wounds out of heartbreak?

Impossible. Fang Jian wasn’t that sentimental.

Something must have happened.

Could it be Song Wu?

During our previous date, I tearfully complained to him about Fang Jian making me kneel.

To vent his anger for me, maybe he went and killed Fang Jian. It wasn’t impossible.

After all, he loved me so much.

My heart suddenly started pounding uncontrollably.

There was a living person imprisoned inside, and a stern police officer standing before me, yet I had no time to worry about being exposed. I couldn’t help but smile shyly.

Ah, love-it makes one fearless and carefree.

Luckily, I never sent that message threatening to chop up Fang Jian’s whole family and flush them down the toilet, or I’d have no way to explain myself now.

So, I deliberately avoided conflict, honestly said I didn’t know, and expressed concern for my Ex-boyfriend. The police didn’t stay long and soon left.

I immediately took out my phone, wanting to call Song Wu and tell him I loved him.

Just as I was about to press the dial button, I suddenly felt something was off.

Fang Jian disappeared on the night of September 21st.

That was the Mid-Autumn Festival.

At that time, I hadn’t even gone on a date with Song Wu, nor had I complained to him about Fang Jian.

My wildly beating heart abruptly calmed down.

It wasn’t Song Wu.

Then who was it?

I put down my phone, and, as if possessed, pushed open the Secret Door.

Shi Yu was kneeling on the floor, slowly raising his eyes, his deep pupils gazing at me.

It felt as if some invisible force was pulling me.

Step by step, I walked toward the huge Freezer in the kitchen and reached out to open the door.

In the previous life, I had opened this Freezer too, but it was empty then.

Now, Fang Jian lay inside, completely dead and stiff.

His hands and feet were bound, a rag stuffed in his mouth, every inch of his body covered in frost. His pupils were unnaturally wide, his eyes filled with despair and terror.

“You should have opened it next week,” Shi Yu’s voice was calm and eerie. “It was meant to be your birthday present.”

In the First Life, Fang Jian was the one who celebrated my twenty-fifth birthday with me.

“Happy birthday, honey!” He handed me a huge bouquet of Champagne Rose.

“We haven’t had the wedding yet. Why are you calling me honey?” I lowered my head to smell the flowers.

“I’ve already got you tied down anyway.” Fang Jian hugged me tightly.

“Another year older. So annoying.” I sighed.

“Not old at all. This is the best age. We’ll be young forever, always twenty-five!” He grinned, full of energy and hope.

“Crazy,” I rolled my eyes. “How could anyone stay twenty-five forever?”

…

I reached out and slowly touched the stiff, frozen face in the Freezer. The bone-chilling cold spread rapidly from my fingertips.

I was wrong, Fang Jian.

Turns out, someone really can stay twenty-five forever.

For example, you, now that you’re dead.