"So," Wen Zhi crossed her arms and stepped closer, forcing Xu Wan to retreat instinctively, "how exactly do you want me to take responsibility?"
Xu Wan lifted her chin arrogantly.
"Even if I wasn't the best mother, I gave birth to Mo Tingyan. If nothing else, I suffered for him. Now that I have nowhere to go, staying at my son's house for a few days isn't too much to ask, is it?"
Mo Tingyan sneered coldly.
"Dream on."
The moment she heard that, Xu Wan immediately began swaying her head, her expression smug and infuriating.
"Well then, if I get caught again, I'll just let those people come after you for the money. You're my only son. If you don't have the cash, just hand your wife over to settle the debt. A mother's debt is paid by her son—it's only natural!"
A dark chill flashed through Mo Tingyan's eyes.
But before he could move, Wen Zhi reached out and pressed his arm down. She looked at Xu Wan calmly.
"Are you sure," she asked softly, "that you want to stay?"
"Of course!" Xu Wan answered without hesitation.
Wen Zhi nodded.
"Very good."
Before anyone could even react, she grabbed Xu Wan by the back of her collar and dragged her straight toward the bedroom.
Mo Tingyan froze for a moment at her swift, decisive movement.
Wen Zhi glanced at him coolly.
"Get me a thick rope."
Then—bang—the bedroom door slammed shut as she tossed Xu Wan onto the floor.
Mo Tingyan was her son; he couldn't lay a hand on her.
But she could.
Xu Wan stared at Wen Zhi, who was smiling faintly, and a wave of goosebumps crawled up her spine.
People always said smiling predators were the most terrifying—and now she believed it.
She scrambled up and backed away, shouting,
"What do you think you're doing? Don't think I can't fight back, I—"
"You can't," Wen Zhi cut in calmly. "Otherwise, try me."
Xu Wan gritted her teeth, nearly exploding with rage.
Soon, Mo Tingyan pushed the door open and handed Wen Zhi the rope, lowering his voice.
"Do you need my help with anything?"
Xu Wan rolled her eyes furiously.
"She's trying to strangle your mother! Aren't you going to stop her?!"
Wen Zhi looked at Mo Tingyan serenely.
"I don't need anything. Go out."
Knowing that Wen Zhi wouldn't lose in a physical confrontation, Mo Tingyan hesitated for only a second before leaving.
The moment the door closed, Xu Wan's eyes flickered, and she bolted for the exit.
But Wen Zhi sidestepped effortlessly, tripped her, pinned her down from behind, and bound her tightly with the rope in one smooth motion.
Xu Wan struggled violently, spewing curses nonstop—every word filthy and venomous.
Wen Zhi didn't care.
She tied a tight knot behind her back, flipped her over, and yanked her upright.
The moment Xu Wan spat out another obscenity—
Smack!
A solid slap landed squarely on her face.
Xu Wan froze. Her ears rang violently.
Even when loan sharks had chased her down, she'd relied on her sharp tongue to talk her way out—she'd never been hit.
And now… her own daughter-in-law had slapped her?
She spat viciously toward Wen Zhi.
Wen Zhi dodged sideways, shoved her back to the floor, and ground Xu Wan's face against the floor to wipe the spit away.
Xu Wan screamed hysterically in disgust.
"You slut! You filthy—"
Smack!
Another slap—on the same cheek.
Her face burned painfully. It was definitely swollen now.
Wen Zhi smiled sweetly, her expression innocent and harmless.
"Sorry," she said gently. "I'm a bit of a clean freak. I can't stand dirty things—dirty words included. Say one more word, and I'll slap you again."
"You—" Xu Wan began instinctively.
Wen Zhi raised her hand.
Xu Wan immediately shrank back, shut her eyes, and braced for pain—
But it never came.
She opened her eyes cautiously.
Wen Zhi sneered.
"Well? Curse me. Why'd you stop? I haven't hit you enough yet. Without filthy words, how am I supposed to bring my hand down?"
Xu Wan's chest heaved violently. Her eyes bulged with fury—but she didn't dare say another word.
This woman… was terrifying.
Wen Zhi stood, pulled over a chair, sat down leisurely in front of her, legs crossed, arms folded, looking down at her with utter contempt.
They stayed like that for a full ten minutes.
Finally, Xu Wan couldn't take it anymore. She struggled to stand but failed due to the tight bindings, glaring up helplessly.
"What exactly do you want?"
"How did you end up owing that money?" Wen Zhi asked coolly.
"And who told you to set me up?"
Xu Wan snorted.
"Don't expect me to tell you."
"I see," Wen Zhi said calmly. "Then you don't need to talk anymore."
She picked up a cleaning cloth from the table, rolled it into a thick ball, and shoved it mercilessly into Xu Wan's mouth.
"Being mute suits you," she added lightly. "At least you won't annoy people."
She tied Xu Wan to the solid wooden table leg and strolled out of the room.
Mo Tingyan stood outside the door. The moment it opened, he saw the scene inside.
He completely ignored Xu Wan's muffled cries for help and looked straight at Wen Zhi.
"Are you okay?"
Wen Zhi closed the door behind her and smiled warmly.
"What could happen to me? I'm not the one getting hit."
"But she said a lot of humiliating things about you."
Wen Zhi shrugged.
"I'm not the kind of person she described. She can say whatever she wants—who cares?"
Mo Tingyan finally relaxed.
"You kept her here… do you have a plan?"
Wen Zhi nodded.
"She needs to suffer a bit. Otherwise, every time she causes trouble outside, she'll come back to disgust you. How would you ever live in peace?"
Realizing she was doing all this for him, Mo Tingyan felt a deep warmth spread through his chest.
For the next three days, the ropes on Xu Wan were never loosened.
Even going to the bathroom, she remained bound.
She wasn't given food. She wasn't allowed to sleep. Wen Zhi forced headphones onto her ears, blasting high-volume music until her head felt like it was splitting apart.
When they went to work, Wen Zhi even arranged for Lian Qiao to keep watch.
After three days, Xu Wan was starving, exhausted, and on the verge of mental collapse.
That evening, after showering, Wen Zhi returned to the bedroom. She pulled up a chair and sat comfortably across from her.
Looking refreshed and radiant, she smiled at the haggard woman before her.
"Have you decided?" she asked gently.
"Who gave you the money—and who told you to harm me?"
She yanked the cloth from Xu Wan's mouth.
Xu Wan painfully moved her cracked lips. She wanted to curse—but didn't dare.
This woman… she was genuinely afraid of her now.
She needed to escape. Immediately.
Weakly, she said,
"The money… was from Gu Nian. She told me owing loan sharks wasn't scary. She said I had a beautiful daughter-in-law who could be used to pay off the debt…"
Wen Zhi laughed softly.
So it was her.
"Xu Wan," she said coldly, "you're pitiful. You've lived your entire life like a parasite, clinging to others—dirty and disgusting. People like you don't need to die. Living is already worse than death."
Xu Wan flared up in rage and retorted weakly,
"What are you so proud of? You're only this arrogant because my son treats you well! Don't get smug—if it weren't for the fact that you look like the woman he's never been able to forget, he wouldn't even spare you a glance!"