Evil People Have Their Own Evil Mothers [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 27: It Hurts

Chapter 27: It Hurts

Caо Weidong?

Xu Jiu’s soft call carried a faint pleading tone. His earlier arrogance while holding a cigarette had completely vanished, replaced by a cowering timidity that made him seem unable to straighten up.

Xu Jiu was afraid at this moment.

But what he feared wasn’t Cao Weidong himself – rather, he feared that the presence behind him might not be Cao Weidong at all.

The hostility radiating from the buildings he had passed while running only deepened this conviction. He felt certain that those pitch-black windows concealed malicious intentions.

Every window, every doorframe seemed to harbor dark eyes that emitted faint, dangerous rustling sounds like surveillance cameras, their rigid eyeballs tracking Xu Jiu’s every movement.

Once Xu Jiu moved further away, they would burst free from their confining frames, using the wind as their neural pathways to chase after him into the darkness, watching him with even greater greed.

They were just waiting for Xu Jiu to misstep into the darkness so they could swarm and devour him.

Of course, these were merely delusions born from terror.

Cao Weidong was the only anchor for his frayed nerves in this moment.

When his plea received no response, Xu Jiu learned to hold his breath in silence, remaining frozen under the moonlight, afraid to move recklessly.

One minute… two minutes…

What came was a breeze – or perhaps Cao Weidong’s hand – something gentle yet cold that carefully lifted the hair at his nape to one side, revealing a section of flesh-colored neck.

The neck was perfectly clean, and under the silver-gray moonlight, it became like a patch of snow-white purity in the darkness.

The call remained connected. Xu Jiu held his phone with both hands near his mouth, Cao Weidong’s number displayed on the screen while endless wind sounds mixed with breathing poured from the speaker.

The vibration from the speaker reddened Xu Jiu’s fingers.

You’re scaring me again.

As Xu Jiu spoke, the phone screen glowed brighter than the moonlight, clearly displaying the full name saved above the number – Cao Weidong.

Cao Weidong.

Xu Jiu murmured Cao Weidong’s name, his lips unavoidably kissing the syllables as he spoke.

Xu Jiu didn’t want to live in fear anymore. Whether it was human or ghost, he had decided to turn and look.

But just as Xu Jiu began to shift his feet, the phone in his hand suddenly vibrated violently like a corpse springing to life. Countless needle-like sensations seemed to pierce through the phone case into his hands, startling him into dropping the device with a clatter onto the ground.

The phone bounced twice before coming to rest crookedly by his feet.

Xu Jiu slowly bent down to retrieve it. A straight diagonal crack ran from the upper right to lower left corner, slicing across the entire screen.

The brightly lit characters 【Pan Yu】 stood out strikingly against the dark background, almost sucking away all attention.

As Xu Jiu wiped the screen, he felt an intense gaze from above. He slowly raised his head, his eyelids lifting along with the motion.

First, he saw a pair of yellowed old sneakers, and Xu Jiu breathed a sigh of relief, growing bolder as he looked upward.

Next came Cao Weidong’s dark gray sweater, its hem neatly trimmed of loose threads.

I’m here.

Cao Weidong’s voice suddenly sounded from above, winding around Xu Jiu’s ears like a wisp of smoke. It carried little emotional flavor, appearing plainly and vanishing smoothly.

Xu Jiu completely raised his head, his occiput pressing against his spine. Bathed in the phone screen’s light, he found himself perfectly reflected in Cao Weidong’s eyes.

Without exaggeration, in that moment Xu Jiu almost thought he was about to be stuffed into the black cloth descending over his head.

Cao Weidong’s gaze falling from above was like an airtight black sack that admitted no light, perfectly enveloping Xu Jiu’s frame.

As Cao Weidong leaned down, the weight of his intense stare pressed Xu Jiu downward, forcing him to gradually transition from standing to bending over, then crouching, until finally his bottom and lower back met the cold gray brick floor in a clumsy sit.

Xu Jiu stared blankly, all rationality obscured by Cao Weidong’s hollow dark eyes.

Aren’t you going to answer that?

Cao Weidong’s reminder came as the phone had been ringing on the ground for what felt like an eternity.

Tilting his head up to look at Cao Weidong, for some reason Xu Jiu held the phone and quietly asked, Can I answer it?

Cao Weidong paused, the half of his face hidden in darkness curling into a stealthy smile.

His silver-gray moonlit Adam’s apple bobbed visibly as he said, You may.

Xu Jiu sniffled hard. Only with Cao Weidong’s permission did he press the answer button under that unwavering gaze, simultaneously activating speakerphone.

Cao Weidong! Stop hiding! If you dare hurt Xu Jiu, I’ll come kill you right now!

Pan Yu’s voice struck like thunder, making the phone physically jump twice in Xu Jiu’s hands. Xu Jiu hurriedly gripped it tighter with both hands.

Raising his eyes to Cao Weidong, Xu Jiu blinked twice and calmly defended, No, he’s not here. I’m alone.

Who are you trying to fool? My cousin Xiao Can saw Cao Weidong take you away at the school gate! Is Cao Weidong threatening you right now?

Pan Yu kept talking to himself, faster and faster, working himself into a frenzy.

Fuck me… I swear… Send me your location, I’m coming to find you now!

Busy rustling sounds came from the phone, accompanied by a faint female voice repeatedly urging him to lie back down.

How can I lie down? If Cao Weidong could beat me up like this, he could punch Xu Jiu to death! How can Cao Weidong’s worthless life compensate for that?!

Pan Yu’s anxious voice teetered on the edge of cracking, his throat so strained that coughing fits interrupted him constantly.

Upon hearing punch to death,Xu Jiu’s wide eyes blinked twice at Cao Weidong, a small curve escaping the corner of his mouth before being quickly suppressed by biting his lip with sharp teeth.

He’s really not here.

Pan Yu issued an uncompromising command: Two choices – either I come find you now, or you come to the hospital to find me.

Rubbing his nose, Xu Jiu stared at the name 【Pan Yu】 on his screen in dilemma.

If he ended up disabled or dead tonight, Pan Yu would definitely find out. Then Cao Weidong would inevitably go to jail – wouldn’t that ruin his future civil service exam eligibility?

But… whether he can take the civil service exam isn’t something a villain like me should worry about!

Cao Weidong’s right hand pressed over Xu Jiu’s, simultaneously covering the phone.

When Xu Jiu looked over, he didn’t know when Cao Weidong had crouched down, stopping right in front of him, face to face, sharing breaths.

Xu Jiu leaned closer, murmuring by Cao Weidong’s ear, Should I hang up?

Without waiting for Cao Weidong’s order, Xu Jiu’s finger already pressed the red end-call button while adding to Pan Yu: I’m checking into a hotel room. Don’t interrupt my good time.

After the beep—, the surroundings instantly fell silent, the phone screen darkening simultaneously.

I hung up.

Xu Jiu spoke as if seeking praise.

Mhm.Cao Weidong responded.

Mhm? And then what!Xu Jiu eagerly picked up his words, using Cao Weidong’s eyes as a mirror, intently admiring the tiny reflection of himself in those dark pupils.

Cao Weidong looked toward the left side of the intersection, staring straight ahead as if something were hidden within the darkness of that narrow alley.

Xu Jiu followed Cao Weidong’s gaze, feeling puzzled, curious, and expectant—but no longer afraid.

What Xu Jiu thought was: such a perfect opportunity, such a dark environment, such a desolate and deserted place—it was either a date or a murder.

He and Cao Weidong immediately ruled out the possibility of a date, which left only murder!

Xu Jiu ran through the ways he might die. The simplest would be strangulation, then casually tossing him into the gaping maw of some pitch-black building, leaving him lying among broken rubble, waiting for half a month or a month until his body completely rotted and bloated before someone would finally, belatedly, discover that Young Master Xu had died.

As for how to get away with it—that would be Cao Weidong’s problem.

Unable to contain his excitement, Xu Jiu instinctively reached into his coat pocket for a lighter.

He felt around…

and something felt off.

He pulled out a small glass bottle, glanced at the drug name on the label, then grinned and stuffed it into Cao Weidong’s palm.

Up to you.

Xu Jiu said.

Then Xu Jiu felt around again and found a one-yuan lighter from a convenience store. He didn’t mind it and gripped it in his hand.

With a flick, a faint blue flame danced in Xu Jiu’s eyes. He held a slender cigarette between his index and middle fingers, took a leisurely drag, let the smoke swirl in his nostrils and around his lips before slowly exhaling it into the air.

Xu Jiu’s eyes narrowed slightly, savoring the suffocating feeling as the smoke drifted upward and veiled his face.

Cao Weidong’s thumb pressed against the glass bottle, rubbing it gently up and down.

He rarely fidgeted, but today was the first time his fingers couldn’t stay still.

Let’s go back.

When Cao Weidong said this, he wasn’t even looking at Xu Jiu. He was staring into the empty darkness, as if gazing at himself from a distance.

He didn’t want this lonely darkness to be stained with any abrupt colors—they didn’t belong there in the first place.

Cough, cough, cough—!Xu Jiu choked, his face flushed red, staring incredulously at Cao Weidong’s profile. What did you say?!

Go home.

Cao Weidong said, just like the first time they had confronted each other head-on, when he had similarly warned Xu Jiu to go home.

Xu Jiu flicked his cigarette forcefully, shaking off the excess ash, clenched it between his lips, and abruptly stood up, stomping his foot directly onto Cao Weidong’s arm.

Seriously, man, don’t you hate me?!

Cao Weidong didn’t stand up; he remained squatting, patting the dust off his sweater sleeve with his palm.

Bro, such a perfect opportunity! Didn’t you even prepare the drug? Use it! You…Xu Jiu couldn’t find a cloth strip, so he simply took off his coat and threw it in Cao Weidong’s face.

Just use this thing, cover my nose and mouth with it, and then you can do whatever you want to me!

Cao Weidong stood up, smoothed out the coat, and handed it back to Xu Jiu, gesturing for him to put it on since it was cold.

Xu Jiu reached out to pinch Cao Weidong’s cheek, tugging it sideways before patting his face and letting out a frustrated sound: Brother, I tore down your home, smashed all your belongings, stole your scholarship, left you homeless—I even crippled one of your hands!

Fuming with exasperation, Xu Jiu took fierce drags from his cigarette, his face clouded with worry as he smoked:

Hate me! Come at me!

In any typical story, the protagonist should have already crushed him underfoot by now, shouting: Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—never bully the young and poor.

Xu Jiu suddenly grew quiet, staring at Cao Weidong, waiting to see his reaction.

Rather than reacting, Cao Weidong seemed more like an outsider, standing aside with folded arms as he observed Xu Jiu’s outburst.

Why?Xu Jiu demanded, unable to comprehend.

Cao Weidong echoed him: Why?

Because… because I…

Because I exist solely to die by your hand.

Xu Jiu’s mind cleared slightly from the nicotine. He nearly let the words slip but caught them on his tongue, swallowing them back with such force that the veins on his neck bulged.

Deflated, Xu Jiu bit down on his cigarette and took another drag, his fingertips tinged red from the heat of the smoke.

Only when Xu Jiu had settled did Cao Weidong slowly ask: Why me?

Cao Weidong’s words always carried multiple meanings. Even Xu Jiu, who wasn’t one for deep thought, understood he was asking several questions at once.

Why did you target me?

Why do you want to die?

Why must I be the one to do it?

Xu Jiu had no intention of answering any of them. He simply clenched his cigarette and retorted through the hazy smoke: Don’t you hate me?

…………

Cao Weidong fell silent.

The moonlight dimmed slightly, as if shrouded by the haze of smoke Xu Jiu exhaled.

Sigh.

Cao Weidong let out a faint sigh before softly urging: Go back.

What a coward,Xu Jiu spat, tossing his cigarette butt aside without bothering to stamp it out, immediately lighting a second one. In his haste, he inhaled too sharply and choked, coughing violently until his neck flushed red.

You came prepared—what are you pretending for? You clearly hate me!

As he smoked, Xu Jiu’s eyes darted toward the glass vial in Cao Weidong’s palm.

If you didn’t hate me, why bring me here? Why carry that thing in your pocket? You asked ‘why me’—why ask when you already know the answer?

Under Xu Jiu’s furious gaze, Cao Weidong’s expression remained unchanged, if anything growing paler and more detached in the misty moonlight.

Perhaps Xu Jiu’s resentful energy was too overwhelming. Not wanting to dismiss his emotions entirely, Cao Weidong quietly replied: Mm.

With that single syllable, he brushed aside the towering rage and resentment festering in Xu Jiu’s heart as if it were dust on a table.

You—

Xu Jiu’s anger flared instantly, but lashing out at Cao Weidong felt like punching stone.

Whether Cao Weidong felt any pain was uncertain, but Xu Jiu’s fist certainly ached.

Withdrawing his hand, Xu Jiu blew a resentful puff of smoke into Cao Weidong’s face, spitefully adding a mock spit before deliberately wiping the ash from his fingers onto Cao Weidong’s cheek.

Coward. Too scared to even fight back. No wonder I’ve toyed with you until you have nothing left.

Xu Jiu spoke without intending to waste more words on Cao Weidong. Choosing a direction that felt like the way home, he turned and walked away.

He was still wearing Cao Weidong’s jacket. Halfway through his walk, he considered stubbornly taking it off and throwing it back, but a gust of wind swept across his face like a sickle, and he quickly abandoned that stubborn idea.

Wear it then. The more of Cao Weidong’s clothes he wore, the fewer Cao Weidong would have to wear himself.

That was pretty wicked too.

Xu Jiu tightened the jacket around himself, brought the cigarette pinched between his fingers to his lips, gently kissed it, and took a drag. His gaze followed the rising smoke in a circle before settling on the moon overhead.

Then he stopped.

He took another drag, casually flicked the half-smoked cigarette butt to the ground, and plunged headfirst into the darkness.

Xu Jiu was still terrified, so he unconsciously lengthened his strides. The loose bricks beneath his feet made intermittent tapping sounds, mirroring his unsettled anxiety swinging violently in mid-air.

In the darkness, the still-glowing cigarette butt fell to the ground, scattering sparks.

Cao Weidong saw it and stepped forward, picking up the cigarette butt. After shaking off the excess ash, he kissed the spot where Xu Jiu had bitten it, deliberately covering the small indentation left by sharp teeth.

Cao Weidong took a drag, staring in the direction Xu Jiu had fled, listening to the panicked footsteps echoing from the darkness.

He held the intense smoke in his mouth and swallowed it straight down.

Regretting it?

Cao Weidong wasn’t speaking to anyone. He was staring into the darkness.

He kissed the cigarette filter again. Just as Xu Jiu had said—if he had no cigarettes, he’d scavenge his to smoke—Cao Weidong was proving with action that he hadn’t lied.

No, go back.

Cao Weidong muttered to himself.

But go back where? The warehouse?

There was nothing there.

No specimens of yours, no dog of yours, no person you wanted.

Not even you wanted to be there. You were homeless.

But—

But Xu Jiu knew everything now. Knocking him out and kidnapping him—could that still be called revenge?

That would only play right into that villain Xu Jiu’s hands.

What Cao Weidong wanted was hatred.

Just like how Xu Jiu kept demanding whether he hated him, he wanted to ask Xu Jiu if he hated him too.

But he was already here. He had already laid everything out.

He was already standing on the stone slabs outside the warehouse door.

Why not act? Why pretend to be the good guy and let him go? Why not admit you regret it?

You ask me why? Don’t you already know the answer perfectly well?

Xu Jiu’s voice exploded in Cao Weidong’s ears.

Xu Jiu’s image floated in the center of Cao Weidong’s pupils, trapped within the glowing embers of the cigarette butt pinched in Cao Weidong’s fingers, burning the captive yet defiant figure in his eyeballs.

I regret it.

Cao Weidong finally admitted.

He kissed the short remaining stub in his hand again, trembling as he took a drag, as if steeling himself for some resolution before stepping into the darkness.

Xu Jiu’s trail wasn’t hard to follow. He was always like a string of firecrackers—wherever he went, he left commotion.

Following the sound, Cao Weidong easily located Xu Jiu’s figure.

Xu Jiu hadn’t gotten lost. Guided by the faint light spilling from the entrance of the urban village, he carefully found his direction and walked straight along that path.

Xu Jiu gazed at the brightly lit lamp at the end of his sight, overjoyed.

But at the same time, he warily glanced back.

It felt like someone was always following behind, their fixed stare nailed to his back, impossible to ignore.

Xu Jiu muttered a string of curses as he walked, recalling an old superstition that swearing—the filthier the better—could drive away malevolent spirits.

Sure enough, the piercing gaze burning into his back seemed to fade, no longer needling him like sharp thorns.

He rubbed his frozen, reddened nose vigorously, sniffled through chattering teeth, and trudged onward.

As the distant lantern grew closer, his vigilance gradually waned. His hurried strides slowed to a weary shuffle, punctuated by labored panting.

Skritch-skritch—

The sound of scattered bricks being shifted.

Xu Jiu whirled around, but found nothing.

Must be the wind,he told himself, and continued walking.

Skritch-skritch— again.

This time he didn’t turn, reasoning that constant wind rustling through debris was commonplace—he’d been hearing such noises all night.

Skritch-skritch—thud.

A third occurrence, but now with an abrupt new sound at the end.

Finally, Xu Jiu sensed something was wrong. The skritching resembled dragging footsteps, while the thud sounded like a solid brick being lifted.

CRASH—!

Before he could turn to investigate, a solid brick slammed into the back of his skull like a cleaver. The impact exploded through his ears, the ensuing tinnitus needling painfully through his brain. His delicate features contorted into a grotesque mask of agony.

Warm, sticky fluid gushed out, soaking his collar with a metallic stench.

After the searing pain came unconsciousness.

There was no chance to resist—Xu Jiu didn’t even have time to react. A brief, terrified urkescaped his lips before all awareness was severed.

The night deepened.