Chapter 69

Fu Sang burst out of the room, her mental power unfurling wildly, a colorless, formless floral scent. Yan Qingqiu frowned, confused.

This wasn't what Song Qingre had described. But before she could think further, Song Qingre clamped her hand firmly over Yan Qingqiu's neck.

"Her mental power feels weird," Yan Qingqiu said, puzzled.

Song Qingre's expression remained calm. "Probably your gland hasn't healed yet. You're misreading it. That's pheromone."

Yan Qingqiu trusted her completely and didn't question it. She quickly covered her nose and mouth. Fu Sang had dropped all pretense now, lashing out with her mental power. The look she gave Song Qingre was manic—pure murderous intent, a clear wish for Song Qingre's death.

"I know your mental power is impressive, but can you hold it in check?" Fu Sang asked, smug. That smugness sent a chill through Yan Qingqiu. She was about to speak when Song Qingre pushed her from behind.

Song Qingre looked at her. "Go."

"You..." Yan Qingqiu was worried.

"I'm fine. You go." Song Qingre urged her forward.

Yan Qingqiu knew she wasn't feeling well, so she quickened her pace and, once at the door, pushed Song Qingre inside.

Fu Sang was still glaring at Song Qingre. "Aren't you supposed to be tough?"

Song Qingre's voice went cold. "You're tougher than me."

Yan Qingqiu pushed open the office door. Fu Sang tried to speak, but Song Qingre told Yan Qingqiu to go in first, then called out, "Cover your glands."

That wasn't directed at Fu Sang.

Fu Sang turned and saw several people approaching. The nearby models were all frowning, affected by her mental power. Fu Sang withdrew it unhurriedly. She looked disheveled from her earlier fall, but she resumed her haughty posture. With her pretty face and superb figure, a slight lift of her chin was enough to outshine others.

The newcomer spoke first, ignoring her haughtiness. "Director Su said that since you already have a company outside, you don't need to come to work here anymore."

Fu Sang tried to deny it, but Su Xingjie's secretary spoke again. "Director Su has already investigated. The company isn't under your name, but you've made several transfers that link you directly to it. This time, ER isn't compensating you—we're taking legal action. The legal department will be here shortly. You'd best take care of yourself."

The secretary remained polite and gestured for her to leave. Fu Sang didn't move. The secretary continued, "Please. Don't make this uglier than it needs to be."

A crowd had gathered. Many didn't understand why it was Fu Sang. No one had suspected her.

"Wasn't she always crying injustice? I always thought only the wrongly accused would keep pestering to clear their name."

"After all, Qiang Wei always looked like... a white lotus. So scheming, so 'green tea.' Always looking like she had grievances but wouldn't say them. It was annoying to watch."

"Yeah, if Qiang Wei had just explained, everything would've been clear. Fu Sang's disgusting, but Qiang Wei can't be innocent either. Fu Sang must have something on her."

"Fu Sang really shocked me. I just thought she was brainless. I never thought she'd do something like this. She's such an ingrate. Director Su used to promote her so much. How could she do this? And she had the nerve to say she was doing it for Director Su's sake. Director Su was pulling all-nighters those days. Honestly, the only good one was Moli."

"There's also Yan Qingqiu... but she's not much either. Didn't all this start because of her? Before she came, the company never had any trouble."

The gossip came in waves. People who didn't want to admit they'd backed the wrong side just painted everyone as villains.

Once inside the office, Yan Qingqiu hurried to check on Song Qingre.

"Are you okay? Let me see."

Song Qingre didn't look well—her face was a bit pale. She rubbed her cheek. "I'm fine. Don't worry."

Yan Qingqiu's heart was heavy. She cursed under her breath. Fu Sang was truly insane.

Song Qingre touched the back of her neck. "Maybe it's from when the gland was bitten last time. It's making you unable to distinguish between alpha and pheromone. Tomorrow I'll take you for a check-up."

Yan Qingqiu nodded and looked down at her down jacket. She reached out and pulled a bit of down from the tear, unable to stop herself. "Does it hurt?"

Song Qingre chuckled softly. "It's just a torn jacket. Why would it hurt?"

Yan Qingqiu kept her gaze lowered and pushed her onto the sofa.

Song Qingre was forced to sit. Yan Qingqiu crouched beside her, staring at that "wound."

The company had plenty of needle and thread. Yan Qingqiu had Ji Xiangsi bring a sewing kit, then she pinched the needle and stitched Song Qingre's down jacket.

Her stitching was poor—crooked and strange, like a scar.

She tried hard, hoping to sew that scar closed.

Yan Qingqiu crouched there for a long time. Ji Xiangsi watched her melancholy expression, wanted to report something, but held back.

Song Qingre ruffled her hair. "Don't be scared."

"Okay." Yan Qingqiu closed her eyes briefly.

How was Song Qingre a villain? She was the one who got hurt.

Yan Qingqiu couldn't understand. If she was Miss Yan, why did she have twenty-four years of memories? Every bit of pain from those twenty-four years was so vivid.

But her memories of Miss Yan were so unclear, just fragments each time. She felt no sense of participation. It was messy enough that she didn't dare call them memories.

It was like Miss Yan was knocking on the door, saying: I'm coming back. Please make room.

She'd thought—if only she were Miss Yan, she'd like to become Miss Yan, to become the NPC Miss Yan in the game.

But she didn't dare.

She had no solid ground to stand on. She was afraid that one day Miss Yan would return, point at her nose, and say: Fake.

She had no confidence to contend with Miss Yan.

She was an outsider who had become the villain who wrecked someone else's family.

That would be too pitiful.

Father, friends, the person she liked.

All gone.

If she really was her, please give her a reason to believe in her identity, an unshakable foundation.

She could...

She just could—she didn't have to go back. She could stay in this world forever. Even if she was being assimilated by the game world. Even if her flesh was rotting away in the real world. Even if this was just a virtual world. Even if it was just a dream, a sweet, false dream.

Then... let her die in this sweet dream.

In her world—the real world—there was no Song Qingre to hold her hand, no Xing Xing to guide her, no father to dote on her.

··

That afternoon, hardly anyone worked. They all leaned by the windows, watching the company drama. This time, the director's office showed no mercy—they threw all of Fu Sang's things out. Fu Sang's agent didn't say a word.

Fu Sang was held by security and shoved out the company entrance. She stood downstairs looking up at Su Xingjie, thinking Su Xingjie would be standing at the floor-to-ceiling window watching her.

She believed Su Xingjie would... stand on her side.

She held her ground and refused to leave. Her agent came over and said, "Let's go. If the media shows up, you'll only embarrass yourself." She also said Su Xingjie was in a meeting, not even in her office.

The agent handed her box back, saying she couldn't help anymore and had decided to stay with the company rather than keep managing her. It was every woman for herself now.

The agent sighed. "How did you become like this? You used to be fine."

Fu Sang said, "Aren't you just disappointed you didn't sign Qiang Wei back then? You said you'd leave if I left, but you never really meant it. You were just settling for me."

"What are you talking about? What does this have to do with Qiang Wei? You act like you know everything, like everyone in your eyes is just a preset character. Yeah, I was disappointed I didn't sign Qiang Wei. I was. But I gave you my all, didn't I? You're just... cold-blooded to the core." The agent dropped the box heavily on the ground. "Take a good look. Who else is bringing you things besides me?"

Fu Sang looked up. She thought... Su Xingjie would. She should.

Su Xingjie was indeed in a meeting. She didn't watch how Fu Sang was escorted out.

She also didn't ask about Fu Sang. Her brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed. She asked, "Have you found Qiang Wei?"

The assistant shook her head. Su Xingjie asked, "Did you check her home?"

"Yes, and we asked the property management. They said she didn't come back yesterday," the assistant said.

Su Xingjie said, "If you still can't find her, go to the police."

She looked at the design department manager. "Don't touch Qiang Wei's things. Her work gets divided among the other designers. She's still your director."

The design manager nodded.

There was a knock at the door. Su Xingjie's secretary pushed it open, tablet in hand. She walked over to Su Xingjie and set it beside her. "Qiang Wei sent a resignation letter to your email. She said she doesn't want this month's salary. She also said that if anything happens, she'll take responsibility."

Su Xingjie wasn't surprised. "Reply to her. Tell her to come in for the handover. She still has a few design drafts. If she doesn't want to finish them, she can take them, or give them to other designers. Let her set her own price."

"Okay." The secretary picked up the tablet, thought a moment, and said, "People in the company are gossiping about this. Should we suppress it? It might not be good for Miss Qiang Wei's reputation. Maybe Fu Sang was making things up. I feel Qiang Wei has always listened to you and respected you."

"Go on down. Tell security to throw out all of Fu Sang's things," Su Xingjie said.

"Already done."

"If anyone else runs their mouth, send them to my office." Su Xingjie leaned back and closed her eyes, her expression unreadable—whether she was hurt or angry.

"Why are you still standing there? Keep reporting," Su Xingjie said.

"With Fu Sang gone, we only have Moli left of the four top models."

"And Yan Qingqiu," Su Xingjie corrected. Once the ache in her eyes faded, she sat up straight and put on her glasses. "She's gone, so fine. Promote a few more. I'll send you the list later. Contact the partners and set up times—I'll treat them to a meal. And investigate Fu Sang's company thoroughly."

"Crush them. Don't let them get a single resource."

·

Later that evening, a bombshell appeared in the company group chat.

Fu Sang had posted a flood of screenshots—all of her chat history with Qiang Wei.

Qiang Wei: 【Today Director Su revised my draft. It still smells like tuberose. So good. Just smelling it gets me wet.】

Fu Sang: 【Tsk tsk tsk. Little Weiwei really has no shame.】

Qiang Wei: 【I designed a white tuberose gown today, and Director Su tried it on. When she tossed her suit jacket to me, I almost went into heat on the spot.】

【Picture】 【Look, the suit the director wore. I'm keeping it.】

【I bought Director Su's same glasses. Gonna sleep in them tonight. So good! So thrilling!】

【...Sang Sang, I'm about to faint. You know what, today Director Su's heat hit. I saw her inject a suppressant, and she gave me one too. I injected it and went straight into heat. I feel like a dog, I could just bark for her. Wuwuwu.】

...

Qiang Wei: 【I touched Director Su's finger today. I want more.】

Qiang Wei: 【I like Director Su way too much. I can't get enough. How can she be so amazing? She's an OMEGA and so beautiful. So perfect. Every time I see her, I get phantom pain.】

Fu Sang: 【Disgusting.】

Qiang Wei: 【I know I'm disgusting. I want Director Su to scold me, to break my other leg too. Wuwu, Sang Sang, I'm breaking apart. I feel like I'm about to be exposed. What do I do? I can't hold back my feelings for her anymore.】

Fu Sang: 【Then go die.】

Qiang Wei: 【Sang Sang?】

Fu Sang: 【Don't you think it's disgusting to fantasize about someone like that? You're like a pervert. I can't stand you. How many times have I hinted at it without you noticing? Stay away from me.】

...

The content was filthy. There were tons of screenshots, totally unlike Qiang Wei's usual image. She looked like a sex-crazed deviant.

As soon as the images were posted, the usually lively group went dead silent in an instant. The messages just sat there, glaring.

No one tried to bump them down. Everyone was stunned by the content... They'd known she liked Su Xingjie, but not this much. It was a little twisted.

About ten minutes later, the company got word. HR immediately contacted the group admin to recall the messages.

One of the admins posted: 【We've verified the information. It's fabricated. We urge anyone who saved it to delete it immediately. If anyone leaks it and harms the company's reputation, we'll help write recommendation letters and send the leaker to Fu Sang's modeling agency. Friendly reminder: her company's investor is Fu Ye.】

Everyone knew Fu Ye's current situation.

That warning could only curb people in the group from spreading it.

But it couldn't stop Fu Sang from posting it online.

Fu Sang seemed determined to destroy Qiang Wei, posting the images without mercy.

With Su Xingjie at the helm, ER's PR team moved fast. They bought a trending topic first: #HowWildIsYourBestieInTheDeadOfNight#

Once the topic hit trending, all kinds of people posted their wild stories, burying the screenshots and chats so deep the cyber police almost passed out.

Su Xingjie also had the company's models post on Weibo, tagging their besties and riding the trend.

After that, even if Fu Sang went online to expose Qiang Wei, the impact would be minimized.

After handling this, Su Xingjie received a call from the CEO's office. The CEO told her that Qiang Wei rarely caused trouble and was very obedient. There must be some misunderstanding. Qiang Wei used to be the company's star designer; everyone liked her, and she wouldn't stir up trouble. The CEO spoke up for her at length.

Su Xingjie replied coldly, "It's not about what I'm doing to her. It's that she won't answer my messages. I can't even find her."

"If you really can't find her, call the police. I'm worried she might do something drastic," the CEO said, concerned.

"I've already had the secretary handle it."

The CEO rare offered a word of concern. "Are you really okay?"

Su Xingjie swiveled in her chair and laughed softly. "What could be wrong with me? It's not like I haven't cleaned up messes before."

"True," the CEO said. "The company's yours to run anyway. I take a stroll around and no one recognizes me. Your friend here didn't recognize me the first time, but the second time she made me serve her tea and water."

Su Xingjie let out a laugh.

The company's affairs had been too heavy today, so Su Xingjie decided not to go home. She planned to rest in the lounge. She texted Yan Qingqiu, telling them to head back without her.

The front desk called her secretary several times, saying Fu Sang was still waiting downstairs.

Su Xingjie closed her eyes and refused to think about it. After resting through the night, she went straight to the underground garage the next morning. She didn't take Exit A; she switched to Exit B. Going the extra loop was better than running into Fu Sang.

If she wanted to wait, let her wait. Su Xingjie had seen plenty of clingy people.

But Fu Sang seemed to have lost her mind.

The next evening, Song Qingre's car pulled out of the underground garage. The moment it left the parking spot, a car behind them slammed straight into it, knocking the rear of Song Qingre's car askew and sending the passengers lurching forward.

Yan Qingqiu turned to look. It was Fu Sang's white Bentley.

Fu Sang gripped the steering wheel and stared at her with hatred in her eyes, wanting her dead. She rammed once, then again violently.

Song Qingre didn't pause. She started the car to leave the garage, but the car behind caught up and scraped against hers.

Yan Qingqiu rolled down the window and quickly pulled out her phone to call the police. She turned on video and showed the car to the officer. "Yes, she's ramming my car like crazy. I suspect attempted murder. I can't see who it is. The plate is..." Yan Qingqiu read off the plate number.

"Alright. We're sending officers now. Give me your address."

"And... I'm an SSS-rank omega."

"Okay. We're notifying the traffic system. Give me your address. If you're sure you're safe, pull over and stop."

This world had protection laws for SSS-rank omegas, so the police response was fast. Yan Qingqiu called Su Xingjie directly. "Xing Xing, buy a trending topic for me later."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"Say Fu Sang plowed into me with her car."

"She hit you with her car?" Su Xingjie asked, alarmed.

"Yeah. Buy the topic. I've already called the police. The officers will be here soon."

"Okay, are you guys okay?" Su Xingjie asked. "Where are you?"

"We're fine, don't worry," Yan Qingqiu said. "She probably just wanted to scrape my car and teach me a lesson. Hmph. I'm going to teach her a lesson instead. Oh, and get a lawyer. I'm heading to the police station now."

They didn't stop. They drove straight to the station. Yan Qingqiu gave a statement and submitted the surveillance footage and video as evidence, then left it to the lawyer. She and Song Qingre walked out and saw Su Xingjie rushing over, breathless.

Su Xingjie slammed her car door and hurried to Yan Qingqiu, checking her over. "Are you two okay?"

"We're fine."

"And Fu Sang?"

"The police already went to get her."

Su Xingjie gritted her teeth hard. She looked at Yan Qingqiu, at her golden hair, at the bright, sparkling eyes beneath it... On her way here, she'd received a text from Fu Sang.

··

Ye Sichun had taken Luo Xi ice skating and invited them along. But the police station had delayed them.

By seven in the evening, the three of them finally arrived.

Ye Sichun and the other had been skating for a long time, barely stopping. One skated ahead, the other followed behind, reaching out to hold hands several times.

The three of them sat on the benches nearby, their legs freezing cold.

Yan Qingqiu snapped back to attention and patted Su Xingjie's shoulder. "Don't think about it. We'll go have fun in a bit."

"Sure. Qiuqiu can skate too."

Yan Qingqiu froze: She couldn't.

Yan Qingqiu nodded and changed the subject. "From now on, you should still stay away from Fu Sang."

Su Xingjie blinked hard. Song Qingre said, "Qiuqiu's right. Fu Sang is a dangerous person. Don't just believe what she says. Now that Qiang Wei's gone, your company only has Moli and Qiuqiu left. If she sows discord and drives a wedge between you, wouldn't that be playing right into her hands?"

"Mm, you're right." Su Xingjie glanced at Yan Qingqiu's hand, then leaned over and squeezed her wrist. Yan Qingqiu hugged her shoulder. "Last time, my dad mentioned we should take a trip together. I'll go during New Year's. I'll have my dad pay. We'll go to a snowy kingdom for vacation."

"Sounds good," Su Xingjie smiled and agreed.

The two on the rink finally noticed them. They stopped skating and glided over to stand in front of them. Both were bundled up thickly. Ye Sichun had her hands in her pockets, panting. "Then wait a bit. We'll go change our shoes."

Luo Xi wore a scarf and hat, wrapped up tightly. Ye Sichun walked ahead, and Luo Xi followed behind. Ye Sichun paused and leaned close to her.

Luo Xi was taking off her protective gear in the changing room when her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, changed her shoes quickly, and said, "Help me pack up. I'll find you later."

Ye Sichun nodded.

It was Luo Xi's dad calling. Luo Xi walked toward the restroom inside.

"Xiao Xi, Fu Ye keeps trying to get in touch with our family. He wants me to boost him, to get him back to his old position. He's promised me some shares."

Luo Xi's dad was testing the waters with his daughter. If the two of them were to get back together, those shares would definitely be a net positive for Luo Xi.

"Dad, I never want to hear his name again. I think Ye Sichun is amazing now."

Luo Xi's dad was taken aback. "Didn't you say the same about Fu Ye before? Last time I heard him say you've been hanging out with some shampoo girl? That shampoo girl named Ye Sichun?"

"What do you mean 'shampoo girl'? She runs a beauty industry shop, a really really big one. It's just that Fu Ye reported her, and she's already sued him. Fu Ye made me lose face in front of her. And you actually believe what he says? He's so disgusting. The more I think about it, the more I can't stand him. I get annoyed just seeing him." Luo Xi grew more repulsed as she spoke.

"Okay, okay, sweetie. Daddy won't say that. I'm just worried you'll end up like last time. Don't be upset." Luo Xi's dad knew his daughter well—once she fell for someone, her brain turned to mush and she only ever saw that one person.

He was afraid she'd get hurt again, broken and bleeding like before.

Thinking about Fu Ye badmouthing Ye Sichun made Luo Xi uncomfortable, and she couldn't help but fire back. "Hmph, who would even want him now? His gland's ruined. It's been cut out. People call him a eunuch. I'm not stupid. I still want kids someday, one like her, one like me."

"Actually, Dad, you don't need to worry. Ye Sichun is really good to me now. She won't ignore me, and she'll even curse people out for me. I've never felt this way before. Today she even took me skiing."

Luo Xi's dad laughed. It wasn't just his daughter who'd never felt this way—he hadn't either. He used to worry about her every day. Now when she went out, he felt much better.

"I'll hang up now," Luo Xi said with a smile.

Her dad said okay, then quickly added, "Next time, I'll have Uncle Yang take a discreet look, alright?"

Luo Xi fidgeted, embarrassed, and hummed in agreement. She turned and saw Ye Sichun, frozen. Flustered, she hung up in a hurry.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Luo Xi glared at her. So everything she'd just said must have been overheard.

"Let's go." Ye Sichun didn't explain. She reached up to open the door. Luo Xi walked over, and she touched her hair. Luo Xi nearly smacked her head into the door.

"Did you bump yourself?" Ye Sichun asked, concerned.

"No..."

Luo Xi turned to look at her. Ye Sichun hissed. "Wow, your face is so red."

Luo Xi shoved her hard. "Don't laugh. And don't tell Yan Qingqiu later. If she makes fun of me, I'll be so embarrassed."

Ye Sichun hummed, smiled, then bent down to open the door and said softly, "I'm different from Fu Ye..."

"...Oh? How different?"

Ye Sichun said, "I'm not a eunuch."

By the time they got to the restaurant, everyone was a bit tired. The restaurant was warm, so they unbuttoned their heavy coats.

Yan Qingqiu took hers off outright.

Luo Xi started to doubt herself, wondering if she'd said too much, making them all look exhausted.

Luo Xi had also brought a girl along who had a similar hairstyle—curly like wool—with a few glittering sequins on her eyelids.

Luo Xi proudly introduced her. "This is my good friend, my bestie. Her name is Xia Chunnong. You can call her Chun Chun."

"I'm Yan Qingqiu," Yan Qingqiu said. "We might be sisters—Qingqiu, Chunnong."

"How could she be your sister?" Luo Xi shot back, afraid she'd steal her best friend. She quickly got to the point. "Chun Chun, where's that picture you edited for me?"

Xia Chunnong handed her phone to Luo Xi, who passed it to Song Qingre while sharing a bit of gossip about Fu Sang. Song Qingre gave a brief summary.

"Serves her right," Luo Xi said.

Yan Qingqiu leaned in to look. Luo Xi's friend really was talented at photo editing—she'd given the two of them the same hairstyle, smoothed their skin to the same tone, and put side by side, they really did look alike.

"Right? I always thought your nose and eyes looked alike. And with the blonde hair, I thought she was a body double for you," Luo Xi said.

"Maybe it's just the hairstyle," Yan Qingqiu felt it was a coincidence.

Xia Chunnong said, "I also edited photos of you two without hair."

Editing someone to be bald wasn't exactly polite, so she hadn't shown her earlier.

"Let me see."

With the hair removed, comparing their features, the two looked a bit alike.

Xia Chunnong said, "I think so too. I've seen her a few times with Xixi. I just hate her personality. How do I put it? When I look at Fu Sang now, I see Miss Yan chasing after Fu Ye. Arrogant and conceited, and her gaze always seems off."

The others felt nothing, but a chill ran through Yan Qingqiu. She'd thought Fu Sang's gaze was off too.

Yan Qingqiu looked at Song Qingre. Song Qingre didn't say much. Meeting Yan Qingqiu's gaze, she glanced at Xia Chunnong's phone, a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips.

Su Xingjie said, "Qiuqiu, you look good bald too."

"Of course." Yan Qingqiu didn't understand why Fu Sang resembled her so much. She didn't dare guess...

Su Xingjie said, "Though I never noticed if she looked like you before..." She thought back carefully, frowning.

"It's the makeup and the aura. And the temperament. They're really alike," Luo Xi and her friend kept saying.

Luo Xi's friend said, "Oh, I get it now. Yan Qingqiu used to be really loud and obnoxious. Once at a party with Fu Ye, we were all eating and drinking, and Xiaolai and her big strong alpha were all over each other. You got so disgusted you threw their stuff away. Su Xingjie had to apologize for you. Don't you remember?"

Luo Xi added, "And you used to make those weird vows. Even in high school, I'd think you were such an odd creature." That one line almost made Yan Qingqiu bite her tongue. If they kept this up, she'd be stripped naked.

Song Qingre said calmly, "Rebellious phase. It's normal. Just like how you used to like Fu Ye. Now that the phase is over, you don't like him anymore."

"Ohh, right." Luo Xi liked her sister's explanation—it was just a rebellious phase, not being foolish. Now when she recalled Yan Qingqiu's past, she thought Yan Qingqiu had been such an idiot—but she herself hadn't been much better.

They'd agreed last time not to bring up Fu Ye at the table, but they'd slipped up again. After eating, they went back out to skate for a while.

The three of them didn't move. Yan Qingqiu couldn't skate, and the other two were lost in thought.

Luo Xi changed her shoes and whispered to Ye Sichun, "Did you notice? Yan Qingqiu doesn't seem to remember a lot of things. Her eyes are so vacant, so obvious. What do you think's going on?"

Ye Sichun wasn't particularly curious. She said, "If you can't figure something out no matter how hard you think, then don't."

"Huh?" Luo Xi was puzzled.

"Didn't you see those two didn't ask either?"

Luo Xi said, "I did. That just makes me more curious."

Ye Sichun took Luo Xi's hand and skated a loop, saying, "Being a little dumb is cute. You don't need to be that smart."

"Ah, what does that mean?" Luo Xi asked, confused.

Xia Chunnong glided past them, clucking twice, and kept saying, "She means she likes dumb ones. I'm dying, I'm dying."

Luo Xi shot her a glare.

This was a private ski resort, and the restaurant was on the second floor. Song Qingre and the others didn't go down. They watched for a while, then asked the other two if they were heading back.

"Mm," Yan Qingqiu looked at Su Xingjie. "Xing Xing, need a ride?"

"No need. I have a car, and I haven't been drinking. I can manage myself. Thanks."

They left the restaurant. Song Qingre drove Yan Qingqiu home, while Su Xingjie drove herself. Midway, she rolled down her window and let the wind blow on her for a long time.

She said that, but once home, she poured herself a drink.

Su Xingjie drank a lot, and in her haze she thought back to those years. Yan Qingqiu hadn't really studied during her four years of college—she spent every day chasing after Fu Ye. Su Xingjie was busy back then, juggling school, work, and her sisters' affairs, dizzy with exhaustion. Many times, when she was tired, she'd think of Song Qingre, wondering how Song Qingre managed to hold on, year after year, putting up with that disgusting Qiu Bao.

She had her selfish reasons. She really didn't want to go back to those years.

Like surviving a tribulation. No one could withstand those years of heart-wrenching torment.

She'd gone numb.

Before she knew it, she was drunk. She swayed, recalling that summer when Qiu Bao said, "If you don't swear it, then never show your face in front of me again."

"Okay, don't be mad. I swear."

She looked at Qiuqiu and felt so strange. She asked quietly, "If I swear, can I be your friend? Can I... play with you forever?"

"Don't look at me like that. It's disgusting."

"I'm not disgusting. I swear." Su Xingjie raised her finger and swore to the heavens. A group of younger girls passed by, watching curiously. One of them said, "So gross. It's like bullying. Yan Qingqiu is so cheap."

"Swear it!" Yan Qingqiu urged her impatiently.

Su Xingjie's finger rose heavily.

She raised her glass. The red wine swayed gently, rippling into wave after wave of bloody red. She hadn't drunk like this in a long time. A few words from Fu Sang had unsettled her completely. She deleted Fu Sang's messages.

She was afraid of returning to those times. Like a nightmare. She'd barely woken up, barely made it out, only to wake again.

Her red lips parted, and she recited that vow to the liquor cabinet.

Su Xingjie drank an entire bottle of hard liquor. She was already drunk, but when she got Yan Qingqiu's call, she sobered up a bit.

"I have a question." Yan Qingqiu kept her voice low, almost a whisper. "Xing Xing, do you know if Fu Sang and Song Qingre have a grudge?"

"No. Why?"

"Song Qingre has a scar on her belly. That day Fu Sang had a knife."

Su Xingjie's head throbbed. She propped it up with her hand. "You probably don't want to know."

"Why?" Yan Qingqiu asked. "I want to know."

Yan Qingqiu had made this call secretly. Song Qingre was in the shower. She was sitting on the stairwell landing.

Every time she saw that scar, she felt terrible.

"You stabbed her." Su Xingjie's voice was airy.

The words landed in Yan Qingqiu's chest like ice water, chilling her to the bone. She stared at her phone in disbelief, hand trembling, teeth chattering.

Yan Qingqiu froze, but her mouth moved on its own. "How?"

Su Xingjie seemed reluctant to speak of it and asked instead, "You don't remember?"

Yan Qingqiu didn't know. She'd never even guessed. Song Qingre had only said she ran into a robber. Yan Qingqiu had believed Song Qingre had been mugged.

She could never tell Song Qingre's truths from her lies.

Su Xingjie looked at her phone, eyes full of confusion. "It... it was the year 'x8. The year before your engagement. You stabbed her. She didn't fight back. You almost killed her. Took half her life. No—more than half."

Yan Qingqiu didn't speak, but her hand was shaking.

"Let's stop here." Su Xingjie didn't intend to continue.

Yan Qingqiu's fingers tightened. "Keep going."

Such an important thing—she'd stabbed her herself, yet she didn't know. And Song Qingre had acted like she didn't know either. But she really didn't know. She'd probably already given herself away to Song Qingre long ago. And now Su Xingjie was asking her, and she didn't know... Was she about to blow it with her too?

She was like the previous transmigrator, slipping up every single day, surrounded by people trying to convince themselves she was still her.

"You said... if one stab didn't kill her, you'd stab her again," Su Xingjie said. "And you ran."

Yan Qingqiu remembered the email Fu Ye had sent her before, full of records of Song Qingre's misdeeds, all of them detailed—but this wasn't among them.

"You stabbed her and ran." Su Xingjie murmured, repeating it over and over.

"Tell me the truth. I know you've been sparing my feelings by not saying it directly."

Su Xingjie's tone was cold. Though she was drunk, the more she spoke, the calmer and icier she became, as if reciting a script. "She almost died."

"She didn't tell anyone. She stayed in the hospital by herself. The only ones who cared for her were Ye Sichun and You Liyin. She didn't tell anyone. I went to see her once."

"But after that, when I looked at her, something in her eyes had changed."

Su Xingjie recalled.

Back then, Song Qingre lay in bed, silent. She stared out the window like a withered flower. No, that wasn't quite right.

She was like a flower that had already dried out, desperately preserving what little beauty remained—but then, accidentally, the wind had scattered her.

At that time, Yan Qingqiu had hurt her. Su Xingjie thought Song Qingre would use this against Fu Ye, but she didn't. She just stayed silent.

"It's really not her." Song Qingre's pale lips moved. "If it were her, how could she truly strike, truly want me dead?"

Su Xingjie hadn't understood then, but she almost did now. If it were that Qiu Bao, she wouldn't have been able to bear hurting Song Qingre.

She'd woken as if from a dream, only to realize she'd woken long ago—she just hadn't been willing to admit it.

Su Xingjie had gone to the hospital to apologize, to clean up after Qiu Bao like she always did, to ask Song Qingre not to do anything to Yan Qingqiu.

She knew Yan Qingqiu deserved to pay, but she felt that Qiu Bao... this couldn't have been her intention.

Facing Song Qingre, she didn't know what to say. She put down her things and left.

Yan Qingqiu had shown no remorse. She thought Song Qingre deserved to die, called her a freak, and said if Song Qingre didn't die, she'd stab her again. She planned to flee abroad and find a way to take Fu Ye with her.

Su Xingjie didn't know if Yan Fu was aware of all this, but when he discovered she was applying for a visa to leave the country, he slapped her twice across the face, asking if she was possessed, if she'd lost her mind, if she wanted to die—and if she wanted to die, then go die, but don't drag others down.

At that moment, Su Xingjie thought, if only he knew the truth.

This matter... even if she tried to blur it, she couldn't deny it.

That Qiu Bao from before, she had changed.

Qiu Bao had truly changed... Now, she didn't even remember this.

"Qiu Bao, back then, it was terrifying. I felt like her guts were spilling out. Blood kept flowing. She kept staring at you. The moment she fell, I thought she might die. But you... you were still saying, 'Good. If she dies, that's good. Then she won't haunt me like a restless ghost.'"