Chapter 24
An hour had passed since the disappearance of Xigaodi.
Pei Buxian had reviewed the surveillance footage. Xigaodi had bolted out of the villa's side door, never looking back as it sprinted out of the courtyard, squeezing through the gap in the main gate's fence and disappearing from the cameras.
Qiao Chuchu immediately contacted the property management company overseeing the entire villa district and posted a reward notice for the dog's return, but there was still no news.
Most of the household staff had gone out to search for the dog.
Only she and Pei Buxian remained at home.
Qiao Chuchu sat in Pei Buxian's room, glancing around.
Pei Buxian's room was cozy, with a cream-colored decor and filled with photos and portraits of Xigaodi and him, clearly illustrating the dog's significance in Pei Buxian's heart.
Pei Buxian sat by the window, lost in thought.
His golden hair shimmered under the sunlight, his profile as exquisite as a sculpture, resembling a golden-haired beauty from a manga.
Qiao Chuchu was mesmerized.
Before she knew it, Pei Buxian, just one year older than her, had grown into a mature man.
She still always felt that Pei Buxian's mentality was younger than hers.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Xia Xuechun entered, looking guilty: "I'm sorry, Mr. Pei, I still haven't found your dog."
Pei Buxian grabbed a teacup and threw it at Xia Xuechun!
Xia Xuechun didn't dodge, and the cup shattered on her forehead, blood trickling down.
Qi Xiaojia happened to see this and screamed: "Xuexue!"
She ran to Xia Xuechun's side and scolded Pei Buxian: "Are you crazy? It's just a lost dog! It's not dead! Maybe it can find its way back on its own!"
Without a word, Pei Buxian picked up another cup and threw it at Qi Xiaojia!
Qi Xiaojia couldn't dodge in time, and blood immediately streamed down her forehead!
Both girls were shocked!
Pei Buxian roared: "If my dog dies, I'll drag you both to hell with me!!!"
The sisters covered their foreheads in shock, too frightened to speak.
This guy is a pure madman!
Pei Buxian's eyes were bloodshot as he ranted: "I've raised this dog for six years. It's so stupid and stubborn, too dumb to know the way, too dumb to follow anyone who leads it! It definitely doesn't know how to find its way back, and it's winter now. My dog has never been cold since I raised it. If anything happens to it, your whole family will have to wait for me!!!"
The two girls shivered simultaneously.
Pei Buxian bellowed: "Keep looking for it!!!"
They ran off without looking back!
Qiao Chuchu looked at the mess on the floor and felt a headache coming on.
She knew Pei Buxian's fits of rage.
Calm as an old dog when normal, wild as a mad dog when triggered.
However, after seven years of not living together, Pei Buxian's fits seemed even worse.
He used to never hit people, let alone throw things at them.
Qiao Chuchu couldn't hold back: "I can't wait anymore, I'll help you look for it too."
Pei Buxian: "Stay put!!!"
She sat back down on the sofa, startled.
Pei Buxian's chest heaved violently, his eyes red as he glared at her.
"This is all your fault."
Qiao Chuchu: "Brother, don't be ridiculous, what does this have to do with me?"
Pei Buxian lifted her up and pinned her against the wall!
Qiao Chuchu was caught off guard, accidentally knocking over a picture frame on the table!
Glass shards scattered on the floor, revealing two photos inside.
Xigaodi's photo was on top.
Her photo was below.
Qiao Chuchu: "?"
Why was her photo under Xigaodi's?
Her chin was tightly gripped by Pei Buxian, who forced her to look at him: "Look at me!"
Qiao Chuchu winced in pain, meeting Pei Buxian's gaze.
His golden hair covered his eyes, but through the gaps, she saw his crazed stare: "If it weren't for you, Xigaodi wouldn't exist. It's because you betrayed us first that I bought Xigaodi to keep me company. It's all your fault!"
Qiao Chuchu's heart trembled!
But feeling wronged, she caught onto a detail: "So... Xigaodi was meant to replace me in your heart?"
Pei Buxian didn't deny it.
Tears glistened in his glassy eyes, "Now my dog is gone, and I can't go look for it because it's dangerous outside. I need to protect you, to keep you from dying accidentally."
Qiao Chuchu: "?"
Protect her?
Why protect her?
But before she could think further, Pei Buxian suddenly grabbed a craft knife and pressed it against her neck!
She gasped, all blood rushing to her head, her voice strained: "Brother?!"
Pei Buxian, devoid of reason, pressed the knife against her flesh: "Why do you always hurt everything I cherish?"
She tilted her chin up, trying to avoid the knife's tip, but didn't answer.
Pei Buxian looked at her in disbelief: "You lost my 200,000-word manuscript, destroying a month of my hard work and inspiration!"
"Didn't I treat you well? Don't I love you? Why do you keep hurting me over and over again?!"
A sharp pain shot through Qiao Chuchu's neck.
She didn't struggle, just turned her head away, unable to face him, ashamed.
She didn't want to.
She had traveled here at three years old, experiencing love she had never felt in her previous life, sharing joys and hardships with them, giving her all to her family.
But the system forced her.
It made her delete Pei Buxian's 200,000-word manuscript, under unreasonable threats.
It demanded that Pei Buxian kiss her.
When he refused, she deleted the manuscript without hesitation, not even leaving it in the recycle bin.
Pei Buxian's month of hard work was destroyed, and he was so furious he ended up in the hospital.
She had done such cruel things countless times.
She didn't want to, she really didn't.
But any hint of resistance would make the system inflict the unbearable pain of a terminal illness on her.
And any suicidal thoughts would be met with pain that immobilized her until she was completely subdued.
She truly had no face to see them.
So she didn't understand why, after doing so many wrong things, she was still allowed to return to this home.
She looked guiltily into Pei Buxian's eyes.
His fierce gaze was hidden under his disheveled hair.
He gripped her tightly, his mental state precarious.
Qiao Chuchu felt he was like a golden apple, shining under the sun, but on the verge of rotting.
But this apple's decay was also due to her and the system's interference.
Suddenly, Qiao Chuchu was calm: "Okay."
Aliali: 6754d302bd5e46c308a67379Pei Buxian: "?"
Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes: "You kill me, and I'll disappear from this world, you'll never see me again, and I won't appear in front of you anymore."
Pei Buxian widened his eyes, tears spilling out: "Do you think this can threaten me?"
"It's not a threat," Qiao Chuchu calmly said, "I mean it, brother. If you want me dead, you don't have to dirty your hands. I can leave this world myself."
She said: "I can atone."
The craft knife fell from Pei Buxian's hand, and he hugged her tightly!
His broad hand pressed against the back of her head, holding her fiercely, as if she were his life.
Qiao Chuchu leaned on his shoulder, gradually calming her breathing: "You don't want me dead?"
Pei Buxian shook his head.
Tears dripped onto her shoulder as he sobbed softly: "Letting you die would be too easy on you."
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