The Mysterious Night of Beijing

"Jiang Xian'an, let go." Lin Chuxiu's voice was cold.

"Let go?" Jiang Xian'an laughed. "Lin Chuxiu, have you forgotten that we're still engaged? You're currently involved with another man, and you still have the nerve to ask me to let go?"

"You disgust me."

Lin Chuxiu looked at him and suddenly smiled.

She raised her other hand and slapped it hard across his face.

"Snapped!"

The crisp sound of a slap silenced the surrounding chatter.

Everyone was stunned.

Jiang Xian'an was also stunned by the blow. He turned his head away, his face burning with pain.

"You dare hit me?"

"So what if I hit you?" Lin Chuxiu looked at him, her eyes burning like fire. "Compared to what you two brothers did to me, what's this slap?"

"Jiang Xian'an, put your hand on your heart and ask yourself, who is really disgusting?"

"You were the one who dated me, and you were also the one who secretly arranged for your brother to sleep with me!"

"With the lights off, you two brothers taking turns, do you find it particularly exciting? Do you think I, Lin Chuxiu, am a fool who can be manipulated by you?"

"And those photos! To please Lin Lengyan and to get revenge for her, you secretly took private photos of me and posted them online! Jiang Xian'an, are you even a man?"

With each sentence she spoke, she took a step closer.

Jiang Xian'an was forced to back away by her questions, his face turning pale and then red.

He wanted to argue, but found himself unable to utter a single word.

Because everything she said was true.

"I used to love you. I was blind to believe you were my salvation."

Lin Chuxiu looked at him, her eyes no longer filled with the infatuation of the past, but only with cold hatred.

"But now I see clearly that your Jiang family, from top to bottom, is rotten to the core."

"Don't worry, I won't bother you anymore, and I certainly won't marry into your Jiang family."

"I feel like throwing up just looking at your faces."

After she finished speaking, she forcefully shook off his hand, didn't look at him again, turned around, and walked into the administration building without looking back.

Jiang Xian'an was left standing there alone, like a clown stripped naked in front of everyone.

His face stung.

But the pain is even worse in my heart.

It felt like being stabbed hard by something, leaving an empty feeling, yet also a sharp, stinging pain.

Jiang Xian'an didn't know how she left the school.

The pointing fingers and whispers around him, the disdainful, mocking, and schadenfreude looks, felt like countless needles pricking him.

He had lived for over twenty years, and from birth he had been the pride of heaven, surrounded by admirers, and had never suffered such a humiliating disgrace.

Especially since it was a woman he had always looked down on and thought he could manipulate at will.

Inside the car, he slammed his fist hard on the steering wheel.

"Lin Chuxiu!"

He gritted his teeth as he uttered the name, his eyes filled with boundless rage and resentment.

He couldn't understand how things had turned out this way.

He had clearly laid a trap, which he could tighten at any time, leaving her nowhere to escape.

But now, it seems she has torn this net apart with her own hands.

No, not her.

It's the man behind her.

Meng Huizhou.

The mere thought of that name filled Jiang Xian'an with a sense of powerlessness.

That was his maternal uncle, a man even his father treated with great respect.

He can't win.

But is that all?

He was not reconciled.

He took out his phone and made a call.

"Hello, it's me."

"Have the autopsy results for Lin Lengyan's car accident been released?"

"Okay, I understand."

After hanging up the phone, he looked out the window at the rapidly receding street scene, his eyes gradually turning sinister.

Lin Chuxiu, do you think everything will be fine once you've hooked up with Meng Huizhou?

I want to see if he'll still protect you when the police come knocking.

……

After completing the departure procedures, Lin Chuxiu came out of the administration building.

She didn't return to the manor, but went straight to the library.

She knew that a new wave of online criticism about her had begun.

She didn't even need to look to know how offensive those swear words were.

But she didn't care anymore.

Or rather, she forced herself not to care.

All she has to do now is prepare for Yenching University's interview.

That was her only way out.

The library was quiet, with only the rustling of pages turning.

Lin Chuxiu found a seat by the window and took out the documents Meng Huizhou had given her from her backpack.

Looking at the detailed analysis from her mentor, she felt a mix of emotions.

She had to admit that this man, though cold, always provided her with the help she needed most at the most crucial moments.

This help made her feel at ease, but it also made her... uneasy.

She was afraid she would get used to this protection, afraid she would become addicted to the feeling of having everything arranged for her.

She shook her head vigorously, trying to banish these distracting thoughts from her mind.

Lin Chuxiu, stop thinking about it.

This is just a deal.

She took a deep breath, opened the documents, and began taking notes.

The afternoon passed quickly.

It was already dark when she came out of the library.

On my phone, there were dozens of missed calls from my best friend, Wang Xiangrui.

She called back.

As soon as the call connected, Wang Xiangrui's anxious voice came through.

"Xiuxiu! You finally answered the phone! Where are you now? Have you seen the news online?"

"I saw it," Lin Chuxiu said calmly.

"Then why are you so calm?! Those people are going too far! They're inhuman!"

Wang Xiangrui stomped her feet in anger, "No way, I have to go and confront them!"

"Don't go," Lin Chuxiu called out to her. "It's no use."

"How can it be useless? Are we just going to let them bully you like this?"

"Xiangrui, thank you."

A warm feeling washed over Lin Chuxiu. "But I have more important things to do right now."

"What could be more important than this?"

"Yenching University's interview."

Wang Xiangrui was stunned.

"Xiuxiu, you..."

"I'm fine," Lin Chuxiu interrupted her. "Do me a favor: for the next few days, don't look at any news online, and don't tell me anything."

"I just want to prepare for the interview quietly."

Wang Xiangrui remained silent for a long time on the other end of the phone.

"Okay." She finally agreed. "Xiuxiu, you must do your best."

"I will."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Chuxiu stood under the streetlight, watching the passing vehicles, but her heart was calm.

She knew it would be a tough battle.

But she was already prepared.

……

For the next few days, Lin Chuxiu completely shut herself off.

Aside from eating and sleeping, she spent all her time preparing for interviews.

She read through the materials Meng Huizhou gave her countless times, and rehearsed every question that the tutor might ask.

She even practiced her facial expressions and speaking speed in front of a mirror.

She wanted to make sure that nothing went wrong.

The atmosphere in the manor became somewhat somber because of her.

Hao Hao is very sensible. Knowing that the teacher has a test coming up, he stopped bothering her to play.

Meng Huizhou also seemed very busy, often returning home very late.

The two barely spoke.

Until the night before the interview.

Lin Chuxiu was still looking at documents in the study when Meng Huizhou pushed open the door and walked in.

He was holding a file folder in his hand.

"Here you go." He placed the file folder on her desk.

Lin Chuxiu looked up in confusion. "What is this?"

"Airfare and hotel booking information in Yanjing."

His voice was flat.