FID – Chapter 644

Chapter 644: You Want It This Way?

Kang Ziyu was beaten so badly that her entire body felt like it had been crushed. She curled up in the corner of the carriage, groaning in pain.

The servants were accustomed to such scenes and remained indifferent.

She struggled to open her eyes. “You… you beast! My… my parents won’t… won’t let you get away with this! You… How dare you do this to me! My father is… the county magistrate—he won’t let you off, he won’t…!”

“Heh! You didn’t know, did you? The Liu family’s manor already sent someone yesterday to inform your parents, or how else would I have found you here today? But where are they? Have they shown up?” Jiang Mingze laughed wildly. “Are you still counting on your parents? They abandoned you a long time ago! 

They know full well they raised an ungrateful wretch who turns her back on her own family—who would still bother to waste their efforts on you? You can’t even blame them—it’s your own fault for being so worthless! 

Damn it, I thought I was marrying a noble lady, but after bringing you home, I realized you’re nothing more than scrap metal! Completely worthless—useless trash!”

The man’s relentless beating and scolding extinguished the last bit of light in Kang Ziyu’s eyes. She curled up in the corner, trembling, unable to make a sound.

Li Junyue was living a better life than her.

Her parents no longer cared about her.

If she was taken back this time, she could forget about ever escaping again.

The Jiang family was an abyss—a living hell!

Shivering, Kang Ziyu felt a bone-chilling cold spread through her. Fear, deep and consuming, took root in her heart, making her teeth chatter.

She regretted everything. She was terrified!

Never had it been so painfully clear—without her parents’ protection, she, Kang Ziyu, was nothing.

The Liu family had no idea what was happening in the carriage.

Meanwhile, Liu Yusheng was pulling Feng Qingbai along with Qian Wanjin and Shi Xianrou. She was still enthusiastically analyzing her second brother’s words and actions, treating it as entertainment to pass the time.

At the end, she turned to Feng Qingbai and asked, “You were behind all this, weren’t you?”

If Feng Qingbai hadn’t intervened, would the Li family’s matriarch have simply shown up, taken a quick look, and then left? No—she would have inevitably made a scene, refusing to let go until she had secured enough benefits.

And then there was Jiang Mingze—his appearance had been perfectly timed.

Thinking of how Kang Ziyu had trembled uncontrollably at the sight of Jiang Mingze, it was clear—she had been beaten into submission. Now that she had been captured again, her future was all too predictable.

Feng Qingbai pinched the young girl’s cheek. “I’m leaving tomorrow. Before I go, I need to ensure the Liu family is protected and all these troublesome matters are dealt with.”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t feel at ease.

The distance was too great. Many times, when things happened at the Liu family’s manor, he was too far away to intervene in time.

In truth, there was very little he could do for them.

The Li family was undoubtedly greedy, but greedy people feared loss even more.

When faced with the choice between taking benefits and securing their family’s survival, there was no need for much deliberation—Matriarch Li naturally knew which to pick.

As for Jiang Mingze, while informing him, Feng Qingbai had also promised certain incentives.

The Jiang family would be Kang Ziyu’s grave. Even in death, her bones would remain buried there—she would never again have the chance to escape.

“Magistrate Kang and Madam Kang really aren’t going to care about Kang Ziyu anymore? You did inform them about what happened here, didn’t you? Yet they didn’t even show up.”

“That’s Kang Ziyu’s own doing,” the man chuckled.

No matter how deep the affection, it couldn’t withstand endless depletion.

That day, when they knelt at the guest courtyard’s entrance, Kang Shiming and his wife had already lost all hope in her.

Qian Wanjin and Shi Xianrou were well aware of what had happened back then. “What truly made them give up was Kang Ziyu’s attitude. Her parents knelt outside their own residence for an entire night to plead for her, cleaning up her mess, and what did she do? She didn’t say a single word nor showed even a trace of guilt. No matter how warm a heart is, it will eventually grow cold.”

Shi Xianrou agreed with him. “Cutting ties like this is actually for the best. If they kept getting tangled up with her, Kang Shiming’s future would be ruined. Kang Ziyu is nothing but a burden, a disaster.”

She saw no one but herself. Completely ungrateful, with no regard for family.

What was the point of having a daughter like that?

After gossiping for a while, Liu Yusheng suddenly realized that Liu Muqiu wasn’t with them. “Where’s Little White Lotus?”

“Where else could she be? If there’s even the slightest chance, she’s definitely clinging to Zhiqiu,” Qian Wanjin said.

The words Zhiqiu had spoken at the entrance earlier might have sounded ambiguous to them, but to Little White Lotus, they were an opportunity.

How could she not grab hold of it?

Shi Xianrou burst out laughing. “To be fair, Kang Ziyu actually got one thing right—Nannan, your second brother really is a rock. The completely unromantic kind. Up until now, I haven’t seen even the slightest sign of him acting differently.”

“How is he a rock?” Liu Yusheng spoke up in her brother’s defense. “If you crack open that rock, I bet it’s pitch black inside.”

She had figured it out—her second brother was a tiger pretending to be a pig. For all these years, he had fooled the entire family.

And they actually thought he was innocent!

Laughter erupted in the small courtyard.

Meanwhile, in the inner courtyard, Little White Lotus was busy clinging to someone.

“Still not leaving?” The man blocked the doorway, refusing to let her inch further inside.

“You haven’t answered yet…” The woman’s gaze flickered evasively.

“Answer what?”

“That sentence… what did it mean?”

Liu Zhiqiu lowered his gaze, staring at the woman who kept her head down, not daring to look at him. “Which sentence?”

“The one where you said… ‘How do you know I don’t like…’” Liu Muqiu mumbled the words, her voice barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.

A brief silence settled over them. Just that single moment of stillness made her heartbeat pound even faster.

It felt like forever before the man’s voice finally broke the silence. “What do you want it to mean?”

Of course, she wanted it to mean that he liked her! Did he even need to ask?

After hesitating for a long moment, she finally gathered her courage. “Does it mean… whatever I want it to mean?”

Liu Zhiqiu’s gaze drifted downward, landing on her slender fingers, which she had been twisting nervously until they turned pale.

“Mm,” he responded.

Boom— Liu Muqiu felt as if her heart had stopped. She rubbed her ears, afraid she had misheard.

She gathered her courage and lifted her head, only to see that the man’s face remained completely indifferent, as if he had merely responded absentmindedly.

Calm. Unshaken.

Did she mishear?

Did she not?

Did she mishear?

“Brother Zhiqiu, are you saying I can do whatever I want?” She clenched her fingers, holding her breath as she tested the waters.

Liu Zhiqiu held back a smile, keeping his expression blank, curious to see what mischief she’d pull next.

Seeing him stand there with his arms crossed, silent, Liu Muqiu gritted her teeth and decided to go all in.

She took two quick steps forward, lifted her trembling fingers, and lightly placed them on his crossed arms—then slowly pulled them down.

He let her do it. 

Effortlessly.

Huh? Liu Muqiu froze again, blinking furiously, unable to believe how easy that was.

Liu Zhiqiu sighed lightly, then lifted a hand to clasp the back of her neck, pulling her forward until she was pressed against his chest.

“Is this what you wanted?”

She was completely caught off guard.

Even when she felt the firm, warm surface against her, Liu Muqiu still couldn’t believe it.

Her eyes widened to their limit, her whole body stiff as a board.

Had… had her dream really come true?

The clean, fresh scent of him filled her nose.

Through the thin layers of fabric, she could even hear the steady, powerful beat of his heart.

She—she was really pressed up against Zhiqiu?

“Alright, enough. Go back to your courtyard.” The next moment, he pushed her away.

“W-wait! I haven’t even had time to savor it—”

“Savor? What, you think I’m a signature dish?” He planted a hand firmly on her forehead, stopping her from launching at him again. Gesturing for her to step back, he turned and walked into his room—then shut the door.

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They are so cute!!! (੭˃ᴗ˂)੭