Chapter 96: Dead or Not

Half an hour later, Su Qinghu finally saw her teacher off. The teacher just wouldn’t stop talking, and Su Qinghu couldn’t find a way to cut her off, so she had to keep walking her, and walking her, all the way to the bus stop before the teacher finally, mercifully, let her go.

She walked home with a strange look in her eyes, feeling a bit lightheaded, almost floating.

By now, Big Egg had already finished beating up Second Egg, and was standing there with his hand out, face stern, staring at him.

Second Egg stammered, not daring to fight back, and started digging through his schoolbag.

Big Egg was all business. “Not a single cent left.”

“Okay.” Second Egg was afraid of making his brother angry, and he knew he was in the wrong, so he obediently handed over all his money. “It’s all here.”

Big Egg took the money and turned to leave, but Second Egg grabbed him. “Bro, is she… is she going to hit me?”

Big Egg stopped and looked at him without saying a word.

Su Qinghu, who had just reached the front gate, let out a cold snort, then closed the courtyard door behind her and started flexing her hands as she walked toward the two of them.

—Close the door and beat the dog!

Seeing Su Qinghu’s movements, Second Egg’s hair stood on end. His mind was suddenly filled with images of dumb dogs barking their heads off.

Was he… about to become one of those dumb dogs?

Big Egg wasn’t sure if Su Qinghu was really going to hit anyone, but in the next second, he stepped in front of Second Egg and made a hand gesture.

It meant: play it by ear, and if things go south, climb the wall and run.

Second Egg swallowed nervously as Su Qinghu got closer and closer. He wanted to run, but for some reason, his legs just wouldn’t move, as if they’d grown roots.

Big Egg saw that Second Egg had lost all his usual quick-wittedness and was just standing there like an idiot. Without thinking, he stepped forward and blocked Su Qinghu’s path. “I already gave him a beating.”

Su Qinghu glanced at him expressionlessly, walked around him, and left.

Second Egg’s mouth hung open as he stared blankly at Su Qinghu’s back. She… she just left like that?

Big Egg pursed his lips, watching Su Qinghu walk into the living room and then into her bedroom, equally stunned. She’s not going to hit anyone? Then what was with all that wrist-flexing just now?

“Bro?” Second Egg called out to Big Egg. “Is she just going to stew in her own anger?”

Big Egg frowned and glared at him. “Go reflect on what you’ve done!”

With that, he went back into the yard, pulled out his homework, and started writing furiously at the table. Second Egg tried to reflect for a while, but couldn’t come up with anything, so he tiptoed into the living room, glanced at his brother who was hard at work, and quickly pulled out his own homework to do the same.

He’d started a little gang, sure, but he hadn’t done anything wrong! He didn’t charge anyone protection fees, and he even took them out to earn money together. Where else could you find such a good deal?

Chewing on his pencil, Second Egg started reviewing everything he’d done this week. Right, he’d skipped school, but he hadn’t fallen behind—he understood everything the teacher taught and always answered questions correctly…

Meanwhile, Su Qinghu threw herself onto her bed, buried her face in her pillow, and started pounding the mattress, whining.

Qing Yan Hai, Qing Yan Hai, Qing Yan Hai my ass!

Why not call him Lie Yan Hai, huh?

Wasn’t Chen Lie supposed to be their beloved father? Didn’t he hold a high place in their hearts? So what’s going on now? He’s still important? Still has a place?

Do they have to mess with her like this?

If Chen Lie or her in-laws ever found out about this—

Su Qinghu covered her face. So embarrassing!

But for now, embarrassment was the least of her worries. The most important thing was figuring out how to get Second Egg back on track. The kid was too smart—if she tried to scare him into dropping out and working a street stall to experience the hardships of life, he might not only fail to learn any lesson, but actually thrive out there…

She ran through all sorts of scenarios in her head, only to reject them one by one. Lying on her back, Su Qinghu stared at the ceiling, her mind going blank.

If only Chen Lie were here—she could just dump the problem on him, and whether he wanted to or not, he’d have to deal with it…

Closing her eyes, Su Qinghu thought and thought, and before she knew it, she’d fallen asleep.

Three hours later, after finishing all their homework and reciting every passage they’d learned this semester, the two brothers were finally spent. They exchanged a glance, then looked toward Su Qinghu’s bedroom door.

It was completely silent.

Big Egg stared at the door, his well-shaped brows furrowing. An uncontrollable thought crept into his mind.

She—she wouldn’t do anything stupid, would she?

Second Egg didn’t think that far. He just sighed, clutching his growling stomach, and said weakly, “Bro, I’m hungry.”

“Then go eat outside,” Big Egg snapped, his nerves frayed by his own worries. “The money’s on the table, take it yourself.”

Second Egg looked at the allowance his brother had confiscated, then at Big Egg. “You want me to go alone? You’re not coming?”

“You think you’re that spoiled brat Qian Duoshu or something?” Big Egg glared at him. “Eat if you want, don’t eat if you don’t!”

His little brother wasn’t like this before!

He used to be tough, none of this whiny, wishy-washy stuff!

What’s with all this Yanyan, Shengsheng nonsense? Not manly at all!

Second Egg grabbed the money and headed for the door, wanting to prove he wasn’t a little kid. But after a couple steps, he stopped, turned back, and asked, “You’re really not eating?”

Big Egg: “No! Not hungry!”

“Then I’ll ask Mom.” Under Big Egg’s incredulous gaze, Second Egg walked back, stopped at Su Qinghu’s bedroom door, and knocked. “Mom, it’s time to eat. What do you want?”

Silence from inside.

Big Egg watched him, his expression growing strange.

Second Egg waited a while, pressed his ear to the door, and listened. No response. He blinked, knocked again.

Still nothing.

Second Egg turned to Big Egg. “Bro? I think Mom’s asleep. Should I keep calling her?”

Big Egg didn’t answer. Instead, he stood up, went outside, and peered through the window.

Su Qinghu had gotten off work at six, chatted with the teacher for about an hour, and the two brothers had done homework and recited texts for about three hours. It was now ten at night. Looking through the window, he could only see darkness.

Taking a deep breath, Big Egg rushed to Su Qinghu’s bedroom door and started pounding on it.

Second Egg looked at him, baffled. “Bro, isn’t that a bit much?”

It’s rude to knock like that…

“Go find the flashlight!” Big Egg barked at his brother as he kept banging on the door.

Second Egg didn’t dare ask more. He found the flashlight in their room and handed it over. “Here!”

Big Egg took the flashlight, rushed to Su Qinghu’s window, turned it on, and shone it inside.

The beam swept across—and landed right on Su Qinghu’s ghostly, staring eyes.

Big Egg’s hand shook. Before he could even gasp, Second Egg shrieked and leapt onto him, knocking them both to the ground.

As they fell, Big Egg was still thinking: She… she’s definitely alive, right?"