How Did Yun Huaizhu Find Out?

Only after Lin Meng returned to her tiny rented apartment did she finally feel she could breathe again.

She lay sprawled across her small bed, limbs flung out like a star.

An inexplicable relief washed over her, like a lamb that had barely escaped a den of wolves.

Su Yutang really was terrifying—and completely deranged!

But the woman wasn't entirely beyond saving. From what Lin Meng had observed today, as long as you went along with the young miss's wishes, she wouldn't do anything to you.

As the thought crossed her mind, Lin Meng dug out her phone. Her poor phone, separated from its beloved charger for a whole day and night, was down to three percent. Now only two percent remained.

Lin Meng hurriedly fished the charger out from under her pillow and plugged it in. Only when she saw the battery indicator flicker on did she relax.

She lay on her stomach and opened her chat with Yun Huaizhu. She hadn't spoken to Yun Huaizhu in a whole week.

Now that she knew Su Yutang's likes and dislikes, shouldn't she share what she'd learned with Yun Huaizhu?

Lin Meng carefully reviewed the novel's content. Yun Huaizhu, like Su Yutang, had once been a young miss. Deep in her bones, she had always carried that pride and unyielding spirit.

That was why Yun Huaizhu reacted with such reluctance and heartbreak when Su Yutang deliberately humiliated her. But if Yun Huaizhu simply went along with Su Yutang's wishes, she wouldn't be Yun Huaizhu anymore.

The reason Lin Meng loved Yun Huaizhu in the novel was precisely that pride. Yet she also didn't want to see Yun Huaizhu suffer too much.

Su Yutang had a foul temper, and Yun Huaizhu was even more stubborn. Not only were the two incapable of talking things out, their tempers clashed like needle against needlepoint.

How was she supposed to bring this pair of star-crossed lovers together?

Lin Meng turned over, head aching. As she did, she accidentally bumped the paper bag of clothes on her bed, and the shopping receipt slipped out.

She picked it up for a closer look. She hadn't checked the amount when she'd grabbed it at the mall, but when she saw the shirt listed at 89.9 yuan, her vision went black.

What kind of shirt costs more than a sweater?!

As she thought this, Lin Meng pulled up her old Taobao purchase history. The outfit Su Yutang had ruined had probably cost around 250 yuan. Rounding up, she'd count it as 260 for Su Yutang.

Her little head did the math as she prepared to open Su Yutang's WeChat chat. She meant to transfer the extra 38.8 yuan from the clothes Su Yutang had bought her.

But as she entered the amount, she kept feeling something was off about the number. So, as if to make herself look generous, she changed it to 40 yuan.

Before she could enter her password to complete the transfer, a knock came at her apartment door.

Lin Meng frowned and glanced at the time on her phone—7:48 p.m. Who would come looking for her at this hour?

Could Su Yutang have come back?

No, no, no. She was exhausted today. She did not want to deal with the young miss anymore!

Lin Meng considered pretending she wasn't home. But just then, a WeChat notification popped up on her phone: [Open the door. It's me outside.]

The contact name was 'Poor Little Pearl.'

Huh?

How did Yun Huaizhu know where she lived too? Did she have no privacy at all in these two people's eyes?

Even ordinary people deserved some basic respect.

But Yun Huaizhu was beautiful, gentle, and elegant. Compared to Su Yutang, Lin Meng much preferred her.

In this internet-saturated age, being online was practically the same as streaking naked. Anyone's information could be bought for pocket change—let alone the male and female leads of a novel.

Besides, her information wasn't worth anything anyway. If it leaked, it leaked.

After reading Yun Huaizhu's message, Lin Meng sprang up from the bed.

…

Yun Huaizhu waited anxiously outside the door.

She even felt the urge to break the door down if Lin Meng didn't open it soon.

After Lin Meng had rushed off that day, Yun Huaizhu received another piece of bad news: the Yun family's company had been reported for fire safety hazards, and it was about to face a suspension and rectification order.

She didn't need to think twice to know who was behind it. She had merely refused to go along with Su Yutang's wishes, and Su Yutang had retaliated openly and covertly, determined to destroy her entirely.

Fortunately, over the past week, she had reached out to many of the Yun family's old connections and managed to smooth things over.

The Yun family had been in decline for years, but people still owed her mother favors. If anyone dared refuse to see Yun Huaizhu, she wouldn't mind turning into a screaming fishwife and causing a scene at their doorstep.

After this incident, Yun Huaizhu understood that surviving under Su Yutang's thumb would be difficult. She needed to find another way out.

The moment she finally had a chance to breathe, she thought of Lin Meng, who had suddenly grown distant that day. During her most miserable week, only Lin Meng had sent her messages—telling her to stay safe, telling her terrible jokes to make her laugh.

Anger, unwillingness, and a loneliness that threatened to swallow her whole crept over her, and suddenly she felt suffocated.

Yesterday, she didn't know what had come over her. While soaking in the bathtub, she had suddenly slipped under the water and couldn't breathe.

But she couldn't let it end like this. How could she just sink like that?

She still had to protect what her mother had left her. The people who had hurt and trampled on her hadn't gotten their retribution yet. How could she sink first and bring pain to those who cared and joy to her enemies?

Though there was no one left in this world close enough to grieve if she died, she would still cling to life.

Until she had trampled underfoot every person who had ever stepped on her, she would not breathe her last.

In that moment of suffocation in the warm water, she suddenly thought of the messages Lin Meng sent her every day—You have to protect yourself, I'm worried about you, I will always be on your side…

Such gentle words. Someone used to remind her of things like that every day.

Back then, she had found that person naggy. The same words, repeated day after day, thousands and thousands of times—if that person wasn't sick of it, she was.

But one day that person suddenly left, and it was as if a piece of her world had gone hollow.

Those reminders still echoed in her ears every day, but she would never hear them again.

As Yun Huaizhu thought of this, her eyes reddened. Just then, the door in front of her finally opened.

When Lin Meng opened the door, she apologized first: 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry—I was looking for slippers and pajamas, so it took me a while…'

As she spoke, she looked up at the person outside. But when she saw Yun Huaizhu's reddened eyes and the tears about to fall, the words died on her lips.

Lin Meng froze, stunned. Then she began to fumble over her words: 'I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to be slow! Please… please don't cry, okay…'

At the sight of Lin Meng, the sorrow in Yun Huaizhu's heart eased considerably. But she tilted her head in confusion. 'Was I crying?'

Lin Meng reached out with a cool finger and gently wiped away tears that had fallen without Yun Huaizhu even noticing.

Only when Lin Meng's finger touched her cheek did Yun Huaizhu register the wetness.

So she really had been crying. But she hadn't felt it at all just now.

When Yun Huaizhu saw Lin Meng about to withdraw her hand after wiping her tears, she urgently grabbed it. Lin Meng, caught off guard, had her hand clamped so hard it felt like her bones might break.

'Miss Yun—'

Lin Meng had wanted to keep her distance from Yun Huaizhu, but Yun Huaizhu had just been crying. She couldn't bring herself to hurt a beautiful woman at her most fragile, so she quickly corrected herself: 'Zhuzhu, what are you doing here so late?'

Yun Huaizhu wiped her tears fiercely with her other hand. When she raised her head again, an eerie smile had surfaced on her face. 'Aren't you going to invite me in?'

Lin Meng felt Yun Huaizhu's grip tighten. As if frightened, she stammered, 'O-of course you can come in, but could you let go of me first? It hurts a bit.'

At those words, Yun Huaizhu abruptly released her hand. Her hand still hovered in the air, and her eyes fixed on Lin Meng like a hawk.

Lin Meng's heart quailed under that stare. If not for Yun Huaizhu's beautiful, innocent face softening the effect, she would have screamed for help.

Lin Meng flexed her hand, then said tentatively, 'But my place is small and messy. There's really nowhere to sit, so maybe—'

Before she could finish, Yun Huaizhu's expressionless face leaned in close. 'It's fine. I just want to come in. Aren't you going to welcome me?'

The person standing before her was supposed to be the gentle, kind little white flower from the novel. So why, the moment Yun Huaizhu drew near, did she feel a damp, cold aura pressing in on her, raising goosebumps on her arms?

Lin Meng shook her head. 'No… as long as you don't mind. Please, come in.'

Only then did Yun Huaizhu step into Lin Meng's rented apartment.

The instant Yun Huaizhu entered, Lin Meng felt as if something had seized her heart. She steadied her racing heart, then closed the door.

…

Lin Meng's apartment was indeed as small as she'd said. It had only two rooms—a small living room for guests and a sleeping area.

But though the place was small and cluttered, everything was neatly arranged by its owner.

As Yun Huaizhu looked around, she spotted a small table in the living room covered with a black-and-white checkered tablecloth. On it sat a vase of flowers.

Instantly, as if finding common ground with Lin Meng, she said, 'I didn't expect you to keep flowers.'

Lin Meng smiled awkwardly. She walked to the table and reached out to squeeze the flowers in the vase. 'They're fake.'

Lin Meng did the same repetitive work every day. Over time, she felt like her home had been steeped in the flavor of her job. She'd heard that keeping flowers could heal a work-traumatized soul, so she'd put these in her room.

She was a plant killer; everything she raised died. Fresh flowers were beyond her. As for the arrangements sold at flower shops, she couldn't afford to buy them daily. So she'd come up with a brilliant solution—fake flowers.

Fake flowers never wilted, never needed water changes. So convenient!

And if she wanted to smell a different flower each day, she just sprayed perfume on them. That way, she could have whatever flowers she wanted, whenever she wanted.

Yun Huaizhu rarely lost control of her facial expressions, but ever since meeting Lin Meng, it had been happening more and more.

She smoothed the awkward expression from her face and walked straight into Lin Meng's bedroom.

Lin Meng hurried after her.

Lin Meng's sleeping area was also small. Not only were there many things on either side of the bed, but a pink star-rabbit curtain hung over the small bed, surrounded by decorative star lights—like a child's dream room.

Yun Huaizhu sat down on Lin Meng's bed. Lin Meng wanted to ask what she had come for today.

But in the next moment, Yun Huaizhu crossed her legs, propped her chin on one hand, and looked up at Lin Meng. 'When I came over today, I saw you getting out of a Bentley. Who was driving you home?'

The smile froze on Lin Meng's face.

Oh no!

How had Yun Huaizhu found out?!

Lin Meng had always been on Yun Huaizhu's side. She wanted to help Yun Huaizhu fight that scumbag Su. If she couldn't explain this clearly, Yun Huaizhu would definitely think she was a spy sent by Su Yutang.

How was she supposed to explain? That Su Yutang had suddenly dragged her out racing, then taken her to her villa for the night?

But in front of the legitimate partner, that behavior was practically being the other woman!

She did not want to be the third party ruining someone's relationship!

Lin Meng frantically tried to organize her thoughts. She swallowed, then decided to play dumb: 'Huh? Bentley? What Bentley? I've never seen one. I haven't left the house all day. You must have been mistaken.'

Seeing her desperately making up lies, Yun Huaizhu let out a cold laugh. 'Is that so?'

Lin Meng lowered her head, trying to hide her guilt. 'Mm. You must have been mistaken.'

Yun Huaizhu's expression had turned ugly.

If Lin Meng had confessed, she could have believed that lunatic Su Yutang had forced Lin Meng to go out. But Lin Meng's clumsy lie told her something else—that Lin Meng might have gone willingly.

That was exactly why this person felt guilty and averted her eyes.

At this thought, the anger Yun Huaizhu had just suppressed inexplicably flared up again. She uncrossed her legs, leaned back on both hands, and let out a laugh.

The more Lin Meng heard that laugh, the more uneasy she felt. Just then, Yun Huaizhu's hand brushed against a piece of paper. She looked down—it was a shopping receipt.

Lin Meng's heart died in that moment, because there was no way to stop Yun Huaizhu from seeing its contents now.

Yun Huaizhu picked up the receipt and let out a helpless scoff. 'The time on this receipt is 4:30 p.m. Do you still think I was mistaken?'

Lin Meng actually wanted to claim she'd picked the receipt up off the ground, but her gaze fell on the new clothes she hadn't yet put in the closet, and she finally deflated like a punctured ball, hanging her head.

Yun Huaizhu stood and looked down at Lin Meng. She let the receipt drift from her fingers, then stepped close and seized Lin Meng's chin in a vicious grip.

Lin Meng shrank back in fright, but Yun Huaizhu was strong; there was no escaping.

And in this novel, both Su Yutang and Yun Huaizhu had absurdly towering heights. Someone with Lin Meng's build stood no chance.

Yun Huaizhu's expression looked like she wanted to devour Lin Meng alive. 'I believe I told you before—I hate betrayal most of all.'

Lin Meng's eyes reddened with panic. She rushed to explain: 'No… Zhuzhu, it's not what you think! I only lied because I was afraid you'd misunderstand!'

She and Yun Huaizhu were half friends now, yet she'd gone out to eat and shop with Yun Huaizhu's own partner. In a friend's eyes, what was that if not a stab in the back?

If she were Yun Huaizhu, she would have cut ties immediately.

Seeing Lin Meng tremble, Yun Huaizhu spoke in an icy voice, as if to intimidate her: 'I'll give you one chance. If you dare lie to me, I'll show you what happens to those who betray me.'

Lin Meng nodded vigorously. 'I… I'll tell the truth this time.'

Yun Huaizhu said, 'Then tell me—who did you go out with today?'

Lin Meng didn't know why, but hearing Yun Huaizhu's tone, she choked up in fright. 'It… it was Eldest Miss Su. But don't misunderstand—there's nothing between us. We didn't do anything!'

The more frantically she explained, the more suspicious she seemed in Yun Huaizhu's eyes.

Yun Huaizhu pressed on: 'Nothing at all? If you two did nothing, where did Su Yutang drive you? She's not the type to sit around discussing Platonic philosophy.'

Seeing the murderous look on Yun Huaizhu's face about to spiral out of control, Lin Meng's voice cracked as she shouted, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I also went to a restaurant with her and bought clothes, but other than that we really didn't do anything!'

She truly didn't dare tell Yun Huaizhu about Su Yutang forcing her to change outfits. Otherwise, this apartment would become a haunted house, and Jing City's old neighborhood would have another urban legend.

Hearing this, Yun Huaizhu's grip on Lin Meng's chin involuntarily tightened. Lin Meng felt like her jaw was about to shatter.

She hurriedly pushed Yun Huaizhu away and stepped back. 'I'm sorry… I took Friday off early, and Eldest Miss Su came to find me for no reason. I didn't want to go! But you know how she is—if I refused, I'd lose my job. She really only treated me to a meal and bought clothes. Please, you have to believe me!'

Yun Huaizhu frowned deeply. 'You're saying Su Yutang forced you to go with her?'

Lin Meng paused. Nodding would lower Yun Huaizhu's opinion of Su Yutang, but right now, survival came first!

She lowered her head as if deeply wronged and murmured, 'Mm.'

Hearing this, Yun Huaizhu clenched her fists. That lunatic Su Yutang loved playing these cheap tricks. Sooner or later, she would return every humiliation she'd suffered today!

Lin Meng kept her head down in silence for a long time. Without Yun Huaizhu's forgiveness, her guilt kept her from looking up.

When Yun Huaizhu came back to herself, she saw Lin Meng looking so dejected she seemed ready to burst into tears at any moment. Guilt rose in her heart.

The Su family was Jing City's foremost wealthy family, and Su Yutang was domineering by nature. Even Yun Huaizhu couldn't fight back when dealing with her, sometimes barely able to escape. How much less could Lin Meng—an ordinary person with no power or influence—do?

Yun Huaizhu hurried forward and embraced Lin Meng. 'I'm the one who should apologize. I've been busy with the company all week, that's why I didn't message you. You won't ignore me because of that, will you?'

Hearing that Yun Huaizhu seemed to have forgiven her, Lin Meng let out a breath of relief. 'Of course not.'

Yun Huaizhu smiled contentedly.

Thank goodness. At least Lin Meng didn't hate her. Lin Meng just respected her too much; the poor thing had probably been afraid of offending her, which was why she hadn't sent messages all week.

As long as they cleared the air now, she could restore things with Lin Meng to how they were before.

Lin Meng was just an ordinary person. She probably never dreamed she'd catch her favorite idol's attention. But that was fine—Yun Huaizhu would slowly draw their relationship closer. Matters of the heart couldn't be rushed.

Yun Huaizhu gently stroked Lin Meng's soft hair and rested her head on Lin Meng's shoulder, as if greedily inhaling her scent.

But in the next moment, when an odor of pheromones she detested reached her nose, her expression froze.

In disbelief, Yun Huaizhu roughly swept the hair covering Lin Meng's nape aside, urgently sniffing at the scent on Lin Meng's neck.

The pheromones of an S-class alpha—which held a deadly attraction for omegas—triggered her physiological cravings, but her panicked face had already twisted into something monstrous.

As if remembering something, Yun Huaizhu suddenly raised her head. Her wide, sinister eyes pressed close to Lin Meng's face, staring fixedly.

When Yun Huaizhu had pushed her hair aside and sniffed at her nape, Lin Meng had looked confused, planning to ask what was wrong with the back of her neck once Yun Huaizhu finished.

But now, seeing that terrifying expression on Yun Huaizhu's face… Lin Meng was frozen in place, unable to move.

Yun Huaizhu looked at her with a smile like a demon's temptation. 'Mengmeng-jie, you said Su Yutang took you away on Friday, right? But it's Saturday night now. Where did you spend Friday night?'

Lin Meng: '!!'

Was Yun Huaizhu really that perceptive? Hadn't that whole matter just been put to rest? Had Yun Huaizhu sensed something and brought it up again?

Yun Huaizhu's hands clamped down on Lin Meng's shoulders. The growing, dull ache made Lin Meng's scalp crawl.

Lin Meng truly did not want Yun Huaizhu to think she was the other woman.

But at this moment, her instincts told her that if she lied to Yun Huaizhu again, those hands on her shoulders would move to her neck.

Lin Meng swallowed again. As if unable to control herself, she said in a trembling voice, 'B-because it was too late that day, so I slept at Eldest Miss Su's house.'

Hearing those words, the last thread in Yun Huaizhu's mind snapped. Jealousy and rage ignited at once, filling her chest. A voice in her head screamed madly—

What right does Su Yutang have, what right?!

Lin Meng betrayed her. Lin Meng lied to her again. Kill her, kill her!

As if seduced by that voice, her fingers, now ice-cold, moved toward Lin Meng's slender neck. Lin Meng felt Yun Huaizhu's hand slide slowly to her throat, as if about to strangle her… Her eyes widened in terror.

Hadn't she just told the truth? Why was this still happening?

She didn't know if she could break free this time. If she couldn't, she didn't know if she'd get another chance at rebirth.

Just as she stared at Yun Huaizhu, who looked about to transform into a vengeful ghost, Yun Huaizhu's fingers never tightened.

As if the woman's heart had softened after all, her hands slid down from Lin Meng's neck. 'Mengmeng-jie, swear to me that you only slept at Su Yutang's house that night and did nothing with her.'

She leaned close to Lin Meng's nape, still carrying Su Yutang's pheromones, and ground out through clenched teeth: 'As long as you swear it, I'll believe you.'