Chapter 2: Convincing Her to Marry

After handling everything, Jiang You quickly left the abandoned chemical plant.

She returned home, changed her clothes, and burned the bloodstained ones in secret.

That evening, as she sat at home, the local news reported a sudden fire at an old, abandoned chemical plant. Not a single word about anything else.

But that chemical pool was deep—who in their right mind would go fishing for bodies?

Meanwhile, her uncle and aunt, after finishing dinner, sat her down—not to discuss which university she should apply to, but to persuade her to get married.

…

"What are you doing? Are you even listening when I talk to you? I’m your uncle! Do you really think I’d harm you?"

"Jiang You! Your uncle is speaking to you! Why are you zoning out? Do you have any manners at all? Did all that schooling go straight to a dog’s stomach?!"

Jiang You held an old enamel cup in her hands.

The ceiling fan in the cramped living room hummed noisily, rattling as if it might fall at any moment.

She looked down at her bony hands, fingers wrapped around the cup.

Thin. Like sticks.

She rubbed her fingertips over the faint calluses, her thoughts surging uncontrollably.

The middle-aged man and woman sitting in front of her—her uncle and aunt.

In her past life, the first thing she did after escaping the Forbidden Tower was hunt them down and tear them apart, limb by limb.

She had sent their entire family straight to hell.

Looking at them now—the seemingly honest, simple-minded man and the overweight, shrewd-faced woman—Jiang You found it laughable.

Her parents had died in a factory explosion when she was five.

After their deaths, the factory paid compensation—30,000 yuan a month—meant to support her until she turned eighteen.

Normally, they wouldn’t have paid so much.

But since both her parents died at once, leaving her an orphan, the factory used her as a PR tool, even inviting reporters to cover the story.

They paid a high settlement, turning the tragedy into a publicity stunt to repair their image.

And that was when her uncle and aunt swooped in, becoming her legal guardians.

They collected the monthly compensation and moved into her house.

Jiang You had been too young to understand any of it.

No one even told her about the compensation money.

Instead, her uncle and aunt constantly reminded her that they had "raised" her, that she was nothing but a parasite in their home, that she owed them an unimaginable debt of gratitude.

And she believed them.

She had been just a little girl—suddenly orphaned, clinging desperately to the only family she had left.

Overnight, the framed photos in the living room changed.

Her parents' pictures disappeared, replaced by those of her uncle and aunt.

Her parents' bedroom? Taken by her uncle and aunt.

Her own bedroom? Given to her cousin.

The study? Now her cousin brother’s room.

And Jiang You?

She had stood at the doorway of the storage room, clutching her blanket.

After all, they were taking care of her—it was only right that they got the bigger rooms.

The adults all told her the same thing: she should be grateful.

She shouldn’t be an ungrateful little brat.

She had started helping with housework, terrified they would abandon her if she didn’t.

Over time, cooking, cleaning, and laundry all became her responsibilities.

Her aunt’s hands, once rough, grew soft and plump.

And her uncle?

Whenever she cried alone, he would bring her a small cake, comforting her in his gentle voice.

"A-You, you must be grateful. Your aunt and cousins may have bad tempers, but their hearts aren’t bad. We’re family. I’m raising you, so you must be obedient, alright?"

At the time, Jiang You had believed him completely.

She had no idea that the money supporting the entire family was hers.

That they were the real parasites.

And now, this scene unfolding before her was all too familiar.

The same one from her past life—when she had gotten accepted into a top-tier university, and her uncle and aunt had ganged up on her, trying to pressure her into marrying their boss’s son.

But in the end, their plans had fallen apart.

Because in just over two weeks…

The apocalypse would begin.

On July 3rd, the entire world would be turned upside down.

A bit of spit landed on Jiang You’s eyelid.

Her eyelid twitched as she snapped out of her thoughts.

"Jiang You, your parents died young. As your uncle, I’ve always treated you like my own daughter. I have to think about your future!

Tell me, do you have any real skills? Do you think just going to college guarantees you a good job? There are more university graduates than stray dogs these days!"

"Jiang, think about it carefully. Even if you graduate, you’ll end up slaving away at a 996 or 007 corporate job. What kind of future is that?

Wouldn’t it be better to marry Boss Wang’s son? Their family is worth over a hundred million! You’d be a rich wife overnight!"

Her aunt’s plump body jiggled with excitement, her face flushed red.

She looked so thrilled—almost as if she wanted to marry in herself.

Jiang You took a sip from her cup and raised an eyebrow.

"Auntie, you seem to admire Boss Wang’s wealth a lot. Why don’t you marry into their family instead?

You might be too old for his son, but you should still have a shot with the father."

Her aunt’s face turned beet red, her chins trembling in fury.

"You little brat! Is this how you talk to your elders?!"

"Yeah? And is this how an elder tries to marry off her niece to an idiot?"

Jiang You’s gaze turned cold, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes before she suppressed it.

She had already taken care of those thugs; there was no way the police would trace it back to her.

But if her uncle’s entire family suddenly disappeared, suspicion would fall on her immediately. People would start watching her.

That would be far too inconvenient.

Besides, if they died now, who would negotiate her bride price?

She had come back empty-handed—she couldn’t afford to start over with nothing.

This house could be sold, but it wouldn’t be enough to stockpile supplies.

She remembered—Boss Wang had offered a high sum for her marriage.

No, to be precise, it was blood money.

Jiang You lowered her head, watching the ceiling fan’s reflection swirl in her water.

A subtle, unreadable smile curled at the corners of her lips.

Her aunt huffed, "You’re a girl—what’s the point of studying so much? You’ll just get married in the end! Might as well do it sooner!"

Jiang You sneered, "You’re going to die eventually—why not do it now?"

"If education is useless for girls, why don’t you pull Cousin Yingyue out of school?

Marry her off early and have her popping out kids like a string of sausages!"

Her aunt’s face twisted in rage. "Your cousin isn’t the same as you!"

"Of course, she isn’t. Beasts and humans aren’t comparable."

"Who are you calling a beast?!"

"Whoever it applies to."

"Enough!"

Li Tianming roared, cutting off Ge Chunhua’s screeching.

"This little b**** just insulted me! Didn’t you hear?!"

Ge Chunhua’s face was red, her neck thick with anger.

Li Tianming’s chest heaved violently, nostrils flaring with suppressed fury.

He wanted nothing more than to slap Jiang You across the face.

But instead, he forced himself to put on a look of benevolent concern, turning to his wife with a scowl.

"I said enough! Stop pressuring Xiao You!

If she wants to study, let her study!

I might not be a capable uncle, but even if I have to sell everything, even my own blood, I will make sure she gets an education!

Jiang You is my sister’s daughter—my own niece!

If worse comes to worst, we’ll pull Yingyue out of college and send her to work in a factory.

No matter what, I cannot let down my sister!"

Li Tianming’s eyes turned red as he looked at Jiang You, his face filled with unwavering determination.

The perfect image of a self-sacrificing, devoted uncle.

"Xiao You, don’t worry. Your uncle will find a way to send you to university!

I’ll get the money, no matter what!"

Then, as if overwhelmed with guilt, he reached for Ge Chunhua’s hand.

"Chunhua, I know I’ve let you down.

But Xiao You is my sister’s child—I can’t turn my back on her.

I know I’ve also failed Yingyue and Haochen.

It’s all my fault. If only I were more capable, the three kids wouldn’t have to struggle so much!"

They said real men don’t cry, but at that moment, Li Tianming trembled as he choked back sobs.

Ge Chunhua hugged him, her face twisted with righteous fury as she screamed at Jiang You.

"Jiang You! Do you even have a conscience?!

Look what you’ve done to your uncle!

Are you trying to push him to his death?!

He’s just your uncle, not your parents!

He’s already done more than enough, raising you!

We even moved the whole family to the city so you wouldn’t have to suffer in the countryside!

And this is how you repay us?!

Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?!"

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