Evil People Have Their Own Evil Mothers [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 29: Though I Let You Escape, Did You Really Believe It?

Chapter 29: Though I Let You Escape, Did You Really Believe It?

Bro, you’re back.

Xu Jiu spun his heels like steering a wheel, swiftly turning his back to avoid facing the shadow directly.

Crime is most taboo when seen clearly, especially kidnapping. If Xu Jiu had seen the other’s face, it would mean certain death, he thought.

Xu Jiu chickened out. Valuing his life, he had no intention of fighting to the death just yet.

Um… I can explain the state of this room.

Xu Jiu scratched his head, his eyes darting left and right. Seeing there wasn’t a single spot to stand in the room, he grew even more guilty: I waited for you for so long, but you didn’t come back. I got too scared and wanted to go look for you.

I didn’t escape, absolutely didn’t plan to escape. Xu Jiu casually tossed the chair leg in his hand to the floor beside him.

He deliberately didn’t throw it far, thinking that if the kidnapper tried to kill him, he could still crouch down and use it for self-defense.

Maybe he could escape then.

Xu Jiu rambled on with a long explanation, but Cao Weidong didn’t respond at all.

Cao Weidong looked at the room that resembled a bomb site and sighed quietly to himself.

From the moment he caught Xu Jiu, he had anticipated this would happen.

Cao Weidong closed the door behind him with his back, walked past Xu Jiu, set down the groceries he was carrying—still damp with dew—against the wall, then rolled up his sleeves and began cleaning up the trash on the floor.

He gathered three chair legs and four table legs, dragging the tabletop and seat surfaces to stack against the wall.

The induction cooker bought just two days ago was shattered into pieces all over the floor. Two ceramic bowls were broken on the cabinet. The bed board had a large hole in the middle, and the cotton from the quilt and pillow had been completely pulled out, scattered everywhere.

Another sigh.

Xu Jiu’s heart raced with fear.

Xu Jiu quickly picked up a piece of fabric scattered nearby, covered his eyes, tied it behind his head, and only then turned to face the man behind him, cautiously asking:

Bro, you won’t blame me, right?

The man paused in his tidying.

Then footsteps approached Xu Jiu, slow and deliberate. The sound of soles tapping on the concrete floor was sharp and clear, like a hammer striking nails, thumping rhythmically.

The nails were embedded in Xu Jiu’s head, making the back of his skull dizzy again.

Thump—

One step.

Bro, I was wrong. It won’t happen again. Xu Jiu apologized.

Thump—

That was the second step.

Bro, I’ve already apologized. Xu Jiu emphasized weakly.

Thump-thump—

Two steps in a row, stopping directly in front of Xu Jiu.

Xu Jiu pouted, raised his hand, and pointed at the person in front of him—though, because he couldn’t see, his finger aimed at Cao Weidong’s ear.

Xu Jiu opened his mouth, righteous and bold: Even if this is my fault, don’t you share some responsibility too?

A warm hand took hold of Xu Jiu’s raised hand, kindly helping him adjust his finger to the correct position, pointing right at the nose.

He said:

Yes.

The other hand pressed against Xu Jiu’s brow. This hand trembled violently for some reason, unable to stay completely still.

Before Xu Jiu could wonder, the cloth covering his eyes was yanked away by that hand, leaving him no time to ponder the hand’s trembling.

Xu Jiu squeezed his eyes shut. Bro, I know the rules of your line of work. If I see your face, I have to die.

Cao Weidong commanded:

Open them.

Hearing the voice, Xu Jiu’s brows furrowed sharply before his eyes snapped open—wide and round, as if he wanted to grind Cao Weidong into dust and press him into his pupils.

Cao—Wei—dong!

Each syllable of Cao Weidong’s name was spat out from between Xu Jiu’s teeth like gritty sand caught in his molars, forcefully ejected with a tight-lipped puff.

Xu Jiu’s face flushed crimson.

A mix of shame and fury.

There was no second call of Cao Weidong, nor a second cry of brother.

His palm clenched and swung forth, tearing through the air.

The fist whistled past, knuckles taut, veins bulging from forearm to fingers as if straining to burst through the thin layer of skin.

Cao Weidong didn’t evade, allowing the punch to land. It scraped his cheekbone raw, revealing crimson flesh beneath. Blood dripped like irregular raindrops, tracing winding paths down his face.

Cao Weidong startled at the damp sensation on his cheek.

Like tears.

He raised a hand to wipe it, rubbing the fluid between thumb and forefinger until his fingerprints were stained.

He glanced down at his hand, then up at Xu Jiu.

What’re you staring at? I’ll beat you to death today, you bastard!

Xu Jiu glared back defiantly.

Yet the moment their gazes locked—the instant those abyssal eyes focused entirely on him—the hairs on Xu Jiu’s neck stood on end. The stream of profanity died on his lips mid-insult, barely reaching the target’s parents.

In the past, he’d have dragged the target’s ancestry back to their great-grandfather’s generation.

Xu Jiu’s vision had been obscured for too long; he’d forgotten the intensity of Cao Weidong’s gaze.

Now, confronted abruptly, it felt like being forcibly submerged in a black abyss—legs trapped in unfathomable depths.

The Black Tide seemed to spread through that very gaze. One more second…

One more look—

Cao Weidong’s hand shot upward without warning.

Xu Jiu jolted in place, frozen, before belatedly realizing he should dodge.

Too late.

Cao Weidong’s left hand was already clamped against his face, thumbs digging into the hollows of his cheeks, forcing his jaw open.

Such a handsome face, ruined by vulgarity. Cao Weidong disliked seeing it this way.

Xu Jiu’s brows furrowed violently as he was forced to tilt his head back, fully exposing the deep red leather collar constricting his throat. It burned like fire against his skin, igniting flames in Cao Weidong’s eyes—a discomfort that consumed them both.

Seeing Cao Weidong take no further action, Xu Jiu decisively swung his leg forward for a kick.

Caught in the metaphorical flames, Cao Weidong failed to dodge in time, stumbling back a full arm’s length.

His first reaction after being struck wasn’t to look at Xu Jiu, but toward the iron door.

The warehouse was tiny—barely three rushed steps separated Xu Jiu from the exit.

If Xu Jiu wished, he could’ve reached that door instantly.

It wasn’t locked. Had Xu Jiu wanted to leave, Cao Weidong couldn’t have stopped him.

Yet Xu Jiu remained rooted, like an anger-programmed plush toy, motionless yet staring fixedly in one direction.

The direction where Cao Weidong stood.

I’ll end you today!

Xu Jiu began rolling up his sleeves, but the jacket—bought by Cao Weidong—was a size too large. The sleeves slipped back down the moment he pushed them up.

The tense atmosphere shattered instantly when Xu Jiu’s hands became trapped in the fluttering fabric, the cuffs stubbornly swaying around his wrists.

Cao Weidong watched Xu Jiu’s every move, the corners of his lips lifting in an almost imperceptible smile. The deep darkness in his eyes softened, diluted by a hint of warmth.

Xu Jiu took a sharp breath, yanked the sleeves firmly to his wrists, and bared his teeth in a snarl to reclaim his ferocity: What are you staring at? Damn you—

His curses spilled out again, coarse and unrestrained. Whenever he spoke, his canine teeth unconsciously pressed into his lower lip, leaving two faint indentations when he ranted for too long.

It’s too big. Next time, buy a smaller size.

Cao Weidong thought to himself.

Xu Jiu snatched a broken chair leg from against the wall, spun around, and swung it down hard. Damn it, aren’t you going to react?!

This time, Cao Weidong did react—he sidestepped effortlessly, evading the strike.

The stick cracked against the floor and snapped in two. Xu Jiu stumbled forward, barely avoiding a full collapse.

He straightened up quickly, recalibrated his aim, and glared at Cao Weidong, his face flushed with frustration and his neck corded as he shouted, Why are you dodging?!

Cao Weidong’s brow furrowed slightly in confusion.

Xu Jiu thrust a finger toward him. You’re looking down on me!

You’re toying with me! You covered my eyes on purpose to watch me beg for mercy like a coward! You lied to me! You scared me—

You let me live not out of mercy, but for your own amusement.

Xu Jiu closed in and slammed a fist into Cao Weidong’s shoulder.

Cao Weidong remained silent, allowing Xu Jiu to vent.

Another punch landed, yet still no reaction from Cao Weidong.

A kick followed—Cao Weidong merely brushed the dust from his clothes.

Xu Jiu grew frantic, sweat—both cold and hot—streaming down his cheeks. Clenching his jaw, he gathered his rage, until the silence was torn by a sharp, piercing cry:

I hate you!

Cao Weidong’s breath hitched. He froze, his dusting hand halting mid-motion.

After a moment, he turned and walked away.

Xu Jiu watched him warily.

Cao Weidong reached the iron door and, under Xu Jiu’s gaze, pulled it open. He stepped aside, allowing the frigid sunlight from outside to burst through the doorway, flooding the dim room with harsh, slanting rays.

Uncertain of Cao Weidong’s intentions, Xu Jiu didn’t move toward the door. Instead, he retreated two steps back.

What are you doing?

Go, Cao Weidong said.

Standing at the border of light and shadow, the invading glare made the darkness around Cao Weidong appear even deeper. Xu Jiu couldn’t discern the emotion in his eyes.

Had he been able to see, he would have been terrified.

Cao Weidong added, Go home.

This time, his tone was firmer, stripped of any softening nuance—a clear command.

Xu Jiu stared blankly at Cao Weidong, but unable to see the man clearly in the shadows, he shifted his gaze to the blazing daylight beside him.

The sudden brightness stung, forcing him to squint.

Really? Xu Jiu didn’t move, merely echoing Cao Weidong’s words.

Cao Weidong nodded. The bruise on his cheekbone was dark and swollen, throbbing with a dull ache.

Then don’t blame me if you regret this.

Xu Jiu stepped into the light with half-hearted trust, leaving half his body still shrouded in darkness.

Cao Weidong remained motionless as before, lowering his head to wipe blood from his cheekbone with his hand.

Feeling reassured, Xu Jiu fully stepped into the light, took a deep breath, and grinned with his sharp teeth pressing against the corners of his mouth. He muttered threats while laughing:

Once I’m out, I’ll call Pan Yu to finish you off.

As he walked, Xu Jiu removed the collar from his neck, swinging it in his hand and spinning it twice.

It had been so long since he’d felt sunlight. Though the winter sun wasn’t particularly warm, carrying instead an icy chill in the wind.

Xu Jiu took a deep breath, contemplating how he would take revenge on Cao Weidong after escaping.

First, he’d report him to the authorities – ruin his chances of ever becoming a civil servant, and make sure his sons and grandsons would never qualify either.

Heh heh. Xu Jiu shrugged his shoulders, then clicked his tongue before pulling up his sleeves to bunch them around his elbows.

Suddenly, as he looked down, his peripheral vision caught a pair of extremely familiar shoes – those canvas sneakers washed so thin and yellowed, now silently positioned right behind him.

Xu Jiu straightened up, feeling that familiar sensation of being watched again, followed by a faint breeze brushing the back of his neck, like wind yet also like breath or a hand gently passing over.

Now, the sunlight overhead held no warmth at all, as if it were just a cold, white fluorescent lamp glaring directly into Xu Jiu’s eyes, making his thoughts freeze and his breathing difficult.

Xu Jiu gathered his courage and broke into a run.

The instant he lifted his leg, a hand shot from behind and clamped firmly over his mouth and nose, while another hand gripped his throat from behind.

Tap tap—

The leather collar slipped from Xu Jiu’s hand, spinning twice near their feet before falling still.

In just a moment, Xu Jiu completely lost consciousness, collapsing stiffly backward like a corpse directly into Cao Weidong’s waiting embrace.

Before passing out, he clearly heard Cao Weidong’s laughter.

A derisive snort, very brief.

But delivered right beside Xu Jiu’s ear, impossible to ignore – deliberately meant for him to hear.

How wicked. Who’s the real villain here?

Xu Jiu deeply lamented this thought before losing consciousness.

He should have known that with Cao Weidong’s stingy and malicious nature, he’d definitely make that bottle’s contents worth every penny.

Cao Weidong gathered the blankets and pillows from the floor into a somewhat soft pile before laying Xu Jiu down on it. Then he fastened the collar around Xu Jiu’s neck, securing the chain to the corner of the wall.

This time, he didn’t blindfold Xu Jiu.

Cao Weidong took some time to clean up all the trash. When he returned from taking out the garbage, his eyes swept across the room – now completely empty except for Xu Jiu alone.

And the protruding cement countertop against the wall that Xu Jiu couldn’t remove, which previously held the induction cooker and ceramic bowls – Cao Weidong’s dining area.

On his way back, Cao Weidong bought some nails and tape, hammering and wrapping the table and chair legs and surfaces, thus saving some money again.

Cao Weidong sat on the unsteady chair, quietly tending to his own wounds.

Ring ring—

Suddenly, Cao Weidong’s phone rang.

Usually, only Xu Jiu called this number.

Cao Weidong glanced at the number and declined the call.

But soon, it rang again.

Cao Weidong hung up again.

Where is Xu Jiu? What have you done to Xu Jiu!

There’s no way Xu Jiu would suddenly take leave from school to travel! Where are you hiding him?

Is he alive or dead?

Answer me!!! I’m begging you! Don’t kill him! Calm down!

Cao Weidong read each message one by one but didn’t reply to any of them.

SMS bombing was child’s play to Xu Jiu, so it had no effect on Cao Weidong.

Cao Weidong, just you wait!

Cao Weidong put his old-fashioned phone back in his pocket and took out Xu Jiu’s phone instead.

He had kept Xu Jiu hidden here for nearly half a month, but when he opened Xu Jiu’s WeChat and messages, all he saw were people asking Xu Jiu out for drinks or inviting him to play cards just to use him as their cash cow.

Xu Jiu had only one pinned contact on WeChat: his mother.

When Cao Weidong opened the chat between Xu Jiu and his mother, all he saw was a bright red exclamation mark next to a message Xu Jiu had sent two months ago.

Xu Jiu’s mother had deleted him.

Where are you?

Are you okay?

Are you still alive?

Pan Yu sent new messages, and just from the text alone, one could tell he was as anxious as an ant on a hot skillet, pacing restlessly.

Cao Weidong replied in a tone mimicking Xu Jiu’s.

You’re Cao Weidong! Let Xu Jiu talk to me!!!

Before Cao Weidong could reply, Pan Yu immediately sent a video call.

Cao Weidong declined it and replied without changing his expression:

I’m out. I’ll call you tonight.

Okay

Cao Weidong stood up, tied Xu Jiu’s hands behind his back, slung his backpack over his shoulder, turned around, and left.

Pan Yu clutched his phone, waiting for evening to come. But what he didn’t know was that his evening would be spent in a cold detention center—he had no evening left.

Cao Weidong gathered the evidence he had prepared long ago and submitted it all at once to the police station, while also filing a lawsuit with the court.

When the injury assessment was being done, Cao Weidong had already obtained Pan Yu’s hospital bed number. So the moment the evidence was submitted, the police rushed to the hospital and arrested him on the spot.

Cao Weidong was present too.

When Pan Yu saw him, he flew into a rage, cursing loudly and lunging forward to throw a punch.

The police had initially intended to mediate calmly, but seeing how aggressive Pan Yu was, they didn’t ask any further questions and directly escorted him to the detention center.

Cao Weidong stood at the door of the hospital room, watching Pan Yu being taken away, before returning to his warehouse.

Xu Jiu had actually woken up.

The moment the door opened, Xu Jiu’s stream of curses—laced with every profanity imaginable—burst out.

Cao Weidong closed the door.

Xu Jiu continued cursing.

Cao Weidong walked over, pulled out a chair, sat down, and opened his laptop to start working.

Xu Jiu kept on cursing, choked once in the middle, coughed violently twice, and then resumed his tirade.

It was too noisy.

Cao Weidong walked over to Xu Jiu and crouched down in front of him.

Cao Weidong’s hand touched the corner of Xu Jiu’s mouth. Having been arrogant all day, Xu Jiu had forgotten the pain from last time when his mouth had been twisted until tears fell.

So Cao Weidong’s fingers pushed straight in, pressing down with the same technique as before.

Xu Jiu wanted to clamp his upper and lower teeth together to bite off that finger, but before he could act, Cao Weidong’s hand had already seized his jaw, forcing his upper and lower teeth apart through sheer pressure on his cheeks.

It was excruciating—the kind of pain that felt like skin and flesh were being stretched to their absolute limit, as if the lower half of his face was about to be torn completely apart.

It was the kind of pain that wouldn’t kill you.

Xu Jiu was in too much pain to bear, yet unable to speak, so he could only obediently lick the finger with his tongue.

It turned out that when pain reached its extreme, even the tongue would tremble.

Only then did Cao Weidong release his hand, now covered in saliva.

Quiet.

Xu Jiu nodded obediently.

Cao Weidong then took two steamed buns from his pocket. Seeing the food in Cao Weidong’s hand, Xu Jiu instinctively licked his lips, waiting expectantly to be fed.

But Xu Jiu’s expectations were dashed.

There was no bowl in the warehouse, but the dog bowl was still inside the bag of dog food Xu Jiu had bought.

So a bowl printed with a dog paw was placed in front of Xu Jiu with the meat buns inside, indicating he should eat by himself.

What do you mean by this? Xu Jiu’s expression immediately turned sharp.

Cao Weidong stood before the dog bowl, nudged it forward with his foot, and said briefly:

Eat.

Xu Jiu stared at Cao Weidong’s face.

Cao Weidong’s expression wasn’t good at all. Even though it remained impassive, the low pressure surrounding him didn’t lie.

Since he had already angered him, Xu Jiu thought he might as well go all the way.

Xu Jiu’s feet weren’t bound, so he kicked over the dog bowl, glaring fiercely at Cao Weidong as he snarled, Eat the dog food yourself!

Cao Weidong showed no reaction. If he wouldn’t eat, he took it away, not even leaving the bowl for Xu Jiu.

I want McDonald’s! Xu Jiu shouted at him.

No.

I want McDonald’s! Xu Jiu insisted, yelling loudly.

Only when Cao Weidong approached again did Xu Jiu press his lips together obediently, sealing them into a thin line just before Cao Weidong crouched down.

But Cao Weidong still stuffed a cloth into Xu Jiu’s mouth and tightened the collar around his neck.

Xu Jiu had been able to breathe properly before, but now, with his mouth blocked and his neck constricted, he soon experienced the agony of suffocation.

Xu Jiu’s eyes became bloodshot, crimson veins spreading like a dense spiderweb.

Lack of air made him dizzy. His head, already injured at the back, felt as if a hammer were pounding against his skull from the inside—not intensely painful, but terribly disorienting, with continuous ringing in his ears.

Xu Jiu’s chest began to heave more heavily. The flushed redness spread from beneath the leather collar to his cheeks and ears, while the red in his eyes grew increasingly vivid.

For Xu Jiu, this level of suffocation was almost a peculiar reward.

It felt so exhilarating his mind seemed to bloom; drool trickled uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth, and his gaze grew increasingly hazy and unfocused.

Cao Weidong stood by, watching Xu Jiu’s transformation with keen interest.

The intense, voyeuristic stare only amplified the dizziness from suffocation. Though his mind had turned to mush and his vision began to swirl like a kaleidoscope, Cao Weidong’s figure remained exceptionally clear.

Cao Weidong stood distinctly before Xu Jiu—thousands upon thousands of him spinning in his sight, each pair of eyes staring unabashedly at Xu Jiu through the kaleidoscope’s myriad colorful facets.

He looked down from above, monitoring with lowered gaze.

Xu Jiu was his caged bird.

Xu Jiu had seen this scene in a dream before, but back then, all those eyes were leaves on a tree above his head, each leaf representing a pair of eyes.

Countless pairs of eyes stared at him, unblinking, scrutinizing his every move.

Xu Jiu suddenly squeezed his eyes shut and forced a muffled word through the cloth in his mouth:

Get lost!

The word echoed with crystalline clarity in the deathly silent warehouse.

Cao Weidong crouched down. By the time Xu Jiu opened his eyes, Cao Weidong’s figure had magnified countless times before him, startling Xu Jiu so badly he forgot to breathe, intensifying the suffocating sensation.

Desire surged to its peak along with the escalating asphyxiation—no pleasure, only raw craving.

It rampaged chaotically through Xu Jiu’s limbs, bones, and venous blood, desperately seeking release.

Xu Jiu felt ready to explode.

He turned his head away and shifted sideways, sinking into the hollow formed by the wrapped blankets.

Then he began slowly, restrainedly rocking his hips forward and back, carefully rubbing against the sheets.

Xu Jiu believed his movements were extremely subtle, and he hadn’t heard any conspicuous sounds himself, so he concluded Cao Weidong definitely hadn’t noticed.

Just as Xu Jiu assumed, Cao Weidong showed no reaction.

Thus Xu Jiu grew bolder, increasing the amplitude of his movements while faint rustling sounds emerged from beneath the blankets.

Stop rubbing. I can see everything clearly.

Cao Weidong’s voice abruptly whispered into Xu Jiu’s ear, calm and composed, as if he’d been watching for a very long time—witnessing the entire performance.

Then a hand, simultaneous with the voice, crept in—making Xu Jiu’s hair stand on end.