234 Why?

"Aunt Wen, do you want to push me out and use me as a shield so that you can escape yourself?" Qiao Mu suddenly stopped walking. She tilted her head to the side and peculiarly looked at this woman who was supposedly gentle like water.

Wen Ruwan's heart jolted. She tried her best to maintain a calm expression but stuttered, "H-how could I? W-why would Aunt Wen do that?"

"Heh…" The child's voice was calm, and the final light syllable slightly turned up, containing an indescribable meaning.

Wen Ruwan swallowed back and waved the child toward her with an embarrassed smile. "Qiaoqiao, come over. Come to Aunt Wen. Do you remember how Aunt Wen promised your parents that she would protect you and your siblings' safety no matter what before leaving the house?"

"Yes, you did."

"R-right?" Wen Ruwan awkwardly chuckled and urged, "T-then come over here, Qiaoqiao. Don't worry, Aunt Wen will protect you even at the risk of my life."

"Aunt Wen, you're truly a good person." Qiao Mu acted normally and nodded, strolling to her side.

Wen Ruwan fiercely grabbed Qiao Mu's wrist and tightly clutched it. The strength behind her hold evoked a slight surprise in Qiao Mu.

It appeared a powerful strength could also erupt from normal people on the brink of death.

*Bang!!!* A decayed figure abruptly appeared at the large opera stage in the center of the level and howled at Wen Ruwan.

Color instantly drained from Wen Ruwan's face. She had a tight grip on Qiao Mu's wrist and subconsciously pulled her tiny figure in front of her to act as a barrier.

"Qiaoqiao, d-don't be afraid!!!" 'I'll feed you to the zombie later. You'll feel a tiny smudge of pain when it bites you, but you will lose your feeling soon. I have no choice but to sacrifice you d*mn girl in order to live! Heaven will destroy people who don't look out for themselves, so don't blame me for being… cruel?'

Wen Ruwan's eyes abruptly shot open as she realized that she was forcefully shoved backward and was falling over the banister behind her.

'What! Was! Going! On?!'

She was completely caught off guard. She utterly did not expect the child in her arms to be so malicious toward her! This girl actually dared! This girl struck first! This girl took the initiative to evilly stretch her talons toward her and mercilessly pushed her in the chest!

Wen Ruwan's body uncontrollably laid flat. No, her whole body flipped backward and fell off of the banister.

No! No, no, no!!! Impossible!!! Behind the banister was…

A seven-story opera house that was dozens of feet above the ground. Normal people would die without a doubt when they fell off of it!

The final scene that imprinted in Wen Ruwan's eyes was the girl's pitch-black, icy eyes without a single ripple.

Wen Ruwan's terrified feelings completely leaked out of her face. She opened her mouth but did not say anything. However, the question "Why?" was written all over her eyes.

She struggled so hard in this world and bitterly strove to survive. Why didn't her hard work gain any pity from the heavens?!

Why did the heavens want to kill her?

Why did the child want her dead?

She was merely a normal person! How did her survival stand in the child's way…?

As she plunged down with a shriek, she could clearly see the faint smile that surfaced in the child's eyes.

Smile? The child was smiling! She was laughing at how dumb she was and how she still ended up dead regardless of how much she schemed.

'Hate! I have so much hate!'

"Ah…" Wen Ruwan fell down from the top of the seven-story opera house and adhered to the laws of gravity without any impedance, crashing onto the ground with a bang.

Her arms and legs rigidly laid open in a spread-eagle position as Wen Ruwan stared at the sky with round eyes. However, her eyes could not see anything anymore.

Scarlet blood slowly spread from the back of her head…