Jing Shu never thought a single phone call would drag out so much mess. She'd never imagined this kind of drama would explode right beside her. So after all that, Su Meimei was the "victim," huh.
Well then. Su Guosheng wasn't reliable at all, he kept quiet for ages and didn't dare say a word. Looked like she'd have to use a few tricks.
She stepped toward Su Meimei one careful step at a time. Getting tortured into trying to kill herself this early, that wouldn't do. At the very least, she had to live long enough to take down the accomplices from the last life, Zhang Zhongyong and Ai Lin and their whole family. She needed to savor this beautiful apocalypse again, make them taste every bit of pain she'd suffered before. No matter what, she had to live with that hatred and keep going. If she just died and called it quits, wouldn't that be way too easy on her?
"Nothing's more entertaining than dogs biting dogs."
"Illusion, activate."
Jing Shu said softly, "Su Meimei, aren't you going to wake up? The woman who stole your father, the one who planted Ai Lin as a mistress more than ten years ago, they've all gotten what they wanted. One stole your father, one stole your man. Shouldn't you stand up and fight back, and fight hard?
Zhang Zhongyong already knows the truth, he's crushed by Ai Lin now. Oh, and your father's woman put a green hat on him, the child isn't his. That means you're the only bloodline left in your family. Your father will stand by you from now on. Isn't it time to get up and fight?"
All of a sudden, Su Meimei's one bloodshot eye snapped open, full of hatred. Jing Shu's words kept looping in her head, stinging her over and over, planting suggestion after suggestion.
"Kill them, kill them all! Ahhh!" Su Meimei howled like a madwoman.
"That's more like it. Here, eat some chocolate, drink some water, and your body'll be fine." Jing Shu set water and chocolate in front of her, and Su Meimei pounced.
Zhang Hanhhan swallowed hard as she stared at the chocolate, licking her lips again and again. As for Zhang Zhongyong's family, they were in a strange limbo. The two old ladies were busy coddling Ai Yong, the only grandson, while he wailed nonstop. Zhang Zhongyong looked hollowed out. He'd finally given someone his heart, and this was the result. He couldn't process it.
In under a minute, Su Meimei finished every crumb. A hint of strength returned to her body, and the foaming at the mouth stopped.
Su Yiyang let out a long breath. "Looks like she was starving. As long as she's not dead, it's fine."
Su Lanzhi's gaze turned complicated. She'd watched Su Meimei for so many years, and now the woman had changed beyond recognition. She couldn't help feeling a lot.
Ai Lin sensed danger. Su Meimei had changed. It was like life had rushed back into her all at once. She wasn't that numb, resigned, doormat of a woman anymore. "Get out. Get out of our home right now." She had to drive this woman out completely.
Expressionless, Su Meimei untied the rope around her and said, "According to the registry, I'm legally married to Zhang Zhongyong. You're the one who should get out. Half of this apartment is my asset, and no one's kicking me out. Starting today, I'm sharing the second bedroom with Zhang Hanhan. If anyone's dumb enough to test me…" She bared that hideous, ruined eye and sneered.
"I'll fight to the death. I'll drag whoever crosses me into the grave. Before I go, I'll gouge out her eyes, bite off her ears, and drink her blood. I already died once. I've figured it out. Instead of dying like a coward, I'll take a few with me."
Even Zhang Hanhhan shivered. Her mom had changed. She wasn't just terrifying to look at anymore, her temperament had twisted into something bloodthirsty and strange. It was too scary. She didn't want to stay with Su Meimei. She wanted to find her grandfather.
"Zhongyong, look at this lunatic. She's ready to kill us. It's too dangerous. If we live with someone like her, I'm scared you and the baby will be in danger." Ai Lin clung to Zhang Zhongyong's arm and acted cute. Zhang Zhongyong slid his arm free without a word, turned, and went back to the master bedroom. "I want some quiet."
"It's over," flashed across Ai Lin's mind. From now on, this household would spiral into chaos, because the head of the house, Zhang Zhongyong, didn't care anymore.
"Mom, Eldest Uncle, let's go. She's fine, so she doesn't need us." Jing Shu smiled.
They'd come to see her one last time. Since she didn't die, there wasn't any reason to stay.
"Right, right, let's head out."
Su Yiyang's family felt awkward standing around, so everyone left without another word. They hadn't gone far when a roar burst from inside the apartment. Su Yiyang scratched his head. "Doesn't sound like someone who chugged a whole bottle of sleeping pills. First time I've heard of a person sleeping it off and bouncing right back."
Wang Fang shot him a glare. "You just love arguing. Maybe she didn't take that much. Maybe she's built up resistance and toughed it out."
In the dark, Jing Shu smiled. "Su Meimei, you'd better go all in. Even if you don't kill that whole family, make them chickens-flying-dogs-jumping, never let them know peace."
Su Meimei absolutely couldn't die. If she died, she'd hand Zhang Zhongyong and Ai Lin, those cheating dogs, the perfect ending. Jing Shu wouldn't let them have it.
…
The whole suicide incident passed quickly. It didn't even make a ripple in Jing Shu's busy life, and it didn't affect Su Lanzhi either. In the last life, because Su Yiyang's family died miserably and no one knew the truth, she went out of her way to take care of Su Meimei.
But none of that happened this time. Su Meimei even made Su Lanzhi hate her. Now that they didn't share any direct blood ties, Su Lanzhi didn't love or hate her. Even if Su Meimei died right in front of her, she'd probably just sigh and move on. Jing Shu was very satisfied with that outcome.
Still, after about half a month of calm, life got nudged off balance again.
With the third year of the apocalypse getting closer by the day, Jing Shu started to get anxious.
For the second year, her preparations were rock solid. She'd planned for everything she could think of. But this year threw too much at her, and she'd already brushed past death several times.
Now the third year was almost here, and besides food, everything else was still a mess. It was even harder because she was wearing so many hats, which kept slowing her plans.
Most importantly, she had to make a trip to America in the third year. Before she left, she had to settle her family properly. Otherwise, she wouldn't have any peace of mind.
Right when things were that critical, Jing Pang called. Qiao Lan was due in the next couple of days, and she wanted Grandma Jing to come and take charge.
===
For more information about 'green hat' you can read it on my The Webnovel Handbook: A Guide to Slang, Tropes, and Inside Jokes. I already put the explanation there.