Chapter 60.2

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Qiao Ziman drove toward the Chi family home, her heart in turmoil. The closer she got, the stronger the unease clawed at her chest.

A police car, sirens wailing, sped past her in the opposite direction. Her heart slammed hard against her ribcage. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened.

It’s fine. It’s definitely not Yin Yin. She tried to comfort herself, though the words felt hollow.

Then she turned the final corner, entering the villa complex. And there—right in front of her—was a house engulfed in flames, thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

In that instant, all the blood in Qiao Ziman’s body seemed to freeze. A wave of icy numbness spread through her limbs, paralyzing her with dread. She tried desperately to calm herself, but her voice still trembled as she asked Jiang Shu:

“Is that your house?”

Jiang Shu responded only with loud, wrenching sobs.

Qiao Ziman slammed her hand down hard on the horn. Jiang Shu shivered, startled, before finally choking out an answer. “Y-Yes.”

Without another word, Qiao Ziman jammed her foot on the accelerator, hurtling toward the villa.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, they sprinted toward the blazing house. Fragments of conversation from security guards and police officers nearby drifted into Qiao Ziman’s ears.

“…heard sounds of a violent struggle.”

“Then a woman drove away. She had blood all over her. Minutes later, the place went up in flames.”

“There should still be people inside—Mrs. Chi was home, and there was another young woman too.”

“They haven’t come out all this time. I’m afraid it’s looking pretty grim.”

Those words slammed into Qiao Ziman like a physical blow. Looking pretty grim. The phrase clawed painfully at her mind, tearing away at her remaining composure.

She snapped.

“Shut your mouth if you can’t say anything useful!” she shouted hysterically at the officer, barreling straight toward the burning building.

Someone immediately stepped forward to stop her. “Hey! Who are you? You can’t go in there, it’s too dangerous!”

“I’m family. Move!”

He Cuizhen quickly stepped forward, clearing the way for her daughter.

The police had already forced open the front door. The fire had spread through the living room, flames roaring fiercely.

Qiao Ziman pushed forward urgently, shouting at the rescuers, “Did you find anyone yet?”

“The fire started in the bedroom, but the door’s locked from the outside. We don’t know if anyone’s inside yet. We can’t get in without the firefighters—they’ll be here in about five minutes,” one officer shouted over the chaos.

At that moment, Elvis appeared from behind them, her wounds hastily treated. She stared at the scene before her in shock, her voice trembling slightly. “What… what happened here?”

Hearing her voice, Qiao Ziman whipped around sharply. Rage surged through her veins as she snatched a fire extinguisher from a police officer’s hands and swung it mercilessly at Elvis’s head.

“You have the nerve to ask what happened? What did you do to Yin Yin?!”

Elvis fell heavily to the ground, blood immediately gushing from her head, staining her long hair crimson.

“I don’t have time to deal with you right now,” Qiao Ziman snarled, voice filled with fury. “But mark my words—when I come out, I’ll tear you to pieces!”

She grabbed a heavy blanket, quickly draping it around herself, and poured two buckets of cold water over her head, preparing to rush into the blaze.

Elvis struggled upright, her voice dropping into a desperate plea. “I—I didn’t mean to hurt her… Let me help you save Yin—”

Qiao Ziman spun around once more, her eyes burning scarlet. She roared, her voice filled with hatred and fury.

“Stay the hell away from her!”

Without hesitation, Qiao Ziman rushed into the inferno.

A suffocating wave of heat crashed over her, burning her exposed skin with every step. She tightened the drenched blanket around herself, carefully dodging the flames that roared violently around her. The further she went, the thicker the smoke became, stinging her eyes until she could barely keep them open. Forced to lower her head, she pressed forward stubbornly, driven by one desperate thought.

Nothing can happen to Yin Yin.

She finally reached the bedroom. The door, warped and blistered by intense heat, stood before her. Without pause, she gathered every ounce of her strength and kicked it open, sending the door crashing inward.

A fierce surge of heat nearly knocked her back, but she steadied herself quickly and plunged forward.

“Yin Yin!” she called out, immediately choking on the thick smoke filling her lungs. Her body shook with painful coughs, but she forced herself to shout again, louder:

“Little Mute!”

She heard the faint sound of running water coming from the bathroom. Her heart clenched as she hurried over, pulling open the bathroom door.

Her breath caught at the sight before her.

Chi Yin and Chi Qilan were huddled together, pale and unmoving in the corner, their condition unknown.

“Yin Yin!” Pain stabbed through Qiao Ziman’s chest. She scrambled forward, grabbing Chi Yin’s hand desperately. “Little Mute, I’m here…”

Chi Yin’s eyes fluttered open, a mere sliver. Through hazy vision, she saw a blurred figure leaning toward her. Her memories surged once again, transporting her back to that day.

The little girl from her memories stood firmly before her, extending a hand.

“Little Mute, I’ve come to save you.”

A real, familiar voice pierced through the fog of Chi Yin’s memories, gently calling her back to the present. “Yin Yin…”

Chi Yin forced her eyes open. The blurred figure before her gradually overlapped with the girl from her memories, their images merging into one.

“I’m here to take you away.”

After carrying Chi Yin outside, Qiao Ziman quickly poured two buckets of cold water over herself and rushed back into the flames. Ten minutes later, she emerged again, dragging an unconscious Chi Qilan to safety.

Exhausted beyond measure, Qiao Ziman leaned against the wall, gasping heavily. Her gaze settled anxiously on Chi Yin, who was receiving oxygen nearby. He Cuizhen, eyes red from crying, reassured her gently, “She’s out of danger. The ambulance is on its way.”

Only then did Qiao Ziman allow herself to breathe a sigh of relief.

But as she turned, she saw Elvis firmly restrained by the police. Rage immediately boiled up inside her again. Without hesitation, she stormed toward Elvis, drew back her arm, and unleashed a fierce barrage of slaps across Elvis’s face—one after another, relentlessly, until Elvis’s cheeks were swollen and raw.

The nearby police officers stood frozen in shock, momentarily too stunned to react. Finally snapping out of their daze, one shouted to a colleague, “Quick, stop her!”

But Qiao Ziman, consumed by fury, was unstoppable, like a lioness gone mad. She seized the opportunity to deliver a few more punishing slaps, still unsatisfied. Grabbing a fire extinguisher hose from the ground, she swung it fiercely at Elvis’s head.

“Hey! Put that down! Xiao Zhang, Xiao Li, get her under control—now!”

Two tall officers swiftly grabbed Qiao Ziman, one on each side, pulling her back from Elvis.

Seeing this, He Cuizhen’s eyes lit up mischievously. With exaggerated drama, she clutched her chest and cried out, “Oh no!” before dramatically collapsing at the officers’ feet.

Watching the commotion with keen interest, Grandma quickly followed suit: “Oh, heavens—!”

The two officers froze in panic, exchanging alarmed looks. Quickly releasing Qiao Ziman, they rushed toward the two women. “Auntie! Ma’am! Are you alright? Where’s that ambulance? Hurry up!”

With her hands free again, Qiao Ziman swung the fire extinguisher hose straight into Elvis’s head, striking her squarely. Blood instantly streamed down Elvis’s face, painting a horrifying picture.

Still unsatisfied, Qiao Ziman raised the extinguisher again, ready for another swing.

“Stop right there!” shouted an officer, panicking. “If you hit her again, you’ll kill her! Xiao Wang, quit standing there and grab her!”

“Yes, yes, right away!” responded a slightly chubby officer, scrambling forward.

Meanwhile, Grandma opened one eye, gave Jiang Shu a conspiratorial wink, and quickly glanced meaningfully at the ground.

Jiang Shu stared back, confused. “???”

Grandma’s gaze dropped pointedly again.

Understanding dawned on Jiang Shu’s face. Alright—for Sister-in-law! she thought determinedly.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Shu summoned her best acting skills. With a blatantly exaggerated “Oww!” she twirled gracefully in midair before dramatically collapsing onto the ground.

“Oh no! Little girl, what happened to you now?”

Seizing the chance, Qiao Ziman lifted the fire extinguisher and brought it crashing down on Elvis’s head.

With a dull thunk, Elvis’s vision went black, and she collapsed, unconscious.