Jiang You dealt with everything and hurried away from the abandoned chemical plant.
After returning home and changing clothes, she secretly burned all the bloodstained clothing.
That night, as she sat at home, the local news on TV reported a sudden fire at the long-neglected chemical plant, without mentioning anything else.
Besides, that chemical pool was so deep. Who would waste their time dredging it for no reason?
After her uncle and aunt finished dinner, they began trying to convince her.
Not to apply to a particular university, but to get married.
"What are you doing? Didn't you hear me talking to you? I'm your biological uncle. Do you really think I'd harm you?"
"Jiang You! Your uncle is talking to you. What are you spacing out for?
"Don't you have any manners?
"Did you learn all your books for nothing?!"
Jiang You held the enamel mug in her hands. Above the old living room, the ceiling fan was still buzzing as it spun, as if it might fall down at any moment.
She looked at the hands holding the mug. They were extremely thin, like a few sticks.
As she rubbed the thin calluses on her fingertips, Jiang You's thoughts surged uncontrollably.
The man and woman before her were her uncle and aunt.
In her previous life, the first thing she did after escaping the Forbidden Tower was find her uncle's family and tear them limb from limb, sending every last one of them neatly to Western Heaven.
Looking at the honest, simple-looking middle-aged man and the plump, shrewd-looking woman, Jiang You found it somewhat laughable.
Her parents had died in a factory explosion when she was five. After their deaths, the factory signed a contract to pay thirty thousand yuan a month in compensation to raise Jiang You.
This money would be paid until Jiang You turned eighteen.
Originally, they would not have paid so much. But since both of Jiang You's parents had been involved in the accident at the factory, she had become an orphan.
The factory director simply used her as an example, even inviting reporters to cover the story. He offered a large settlement, advertised his factory, and salvaged its damaged reputation.
That was when her uncle and aunt became her guardians. Every month, they collected her parents' compensation and moved into Jiang You's house.
Jiang You had been only five and knew nothing about any of this.
No one had even told her that compensation money existed.
Her uncle and aunt constantly claimed that they had raised her, that she was a parasite in the family, and that their kindness was an enormous favor.
She believed them. A five-year-old child had suddenly lost both parents.
Naturally, she trusted the uncle who cared for her with all her heart.
Overnight, the family portrait of her parents in the living room was replaced with one of her uncle and aunt.
Her uncle and aunt slept in her parents' room;
her cousin took over her room;
and the study became her male cousin's room.
Meanwhile, she hugged her own quilt and stood at the door of the storage room.
After all, her uncle and aunt's family was raising her. It was only right to give them the larger rooms.
That was what all the adults told her. They said she had to be grateful and could not be an ungrateful wretch.
She began learning to help her aunt with the housework, terrified that others would abandon her.
Later, cooking, cleaning, and washing clothes all fell to her. Her aunt's hands became fair and plump from being so well cared for.
Whenever she secretly cried alone, her uncle would come back with a little cake for her.
He would comfort her gently.
"Ah-You, you have to know how to be grateful. Although your aunt and your older brother and sister have bad tempers, they aren't bad people. We're family. It's only right for your uncle to raise you, so you have to be obedient too, all right?"
At the time, Jiang You had no idea that there was no such thing as her uncle raising her.
Her uncle's entire family had been living off her parents' compensation money.
They were the real parasites!
The scene before her was precisely what had happened after she was admitted to a top-tier university through the college entrance examination, when her uncle and aunt had joined forces to persuade her to marry Boss Wang's son.
But their plans ultimately fell through.
Because a little over half a month later, the apocalypse would break out. Who would still have time to get married?
On July 3, 21**—the entire world would be turned upside down...
A speck of saliva landed on her eyelid.
Jiang You's eyelid twitched, and she snapped back from her memories.
"Jiang You, your parents died young. As your uncle, I've treated you like my own daughter, so I have to plan for your future.
"Look at you. Do you have any special skills? Besides, college students are everywhere these days. Do you think you'll be able to find a good job just because you went to college?"
"Jiang You, think carefully. Even if you go to college, after graduating you'll still end up as a 996 or 007 corporate drone. What future does that give you?
"You'd be better off marrying Boss Wang's son. Their family has assets worth billions. If you marry into their family, you'll become a wealthy lady!"
Her aunt's plump body gesticulated wildly, her face glowing red.
She looked so excited that she seemed eager to marry into the family herself.
Jiang You took a sip of water from her cup.
She raised her eyebrows. "Aunt, you look like you really envy Boss Wang's wealth. Why don't you marry into his family yourself?
"You might be a little too old to marry his son, but marrying his father should still be possible."
Her aunt's face flushed with anger, and the fat on her cheeks trembled.
"You wicked girl! Is that how you speak to your elders?"
"Exactly. Who would try to persuade their own niece to marry Simpleton?"
Jiang You stared coldly at her, murderous intent surging in her eyes before she suppressed it again.
She had killed those thugs, and for the moment, no one could trace it back to her.
But if her uncle's family disappeared, she would definitely be suspected. Then people would watch her every move.
That would be extremely inconvenient.
Aunt: "You're a girl. What do you need so much education for? You'll have to get married eventually anyway. You might as well marry early!"
Jiang You: "You're going to die of old age eventually, so why don't you go die right now?!
"If girls don't need an education, then make your daughter stop studying!
"Have her marry early and hang a whole string of children off herself!"
Her aunt glared furiously. "How can your cousin be the same as you?!"
"That's right, she's different. Animals can't be compared to people."
"Who are you calling an animal?"
"Whoever thinks I'm talking about them."
"Enough!" Ling Tianming shouted, stopping Ge Chunhua's tirade.
"That little bitch is insulting me, and you didn't hear her?!"
Ge Chunhua was so furious that her face and neck turned red.
Ling Tianming's chest heaved violently, and he panted hard through his nose, practically itching to slap Jiang You twice.
Yet he still put on a benevolent expression as he glared angrily at Ge Chunhua.
"I said enough! Stop forcing Xiao-You!
"If she wants to study, let her study!
"I'm useless as an uncle, but even if I have to sell everything we own or sell my blood, I'll support her education!
"Jiang You is my sister's daughter, my own niece!
"At worst, Yue can give up on college and go to a factory to tighten screws!
"No matter what, I can't wrong my sister!"
As Ling Tianming spoke, his eyes reddened, and he gazed at Jiang You with gentle determination.
He was playing the part of a good uncle who would sacrifice everything for his sister's child.
"Xiao-You, don't worry. Your uncle will definitely find a way to send you to school!
"I'll find a way to pay for college!"
After saying that, he took Ge Chunhua's hand with a guilty look.
"Chunhua, I know I've wronged you, but Xiao-You is my sister's daughter. I can't wrong my sister.
"I've wronged Yue and Hao Chen too.
"It's all my fault. If I weren't so useless, the three children wouldn't have to struggle like this!"
People said men did not easily shed tears, but at that moment, he trembled all over as he suppressed his sobs.
Her aunt embraced Ling Tianming with a heartbroken expression, then angrily shouted at Jiang You.
"Jiang You, do you have any conscience?
"Look at what you've driven your uncle to!
"Are you trying to force him to death?!
"He's only your uncle, not your parents. He's already done right by you by raising you this far!
"We moved our entire family to the city to stay with you because we were afraid you wouldn't adapt to the countryside. We raised you, but what about you?
"Did a dog eat your conscience?!"
Before you continue