Gao Xian Yue smiled slightly, the Australian white pearl on her earlobe shimmering with a lustrous light.

"I'm currently preparing to submit an application to the Kyushu Band. If I'm successful, I'll probably go back to Japan to develop my career, but I feel the competition is fierce. I'll leave it to fate."

Her furrowed brows softened the aloofness she once felt, making her look like a cuddly ragdoll cat.

The host exclaimed that his heart was touched.

"I've heard that you've been sponsoring impoverished children in Africa for many years and have also established a stray animal protection foundation. I really admire you. Could you tell us about your motivation for doing this?"

"The initial intention may have been out of compassion."

Gao Xianyue laughed and said, "I'm not that great, I just have a strong sense of empathy. Seeing them in so much pain, if I don't do something about it, that kind of torment will continue to haunt me."

How great! More compassionate than a Bodhisattva.

Who would have thought that this person was a venomous snake at heart?

What role did Gao Xianyue play during the year that Meng Jiuyi was bullied? Protector, friend, and redeemer.

Someone in the class said that she was the daughter of a mistress, and that her mother had gotten her into school by spreading her legs.

Some people say they saw her sneaking into the math teacher's office and coming out disheveled, with her hair all messy.

Some people say that her family abandoned her a long time ago, and that she earned her tuition fees by sleeping with others.

These voices mingled together, spreading throughout the school, and were repeatedly discussed and whispered among the students as she passed by.

Only Gao Xian Yue stood up for her.

When she was falsely accused of stealing money, her book was thrown into a bucket of dirty water, and she was held down in the swimming pool until she was barely alive.

Gao Xianyue wiped her clean and said, "Jiuyi, running away won't solve anything. You need to learn to protect yourself. Only when those who hurt you experience the same pain will you be able to let go."

The next day, a classmate found a needle hidden in her shoe, which pierced her entire foot, and the needle was found in her locker.

She became the undisputed culprit, and in everyone's eyes, she deserved what she got.

Gao Xian Yue stayed by her side from beginning to end.

Later, everyone's misfortunes became her premeditated act. Being bullied by a single individual was still bearable, but if everyone was hostile, she would become the prey to be preyed upon, and anyone could oppress and attack her.

On the day she couldn't take it anymore and wanted to drop out of school, Meng Jiuyi met another Gao Xianyue on the rooftop.

Wearing a school uniform, she lit a cigarette with an orange-red flame, exhaled a puff of smoke, and asked Wang Ru and the others.

Who are you planning to play next?

The hand waving from side to side in front of him brought Meng Jiuyi back to his senses. Bonni asked, "Do you know her? I've seen you staring at the TV for so long."

"Hmm." Meng Jiuyi lowered his eyes.

"She's my friend from high school, we haven't seen each other in a long time."

There was a hint of coldness in her voice, and in her eyes as well. Bonni said naturally, "If you miss her, just contact her."

Initiate contact?

Gao Xianyue has cut off contact with all her classmates in China, so Meng Jiuyi has no way to see her for the time being.

"I will."

Meng Jiuyi looked at the box in her hand, "What are you holding?"

Bonni shook the dessert on her plate. "It can stimulate the release of dopamine, a substance that transmits feelings of pleasure and excitement. Want some?"

During her stay at the hospital, Bonni cared for her even more than her father. She slowly scooped out the food with a small spoon, finding it sweet and delicious.

Bonni asked, "I saw your dad outside the door, about to come in, but someone called him away?"

Meng Jiuyi wasn't surprised at all. "In my dad's eyes, I'm just a tool for socializing, which is normal."

"If a father doesn't love his daughter, you should also not love him."

Meng Jiuyi's heart skipped a beat, and then she saw Bonni looking her up and down. "It's the easiest thing to cheer a woman up by eating and shopping. Even though you can't go out now, do you want to change into some pajamas? I see you always wearing this old lady color, it's such a waste of your face."

Meng Jiuyi blinked, surprised by her thought process.

"Does your hospital also provide other types of pajamas?"

"Sure, the pajamas are listed under the menu. It's your fault for not looking carefully."

Meng Jiuyi didn't take it seriously at first, but when Bonni pushed the clothes rack over, she was almost shocked. There were all kinds of materials and colors, but compared to them, the color of hers was definitely that of an old lady.

Seeing her so enthusiastically promoting the product, Meng Jiuyi also held it up in front of the mirror for a couple of seconds, when suddenly she belatedly remembered something—

etc!

Did she take off her dress when she jumped into the water?

"What's wrong with you?" Bonni asked, seeing her frozen in place.

The next moment, Meng Jiuyi covered her face with her pajamas and let out a conflicted sob.

She took her clothes off! The dress was a mermaid style, which restricted movement in the water. She was only wearing push-up bra pads and underwear, but the bra pads weren't waterproof, and after struggling in the water for so long...

When Xu Yanzhi rescued her, wasn't that...?

sky!

Meng Jiuyi squatted helplessly on the ground, burying his head in it. Sometimes he would grab his hair and cover his face in frustration, and sometimes he would mutter to himself. His ears seemed to explode with fireworks.

Bonni: "Miss Meng?"

Meng Jiuyi looked up at her and stammered, "Bonni, the day I was sent to the hospital..."

"how?"

"...Who brought me here?"

"Young Master."

"No..." Meng Jiuyi didn't know how to say it, and almost scratched her head. "I wanted to ask... I wanted to ask if I'm still wearing that dress, because it was a gift from someone, and it's quite precious. I want to keep it as a souvenir." Actually, she wanted to ask what she looked like when she was brought to the hospital. Was she completely naked underneath, or...?

Bonni said, "I only came after receiving orders. Anny should have been the first to greet you. I'll go ask her."

"Go quickly, I'll wait for your news." Meng Jiuyi impatiently pushed her towards the door.

After everyone left, she slowly leaned against the wall, as if all her strength had been drained away.

Please, make sure she keeps her underwear.

Although wearing nipple covers wouldn't be presentable, it's better than being completely naked. Being rejected isn't shameful, but being naked in front of someone is truly humiliating. Even if their reunion doesn't bring the same fortune as before, she imagines herself walking past him with haughty confidence, never glancing at him.

Help! She really doesn't want to take away Guang's script.

The doorbell rang, and Meng Jiuyi immediately went to open the door. "Bonni, you're so nice, so quick—"

The conversation abruptly ended, because the person standing outside the door wasn't Bonni at all, but Xu Yanzhi.

Compared to his suit and tie at the banquet, he wore a brown shirt with the collar unbuttoned today, adding a touch of casualness.

"...."

Meng Jiuyi's mind went blank, and he just stood there.

Xu Yanzhi's gaze gently fell on her face. The rosy blush on her cheeks still lingered, spreading along the back of her ears to her neck, like peach blossom juice flowing.

He then discreetly peered behind her; several sets of pajamas were haphazardly draped on the sofa, probably just tried on.

He smiled slightly, "I feel you should be almost fully recovered by now."