Zhao Zeli dodged her father's movements, retreating continuously, her mind rapidly communicating with 001.
"001, save me, what should I do?"
"The system can help the host call the police."
"No, if I call the police, my reputation will be completely ruined. In this world, even a perfect victim can't escape unscathed."
"The system allows the host to owe a favor and give you a strength-enhancing pill."
"Okay."
Zhao Zeli quickly swallowed the pill. Her father, not knowing what was happening, reached out to grab her.
"Xiao Li, you're a girl, you should be more obedient. We are family. Dad won't harm you. Dad will give you money, okay?"
Zhao Zeli grabbed his hand and threw him backward with force. Her father spun 180 degrees, his waist hitting the clothes rack and the corner of the bed before falling to the ground, buried under a pile of clothes.
Her father lay on the ground, unable to move, groaning in pain. Her mother, terrified by the situation, pointed at Zhao Zeli, speechless for a long time.
Zhao Zeli rushed over and pinned her to the ground, her fists raining down on her without mercy.
"For deceiving me, you don't deserve to be a mother. Do I owe you anything? Why are you doing this to me? Ahhh~"
Her mother's body convulsed with pain, and she spat out a large mouthful of blood, closing her eyes and remaining still for a long time. Zhao Zeli didn't spare her, furiously slapping her cheeks.
Zhao Zeli's father shakily got up and, using a broken clothes rack pole, attempted a sneak attack from behind. Zhao Zeli, as if she had eyes in the back of her head, turned, grabbed the pole, and pulled hard.
Her father, due to the momentum, fell onto her mother. The couple let out a simultaneous scream, and Zhao Zeli swung the pole wildly.
Her appearance was so frenzied that a man secretly peeking through the door crack was so scared he soiled himself and quickly fled the Zhao residence.
The hot-blooded citizen, Water Kid, reported them that night, and the police officers rounded up all their nearby hideouts.
"001, are they both okay?"
"Your father has fractured limbs and multiple spinal injuries. No internal organs were damaged, so it's not serious. Your mother has lost two molars, and the rest are superficial wounds. Aren't you afraid they'll call the police?"
"They won't. My dad cares more about his face than anything. He can't afford to lose face like this."
After saying that, Zhao Zeli found a clean set of clothes and went to the bathroom to wash up. Once done, she left the Zhao residence that night and checked into a hotel.
Hearing the sound of the door locking, her mother pushed her husband off and shakily got up.
She reached out to feel for his breath, and the heart that had been in her throat finally settled. She quickly dialed 120, then gently shook her husband.
"Child's father, wake up quickly. Stop sleeping, we're going to the hospital right away."
After calling for a long time without any response from her husband, her mother, flustered, went to knock on the Zhong family's door.
Mother Zhong, groggy from sleep, opened the door. Upon seeing who it was, she impatiently shouted into the house.
"Zhao Zeyu, your mother is looking for you. Not sleeping at this late hour, how annoying!"
Her son was determined to be with Zhao Zeyu, so she had to play the role of the evil mother-in-law, constantly causing them trouble. She believed that one day she could bring her son back to the right path.
Zhao Zeyu and Zhong Yujin quickly put on their clothes and came out. Zhao Zeyu, with a smile on his face, greeted Mother Zhong first.
He called her "Mom" so affectionately. Mother Zhong, with a sour expression, turned and went back into her bedroom.
"Mom, what is it? Why did you come over so late? You were both heartless enough to drive me out of the house, why are you looking for me now?"
Zhong Yujin tugged at his arm. "Auntie, please don't mind him. Xiao Yu is just too heartbroken about past events."
Zhao's mother ignored Zhao Zeyu's attitude and grabbed his hand, ready to pull him out.
"Your dad had an accident, accompany me to the hospital."
Zhao Zeyu impatiently shook her off. "What new tricks are you playing? I'm not leaving Brother Yujin. If my dad needs something, he can call the police or a doctor. Why is he looking for me?"
Zhao's mother reached out to slap Zhao Zeyu's face, but he grabbed her hand and forcefully threw it away.
"How can you be like this? You've grown up, your wings have hardened, haven't they? He's your biological father! You unfilial son, what's the use of raising you?"
Zhong Yujin shielded Zhao Zeyu. "Auntie, please calm down. Let's talk properly and don't hit anyone. Let's go see Uncle's condition first."
Seeing the tall and strong Zhong Yujin, Zhao's mother didn't dare to act rashly. She led the two back to the Zhao residence. Upon seeing the state of the bedroom, Zhao Zeyu and Zhong Yujin were both shocked.
"Mom, what happened? Did you fight with Dad?"
Zhao's mother hesitated for a moment, then opened her mouth, but still couldn't bring herself to mention Zhao Zeli. Her silence was taken as an admission.
Zhao Zeyu looked at her with condemnation. "You've been married to my dad for so many years, why would you hit him so hard?"
Zhao's mother nervously ran her hand through her hair. "I didn't do it on purpose. I was angry at the time, and didn't he hit me too?"
The ambulance arrived soon. Zhong Yujin and Zhao Zeyu accompanied her to the hospital. Having someone to help with the payments made things much easier.
When Zhao's father woke up and saw Zhao Zeyu, he didn't give him a good look. Zhong Yujin didn't dare to step forward. The two excused themselves to buy them food and went out.
"You didn't say anything about that, did you? That's against the law. Even if we're her parents, we could still get arrested."
Zhao's mother replied in a low voice, "I didn't say anything. That girl must have gone back to school. Are we just going to give up like this?"
"Let's talk about it later. She's definitely on guard against us now. That disappointing one is the one lying down there. His equipment should be useless. If there's really no other way, we'll wait for Zhao Zeli to get married and have her bring one back for us to raise."
"That girl was like a madwoman yesterday. I don't know where she got so much strength from. It'll be difficult to get anything from her side."
"Then do you have any good ideas? If this doesn't work and that doesn't work, are you going to let me, Zhao Qinglong, have no heir?"
Zhao's mother lowered her head, not daring to say another word.
...
"001, how much face-slapping value do I still owe?"
"Two hundred and fifty."
"Do you have anything to improve a person's intelligence? I want to become smarter so I can get into a good university and get away from them."
"1500 face-slapping value."
"Can't it be cheaper?"
"No bargaining."
Although Zhao's father's limbs were mended, he couldn't walk for the time being, nor could he lift heavy objects. The constant pain made him extremely irritable.
Zhao's father had been careless at work because of Zhao Zeyu's issues. He thought, why work so hard if no one was going to carry on the family name?
This time, due to his injury, he had to take a long leave of absence, and the company directly fired him. Zhao's father drank and smashed things daily, making his mother's life extremely difficult.
With 001's help, Zhao Zeli was able to perfectly avoid trouble every time they went to school to bother her. After she went to study out of town, Zhao's father and mother were powerless.
Father Zhong was exhausted from work every day, and Mother Zhong complained to him daily about Zhong Yujin.
Zhao Zeyu cried daily from being wronged. Zhong Yujin, unable to bear seeing him like this, decided to take him out to work.
Mother Zhong: "You're still a child, what kind of job can you do? Old Zhong, quickly try to persuade him!"
"Children and grandchildren have their own destinies. Do whatever you want in the future." Father Zhong said and went back to his bedroom, closing the door.
"Mom, I know that because of me and Xiao Yu, you've been subjected to gossip. I'm sorry to you. We'll leave far away from now on. When our son becomes successful, we'll come back to see you."
Mother Zhong couldn't stop him. Zhong Yujin left home with his luggage in his right hand and Zhao Zeyu in his left, holding his hand. However, after leaving, they never returned.
Father and Mother Zhong waited for a long time. Father Zhong cursed him for being heartless and said he deserved to die outside. Gradually, the couple let go of their concern for Zhong Yujin.
Father Zhong's salary was enough for the two of them to live on. In their old age, they moved into a nursing home and lived quite comfortably.