Blood Orange

Shen Qiancheng had told her beforehand, so after her afternoon nap, Liao Xue showered and waited at home for Shen Qiancheng to pick her up.

Where could they be going?

Liao Xue couldn't guess, not until Shen Qiancheng opened the door.

Shen Qiancheng wore a long black coat over a pale yellow silk blouse with a V-neck, revealing her elegant, sexy collarbones.

Liao Xue buckled her seatbelt and noticed a beautifully wrapped box.

Was that the bracelet for Su Tongqin?

Liao Xue lowered her eyes, slowly digesting the overwhelming jealousy.

"Liao Xue, what did you have for lunch?" Shen Qiancheng asked out of nowhere.

Liao Xue's fingers tightened around the seatbelt. "Noodles with gravy."

Shen Qiancheng never asked what she ate for lunch while at work, so why now?

Anxiety and suspicion churned inside Liao Xue like seaweed in deep water, drifting in darkness without sunlight or escape.

The car drove smoothly, but Shen Qiancheng seemed tense—muscles coiled tight, jaw set.

How could someone as delicate as Liao Xue handle what they were about to see?

Maybe they should just turn back?

But if she didn't show Liao Xue Su Zeye's true nature, she might never learn to stay away from him.

And what if Liao Xue wasn't scared at all?

Shen Qiancheng took a deep breath. "What do you want for dinner?"

Even more confusing. Usually, Shen Qiancheng would text about that, or Liao Xue would decide based on the season's vegetables.

Liao Xue never had the right or chance to be asked what she wanted to eat.

"Anything is fine," Liao Xue said.

"Anything is fine?" Shen Qiancheng stared ahead. "Is there a restaurant called 'Anything is Fine'?"

Liao Xue: That joke wasn't funny at all.

Her gaze fell on the box, and she felt sick with jealousy, knowing it was the bracelet Shen Qiancheng had spent thirty million on for Su Tongqin.

Why? Why did Shen Qiancheng always have so many annoying people around her? Why wasn't she the one engaged to Shen Qiancheng!

Liao Xue bit her lower lip hard. Was she not valued simply because she was a village girl?

It wasn't fair!

"What's the relationship between President Shen and Miss Su?"

Startled by the odd question, Shen Qiancheng glanced sideways, her narrow eyes narrowing further. "Why do you ask about her?"

"Are you protecting her?" Liao Xue pressed. "Or is it that I shouldn't ask—that I've hit a nerve?"

The car screeched to a halt. Shen Qiancheng's eyes flashed like lightning, making Liao Xue flinch back. "That's not a question a personal assistant should ask. You're not wary of my fiancé, but you resent Su Tongqin?"

Liao Xue suddenly smiled. Shen Qiancheng was nervous—like a dog guarding its food.

Liao Xue understood. "She's a woman. You like women."

A look of sorrow washed over Liao Xue's face like a Buddha's light. Shen Qiancheng's emotions churned like a mix of all condiments, but the sweetest note—sugar—held the majority.

Was Liao Xue... jealous?

If only she directed that jealousy toward Su Zeye instead.

The scenery outside grew desolate. First some trees, then barren sand, with a few birds circling overhead.

Liao Xue frowned. She'd never been to a place like this and couldn't name it.

She glanced at Shen Qiancheng. Where was she taking her, and why?

Liao Xue remembered the fierce expression Shen Qiancheng had shown when dealing with Mother Liao. Maybe Shen Qiancheng's usual good temper and easygoing nature had made Liao Xue forget that she was the 'madwoman' everyone in Tang City feared.

A chill ran down Liao Xue's spine. Three years ago, there had been a murder case on the Tang City news, and many speculated that Shen Qiancheng was the real culprit.

Her heartbeat amplified, pounding against her ears.

The tires ground over gravel with a sound that made her teeth ache, while the engine's rumble mixed with the wind outside. In her terror, the car finally stopped.

Shen Qiancheng opened the door, and Liao Xue followed cautiously.

Before them was a site enclosed by rusted iron sheeting. The peeling gate lock was the size of a grown man, secured by a massive padlock.

Images of murder scenes from TV flashed through Liao Xue's mind like a fast-forwarded film, fraying her nerves.

Shen Qiancheng pressed her heavy boot against the gate, turning to ask, "Scared?"

Liao Xue looked at her. Despite her pounding heart, a voice inside insisted Shen Qiancheng wasn't like that.

She smiled. "No."

Shen Qiancheng paused momentarily, then said, "You will be."

The heavy lock swayed in the wind. Shen Qiancheng put on Su Zeye's fingerprint glove, took out a duplicate key, and with trembling hands inserted it into the lock.

Who would have guessed that such a rusty lock had fingerprints on it?

Pushing open the gate revealed a vast hall. The front counter was cluttered with chemical beakers containing thick, colorful liquids that made one feel nauseous just looking at them, and a pungent stench hung in the air—a mix of blood and disinfectant accumulated over years.

Shen Qiancheng's mental preparation hadn't been enough.

Half-digested food churned violently in her stomach.

Liao Xue's voice trembled. "What is this place? Your secret base? To show me your true nature?"

Shen Qiancheng's heart skipped a beat. She turned to see Liao Xue had indeed opened a door.

She followed and glanced in, stunned as if struck by lightning.

Dozens of two-meter-tall cylindrical glass jars lined the wall, filled with thick, dark green liquid, each containing a naked, pale human body floating inside.

The eerie green and the horrible white interwoven sent chills down their spines.

Realizing what it was, Shen Qiancheng quickly covered Liao Xue's eyes and pulled her out of the room.

The woman in her arms bent over, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

Shen Qiancheng patted her back. "Are you okay? This is Su Zeye's 'Jile Paradise,' a human hell comparable to Myanmar's scam centers. My access is limited; I could only show you this part. The ones in formalin are just a few of the men and women Su Zeye toyed with to death. There's much worse beyond this area."

Su Zeye had once forced Liao Xue to drink six bottles of alcohol, leaving her trembling at the sight of him outside her building.

And now she had seen this…

Shen Qiancheng regretted it. She should have explained first, not taken it upon herself to bring Liao Xue here.

After an unknown time, Shen Qiancheng felt Liao Xue's rigid body slowly soften, and she relaxed.

"Shen Qiancheng, are you really going to marry Su Zeye without even looking at me?" Liao Xue kept her head down, her side bangs hiding her eyes.

Shen Qiancheng frowned. This wasn't the reaction she'd wanted.

Liao Xue should have been scared, cuddled into her arms, sobbing that she would stay away from Su Zeye.

Not challenge her about marrying Su Zeye.

Look at her? What did that mean? Marry Liao Xue? Don't be ridiculous.

Shen Qiancheng felt the trip had been pointless. She sneered. "What Su Zeye can give me, you, Liao Xue, cannot."

Liao Xue smiled bitterly. "Money? Power? Then I really can't give you those. What did you mean by showing me this?"

"To make you face reality." Shen Qiancheng's voice was as calm as a machine.

Liao Xue steadied herself and stepped out of Shen Qiancheng's embrace. "I see you clearly now, but I still can't let go. Shen Qiancheng, I can't. Let me stay by your side a little longer."

Shen Qiancheng's heart softened. "Fine."

On the way back, they were silent.

Shen Qiancheng glanced at the box, now holding the gift meant to soothe a terrified Liao Xue.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Liao Xue's face pale as paper, lips pressed tight.

Shen Qiancheng focused on driving.

Back home, Liao Xue—still shaken—had no heart to cook, so Shen Qiancheng ordered takeout.

She arranged the food neatly on the table, the elegant plating looking out of place in the room.

Sighing, Shen Qiancheng walked over to Liao Xue and crouched down. "Do you want to eat something?"

Liao Xue's lips, drained of color, barely moved as she shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

Shen Qiancheng sighed. If Liao Xue didn't eat, neither did she have an appetite.

She turned to leave but felt a hand grab hers.

Liao Xue's eyes were red. "Are you like him too?"

Shen Qiancheng's heartbeat quickened. She knew exactly what Liao Xue meant—cruel and twisted like Su Zeye?

Shen Qiancheng hesitated. All she had to say was 'yes,' and Liao Xue would leave, never to return.

She asked herself: Shen Qiancheng, aren't you the best at lying? Just tell her you're that kind of person.

Shen Qiancheng spoke bitterly. "Yes, I was exactly like that. Men are Su, women are Shen—I'm just like him."

Liao Xue's eyes held a complex emotion. Shen Qiancheng couldn't bear to see the disappointment and pain there, so she went to her room alone to sleep.

An empty bed felt vast, and the night stretched long. In the pitch-black darkness, the ticking of the clock was crystal clear, gradually syncing with her heartbeat.

She tossed and turned, images of those red-rimmed eyes filling her mind.

Ah.

Shen Qiancheng inexplicably regretted it.

That night, a knock came at her door—abrupt and forceful, like the sudden heartbeat of a dying patient.

"Shen Qiancheng, are you asleep?"

It was Liao Xue. Shen Qiancheng got up and opened the door.

Liao Xue stood there, black hair loose, wearing linen pajamas, barefoot, holding a pillow. The moment she saw Shen Qiancheng, she threw herself at her.

Shen Qiancheng stiffened as warmth pressed against her. "Shen Qiancheng, I don't believe it. That wasn't you."

Shen Qiancheng was speechless. How could someone be so foolish, so stubbornly blind?

She said, "The facts are right there. Believe it or not, I—"

Her words were cut off by a kiss. Shen Qiancheng's eyes widened. Liao Xue had kissed the corner of her mouth. The wet sensation sent tingles through her scalp, and from this close, she could count Liao Xue's eyelashes.

Shen Qiancheng's harsh words died in her throat.

Liao Xue's breath fanned onto her own cheek, and she closed her eyes, inhaling Shen Qiancheng's scent.

So fragrant, so sweet…

A strong force shoved Liao Xue away.

Shen Qiancheng's voice was sharp. "Liao Xue, have you lost your mind!"

"Shen Qiancheng, admit it: you love me." Liao Xue's sly eyes shone in the dark, almost blindingly.

Shen Qiancheng froze.

"I did it on purpose. I knew he wasn't a good person," Liao Xue continued.

Liao Xue struck home. "If you didn't love me, why bother going through all this trouble?"

Shen Qiancheng was dumbfounded. She'd fallen into a trap.

Give me back the kind Liao Xue.

She tried to shove Liao Xue out. "I'm someone else's fiancée, Liao Xue. Please show some decency."

Liao Xue shifted tactics. "So you're saying Miss Shen took me there out of kindness?"

Suddenly, Shen Qiancheng was left with two choices: admit she loved Liao Xue, or admit she had a conscience. She chose the latter.

"That's right... it was out of kindness."

Liao Xue smiled like a fox.

Just as I thought—she chose the second. Always falling into her own traps.

Liao Xue said sweetly, "Then, kind Miss Shen, I'll have nightmares tonight. May I sleep with you?"

Shot by her own arrow, Shen Qiancheng reluctantly agreed with a dark face.

A bed that had felt empty for one now seemed too small for two.

Liao Xue squirmed restlessly until Shen Qiancheng snapped, "Stay still."

Liao Xue quieted, snuggling into Shen Qiancheng's arms and lifting her head to study her face.

Right there—she had kissed that spot.

Heh heh.