Wang Lili ran into the deep woods of the forest farm in one breath, until she could run no more. Then she leaned against a poplar tree, squatted down, sat on the cold stone, and burst into tears.

The rustling of leaves in the evening breeze seemed to mock her disheveled state.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, crying and cursing, "Li Juan! You disgusting woman! You rely on your good looks to seduce men everywhere, and now you dare to go against me, you just wait!"

After scolding Xu Xinghe, she thought of Zhao Xiaoyan again, and her tears fell even harder. "Zhao Xiaoyan, you're a hypocrite too! We've been friends for so many years, and you actually sided with outsiders to question me! You never treated me as a friend at all. I must have been blind to be friends with you!"

The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. She hugged her knees and buried her face in her arms.

In truth, she knew that her hostility towards Xu Xinghe was not just jealousy.

Xu Xinghe's appearance always reminded her of her family.

Those two stepsisters were also good-looking. They always used sweet words to please their mother and neighbors, but then they would gang up on her, steal her things, and talk badly about her behind her back.

She feared that Xu Xinghe would do the same, using her pretty face to win over everyone, only to end up being isolated and bullied like she was back in her hometown.

"I'm not going to let you have it easy! So what if I threw the water?" Wang Lili muttered, choking back tears. "Before, when I didn't fight back, you bullied me even more. Now that I'm striking first, at least you'll know I'm not someone to mess with..."

She thought this would protect her, but she never expected that she would end up being misunderstood by her friends and crying alone in the woods.

Just then, footsteps came from behind, getting closer and closer.

Wang Lili panicked and suddenly looked up and turned around.

Under the moonlight, Liu Hu appeared not far away, holding a tree branch in his hand, looking at her with a half-smile.

"Hey, isn't this Comrade Wang Lili? Why are you crying here all alone, and crying so bitterly?" Liu Hu walked over slowly, his tone full of ill intent.

Wang Lili's heart skipped a beat. Remembering Liu Hu's usual arrogance at the educated youth settlement, she was immediately frightened. She quickly wiped away her tears, stood up, and said, "I...I wasn't crying. I just accidentally tripped and fell. It hurts a little. I have to go back now. Comrade Liu, you should go back soon too."

After saying that, she turned to leave, but Liu Hu grabbed her arm.

Liu Hu was very strong, and his grip on her arm made it ache.

He leaned closer to her, his breath carrying the scent of sweat. "Now that you're out, why are you in such a hurry to go back? Wouldn't it be better to chat with me for a while?"

Wang Lili struggled desperately, shouting, "Let me go! I want to go back!"

"Let you go?" Liu Hu sneered, raised his hand and slapped her across the face. With a crisp crack, Wang Lili's cheeks instantly turned red.

Liu Hu grabbed her hair, forcing her to look up at him, his tone vicious, "Go ahead and shout! Shout as loudly as you can! It'd be best if everyone in the educated youth settlement and the village heard it, so they all know that I touched you here! Even if we haven't done anything, what do you think people will think of you? A female educated youth with a man in the woods at night, you can't clear your name even if you jump into the Yellow River!"

Wang Lili's body froze instantly, and she forgot to shed tears.

She couldn't imagine how she could stay in the forest farm if she were actually seen and the news got out.

The villagers would gossip about her behind her back, the educated youth would ostracize her, and she might even be sent back to the city, where she would be ridiculed by her stepfather and stepsister for the rest of her life.

Fear, like icy water, instantly overwhelmed her; she opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Seeing that she had stopped moving, Liu Hu smiled smugly. He released his grip on her hair and pressed her firmly against the poplar tree. His rough hands wrapped around her waist, and he swore at her, "That's more like it. Be a good girl and listen to me. I can protect you in the forest later. Otherwise..."

Wang Lili trembled all over, and tears finally fell again, but she dared not cry out loud, and could only let Liu Hu's hands grope her body.

She thought that taking the initiative would protect her, but she never expected that she would fall into an even more terrifying abyss!

After chasing Wang Lili out of the educated youth settlement, Zhao Xiaoyan searched for a long time in the direction Wang Lili had run off in, but in the darkness there was only the sound of the wind rustling through the trees, and she didn't see a single person.

The more she searched, the more panicked she became. Wild animals often roamed the forest at night, and it was too dangerous for Wang Lili, a young girl, to be out alone. With no other choice, she had to return to the educated youth settlement.

She pushed open the dormitory door, sweat still glistening on her forehead, and said urgently, "Li Juan, let's go look for Lili together! It's so late, what if something happens to her outside all alone?"

Xu Xinghe was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) tidying up her things when she heard this. She raised her eyes and said calmly, "I'm not going. She ran away on her own. It has nothing to do with me. There's no need to put myself in danger for someone who is not related to me."

"An unrelated person?" Zhao Xiaoyan was stunned, and couldn't help but raise her voice, "No matter what, she's our roommate! How can you be so indifferent? If something really happens to her, we'll have a guilty conscience for the rest of our lives!"

Xu Xinghe put down what she was holding and looked at Zhao Xiaoyan. “Indifferent? What do you want me to do? Repay evil with kindness? She has been targeting me in every way before, and just now she deliberately spilled the hot water I boiled. Now I have to greet her with a smile and take risks with her? Zhao Xiaoyan, not everyone is worth my heartfelt sincerity. I have no reason to be nice to someone who is hostile to me.”

Zhao Xiaoyan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but when she thought of Wang Lili's previous sarcastic remarks to Xu Xinghe, those words stuck in her throat, and she could only shut her mouth in frustration.

She knew Xu Xinghe was telling the truth, but years of friendship made her unable to ignore Wang Lili. Just as she was debating whether to go out and look for her again, the dormitory door suddenly creaked open.

Wang Lili walked in, her clothes were wrinkled and had several obvious signs of being pulled, her hair was messy and stuck to her cheeks, her face was as pale as paper, her eyes were empty, and she walked with a limp. She exuded an indescribable sense of dishevelment and numbness.

"Lili! You're finally back! Where have you been? Are you hurt?" Zhao Xiaoyan immediately went to greet her and reached out to help her, but Wang Lili pushed her away violently.

Wang Lili staggered back a step, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes, and cried out in a hoarse voice, "Don't touch me! Zhao Xiaoyan, I will hate you for the rest of my life!"

She seemed to have used all her strength to finish speaking, then turned to look at Xu Xinghe, her eyes filled with resentment, "And you, Li Juan! I hate you too! I will never forgive you in this lifetime!"

Xu Xinghe glanced at her, her expression blank, and simply said, "Hate if you want, it's none of my business."

After saying that, she lay down on the bed, pulled the blanket over herself, and closed her eyes.

Although Wang Lili looked disheveled, she didn't want to get involved.

Whether she lives or dies, what does it have to do with her?

Even if Wang Lili were eaten by a wild animal today, she wouldn't feel guilty.

Because it was all their own fault!

Wang Lili watched Xu Xinghe's indifferent back, gritted her teeth, walked to her bed, and lay down stiffly.

She bit the blanket tightly in her mouth to stop herself from crying out, and the discomfort in her body made her tremble all over.

In the woods, Liu Hu finally forced himself on her, taking away her most precious possession. She dared not tell anyone; if word got out, she would be completely ruined.

But the resentment in her heart grew wildly like weeds!

If Xu Xinghe hadn't stepped on her baggage, she wouldn't have lost control and run away in anger; if Zhao Xiaoyan had found her sooner, Liu Hu wouldn't have had the opportunity to seize upon her.

It's all their fault!

They ruined themselves!