469 Rubbing Sal
Zhou Jinhai couldn't help noticing the way Xiu treated Dylan and found it quite... refreshing? He had never seen anyone bully Dylan before. Mostly because either he or Darren had been there to protect him. But now, Dylan was willingly getting bullied. It was really amusing to see.
As he saw their car drive away, he finally turned around and saw his wife standing at the porch with her cat. He was gonna walk past her when she informed, "Qiuqiu is back."
"I didn't ask," replied Zhou Jinhai.
"At the end of the day, she's your only sister. She misses you a lot. Can't you meet her? For me?" she pleaded in her soft voice.
However, the softer her voice was, the more it was infuriating him. He had come to despise the way she acted now.
"Who are you?" Her question stunned her as she stared at him wide-eyed. "Stop being delusional already. Why would I go to meet my sister just because you're asking? Just because you have the title of being my wife? Get over it!"
"Jin, you... Can't you move on? I can understand you don't like me but Qiuqiu is your sister," she stressed. "How long are you gonna punish us? How long are you gonna punish yourself?" Tears fell down her eyes as she continued, "I already begged you to forgive me. What more can I do?"
Zhou Jinhai glared at her, "Why should I forgive you? I'm not even able to forgive myself!" His voice raised an octave. "Forgiveness is not gonna bring her back to life!"
Liu Nuan's hand trembled as she wiped her tears and looked up at him saying, "I know it can't bring her back. But for how long are we gonna let this hurt us? Can't we forget it all now?"
Zhou Jinhai laughed at her face ironically, "It's funny how easy it is for you to forget her." He held her arm in a tight grip that made her face contort in pain. "Don't forget you're alive because of her kindness. And you repaid it marvelously... By pushing her to death."
Liu Nuan covered her ears as her whole body was shaking now. His words were piercing her heart and overwhelming her thoughts. Especially, those words were reminding her of the guilt she had been trying to grow out of.
He opened the door of the house and stopped to add, "Oh, and you said, I need to forget. How are you gonna forget your own guilt? It's that guilt that's making you take care of these stray animals. But let me clear this up for you, the one you're trying to copy was genuinely kind. She wasn't trying to wash her sins by doing some charity work."
He was gonna step inside when she held his wrist and stopped him. "Jin, your mom is in the hospital. She fell off the stairs last week."
Zhou Jinhai peeled her hand off his wrist as he replied, "She isn't dead yet. I don't think she needs me."
"She is missing you a lot. You're her son, obviously, she needs you."
"She is missing her puppet. If she treated me as her son, I wouldn't have hated her this much!" Saying that he slammed the door at her face.
Liu Nuan was left staring at the closed door with a heavy heart. A distant voice rang in her mind, 'One day, your lies are gonna take the shape of a halter around your neck. It'll neither let you live nor let you die. But it'll keep tightening to the point that you'd suffocate in this web of lies you created yourself.'
Taking a deep breath, she looked heavenward as she mumbled, "You're right. It's getting difficult to breathe now."
....
"Wow! Cali is awesome! You're doing great. Kill all the enemies!"
Xiu leaned close to Dylan as she said, "Oi! Stop doing that. You sound like a bloody cheerleader and that's annoying."
"But I only trying to cheer my girl up," retorted Dylan as he looked at the screen as Cali shot down another enemy. "Oh, she's marvelous!
"She's only playing a game. She isn't in a war. Stop overreacting!"
"I'm overreacting?" asked Dylan and Xiu nodded. "Okay." His eyes wandered around as he set his target and said, "Let's have a round of basketball. Whoever scored more will get a wish. Don't worry, my only wish is for you to get lost and let me spend some time with my girl!"
Xiu cracked her knuckles and stretched her neck saying, "Bro, you'll regret it!"
Coming to the gaming arcade hall was Cali's idea but apparently, Xiu and Dylan had been having their own battles. Dylan was trying to kick Xiu away while Xiu was trying to become the century's best and biggest lightbulb!
Soon, they started on their bet and played the basketball game. It was already great for Dylan to score 58 in 60 seconds but Xiu knocked him down with her 61 scores. Dylan's shoulders slumped down while Xiu's face brightened up, "Oh, poor you! I told you not to mess with me."
"Let's do it with that shooting game." Dylan wasn't gonna take it lying down. And Xiu would happily comply.
By the time, Cali noticed what was happening, Dylan had already lost three times in three different games from Xiu. Not only that, now Xiu had three wishes as well. And seeing the devilish smirk on her face, Dylan could tell he wasn't gonna have it easy.
"What are you both even trying to do?" Cali interrupted the staring battle between them. "How can you childishly fight over this? It's just games. Take it easy! We are here for fun."
Dylan held Cali's arm as he provoked Xiu, "Yes, what good is it winning from me? If you have the guts, play with Cali. She's a basketball pro. She'll knock you down along with your arrogance!"
"Bro, I'd love to play with her but you see, I don't want to hurt her feelings. She's already feeling bad for having an incompetent boyfriend like you. Oh, wait. You're not even her boyfriend yet!"
Xiu's laughed got Dylan mad.
"How can you rub salt on my wounds?"
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