Chapter 1: Is My Daughter Really Mine?

"Ah! Be gentle, don't let him hear."

"What are you afraid of? Doesn't he always come back after midnight?"

"Oh, oh..."

Zhang Fan opened the door, set down the side dishes and beer, and froze with his coat halfway off. He stared, completely unable to believe his eyes. A murderous rage surged within him. He kicked the door wide open. Sure enough, his wife and Old Wang from next door were in bed, enjoying themselves. His sudden appearance made Old Wang shiver with terror.

"Liu Yan, you bitch!"

"I've been breaking my back working two jobs, toiling at the construction site by day and delivering food by night, and you, you fucking dared to cheat on me!"

Liu Yan panicked, scrambling to cover herself with the quilt. "Honey, you... you weren't supposed to be home until after twelve! Why are you back so early?"

Zhang Fan was trembling with rage, his eyes bloodshot as he scanned the room. He snatched a peeling knife from the fruit tray and charged into the bedroom. "I'm going to kill you two scumbags!"

Old Wang was so terrified his legs turned to jelly; he couldn't even stand. As Zhang Fan grabbed Liu Yan by the hair, she let out a blood-curdling scream. The thought of his years of hard work ending in his wife's betrayal stoked his fury like erupting magma.

Just then, a sleepy voice came from the bedroom door. "Daddy, what are you doing?"

Zhang Fan’s daughter, Zhang Qingyun, stood there rubbing her eyes. It was 11:30 PM, and since she usually slept early, the commotion had clearly woken her. Seeing his daughter, Zhang Fan quickly shoved the knife into his pocket. He shot a cold, icy glare at the pair, then led his daughter back to her room.

Zhang Qingyun was six years old and would be starting elementary school after the summer break. Seeing her father’s grim expression, her fair, delicate face flushed with worry. She reached out with her small, soft hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"Daddy, what's wrong? You look so angry. You can tell Yun'er anything, even though... even though I can't really help you."

Staring at his daughter’s concerned face, Zhang Fan felt a sharp pang in his heart. He had met his wife in college, and they had been together for thirteen years. Though she had never worked since they married, she was a good mother and took care of his own mother as well. He never imagined that his seemingly gentle and graceful wife was actually such a two-faced slut.

His mind was in turmoil. He couldn't possibly tell his daughter the truth, nor could he commit murder in front of her. After a long silence, he spoke softly.

"Daddy is fine, sweetie. You have to go to school tomorrow to register. Get some sleep."

Zhang Qingyun kissed his face firmly, her little eyes earnest. "Daddy, if something really serious happens, you have to tell me, okay?"

Zhang Fan forced a smile, tucked his daughter into bed, and pulled the covers up. Ten minutes later, he quietly closed her door. He didn't even glance at the two people standing in the living room, who were now fully dressed and frozen in place. He walked out with an expressionless face.

The two exchanged looks. Old Wang’s heart was pounding out of his chest as he whispered, "Yanyan, your husband... he won't kill me, will he?"

Liu Yan bit her lip, her eyes dark. "What are you afraid of? Are you even a man? I’ve already started recording on my phone. If he dares to try anything, just kill him! It’s called self-defense, understand?"

Old Wang didn't dare speak. He followed Liu Yan to the fire escape. The green "Exit" sign above the door flickered due to a loose connection. Already terrified, Old Wang felt even more panicked here, not knowing what to do with his hands or feet.

Zhang Fan lit a Liqun cigarette and took a long drag. His gritted teeth and the swirling smoke made his face look truly ferocious. He sat on the stairs, staring coldly at Liu Yan.

"How long has this been going on?"

Old Wang knelt down, crying. "Brother, it really was the first time! Don't blame me, blame your wife for being so charming. You're never home, you..."

Zhang Fan grabbed the fire extinguisher from the wall and slammed it with all his might onto the top of Old Wang’s head!

*Bang!*

Old Wang felt his skull splitting; he reached up and found his hand covered in blood. Strangely, he didn't pass out, but the pain and terror made the world spin. Zhang Fan looked at him coldly. "Did I give you permission to speak?"

Old Wang didn't dare make a sound. Zhang Fan raised the extinguisher and smashed it into Old Wang’s face!

*Bang!*

The extinguisher tumbled down the stairs. Zhang Fan grabbed Old Wang by the ear, squeezing so hard it felt like it would tear off. "I! Asked! You! Did I speak to you!"

Old Wang’s left cheekbone was fractured, blood streamed down his face, and his ear felt like it was being ripped apart. Near a breakdown and filled with regret, he wailed, "No! No!"

Zhang Fan turned his gaze back to Liu Yan. She backed away in terror, her spine hitting the fire door. He had never lost his temper at home before. He had always been polite to outsiders and gentle with his family. In her mind, Zhang Fan had always been a humble gentleman. Today, every move he made was with the intent to kill. Liu Yan was genuinely frightened; her lips were trembling.

"Two... two years."

Zhang Fan took another drag of his cigarette, suppressing his inner rage, and continued his interrogation. "Liu Yan, oh Liu Yan, you really are a fucking bitch! The year we graduated college, we fell in love and got married. You said you had heart problems and didn't want to work, so I agreed."

Liu Yan remained silent.

Zhang Fan shouted, "Later, when the global economy took a downturn and I was laid off by my IT company at thirty-five, did you ever work a single day! To support you and Yun'er, I spent my days hauling bricks at construction sites and my nights delivering food until one or two in the morning. Is this how you repay me!"

As he spoke, Zhang Fan kicked Old Wang in the mouth with all his might. The man's mouth filled with blood, and several teeth flew out. Old Wang could barely breathe now, his face pale with the fear of death as tears streamed down his face. "Brother, please, don't kill me. I was wrong, brother, I really know I was wrong."

Hearing Old Wang’s faint, whimpering pleas, Zhang Fan turned his gaze toward the third party. He grabbed Old Wang’s ear again. "Wrong your mother!"

Before Old Wang could speak again, Zhang Fan pulled the peeling knife from his pocket, ready to slit his throat!

Seeing this, Old Wang struggled frantically like a dying fish. Liu Yan clutched her head and screamed, "Zhang Fan! Have you lost your mind! We aren't in a military marriage, we haven't committed a crime! If you kill someone, you'll be sentenced to death!"

Hearing this, Zhang Fan calmed down. He really couldn't kill Old Wang. If he killed him and ended up on death row, who would look after his daughter? Could he count on this idiotic woman? She dared to cheat while he was still alive; if he were dead, she’d probably act shameless right in front of their daughter.

Zhang Fan threw Old Wang to the ground. Having narrowly escaped death, Old Wang crawled into a corner, his body shaking violently.

Zhang Fan lit another cigarette. At this point, cursing or saying anything further was meaningless. He stared into Liu Yan’s eyes.

"I only have two questions. One: Why did you cheat? Two: Is Yun'er actually my daughter?"