Chapter 181 For the Sake of Dignity
Mo Huaizhi stood at the door, completely stunned.
He never imagined that Zhiwei, who was so well-behaved and quiet as a child and spoke in a soft voice, a girl who was like a gentle little lamb that made people want to protect her, would have such a sharp and decisive side.
Her back was ramrod straight, her gaze sharp as a knife, and her tone unyielding, as if she had transformed into a completely different person in an instant.
A series of hurried and chaotic footsteps came from the end of the corridor, growing clearer and clearer as they approached.
The sounds, a mix of the crisp clicks of high heels on the ground, men's conversations, and women's surprised whispers, were like the calm before a storm.
He turned his head sharply and saw a group of people rushing up the stairs. The leader was a hotel staff member, followed by several well-dressed guests. They had obviously heard something and rushed over to check.
His heart sank, his pupils contracted sharply, and he almost blurted out, "Zhiwei, they're here! So many guests! They're rushing up now, we can't stop them!"
His tone was clearly anxious and worried, as if he feared things would worsen.
Song Zhiwei's brows were furrowed, her face was pale, but her eyes were unusually clear.
She quickly glanced at Chen Yun, who was still slumped on the ground at her feet, and then looked at the man on the bed, who was weak and in a semi-conscious state—Sheng Tingzhou.
He was sweating profusely, his breathing was erratic, and his lips were pale; it was clear that someone had tampered with his clothes.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She couldn't panic; she absolutely couldn't lose her composure at this moment.
She turned to look at Mo Huaizhi, her voice low but firm: "Brother Huaizhi, could you go and stop them? Don't let them in. At least... give us some time."
Her fingertips trembled slightly, but her tone was as steady as a rock.
She knew very well that if someone broke in and saw Sheng Tingzhou and Chen Yun lying naked on the same bed, even if it was just a fleeting glimpse, and photos were taken and videos were leaked, then a deluge of public opinion would engulf her like a raging flood.
Rumors are adept at distorting the truth, and the truth is often completely buried by the power of public opinion.
She couldn't let Sheng Tingzhou's hard-earned image be ruined, nor could she let him become a victim of someone else's carefully designed trap.
"Okay, I'll go right away!"
Mo Huaizhi nodded without hesitation, a hint of heartache and admiration flashing in his eyes.
Without further hesitation, he slammed the door shut with a thud, then turned and grabbed the arm of the hotel manager who was cowering nearby, practically dragging him down the corridor. "Quick! Stop everyone! Tell them the room is in emergency and no one can go in right now!"
Song Zhiwei stood up, her legs feeling a little numb, but she didn't have time to pay attention to that.
She looked down at Chen Yun, the woman who had once sneered and mocked her in social circles and secretly tripped her up.
At this moment, although the other party still maintained an arrogant expression on his face, his eyes revealed an undisguised embarrassment and anger.
Song Zhiwei's voice was as cold as the north wind in the dead of winter, each word clear and distinct: "If you still want to save face, put on some clothes now. I don't mind if you embarrass yourself, but if you insist on being photographed naked by those reporters outside, and the whole internet is full of your ugly moments, don't blame me for not warning you."
Chen Yun tilted her head back, her long, loose hair covering half of her face, but her eyes were like poisoned daggers, staring intently at Song Zhiwei, her hatred almost overflowing from her pupils.
She bit her lip, remaining silent, as if gathering her strength and waiting for the right moment to strike back.
Song Zhiwei was too lazy to waste any more words with her.
This kind of person isn't worth wasting any of her emotions on.
She crouched down, reached out and grabbed Sheng Tingzhou's arm, dragging him toward the bathroom.
His body was limp and powerless, as if all his muscles and bones had been removed. He leaned against her shoulder, his hot breath brushing against her neck, bringing a heart-pounding burning sensation.
Just as she was struggling to move, he suddenly opened one eye, his throat bobbed, and he said weakly, "I... I kept my eyes closed the whole time, I didn't see anything... really..."
His voice was so faint it was almost inaudible, yet it was like a fine needle gently piercing the softest part of her heart.
Song Zhiwei felt a sudden pang of sadness, and her eyes welled up with tears.
Even though he was the victim and she was the one who should be protected, he was still worried that she might misunderstand and was still trying to excuse her in his own way.
This man was always like this, clumsily yet persistently protecting her.
She gritted her teeth, her nails digging deep into her palms, using the pain to force back the tears that were about to well up.
She can't cry; now is not the time to be weak.
She must be strong, she must persevere.
With all her might, she painstakingly moved Sheng Tingzhou into the bathroom, step by step.
"You stay here and don't move. I'll go check the situation outside."
She gently placed him against the wall and whispered her instructions.
Sheng Tingzhou gave a soft "hmm," his voice as light as a feather falling on the water's surface, without even causing a ripple.
He leaned against the wall, his eyelids slowly closing again, his face as pale as paper.
She turned and walked out of the bathroom, slamming the door shut with a loud bang, as if to shut out all the chaos and unbearable things from that small space.
She stopped, took a deep breath, and turned to face the woman in the center of the room, who was wearing a bathrobe but still had a face full of resentment.
Chen Yun had already stood up, her hands tightly gripping the collar of her bathrobe, her knuckles white.
She stared at Song Zhiwei, a cold smile creeping onto her lips: "Song Zhiwei, I've remembered this. You humiliated me in front of so many people; I'll settle this score with you sooner or later."
Song Zhiwei looked at her and suddenly smiled.
That smile was devoid of any warmth; instead, it exuded a long-lost sharpness and ruthlessness.
She used to hold back because she didn't want to make a big fuss, because she cared about the reputation of the circle, and because she wanted to maintain a semblance of peace.
But now?
Now she finally understands that some people don't need to be magnanimous at all; they just need to retaliate fiercely.
She met his gaze, her voice calm yet sharp as a blade: "Then you'd better remember this well. I won't forget either—who stabbed me in the back, who tried to destroy everything between me and Sheng Tingzhou."
Just then, there were several urgent knocks on the door, mixed with the commotion of the crowd.
"The people inside! What on earth happened?"
"The hotel has called the police; we need to go in and check!"
"Is anyone injured?"
Song Zhiwei did not respond immediately.
She quickly raised her hand to tidy up the stray strands of hair around her ears, tucked her messy bangs behind her ears, and gently smoothed out the wrinkles on her skirt.
Then, she straightened her back, raised her chin, and a perfectly timed smile appeared on her face—open and composed, as if nothing unpleasant had ever happened inside the room.
She reached out, grasped the doorknob, and gently turned it to open the door.
The entrance was crowded with people, men, women, and children, all with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge written on their faces.
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