Zhang Yu was at home coaxing Zhao Xi, who had become very lively ever since turning one year old. Before, Zhang Yu would place Zhao Xi on the bed while she worked, surrounding him with some items as a barrier, and Zhao Xi would quietly stay there. But now this method is no longer effective, as Zhao Xi is quite agile, especially since he started walking. Xiao Yi watched Zhao Xi, who was healthy, taking out paper and pen to sketch; aside from New Year’s, when they’d go to the photo studio for a family portrait, Xiao Yi would draw it himself at all other times. He added the date on the sketch, preparing to show it to Zhao Lei and the others when they returned, to show them how Zhao Xi had been growing healthily in their absence. Zhao Hong was seriously reading a book on mechanics; originally, she was just using it to pass the time. However, she developed an interest in the mechanical industry and occasionally went to the tech department to consult the old section chief. Indeed, it was the former tech section chief; although he had completed his retirement procedures, due to his high level of expertise, he was still working at the machinery factory. Besides consulting him, Zhao Hong didn’t know who else to ask; fortunately, the old section chief would offer some guidance. After Zhang Yu learned about this, she would occasionally have Zhao Hong bring some fish to the old section chief, since without guidance, it’d be impossible. But today, Zhang Yu felt something seemed off about Zhao Hong. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by NoveI[F]ire.net "What’s wrong?" Zhang Yu thought, surely no one was bullying her. She had just spoken when she heard Xue Fan shouting for help, "Help, help." Zhang Yu’s first reaction upon hearing the voice was to shut the door, and looking out the window, she saw Xue Zhan chasing after Xue Fan with a kitchen knife. Xue Fan’s clothes had bloodstains on them, and there were drops coming from the knife. Zhang Yu’s mouth opened wide, especially seeing Xue Fan heading towards her home; she was relieved her first reaction was to shut the door upon hearing the cries for help. If she had gone out like before, just to watch the excitement, Zhang Yu felt her family would surely face trouble. Watching Xue Fan rush towards her home, Zhang Yu wondered if it wasn’t a play staged by father and son. When Xue Fan reached Zhang Yu’s doorstep, finding it shut, his mouth opened wide. But he dared not pause now; after all, after shouting for help earlier, Zhang Yu must have looked out, seen Xue Zhan with a knife, and shut the door. Now he truly regretted not holding on a bit longer, delaying the call for help; certainly, he’d get what he wished for. In Xue Zhan’s heart and eyes, there was only Xue Fan running ahead, "I’ll show you who the real loser is." Xue Zhan picked up the kitchen knife and aimed it directly at his head. Zhang Yu looked at Xue Zhan’s malicious expression, "Xue Zhan, don’t." "That’s your dad. If you actually hurt him, there’ll be severe consequences; you’ll be locked up," Zhang Yu persuaded loudly. Zhang Yu knew that Xue Fan constantly attacked Xue Zhan, that one day he would drive Xue Zhan crazy; she just hadn’t expected the day of Xue Zhan’s rebellion to come so quickly. And how merciless it was, brandishing knives towards Xue Fan. "Xue Zhan, if you’ve got guts, come at me," though Xue Fan was scared, Zhang Yu’s persuasion seemed to give him courage from nowhere. Zhang Yu was speechless. He had been so scared earlier that she thought he’d wet his pants. Yet he had to blurt out something provocative for the sake of face. Zhang Yu really wanted to crack open his head and see what’s inside; surely it’s just water, nothing useful. "Alright, it’s the conflict between you and your dad," Zhang Yu gestured for silence. Xue Fan hadn’t expected Zhang Yu to drop the issue so directly, "Zhang Yu, Zhang Yu, how could you?" "You’ve already told your son to be rude; what can I do?" Zhang Yu sighed helplessly. "If you insist on courting death, there’s nothing I can do," Zhang Yu raised her voice, "My house is full of elderly, women, and children; there’s really no way to help you." "Besides, coming to my house , shouldn’t you head towards the front yard instead?" "Or charge out of the courtyard into the alley, Xue Zhan definitely wouldn’t make a move." "Yet you insist on bringing your son here," Zhang Yu looked at him suspiciously, certainly seeing a problem. "Can my house deal with your son and save you?" The neighbors hearing Zhang Yu’s words suddenly realized, "Yeah, I had found it odd that Xue Fan ran around the front yard before rushing back." "Exactly, Zhang Yu’s house has only Xiao Yi, who is just a boy." "Xiao Yi is actually a frail kid." Looking at Xue Zhan’s state, clearly manic, with red eyes, could Zhang Yu and the others really handle it? Xue Fan originally wanted to show everyone how heartless Zhang Yu’s family was, how they ignored the safety of their old neighbor. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yu’s few words instantly turned the tables. "I didn’t mean it; I was just thinking about that loser turning a knife on an old man like me, if I bring him outside, what if he goes after passersby?" "I really didn’t expect that the loser would actually make a move." Xue Fan, unwilling to admit fault, pushed the responsibility onto Xue Zhan while continually calling him a loser. Initially, Xue Zhan’s emotions had calmed down, but after hearing Xue Fan repeatedly taunting him, how could he hold back? He swung the knife directly at Xue Fan. "No!" Zhang Yu had thought Xue Fan had already gone too far, but unexpectedly, he genuinely showed no intention of sparing himself. Even as an onlooker, Zhang Yu could feel Xue Zhan’s sensitive reaction to the term "loser," yet Xue Fan kept uttering it. Neighbors, seeing Xue Zhan calming down, planned to seize the knife from him while he was distracted. But unexpectedly, Xue Fan’s few words agitated him further, attacking Xue Fan like chopping ribs. Seeing his manic behavior, neighbors were instead frightened and dared not intervene. Fortunately, someone noticed the danger, rushing out to report the incident, leading to the police resolving it; while Xue Fan ended up in a bloody mess. Zhang Yu couldn’t bear to look, thinking only that Xue Fan might end up killing his son. Looking at his current condition, everyone felt Xue Fan was near death, not just Zhang Yu but all the neighbors. After Xue Fan was taken to the hospital, Zhang Yu dared not open the door, "We should stay put so the police can look at the scene." Zhang Yu would never admit being scared, fearing to go out; she genuinely hadn’t expected Xue Zhan, once enraged, to be truly insane. Other neighbors were also shaken, none having expected someone so terrifying to live among them.