She was terrified of this method of beating, but Wei Mingzhen comforted her, saying that boys being beaten was a way to educate them. Besides, Chen Yi truly had a terrible temperament—rude, fierce, swearing, fighting, stealing—and was disliked by everyone. Wei Mingzhen told Miao Jing to stay away from him, and if Chen Yi dared to bully her, she should report it to Chen Libin.
Chen Libin’s kicks seemed forceful, but Chen Yi always got up without changing his expression. The young boy, head bowed, had eyes like hidden, cold, hard stones, with a fierce determination. Miao Jing always thought it couldn’t be that painful, but later she discovered that Chen Yi made noises in his sleep at night and sometimes talked in his dreams. Occasionally, when he turned over in his deep sleep, she saw his furrowed brow, his hands clutching his stomach, and intermittent groans. Only then did she realize he was in discomfort too—he was just enduring it. His dream-talk was hurried and indistinct, but he would call out for his mother.
Living in this house for a long time, Miao Jing always felt a sense of unease.
Later, someone came to complain, saying their car parked by the roadside had been scratched, and someone had seen Chen Yi holding a stone and marking the car. The car owner came to demand compensation, and with solid evidence, Chen Libin paid a small sum and sent the person away, then calmly brought out something.
Chen Yi suddenly rushed into the room and huddled in the corner. Miao Jing saw the fear in his eyes, like a terrified little beast trapped in a cage.
It was likely an electrified device Chen Libin had made himself. He understood electricity and had easily created a punishment tool. When the device lightly touched Chen Yi’s body, he began to tremble, his shoulders hunched, his face pale, and his eyes red.
"I’m doing this for your own good. With behavior like this, you’ll end up in trouble sooner or later," Chen Libin said gently. "At such a young age, you’re not learning anything good. Don’t say you’re my son, Chen Libin. I can’t control you."
"You’re not my son, and I’m not your father."
Miao Jing watched as Chen Yi’s body twisted and convulsed unnaturally.
Wei Mingzhen, also shaken, dragged the stiff Miao Jing out of the room. Noticing Miao Jing was trembling, she pulled her to the balcony: "What are you afraid of? It has nothing to do with you. That’s Chen Yi’s biological mother. His mother wronged your Uncle Chen."
After that, whenever Chen Yi got into trouble and was beaten, Miao Jing would have nightmares at night. She would wake up struggling, her legs twisted and cramping, clutching the sheets and gasping for breath. Sometimes, she would even wake Chen Yi. He would pull back the curtain, stand by her bed, and watch her flushed face and heaving chest, grinning coldly with a chilling glint in his eyes.
"If you keep watching, I’ll get up in the middle of the night and gouge your eyes out."
Miao Jing whimpered and covered her eyes with her hands.
He looked at her timid, mouse-like demeanor and curled his lip disdainfully: "What are you afraid of? He doesn’t hit you."
"He’s a lunatic, a psychopath."
Chen Yi muttered, leaving Miao Jing behind, and lay back on his bed, pulling the covers over his head and turning over to sleep soundly.
Later, as Miao Jing grew a little older, she understood more about Chen Yi’s mother from the neighbors’ gossip and Wei Mingzhen’s vague hints.
Chen Yi’s mother had drowned. She had gone to the river inexplicably to wash bedsheets and was found days later. It was unclear whether it was an accident or her own choice. Before that, rumors circulated that Chen Yi’s mother had had an affair, cuckolding Chen Libin, and had been caught. She wanted a divorce but couldn’t get one, arguing with her husband at home every day. There were also rumors that Chen Yi wasn’t even Chen Libin’s son, as Chen Libin had been diagnosed with oligospermia, making it difficult for him to have children.Wei Mingzhen scrutinized Chen Yi closely, even secretly asking Miao Jing if she thought Chen Yi resembled Chen Libin. Neighbors said Chen Yi looked very much like his mother, who had been quite beautiful, but there seemed to be traces of Chen Libin in him too. Both father and son were handsome—Chen Libin’s high nose bridge and double eyelids were mirrored in Chen Yi.
There were no photos of Chen Yi’s mother in the house. Perhaps there had been one—Miao Jing might have glimpsed it accidentally, though she hadn’t gotten a clear look. A small black-and-white ID photo tucked between the pages of one of Chen Yi’s books. When he noticed, he shoved her away fiercely.
Over time, Wei Mingzhen began quarreling with Chen Libin as well. Each month, he gave her only a fixed amount for living expenses. Though the family savings were said to be substantial, he kept a tight grip on them, not letting a single penny slip through. To have more financial freedom, Wei Mingzhen had to find a job herself. Additionally, Chen Libin was constantly interacting with various women online, his words ambiguous and suggestive.
Wei Mingzhen also wanted to get pregnant. Given the current state between Chen Libin and Chen Yi, a rift was inevitable sooner or later. If she could bear Chen Libin’s child, many things would become much easier to manage.
Miao Jing excelled in her studies, consistently ranking among the top students in her grade. She earned numerous awards each semester and participated in various academic competitions and contests. Her personality wasn’t particularly likable—she was quiet most of the time—but her academic achievements drew attention and approval from those around her. Gradually, she formed close friendships with one or two female classmates.
At school, no one knew about her relationship with Chen Yi. From a young age, Chen Yi had been unruly and domineering in school, wild and untamed. Yet his grades weren’t too bad—hovering around the middle of the pack. By fifth or sixth grade, he already had girls chasing after him, shouting his name loudly and competing to do his homework for him.
Even at that young age, they would say Chen Yi was good-looking, with an even more captivating smile. Though somewhat rough and annoying, he was fiercely loyal, like a chivalrous hero from the martial world.
Occasionally, Miao Jing would see Chen Yi on the playground, darting from one end to the other, his forehead glistening with sweat, a carefree and bold smile on his dust-smudged cheeks, his eyes dark and bright. In those moments, he didn’t seem so frightening after all.
After elementary school, Chen Yi entered the local middle school. It wasn’t far from home—only a half-hour walk—but he chose to board there.
As children grew older, it became inappropriate for a middle school boy entering adolescence to share a room with her, especially given Chen Yi’s temperament and volatile nature. Boarding school was a better fit. Miao Jing could have the room to herself—she was academically gifted, timid, and quiet, deserving of a little extra consideration.
Chen Yi’s single bed was moved to the living room. The rectangular space had a corner originally occupied by several large boxes, which were cleared out to make room for the bed against the wall. A curtain was hung to partition off a small area.
After all, Chen Yi spent most of his time playing outside, coming home only to eat and sleep. Once he started boarding in middle school, he returned even less frequently—just once a month to ask for living expenses and such.
He began shooting up in height rapidly, his clothes suddenly seeming too short. His appearance transitioned from a boy’s childishness to a youthful, bold handsomeness, his facial features growing more defined. His personality became even more arrogant and domineering, increasingly reckless as he entered his rebellious phase.
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