Chapter 55. She took advantage of someone's vulnerability...
Xie Tang closed her eyes, a hint of trepidation about the unknown, as she indulged in the intimate touches and lingering kisses that made her feel weak all over...
The warmth generated by that kiss was like a bright beam of light piercing through the gloom, enough to warm the dead of winter, melt the frost in one's heart, and allow the soul to completely succumb to its fiery embrace...
...
Chu Song woke up early as usual, but unusually, he took the day off, something that was unprecedented for him, as he always regarded work as his life.
He sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze falling on the marks on Xie Tang's exposed skin.
After one night, the red marks had turned bluish-purple.
The memories of last night's madness are somewhat hazy, but the overwhelming desire that drove him to lose his mind was an experience he had never had before.
The marks left on her body silently tell the story of that intense love affair.
Because of his loss of control, he possessed her domineeringly and ruthlessly.
Although they were both adults and had their own judgments about what happened last night, she could have easily pushed him away or refused him if she didn't want to—but she didn't.
A feeling rose in his heart that Xie Tang liked him, otherwise why would she have allowed him to act so recklessly last night?
Regardless, he should stay by her side today and watch her wake up.
Chu Song looked at her quietly, a complex and indescribable emotion welling up in his heart, heavy and helpless.
Xie Tang seemed to have not slept well for a long time, and this sleep was exceptionally long, until she finally woke up in the afternoon.
When I woke up, the other side of the bed was already empty.
Perhaps because of their intimate encounter last night, she felt a strange sense of loss when she didn't see Chu Song.
My mind is filled with the absurd and passionate events of last night.
Although Chu Song took the initiative, and she was willing to succumb to his advances, she still hoped to see him the first thing she saw when she woke up.
My throat was parched and burning. There was a glass of water on the bedside table, which was slightly warm to the touch.
Her clothes were neatly folded on the bed, which was obviously taken by Chu Song from her room.
Xie Tang first drank the glass of water in one gulp, then put on her clothes and returned to her room.
When she got out of bed and walked, the soreness in her thighs really hit her, and she couldn't help but curse Chu Song under her breath.
After washing up, she first ordered birth control pills from the mobile pharmacy before checking the backlog of text messages.
Li Zan asked her why she didn't go to the law firm.
He said a client came to the office early in the morning to wait for him. He called her many times but she didn't answer. After waiting for a long time without success, he had to leave and left a message saying he would come again tomorrow.
After taking the birth control pills that were delivered to her, Xie Tang sat on the sofa, recalling everything that had happened last night. The marks Chu Song had left on her body, like a wild beast out of control, were something she could never forget.
She didn't know if Chu Song still remembered that she had confessed her feelings to him last night, nor did she know what he thought.
The waiting process is more agonizing than being slowly sliced to death.
Every second seemed to be stretched out, as if time had frozen.
There was a knock on the door. She opened it and Aunt Yu stood there with a gentle smile: "It's already past two o'clock. Ah Song specifically told me not to wake you before he left, so you could sleep a little longer. But you can't keep sleeping. I made your favorite dishes. Come out and eat something."
"Okay." Xie Tang was already starving, and followed her out of the room.
Aunt Yu's gaze fell on her neck, her smile deepening, but she saw through it all without saying a word.
Xie Tang blushed and instinctively covered her face with her hand, "I... I'll go change my clothes first."
"Go ahead," Aunt Yu said with a smile and left.
Xie Tang changed into a shirt, put on a thin turtleneck sweater over it, and carefully made sure that the marks on her neck were completely covered before leaving the room.
She ate two large bowls of rice, which was unusual for her.
After dinner, Chu Song returned.
He wore his usual suit jacket and trousers over his shirt, without a tie. His soft hair hung down in front of his forehead, and a few strands fluttered in the wind, adding a touch of casualness to his usually serious and formal demeanor.
But his complexion was not good; his brows were furrowed with fatigue, and his eyes had lost their usual sparkle, appearing somewhat blank and empty.
He held a document tightly in his hand, standing quietly at the door. He didn't speak immediately, but silently scanned the room with his deep eyes. His gaze finally lingered briefly on the document, but he seemed to find nothing.
He slowly walked in, sat down on the sofa, clasped his hands on his knees, and exuded a deep sense of loneliness.
Xie Tang glanced at him quickly, then guiltily looked away, picked up her teacup and sipped, pretending nothing had happened.
Chu Song's gaze lingered on her for a while before he spoke, his voice low and deep: "Are you alright?"
Xie Tang was taken aback, then forced an awkward smile: "It's fine."
At this moment, she secretly prayed that Chu Song would completely forget the absurdity of last night.
However, his next words shattered her illusions instantly.
"About last night," Chu Song's Adam's apple bobbed as he struggled to find the right words, but he finally continued, "I lost my temper, I'm very sorry..."
Xie Tang's heart tightened, and she dared not look at him.
He shouldn't be the one apologizing or feeling guilty.
He was drunk, but he was sober.
Not only did she not stop it, she even indulged and allowed it to become a habit... She is the one who should apologize.
She took advantage of his vulnerability.
"You don't need to apologize, I..."
She was interrupted by Chu Song as soon as she spoke.
His gaze was intense, fixed on her intently: "I will take responsibility for you..."
Xie Tang was completely unprepared for these words, and the unease in her heart instantly intensified.
How much of it does he actually remember?
If he knew that she had tacitly approved of everything that followed, would he be disappointed in her? Would he think she was a scheming woman? Would he regret making that promise?
Silence spread through the air.
After a long pause, she asked softly, "How are you going to take responsibility?"
"It depends on you, money or..." He paused, as if searching for a more suitable word.
Or what? A house?
Xie Tang tried to glean a clue from his vague words, but her heart sank straight down; the answer was already clear.
Her heart felt as if it were being gripped by an icy hand and dragged straight down to the dark, cold seabed, nearly suffocating her.
His "responsibility" is nothing more than monetary compensation.
She would never have a place in his life plan.
Chu Song noticed her suddenly pale face and tightened his grip on the documents. "Are you alright?"
Xie Tang forced a smile and shook her head: "It's okay. No need for compensation. We're both adults, and I'm not so old-fashioned as to insist that you take responsibility for last night. You were drunk... don't burden yourself."
She ultimately lacked the courage to confess her mistakes.
She cared too much about her image in Chu Song's eyes.
He doesn't mention it, he doesn't remember it, so she chooses to remain silent as well.
"Really?" Chu Song forced a wry smile. "I didn't expect you to think that way. Compensation... If you regret it, you can come to me anytime. This promise is valid forever."
"No need." Xie Tang's smile carried a distant politeness.
"...Whatever you want. I have other things to do." Chu Song gave her a deep look, as if trying to find more information in her eyes, but to no avail.
In the end, he simply got up in silence and went to his study.
The sunlight cast a long, thin shadow of him, conveying an indescribable sense of loneliness.
Xie Tang watched the figure disappear behind the door, her heart feeling as if it were being gripped tightly by something.
Chu Song's attitude towards her was clearly different.
In the study, Chu Song's gaze fell on the medical report on the table, which he had crumpled in his hand, and he remained unable to calm down for a long time.
No one understood the implications of this report better than he did.
No one knew better than him what a colossal lie Xie Tang had told him.
-----------------
When Xie Tang forced herself to immerse herself in work, Chu Song, the absurdity of that night, and that heart-wrenching sadness were temporarily put aside for her.
As soon as I arrived at the law firm, Li Zan greeted me: "That client from yesterday came again. She was waiting downstairs early this morning, so I put her in the reception room."
Xie Tang had never seen such a persistent person involved: "Have you asked who it is?"
"It was the first time we met. I asked her what was wrong, and she only said she wanted to ask you to help with a lawsuit. When I asked what kind of lawsuit, she absolutely refused to say and insisted on telling me in person."
"Pour her a glass of water." Xie Tang picked up her notebook and pen. "If you have nothing to do, come and listen too."
"Alright!" Li Zan quickly went to make tea.
Upon seeing the woman, Xie Tang was slightly taken aback.
When the other person saw her, they were stunned at first, then exclaimed with delight, "It's you..."
Xie Tang recognized the woman as the auntie selling zongzi at the service station and went up to her, saying, "Auntie, were you looking for me?"
"Yes!" Hao Ruoxiang hurriedly stood up and grasped Xie Tang's hand, her voice trembling, "Attorney Xie, I beg you... no, I plead with you, please save my daughter!"
Xie Tang patted her shoulder reassuringly: "Auntie, don't worry, sit down and talk slowly. I will do my best to help if I can."
She helped Hao Ruoxiang sit down in a chair.
"Auntie, have some tea." Li Zan placed the teacup beside her and sat down next to Xie Tang.
"Thank you." Hao Ruoxiang held the teacup tightly in both hands, looking at Xie Tang anxiously. She didn't know how to speak for a moment, and only said that her name was Hao Ruoxiang.
Xie Tang cut to the chase: "What happened to your daughter?"
“She was taken away by the police! I wanted to see her, but the police station wouldn't let me in, saying she was still in custody and I couldn't see her. They told me to find a lawyer right away, saying that a lawyer could see her... They even gave me your business card, saying that Mengmeng asked me to pass it on.”
Xie Tang's heart stirred, recalling the scene a few days ago when Zuo Meng asked her for her business card.
"Your daughter is..."
"Her name is Zuo Meng, the one I told you about, the one who's doing her master's at S University..."
It really was her.
Xie Tang frowned slightly.
“Mengmeng has always been a very well-behaved child. How could she possibly steal something?” Hao Ruoxiang choked up.
Li Zan quickly handed over a tissue.
"She must have offended someone and been framed!" Hao Ruoxiang pleaded with Xie Tang, her eyes red. "Attorney Xie, Mengmeng is still young, about to graduate with her master's degree. To be framed as a thief at this crucial moment will ruin her life! I beg you, please find a way to get her out of this mess. I'll give you whatever money you want!"
Xie Tang knew it would be difficult to get the truth directly from Hao Ruoxiang, so he comforted her and asked her to sign a commission agreement first.
Hao Ruoxiang asked worriedly, "How much will the lawyer's fees be?"
Xie Tang immediately saw through her predicament: "Don't worry, there are standard fees for lawyers. If I take the case, I will charge according to the regulations and won't ask for a penny more."
Hao Ruoxiang blushed and said, "That's not what I meant! I'll give you anything as long as it can save Mengmeng!"
Li Zan remained silent to the side.
This aunt was really lucky to have met Xie Tang. If she had encountered a heartless lawyer, she would have been ripped off in her eagerness to save her daughter.
“I need to go to the police station to review the case file and see your daughter before I can decide whether to take the case. Let me see if we can schedule a visit to the detention center this afternoon…”
"Okay! I'll go with you!"
"You won't see her even if you come with me," Xie Tang reminded him.
"Well..." Hao Ruoxiang couldn't hide her disappointment, "I'll wait for you outside. I'll go back and pack some of Mengmeng's things; could you take them to her for me, okay?"
Xie Tang nodded and told her to go back and wait for a call.
Hao Ruoxiang held her hand tightly: "Thank you so much!"
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