16 Morbid State

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In the study of the Huo family.
“Shh—” Huo Lingchen poured disinfectant into the palm of his right hand. The stinging pain from the liquid cleaning his wound made him curse involuntarily.
“Oh, you still have the strength to curse?”
A crisp voice suddenly rang out inside the room, startling Huo Lingchen so much that the hairs on his arms stood on end.
He quickly turned his head and saw a blond boy squatting on the windowsill. The window, which had been tightly shut, was now open without his noticing, and the curtains fluttered gently in the breeze.
He shouted sternly, “Who are you? How dare you trespass into a private residence? I’m calling the police!”
The blond boy, as if hearing a funny joke, chuckled and revealed two sharp fangs, waving a black box in his hand at him.
Enduring the pain in his palm, Huo Lingchen’s fingers swiped rapidly across his phone screen, about to hit the emergency call button when suddenly his head buzzed loudly, dizzy and disoriented. His body lost control and fell backward.
In the haze of consciousness, he felt a warm liquid uncontrollably flow from his lower body.
A wave of humiliation engulfed him instantly; his face flushed red, yet he was helpless.
“Sorry, sorry, the device was just finished and hasn’t been properly adjusted yet. It’s too powerful,” the blond boy said with a bright smile that lacked genuine apology.
Huo Lingchen glared at him viciously.
Ignoring the murderous look, the blond boy jumped into the room and made a hand gesture below the windowsill.
Qiao Yuyan climbed through the window and immediately caught the shocked and angry gaze on Huo Lingchen’s face. She raised an eyebrow and was about to speak when a foul smell invaded her nostrils.
She frowned and looked down at Huo Lingchen’s lower body, where there was a suspicious yellow stain.
“Did you scare him into wetting himself?” Qiao Yuyan asked An Chen.
An Chen put the black box into his backpack, sneered at Huo Lingchen on the floor, and said, “I’m not as formidable as the boss, it’s just a subsonic device that’s not yet properly tuned. It made him incontinent.”
“Don’t tell me you played him to death?” Qiao Yuyan considered but was still uneasy. She said to Orei, “Go check on him.”
Seeing a nearly two-meter-tall muscular man approach step by step, Huo Lingchen struggled to move backward, terrified, shouting, “Don’t, don’t... come... Qiao Yu... Yan... you... dare...”
But the power of the subsonic wave left him powerless. Orei took a few strides forward, reached out with a large hand, lifted him up like a chick, and with the other hand pried open his eyelids, shining a flashlight directly into his pupils.
The intense light made him shed tears involuntarily.
“Don’t cry,” Qiao Yuyan approached, “I haven’t even started yet.”
Behind her, An Chen thoughtfully closed the window.
“Qiao Yuyan... you lunatic...” Huo Lingchen stifled the dizziness in his head and spoke haltingly, “Are you... after money... I’ll give you...”
“You’re overthinking,” Qiao Yuyan replied as if she hadn’t heard, not even lifting her eyelids, turning to Orei and asking, “How is he?”

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“Pretty good. As long as you don’t hit the head, it’s not a big problem.” Orei put away the flashlight and casually dropped Huo Lingchen.
Huo Lingchen fell heavily to the floor, groaning.
“As long as he doesn’t die, that’s fine,” Qiao Yuyan squatted in front of him, slowly putting on black leather gloves, gently patting his cheek. “Now, let’s settle the score.”
“What... do you mean...” Huo Lingchen was confused. They had hardly met before, and he had never offended this madwoman.
“What do you mean?” Qiao Yuyan curled her lips, then in the next moment, her right fist slammed hard into his abdomen.
“Ah!” Huo Lingchen cried out in pain, instinctively curling into a ball as cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Qiao Yuyan’s face bore a gentle smile that did not reach her eyes. “Suppressing and controlling my sister, does that make you proud?”
Huo Lingchen’s face turned pale as he gasped for breath, desperately trying to raise his head to explain. But Qiao Yuyan punched again, silencing his words.
She had no intention of listening to Huo Lingchen’s excuses today; she only trusted what she personally witnessed.
Punch after punch landed on Huo Lingchen, targeting sensitive spots that caused unbearable pain without leaving marks.
Unable to resist, Huo Lingchen could only scream for help, but the villa’s excellent soundproofing completely muffled his cries.
“Boss, Sister Jiang is here,” Lin Shiyue reminded him through the earpiece.
Qiao Yuyan paused her movements upon hearing this, clicking her tongue softly. Her sister was too virtuous—just finished arguing with this man and still caring about him.
She sat cross-legged on the floor, watching Huo Lingchen lie helplessly.
His face pressed to the floor, hair damp with sweat and plastered messily to his forehead, he moaned in pain continuously.
Not long after, knocking sounded outside the study door, and Jiang Yunxi’s voice came through, “Lingchen.”
Huo Lingchen’s dim eyes brightened, turning his head to stare at the door, hoping his wife would come in and save him.
But in the next second, Orei covered his mouth, silencing him completely.
An Chen took a small pink flower from his backpack, twirled it a few times, and handed it to Qiao Yuyan.
Qiao Yuyan glanced at him with slight disdain before taking it.
The study door handle turned gently but could not open because it was locked from the inside. Jiang Yunxi raised her voice again, “Lingchen, are you asleep?”
Qiao Yuyan stood and walked to the door, placing the pink flower to her lips and saying, “Yunxi, I’m in a meeting.”
Huo Lingchen widened his eyes, unable to believe that this madwoman could speak with his voice.
“Ugh... ugh...” he struggled desperately, hoping his wife would hear his plea.
But the study door was too thick, and with Orei tightly covering his mouth, plus Jiang Yunxi’s usual thoughtfulness and fear of disturbing her husband’s work, upon hearing that he was in a meeting, she quickly said, “Then I won’t disturb you.”

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“All right, Yunxi, go rest first. I’ll be busy late tonight,” Qiao Yuyan said softly.
“Mm, don’t overwork yourself,” Jiang Yunxi replied, thinking her husband had calmed down, and left reassuringly.
Listening to the fading footsteps of his wife, Huo Lingchen closed his eyes in despair.
“Sister Jiang has returned to her room,” Lin Shiyue reminded again.
Qiao Yuyan tossed the pink flower to An Chen and signaled Orei to release Huo Lingchen.
“Tell me, why did you marry my sister?” Qiao Yuyan stepped beside Huo Lingchen and pressed her foot heavily on his back.
“Because... I love Yunxi...” Huo Lingchen’s voice was weak and feeble.
“Love?” Qiao Yuyan sneered, “Is controlling her love?”
“I didn’t... don’t slander me...”
Qiao Yuyan didn’t want to waste words. She gave Orei a look.
Orei understood immediately, crouched down, grabbed Huo Lingchen’s hair, forcing him to look up into his eyes.
After a moment, Orei snapped his fingers.
Huo Lingchen’s gaze slowly faded, becoming vacant and lifeless.
Orei asked, “Why did you mentally manipulate Jiang Yunxi?”
“She was too dazzling...” Huo Lingchen’s voice was hazy, “I wanted to lock her away so no one else could see her...”
Qiao Yuyan gritted her teeth, clenching her fists.
“Yunxi can only be mine... her world can only have me...” Huo Lingchen muttered softly, a sick obsession appearing on his face.
“Jiang Yunxi is truly unfortunate to have met a scumbag like you,” Qiao Yuyan said expressionlessly, looking at the man.
That remark seemed to strike a nerve. Huo Lingchen suddenly exploded, roaring, veins bulging on his neck, “Only I truly love Yunxi! Those men just lust after her beauty!”
“Cut the disgusting act,” Qiao Yuyan kicked Huo Lingchen harshly.
Orei released him, and Huo Lingchen’s body slid a short distance on the floor before collapsing again with a heavy thud.