Jiang Xia's arm was suddenly grabbed. She started, quickly yanked her hand back, and turned to look. She didn't recognize him, but for some inexplicable reason, a wave of disgust welled up inside her.
His resentment was incredibly strong!
Jiang Xia's heart jolted. Without showing anything on her face, she backed away several steps, keeping her distance as she asked, "What are you doing?"
Wu Qizhi had also planned to go to the village today to find Jiang Xia and see whether she had gotten divorced. He had come to the market because he couldn't go empty-handed—he needed to buy some fruit to coax her. Fruit at the rural market was cheaper than in the city, so he had come here to buy some. He hadn't expected to run into her shopping.
He happily stepped forward a few more paces and reached out to pull Jiang Xia. "Xiao Xia, you came to the market too?"
Jiang Xia had more or less guessed who he was. She dodged his reaching hand and snapped irritably, "If you want to talk, then talk. Don't get handsy. I'll call for help!"
Jiang Xia's disdainful evasion stimulated Wu Qizhi again.
This bitch looks down on me while still wanting to use me to help her get divorced successfully! Hmph. Sooner or later, I'll have my way with her and make her obey my every word.
He smiled. "Xiao Xia, didn't you want me to pretend to elope with you and help you get divorced? I was at fault that day. It was my mistake. I ran because I felt that doing that would damage your reputation."
"I was doing it for your own good, too. Eloping would have been bad for your reputation. And that day, I pushed you because I knew you could swim. It wasn't intentional. I only did it to protect your reputation, so people wouldn't say you were a loose woman. By the way, has Comrade Zhou misunderstood you? Is he still unwilling to divorce you? That beast must be refusing because he has his eye on your family's money. You were right to want a divorce. Do you still want one now? I'll take you away right now. If you have nowhere to live, you can stay at my place for the time being. You know I've liked you for a long time. I'll help you unconditionally."
Once he tricked her into his home, wouldn't he be able to do whatever he wanted with her? After he had his fill of her, she would have no choice but to stay with him and obey his every word. Then he would make her ask her father to arrange a job for him. If her father didn't arrange one, he wouldn't register their marriage. He refused to believe her father would dare not arrange one.
Jiang Xia didn't miss the sinister glint that flashed through his eyes.
It was only then that she learned the original owner had merely wanted to fake an elopement with this man. The book hadn't mentioned it. Perhaps since the original owner wasn't the female lead, it hadn't gone into such detail.
The book had only said that after she divorced the male lead, her parents refused to let her enter their home and demanded that she remarry him. With nowhere else to turn, she had gone to Wu Qizhi's home. In the end, he had half-forced and half-coaxed her into bed, leaving her no choice but to stay with him. Eventually, he had beaten her to death.
Jiang Xia said flatly, "No need. Leave! Don't come looking for me again. I don't need your help!"
After saying that, Jiang Xia turned and left.
Wu Qizhi followed her. "Xiao Xia, are you still angry that I didn't take you away that day? I really was doing it for your own good. Didn't you want to divorce Zhou Chenglei? When I pushed you into the sea, first, it would have allowed you to divorce Zhou Chenglei successfully. If Zhou Chenglei were a man, he would definitely agree after seeing you jump into the sea just to get divorced. Second, it would have protected your reputation. I did everything for you! Xiao Xia, is Zhou Chenglei still unwilling to divorce you? Then come with me now! I'll help you. I'll take you away! I'll take you away right now!"
Zhou Chenglei hurried over. When he saw the two of them walking together, he stopped short.
Jiang Xia didn't even spare him a glance. She walked around him and continued forward.
Wu Qizhi couldn't resist reaching out to put an arm around her waist. "Xiao Xia..."
Zhou Chenglei's eyes turned cold, and he quickly stepped forward.
But Jiang Xia was faster.
The moment he touched her clothes, Jiang Xia seized his wrist and twisted it behind his back.
A faint "crack" seemed to ring through the air.
Wu Qizhi's arm had been dislocated. His whole body contorted with pain. "Ah, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts... Xiao Xia, let go!"
Jiang Xia flung his hand away, kicked him in the butt, and shouted, "Help! Someone's harassing me! Help!"
The people all around turned to look.
Wu Qizhi fell flat on his face. Struggling to get up, he shouted, "What nonsense are you spouting? You were the one who said you wanted a divorce and would leave with me!"
Jiang Xia planted one foot on his chest and pinned him back to the ground, continuing to shout, "Help! I don't know this man! He touched my waist and acted like a hooligan! I even saw him touch an auntie's butt just now, and he deliberately bumped into a pretty young woman..."
She had originally planned to find somewhere deserted and quietly beat him up to vent the original owner's anger. But he had dared to touch her waist? He was asking for death!
Jiang Xia simply spouted whatever came to mind. After all, the market was crowded, and it was inevitable that some women had been bumped into or touched.
"I knew some little thief felt me up! So it was you!" The fat auntie kicked off the shoe beneath her foot, then rained blows on Wu Qizhi's head with it. "I'll beat you to death, you lecher! You dared take advantage of me? I'll beat you to death..."
Another young, pretty woman raised a washboard and brought it down on Wu Qizhi. "Pervert! I'll teach you to bump into me..."
Jiang Xia: "..."
She had only been making it up!
Yet someone had actually recognized themselves in it?
"Help! It's not me! I didn't do it! Stop hitting me! She's lying! I didn't act like a hooligan! She seduced me..." Beaten and kicked by the three women, Wu Qizhi covered his head with one hand and cried out for help.
Zhou Chenglei silently stepped forward and took the vegetable basket from Jiang Xia's hand so it would be easier for her to fight.
Jiang Xia felt someone snatch the things from her hand and swung a fist without thinking. Her fist was almost in Zhou Chenglei's handsome face when he caught it in his broad palm.
Jiang Xia paused. Zhou Chenglei released her hand. "It's me."
"Hold this for me." Jiang Xia let go and had him take the basket and other things, then joined the battle again.
This body held a grudge against the domestic abuser, probably something the original owner had left behind. Jiang Xia would help the original owner vent her anger! After all, she was using this body now, and if it held a grudge, she was the one who suffered.
Then the three women beat Wu Qizhi until he howled in agony, right up until he found an opportunity to break free and run away.
The fat auntie planted her hands on her hips and cursed at Wu Qizhi's back. "If you dare act like a hooligan again, I'll drag you to the Police Station! My younger brother is a police officer!"
Then she turned to Jiang Xia. "Thank you, girl! That was righteous of you! Otherwise, I never would have found the bastard who touched me!"
The pretty woman also said to Jiang Xia, "Thank you. I hate people like that most of all."
Jiang Xia smiled. "You're welcome! I should be thanking you two instead. He harassed me, and you helped me teach the bad guy a lesson."
The two women cursed Wu Qizhi once more before leaving.
"Let's go home." Jiang Xia smiled at Zhou Chenglei.
After teaching the person who had killed the original owner a lesson, the resentment in Jiang Xia's heart dispersed. Her whole body felt refreshed, as though all her strength had returned and that feeling of weakness was gone.
Jiang Xia felt that this body finally belonged to her alone.
With light steps, Jiang Xia walked with Zhou Chenglei toward the tractor.
Zhou Chenglei couldn't help glancing at her. Was she that happy after beating Wu Qizhi?
All right, he was a little happy too.
Because she had beaten Wu Qizhi—and even more because of the words, Let's go home.
He felt that something had changed.
Before you continue