Meet

The Abandoned Heroine

/Li You

Meet

Lately, I've been having some bad feelings.

It felt like I was being watched.

But I can't explain the origin of this feeling that appeared out of nowhere. I just felt for no reason as if I were the chosen prey, with dark gun barrels pointing directly at me from not far away, controlling my every move.

This lingering worry persisted until I woke up from my sleep.

The moment I opened my eyes, I instinctively picked up my phone, and the screen lit up with a message.

December 21.

There are three days left until Christmas.

I heard a car horn outside the window. I rubbed my eyes, got out of bed, and drew back the curtains.

Instinctively, I looked at the apartment across the street. The black curtains were tightly closed, and there was nothing unusual about it. However, light snow began to fall from the sky again.

Last weekend, Empire State was hit by a heavy snowfall that has continued unabated. Even though the state government has deployed staff to shovel the snow, the roads remain slippery and difficult to navigate, and vehicles are moving at increasingly slower speeds.

"What are you looking at?" Yu Xu suddenly hugged me from behind, and casually rested his chin on my shoulder and neck.

His gaze followed to the other side. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head and gestured to him in sign language: "It looks like it's going to snow heavily today."

"You're lying," Yu Xu said, turning my shoulder around. "You've looked like you have something on your mind these past few days."

I paused for a moment. To be honest, I didn't want to tell Yu Xu about these paranoid thoughts. He's been very busy lately, about to graduate with his master's degree and still looking for a job. These trivial matters would only make him worry.

I flashed my familiar smile and gestured to him.

"I'm worried about whether my final project will pass."

Yu Xu smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? I've seen your paintings before. They'd be bought even if they were hanging in the Royal Art Museum, you know?"

In an instant, all the unease in my heart seemed to be taken away by this slightly childish sentence.

I smiled and quickly shook my head: "Alright, we have to go out now. The roads won't be easy to travel today."

On the road, the areas where snow had been shoveled were trampled and filthy. Pedestrians were walking cautiously along the street. The traffic ahead was incredibly congested. As Yu Xu handed me the sandwiches he had made that morning, he couldn't help but look up and say, "This traffic is terrible today..."

The vehicles in front of the square were densely packed together at the intersection, forming a dark river. They flashed their lights and honked their horns in vain, but to no avail.

I looked out the window and immediately saw the huge poster hanging in the commercial area.

Above was a beautiful and elegant woman, wearing a green satin dress. Her skin was fair and radiant, and her earlobes and neck were slender and graceful. Her long, wavy hair had a charming curve, and the strands fell perfectly over her chest. Her dress flowed gracefully to the ground.

She looked more dazzling than the diamond necklace around her neck.

"That's Lin Zhi'en, isn't it? She's so beautiful." Noticing my gaze, Yu Xu also looked over. "She's the Royal Theatre's top ballerina, the universally acknowledged ballet princess."

"What? You've fallen for her?" I couldn't help but tease.

"No way, I'm just admiring her." Yu Xu suddenly leaned closer again, casually wiping the salad dressing from my lips with his fingers. "But I still think my girlfriend is prettier."

I accepted that statement quite frankly.

After all, I was once the leading lady of this world... Of course, I didn't last long; I was quickly replaced by the perfect and elegant Lin Zhi'en.

I only have one face that can be considered pretty.

She is different.

Besides her beauty and her proud ballet skills, she is also pursuing a master's degree in psychology at Imperial University. Her parents are well-known figures in the Imperial State, and from the moment she was born, she was destined to be cherished and loved.

I never imagined that my life would intersect with Lin Zhi'en's.

Yu Xu walked me to the classroom door, where my friend Lu Qixi saw me. She couldn't wait to sit next to me and typed on her phone: "So stable with Yu Xu? When are you planning to get married?"

I met her teasing gaze, thought for a moment, and told her, "Soon, after Yu Xu graduates, we plan to get engaged after he has a stable job."

This is what ordinary people's lives are like, I think.

Unlike dazzling female protagonists like Lin Zhi'en, Yu Xu and I are just ordinary people in this world, playing insignificant background roles in her and other male protagonists' thrilling stories.

For example, tonight, while working part-time at a luxury goods store, I ran into Lim Ji-eun again.

I was setting up the Christmas shop window at the time. I had finally managed to put that champagne-colored dress on the mannequin and arranged champagne glasses and other elements representing gold and luxury in the window according to the designer's requirements. I think I must have looked disheveled. Before I could even look at myself, the store manager grabbed me and brought me to Lin Zhi'en.

She is a well-known heiress in the wealthy circles of the entire Empire State. She has quite the airs and spends money extravagantly. If nothing unexpected happens, she will be our store's biggest revenue contributor in the past two weeks.

We all treated her with utmost respect. The store manager introduced the new products to her, and I almost buried my head in the ground, only able to see the reflection of her silver stilettos on the beautiful marble floor.

"I have to attend a banquet in a few days, and there's really no time to make a reservation."

The first time I heard her voice, it was gentle, powerful, and really beautiful.

"Miss Lin, don't worry, all our dresses can be altered to your measurements. With such a perfect figure, every dress here suits you perfectly. You're so beautiful, it's an honor to wear them on you." The shop manager showered her with compliments, making Lin Zhi'en chuckle softly.

My instep was suddenly kicked.

I glanced sideways and Lu Qixi whispered in my ear, "Jiang Fu, I think you're much prettier than her."

Her voice wasn't loud, but her slightest movements at that moment were quite noticeable.

The store manager gave us a disapproving look. "You two come with me."

Hearing this, I nodded quickly.

The VIC room on the second floor has always been reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

The room is brightly lit, with finely crafted carpets, elegant and comfortable silver velvet sofas, a full-length mirror with gold trim, and even a small table in front of you with a perfect bouquet of white roses. A faint fragrance floats in the air.

I prepared black tea and snacks and brought them in, along with a hairband and a bathrobe so that Lin Zhi'en could change clothes later.

When I went in, she was sitting on the sofa flipping through a magazine. I bowed slightly and had just put down the tea and snacks when I heard her say, "If anyone is looking for me later, tell them to come in directly."

I nodded without saying a word.

Next, I accompanied Ms. Lin as she tried on dresses.

Her long hair was held up with a hairband to make it easier for her to put on her bathrobe. Lu Qixi and I patiently helped her until half an hour later, when she finally chose the gold butterfly print dress and paired it with an ethereal pearl embossed butterfly necklace, making her look even more beautiful and dignified.

Lu Qixi handed me the shoes, and I knelt on the soft sofa, took out the white velvet high heels, and helped Lin Zhien try them on.

Her feet were very thin, and her toes were painted with black nail polish. Her feet were well-maintained and beautiful.

I gently held her ankle and fastened the diamond-encrusted shoe buckle.

Suddenly, someone lifted my chin.

I:"……???!!!"

Lin Zhi'en wasn't using much force; she pressed her hand against my chin, her eyes scrutinizing my face with interest for a moment. "I noticed it just now, you're prettier than the other girls in the shop. Do you study at the nearby state university?"

"..." I stared at her blankly. Lin Zhi'en frowned slightly when she saw that I didn't speak.

"Miss Lin, she can't speak," Lu Qixi said quickly upon seeing this.

A hint of sympathy instantly appeared on Lin Zhi'en's face. "So pitiful."

"What's pitiful?" A voice that makes me instinctively tremble with fear rang out from the doorway.

"Mingzhuo, you're finally here." Lin Zhien got up from the sofa, while I remained kneeling on the carpet. I could clearly feel sweat slowly sliding down my hair, silently dripping from my chin to the ground without making a sound.

"Jiang Fu." Lu Qixi noticed that something was wrong with me and pulled me up from the ground, which allowed me to see the face of the guest who had come in.

The man was wearing a long trench coat with a black turtleneck underneath and a scarf on top, and his whole outfit looked very sophisticated.

Wearing this in the dead of winter doesn't make you look bulky at all; instead, it makes you look handsome, outstanding, and incredibly young.

His features were both delicate and subtly aggressive, his eyes were dark and unfathomable, and he had been expressionless since he entered the room, his eyelashes drooping casually.

At that moment, he suddenly looked up at me and Lu Qixi, and casually curled his lips.

I couldn't help but start trembling, but I was afraid of being noticed, so I nervously clasped my hands together and then clenched them tightly.

Even though I knew Jiang Mingzhuo had long forgotten everything and couldn't possibly know who I was, the intense pressure he exerted on me from that memory still made me increasingly nervous.

"This dress is quite pretty," he said, turning his gaze away and complimenting Lin Zhi'en.

"I knew it, and I think it suits me perfectly too." Lin Zhi'en twirled around, and her skirt spread out like a flower.

Jiang Mingzhuo quickly lost interest. He lit a cigarette and smoked in a lazy and elegant manner. Lu Qixi frowned but didn't say anything.

Smoking is prohibited in the store, but this usually only applies to regular customers.

Even though Lu Qixi didn't know Jiang Mingzhuo's identity, judging from his noble and outstanding appearance, she knew he was not a rich young master who was easy to mess with.

“This watch… is not bad, I’d like to try it on.” Jiang Mingzhuo turned his head, half of his face shrouded in shadow. He seemed to smile, but his expression was ambiguous.

Actually, his voice was very gentle, even with a touch of tenderness, but his expression always carried a hint of arrogance that looked down on everyone, so much so that Lu Qixi took a while to react before hesitatingly walking towards Jiang Mingzhuo.

He nodded. "Have her help me. I also bought a set of cufflinks downstairs. Bring them up for me."

I suddenly looked up and met Jiang Mingzhuo's gaze.

His narrow eyes were half-closed, and they looked sharp when he wasn't smiling. My fingernails almost dug into my palms. I calmed down, walked over to Jiang Mingzhuo, and took off the men's watch.

"She can't speak," Lin Zhi'en suddenly reminded Jiang Mingzhuo.

"Yes, I know," he replied. I was taking off the expensive watch from his wrist when I heard him say that. I froze for a moment, and the watch slipped off his wrist and almost fell to the ground. Then, he reached out his right hand, caught it, and put it in my hand.

He laughed. "Didn't that shop assistant just say it once? That she doesn't know how to talk?"

These words seemed to be spoken to Lin Zhi'en, or perhaps specifically to me. I took the watch, placed it aside, and simply lowered my head to put the new watch on his wrist.

This hand is a cool-toned white.

The fingers are long and slender with distinct joints, and the nails are clear and clean.

The watch that was almost dropped had a very mechanical feel; it was both beautiful and smooth, and that watch was more expensive than everything else in the entire Vic room combined.

The one he chose was made of black leather with a ring of rhinestones. Although it wasn't cheap, it was mostly used for accessories and decoration. I don't understand why he's so fickle.

"Do you still stand by what you promised me last time?" Lin Zhi'en asked.

"What?"

"Come with me to Xie Yong's birthday celebration."

"Oh, I forgot."

"To go or not to go?"

"Let me think about it some more."

While I was putting the watch on him, he chatted casually with Lin Zhi'en, without glancing at me again.

I was certain that Jiang Mingzhuo had forgotten me, and I felt much more relaxed.

As I was fastening his watchband for the last time, for some reason, he suddenly raised his hand, and my fingers touched his wrist. In that instant, I was reminded of the times we were alone together, and the deep-seated fear within me made me tremble slightly beside him.

Jiang Mingzhuo noticed my movement, glanced at me, and said, "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention, so I moved a little."

“…It’s nothing.” I made a gesture, then realized he wouldn’t understand.

Jiang Mingzhuo raised his wrist, glanced at his new watch with interest, extinguished his cigarette, and said only one sentence in a low voice.

"You can come to me if you need anything."

...I kept my head down, not knowing who he was talking to, but when Cheng Qixi came in, I heard him say again, "Okay, Lin Zhi'en, I'm not going. I hate Xie Yong."

Lin Zhi'en opened her lips, but didn't say anything.

However, Jiang Mingzhuo was very generous. He not only paid for all of Lin Zhien's expenses for the day, but also impulsively ordered a few more dresses from the store. When I left, I belatedly realized that my hands were heavy.

Jiang Mingzhuo's watch was not taken away.

I felt a tightness in my chest, as if I had touched a hot potato, and handed it over to the store manager before closing time.

Yu Xu had been waiting for me in his car for quite a while at the street corner.

I hurriedly got into the car, and as it drove along the road, I looked out the window at the city in the dark night. Skyscrapers were scattered like stars, with lights weaving through them. The snow had long since stopped, and the streets were decorated with golden Christmas ornaments and large, eye-catching Christmas trees.

As we left the city center, the light began to dim, and in our rearview mirror, a black Rolls-Royce was following us at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

My heart suddenly jumped into my throat. I instinctively grabbed Yu Xu's coat and gestured for him to look back.

He glanced to the side and happened to be at the corner. The car overtook our car and drove straight away. The privacy glass made it impossible for me to see who was inside.

Yu Xu patted my head in an annoyed tone, "You scared me! I thought he was going to do something. Why were you so nervous?"

My heart was pounding, so I buried my head in Yu Xu's shoulder.

He assumed I was tired and didn't have time to rest when I got home, so he prepared hot milk for me. I stood by the window, and before I knew it, the Rolls-Royce from earlier was parked downstairs at the apartment next door. The dark car and the dim streetlights made my unease reach its peak.

“Xiao Fu, I’m sorry…” Yu Xu didn’t notice my unease. He walked up to me and said, “I have a party tomorrow, it’s my high school classmate’s birthday party, I have to go.”

"Don't drink alcohol, and don't touch things you shouldn't," I reminded him in sign language.

“I know,” Yu Xu pressed me against the window. He raised one hand to stroke my face, while his other hand wrapped around my waist, creating a somewhat ambiguous atmosphere.

Are you tired today?

I told him I wasn't tired.

He stroked my back and kissed my cheek. When I came to my senses, I was sitting on the windowsill, and through my thin nightgown, I could even feel his erection dangling at my side. He bit my neck. "So, is it convenient?"

His gentle, light touch made me feel a little itchy.

The tension from before turned into shyness, but I had long been prepared to marry Yu Xu, so I simply reached out and hugged him, entrusting myself to him with peace of mind.

Yu Xu changed his posture.

I can see the apartment across the street.

Unlike in the morning, the room, which always had its black curtains drawn, was now lit up.

Even with the curtains drawn tight, I still felt uneasy, as if I were being spied on. I had finally managed to immerse myself in the story, but now, that lingering feeling of being controlled had returned.