Chapter 42 Strike
So, what are your thoughts now?
As the steam rose in wisps, two figures were bathed in the almost milky-white hot spring water, leaning against a naturally shaped rock. One of the women had her slender eyes wide open and spoke with a surprised tone.
"...I want to eat watermelon, thank you."
The girl to her side didn't answer, but instead tilted her head back and slightly opened her mouth towards the woman in a cheongsam sitting on the soft cushions on the shore behind her.
The woman in the cheongsam smiled gently, picked up a small silver fork, and used it to cut a perfectly sized piece of watermelon for the girl, feeding it to her. Then she put down the fork, leaned forward slightly, and placed her slender fingers on the girl's shoulders, gently but firmly massaging her.
"What do you mean, what do you mean?" Lian Yi sighed contentedly. Soaking in a hot spring in the dead of winter, with a beautiful older sister by her side taking meticulous care of her, she was now completely relaxed and didn't want to think about anything.
Li Xilai looked at her speechlessly, "Lian Xiaoyi, if you keep acting like a tyrant, I'm really going to start believing all those things I read online."
"Song Qiqi was taken to the hospital in time and is fine. But you know the current situation. Because Xie Ling cooperated with the school to make a clarification, you ended up being blamed. These people are ridiculous. If you really wanted to do something to Xie Ling, would you have gone through all this trouble to scheme? Who do they think they are?"
Lian Yi chuckled softly with her eyes closed. "Is that so strange? Compared to a victim who needs to be judged based on conjecture and rumors, it's certainly more appropriate for people like me with a bad reputation to vent their pent-up sense of justice."
"You already thought of that." Li Xilai said confidently. Seeing Lian Yi's nonchalant and calm demeanor, her expression gradually relaxed. She reached out and scooped up a handful of hot spring water, pouring it onto her delicate and fair arm.
"So, you anticipated this outcome from the very beginning?"
“Song Qiqi is just a front. Someone is trying to exploit the fact that you helped her get out of trouble. They’re trying to make a fuss about her by subjecting her to rumors and gossip. At this point, what she does is no longer important.”
Li Xilai analyzed, "The important thing is that when this matter has been brewing for a long time, that person will make you the outlet for the emotions of the event."
"I'm not that smart." Lian Yi yawned comfortably, refusing to accept the persona that Li Xilai portrayed her as someone with a deep mind and complete wisdom.
Li Xilai glanced at her sideways, her face full of disbelief. After chuckling, she said, "Old Pei and the others went to find Xie Ling. I don't know what they were thinking. Since they couldn't find you, they assumed you might be with Xie Ling."
Lian Yi smiled.
“But they told me that Xie Ling didn’t seem to do it on purpose. Of course, you can’t judge a book by its cover,” Li Xilai said. “What do you think? What role did he play in this?”
The worst thing in a relationship is suspicion and misunderstanding, especially among people in their circle.
Realistically speaking, there are countless examples of people who have been taken advantage of, schemed against, and deceived, but Li Xilai does not believe that Lian Yi is that kind of person.
“I knew he would do it, though not much earlier, just the day before.”
Lian Yi raised her hand and waved. The woman in the cheongsam nodded slightly, got up, packed her things, and left the courtyard step by step.
"His idea was simple: he couldn't bear to see an innocent girl hurt by rumors, so he did his best to clarify things and try to stop the rumors from spreading. It's normal that he didn't expect things to get out of control like this."
She smiled, her amber eyes glistening with a gentle mist, and said calmly, "Don't you think this kind of personality is more likable?"
Li Xilai turned her face away and rolled her eyes before turning back to her and saying, "You're just after him because he's good-looking. Why say such useless things?"
"Being good-looking is the biggest advantage." Lian Yi smiled and said nonchalantly, "What, do you think I'd want to be soulmates with him forever?"
“You don’t need to cause him any trouble. He was just one of the triggers in this incident, and he unintentionally contributed to this frenzy of condemnation against me.”
Lian Yi spoke casually, her slightly curly long hair dampened by the mist, clinging to her pearly white cheeks and curving with her smile.
She downplayed it as if she weren't the person currently caught in the media storm.
Lian Yi didn't really care about this, and even felt a little regretful. She regretted that Xie Ling hadn't done it on purpose, and she was afraid that she would feel guilty towards her because of it, which would make her retirement plan a little dangerous.
"Alright, let's get down to business." Li Xilai, acting as a friend, almost wanted to shake Lian Yi's head to try and get all the water out of her head.
Regardless of Xie Ling's motives, the impact and harm he caused to Lian Yi are real and undeniable.
But now, Lian Yi isn't angry at all?
Li Xilai was almost driven crazy by her.
“What you asked me to do before has come in handy.” Li Xilai said with a sneer, “Fortunately, my uncle’s people had already infiltrated various student groups, and in such a short time, they have actually made quite a few friends.”
"If the previous rumors were unorganized chaos, then the current rumors, mainly about you, are definitely being guided in an organized manner by someone."
"The news broke in the afternoon, and several submissions appeared immediately. Fortunately, they are always meticulous in their work and have been keeping a close eye on things. Those submissions were dealt with as soon as they appeared."
Li Xilai stared at Lian Yi and said with certainty, "You already knew, which is why you arranged for me to make these preparations."
"..."
Lian Yi slid down a little into the hot spring, letting her chin soak in the warm water as well, really not wanting to answer Li Xilai's obviously convinced guess.
What could she say?
Is he really just rich and has nowhere to spend his money?
Or is it really just a fussy thing to do, like to add water when it's murky and then drain it, leaving those rotten fish and shrimp to flounder in the mud?
She stirred the almost milky-white hot spring water, helplessly trying to salvage her image, "This whole thing really was just a coincidence..."
“Yes, I believe you.” Li Xilai nodded, quickly expressing her agreement.
Then she narrowed her long, narrow eyes and said in a deep voice, "Now, because of your foresight and arrangements, our manpower is able to identify those who are organizing and guiding the narrative by analyzing the changes in public opinion."
"I didn't expect this..."
"They're still investigating. Don't worry, it won't be long. They'll have the complete list for you by tomorrow at the latest." Li Xilai ignored him and said, "As for who the mastermind is, they've given me a name."
She continued to ignore Lian Yi's expectant gaze, reached behind her and pulled out a tablet, letting the water droplets drip and leave marks on the tablet.
"Zhao Yannan, do you know this person?" Li Xilai asked calmly.
Lian Yi paused for a moment and said, "At most, she was just a smokescreen pushed out to take the blame. The fact that this matter spread was largely due to her, but she didn't have the ability to do what happened later."
"Let's have someone keep an eye on her. This kind of person is all scheming but no real ability. We can easily dig out more information by following her."
When Lian Yi first learned about the rumors, she didn't really suspect Zhao Yannan. She was indeed suspicious, but her motives were insufficient, at least based on the current situation.
But after the situation changed, she naturally became the prime suspect.
Lian Yi was not surprised. Whether this person was Zhao Yannan or Zhao Yannan was willing to use Song Qiqi to get back at her, regardless of whether she could bear the criticism, she was willing to do anything to achieve her own goals.
Such people are everywhere, even outside of the world of fame and fortune.
"...Oh, is this something you didn't anticipate?" Li Xilai lowered her eyes as she recorded the new ideas she had based on Lian Yi's words on the tablet, and said with a faint smile.
Lian Yi wanted to bury herself in the water and blow bubbles.
"However, according to your requirements, there are quite a few people on the list. My mother's firm is going to be very busy. I guess even intern lawyers will be appointed."
Li Xilai smiled. "This is no small amount. Are you sure you want to do this?"
“How much money could it cost? Spend a few million to put on a good show, watch them cry and repent as if they’ve turned over a new leaf.” Lian Yi narrowed her eyes. “Why not?”
Li Xilai paused her tapping on the screen, then looked at Lian Yi and smiled as well.
“Indeed, then I’ll help you make the fire even bigger.”
Lian Yi stood up from the hot spring pool indifferently, letting the water droplets roll off her body. She tugged at her silk halter-neck dress that clung to her skin and casually said, "Whatever, but don't try to label me with anything like... victim."
She wrinkled her nose. "I don't need those stupid people to pity me or change their opinion of me. It's an insult to me."
"I'm done soaking. Let's go. The masseuses here are very professional. I'll treat you to a spa treatment."
Li Xilai was still sitting in the hot spring. She had some things she wanted to say, but when she looked up and saw Lian Yi's expression, she kept them all to herself.
Lian Yi's personality and some of her ideas seem strange to many people, but only she and her friends who understand her know that she simply doesn't care.
She doesn't care why the sun emits heat, why the sea is blue, or whether others like or dislike her.
What she cares about is whether she can enjoy the sunshine and gaze at the deep blue sea. Whether others like it or not, she will not change her mind.
The reason why this group of friends, including Li Xilai, implicitly formed a circle with Lian Yi at its core was precisely because of Lian Yi's unrestrained attitude towards life.
When you're with her, you never have to worry that something you say might become an arrow that pierces you in the future.
There will be no backstabbing or infighting.
Many times when I encounter something unpleasant, I have to consider whether or not to let her know.
Otherwise, the next day you would often hear about how she arrogantly and domineeringly got her revenge, because she never cared about what others thought.
But they all knew that she cared about the people around her.
Before Li Xilai's eyes were Lian Yi's fair and smooth thighs. As she showed little reaction, she quickly lost patience and swung her feet back and forth in the hot spring water.
"What are you spacing out for? I'm talking to you."
Li Xilai still didn't answer, but instead raised her hand and pinched her slightly soft thigh.
"...Hey, Li Xilai, what are you doing?" Lian Yi looked at her with surprise, tilting her head. "Why are you being so indecent to me!"
"You can also pinch it back."
Li Xilai stood up with a smile, too lazy to bother with the fact that Lian Xiaoyi had often tried to take advantage of her in the past. "Let's go, Lian Xiaoyi, it's rare for you to treat us to a meal."
Lian Yi gave a soft hum, turned around and went ashore, walking barefoot on the newly laid carpet toward the Chinese-style building.
When has she ever been stingy? They always insist on paying the bill, and she just doesn't bother arguing with them.
...
It was already 11 p.m. when night fell.
After finalizing the site selection and alternative plans with her team members, Xu Qingyao assigned tasks for the next stage and hurriedly took a taxi back to the villa.
Because it was a taxi, she could only get off outside the residential area.
Xu Qingyao's expression was cold as she frowned and checked her phone messages while walking quickly toward the entrance of the residential area.
After an afternoon and evening of fermentation, public opinion has gradually become distorted.
More and more people joined the condemnation, and some people who claimed to have been bullied by Lian Yi published a long essay without naming names, but ended with a pointed remark: So I am not surprised at all that she could do what was exposed today.
When Xu Qingyao saw the screenshot someone sent her, her face turned extremely ugly. As her anger surged, she almost had the urge to smash her phone.
Does she even deserve to be called that? How could she be so shameless?
Looking at the familiar face in that selfie, Xu Qingyao would never forget that face. It had once stood in front of her, its expression smug, arrogant, and malicious, its gaze filled with contempt and mockery.
Under her leadership, they, and others.
For an entire semester, Xu Qingyao was forced to use textbooks retrieved from a ditch, had her hair secretly cut off, and had her sanitary napkins pulled out and waved around, laughing wildly in the classroom corridor.
Xu Qingyao stopped in her tracks, stood still, and slowly squatted down.
Her tear-filled eyes stared at the profile picture on the screen with intense hatred. The words, written in a tone of faint helplessness and resignation, made her feel utterly disgusted.
If it weren't for Lian Yi, they wouldn't have been afraid or punished.
But now, this former perpetrator has distorted her deserved retribution into a painful experience of being bullied by a rich heiress, a story that people are happy to see, so she has gained a lot of sympathy and indignation.
"...Xu Qingyao?"
Hearing the hesitant voice calling her name, Xu Qingyao clenched her hands, hastily wiping the moisture from around her eyes. Her face was cold, her eyes slightly red, but her hatred extended to the boy standing not far away.
Xu Qingyao stared at Xie Ling and said, word by word, "How dare you show your face here?"
“I know that my recklessness and impulsiveness have led Lianyi into this situation... But no matter what, I should apologize to Lianyi for my mistakes and make amends…”
Xie Ling paused for a moment, then asked, "Could you please take me to see her?"
"Xie Ling, has anyone ever said something like that to you?"
Xu Qingyao slowly stood up. Her naturally beautiful and delicate features were now as cold as ice.
She scoffed and said sarcastically, "No way. Who are you? You're good-looking, have excellent grades, your classmates look up to you, and every teacher admires you."
"But now, how can you still put on such a haughty look? It really disgusts me."
Xie Ling was slightly taken aback. He understood Xu Qingyao's feelings, and because of this, there was no point in explaining.
"Lian Yi, she..."
Xu Qingyao took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "What did she do wrong? Was it that she helped you and Song Qiqi back then, or that she pursued you because she liked you? You care about Song Qiqi's feelings, and you went to clarify and explain. Yes, you are noble and virtuous."
"But what about Lian Yi? What did she do wrong that she has to bear the criticism after you have achieved your reputation and good name?"
Just how much do you hate her?
Hearing Xu Qingyao's series of questions, Xie Ling frowned slightly. "Xu Qingyao, I didn't expect things to turn out this way, but I don't hate Lian Yi, and I would never let things develop to this point just because I hate her."
"Is that so, LJ?"
The cold wind dried the moisture in Xu Qingyao's eyes, making them feel tense and painful. Her voice was low and sharp, as if filled with thorns. "Then why didn't you discuss it with Lian Yi before making this decision, instead of making it on your own?"
"You know Lian Yi likes you. Haven't you ever thought about how she feels?"
"I know you've always felt that Lian Yi forced you, forced you to accept, forced you to be liked by her. Do you still think that your father's surgery was a means for Lian Yi to threaten you?"
She said, word by word, "The surgeon who performed that operation was someone that even Yi's father treated with respect. She tried every means to get this doctor to come to her aid, and she never considered that even if you didn't accept her, she would threaten to stop the operation."
"I'm sorry, I..." A biting wind blew by, occasionally lifting Xie Ling's black hair and revealing his cold and handsome features.
At that moment, his pupils contracted slightly, and his eyelashes trembled with a frantic tremor.
"What do you have to apologize for?"
Xu Qingyao looked at his expression with satisfaction and sneered coldly, "Because Lian Yi has a bad reputation, right? Everyone knows that she comes from a wealthy family, has a bad temper, and is domineering at school. She doesn't come to class if she doesn't want to, and even if she does, she doesn't do well in her studies."
"You think that's just who she is, so you don't hesitate to imagine her to be the worst. How could someone like that be worthy of liking you? You might as well continue to think that way, it's better than feeling indebted to her, and then holding onto that indebtedness and pretending to wait here, saying you're sorry and want to make amends."
"You're only doing this because Lianyi likes you, so all you have to do is lower your head a little and she'll forgive you, and you can keep hooking her."
"..."
A hint of confusion flickered in Xie Ling's eyes, and his usually aloof face was etched with a deep sorrow that even he himself was unaware of.
He knew he was powerless to explain every word Xu Qingyao said.
Thinking back to those moments when she felt resistant to Lian Yi, those thoughts that she thought she was forced to accept, now swept over Xie Ling's heart like the cold wind raging in the wide square around her.
She's right. What did Lian Yi do wrong?
Xie Ling felt as if someone was choking her, her throat tightening and dry, unable to utter a single word.
Lian Yi's affection was always expressed as passionate and pure. She simply didn't know how to like someone, yet she tried her best to be good to him.
Xie Ling closed his eyes in pain. He stubbornly tried to convert Lian Yi's handling of his father's surgery into a financial debt, into a favor that needed to be repaid, in order to cover up the fact that it was her contribution to him.
All the things she had done kept replaying in Xie Ling's mind.
He, however, buried his affection for her beneath these actions, finding various reasonable explanations for it in a self-deceiving way, as if this would allow him to ignore it with a clear conscience.
She did nothing wrong, and Xu Qingyao's accusations were not wrong either.
He was wrong. When he first refrained from refusing without any reluctance, he should have known what he truly felt.
"I hope you've thought this through and won't appear in front of Lian Yi again."
Xu Qingyao looked at him coldly and said, "She doesn't need your apology. It's too late to say these things now. Lian Yi's life should be carefree, unrestrained, and happy, not chasing after you."
"If you don't want to hurt her any further, you might as well be decisive." She sneered, "Don't worry, Lian Yi will never try to blackmail you with anything, as you think."
Having said that, Xu Qingyao didn't want to see his face anymore, so she lowered her eyes and started to walk past Xie Ling towards the residential area.
"Wait!" Xie Ling said hastily, his usually calm and composed tone revealing a hint of panic he himself wasn't even aware of. He looked at Xu Qingyao's retreating figure, which showed no sign of stopping, and a faint feeling crept into his heart that if he didn't see Lian Yi today—
Perhaps, there will never be another chance.
But Xu Qingyao didn't care at all. With a cold face, she quickened her pace, wanting only to get home as soon as possible to see Lian Yi.
"...Hey, what are you guys doing here?"
A familiar, clear voice, warm and sweet like melting honey in the cold night, rang out with a hint of doubt and curiosity.
Lian Yi didn't notice the two figures in the square at first while in the car.
As the car entered the residential area, it had to use a separate entrance. When the driver turned the steering wheel, he spotted two figures that were faintly facing each other.
"Miss, those people over there look like Miss Xu and your classmate." He not only saw them, but he also slowed down to remind them.
…
As that familiar voice rang out, Xu Qingyao's expressionless face melted away as quickly as a change of expression. She sniffed and quickly turned around.
Xie Ling, who had been standing still with her tall figure, turned her head to look at the person who spoke, with a mixture of surprise and delight.
For a moment, both of them looked bewildered, staring blankly at Lian Yi.
She looked radiant and refreshed, wearing a teddy bear-patterned coat, jeans, and slippers with a simple cloud-patterned logo.
Apart from these slippers, Lian Yi was completely wrapped up in her clothes, barely revealing her clear and radiant face, which appeared to glow faintly in the night.
Amber's eyes were filled with curiosity about why they were still here in the middle of the night.
It's not that Xie Ling and Xu Qingyao thought Lian Yi should look distraught when caught in a media storm.
But she seems to be in such a good state right now that all the criticism is actually a compliment. She's relaxed, carefree, and even smiling happily.
Lian Yi noticed Xie Ling's gaze, the emotions in her eyes incredibly complex, which made her expression turn strange.
He couldn't help but scratch his hand, which was kept warm in his coat pocket.
She did consider that, given Xie Ling's personality, she would feel guilty towards her when she realized that public opinion was turning against her, and her attitude would change drastically.
Although I really didn't want to see it, there was nothing I could do about it.
Lian Yi could only hope that after meeting Xie Ling, she could use the difference in their ideologies to ridicule him and thus erase her guilt.
But it's like this now...
Lian Yi couldn't help but twitch her lips. Xu Qingyao could understand her looking like she was about to cry, but why did Xie Ling also seem to be suppressing her sadness?
"What...what's going on with you guys?" She had a bad feeling about this, and her gaze quickly swept past Xie Ling's eyes, which were slightly red, before looking at Xu Qingyao.
Perhaps this is how people are: no matter how wronged or devastated they feel, they can always hold back until they are alone before they explode.
But as soon as someone asks a concerned question, this emotion bursts out like a punctured balloon.
Xu Qingyao really didn't want to lose control of her emotions in Xie Ling's presence, but when she heard those words, all the pent-up emotions in her heart could no longer be contained. She walked towards Lian Yi, her pace quickening.
Finally, he almost ran to Lianyi, hugged her, and kept crying.
Lian Yi was caught off guard by a bear hug, which caused her hood to fall back. She looked at Xie Ling, who was standing not far away, seemingly about to make a move but stopped because of Xu Qingyao.
"Are you trying to strangle me...?" Lian Yi was getting impatient, her hands still in her pockets and she couldn't pull them out.
“They’ve gone too far, Miss Lianyi…they’ve really gone too far…”
Xu Qingyao repeated in a muffled voice, her face almost buried in Lian Yi's shoulder, as if only in this way could those memories that made her feel heart palpitations and hatred, and the laughter that still echoed in her ears, completely disappear.
"Okay, okay, I know, that's too much." Lian Yi looked up helplessly, otherwise she would have been suffocated by Xu Qingyao's bear hug. Her perfunctory words suddenly stopped.
She asked thoughtfully, "What did you see?"
“…No.” Xu Qingyao sniffed, and reluctantly let go of her embrace upon hearing this.
She looked apologetically at the tear stains she had wiped on Lian Yi's shoulder, lowered her red eyes and whispered, "Miss Lian Yi, you know what those people said. It was really outrageous. They didn't know anything at all."
Lian Yi squinted and saw through her deliberate attempt to hide her true feelings.
"Xu Qingyao, I'm asking you, so don't lie or try to hide anything." Her voice was calm, her eyes smiling. "So, what did you see?"
Xu Qingyao hesitated for a moment before realizing that the words spoken by those who had bullied her were yet another blow to her.
But she shouldn't let Lian Yi deal with them for her again.
The current public opinion storm needs to be resolved. Since taking over the project, Xu Qingyao's vision has become broader than before. She knows better than anyone that at this crucial moment, what Lian Yi needs to do most is to observe the situation calmly, rather than cause trouble because of her.
But when Lian Yi said those words to her with a faint smile, Xu Qingyao knew that Lian Yi had seen through her.
If she continues to hide it, Lianyi will get angry.
"Those people who bullied me in the third year of junior high... I saw someone post a message..." Xu Qingyao didn't want to recall what those people looked like, not even mentioning their names.
"She distorted the facts of the time."
Xu Qingyao stood in front of Lian Yi, clenched her fists, and said with a sob in her voice, "They...they did so many disgusting things, and you only punished them, Miss Lian Yi. Now they are taking this opportunity to jump out and smear you."
"oh……"
Lian Yi frowned slightly. In her opinion, this was not a big deal. It was just kicking someone when they were down and adding fuel to the fire. This was not the first time she had experienced this, nor would it be the last.
Even after the final outcome, these people will still have their own celebration.
After all, Lian Yi, whom they disliked but couldn't kill, had lost her greatest asset that allowed her to act recklessly.
But seeing Xu Qingyao forcing a smile through her tears, as if trying to prove that she really didn't care.
Lian Yi paused, her smile fading slightly. She reached out and wiped away the tears that were about to fall from Xu Qingyao's eyes, her gaze calm. "Are you silly? What's there to cry about? Have you forgotten everything I taught you?"
“Miss Lianyi…” Xu Qingyao stared at her blankly.
“Every time they bark, hit them. Hit them until it hurts so much they can’t bark anymore. Don’t think they’ll be scared. Once it doesn’t hurt anymore, they’ll dare to bark at you again.”
Lian Yi tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, "Tell me, who did you see post these things?"
In my memory, how many people were in that small group that bullied Xu Qingyao? Six? Or seven?
"...It's Chen Ziting. Others might have posted it too, but I haven't seen it yet," Xu Qingyao said in a low voice.
Lian Yi smiled slightly, took a step back, and looked at Xu Qingyao, who had wiped away her tears and tidied her hair. Her eyes curved into a smile. "What a beautiful little Xu."
Her voice seemed to carry a hint of amusement, "I know, weren't they a close group of friends when they were in junior high? What if those people were dragged into the alley and beaten up every day?"
"Will Chen Ziting, who is the only one who is safe and sound, help her good friend?"
Xu Qingyao's eyes widened slightly in surprise, "Miss Lian Yi..."
"Don't worry, don't worry," Lian Yi reassured her. "What does this have to do with me? I won't do anything bad. They just didn't know who they had offended. If I knew what happened to them, I would feel sorry for them too."
"If they're just making wild guesses and blaming Chen Ziting, what does that have to do with you and me?"
Lian Yi patted her head and said with a smile, "Next time you encounter trouble, remember to spare my coat."
Xu Qingyao couldn't help but laugh through her tears, nodding shyly, "I will definitely control my emotions in the future and won't be like this again."
"Whatever you want." Lian Yi put her hands back into her warm pockets, raising an eyebrow noncommittally. In any case, from the day her identity was revealed, she could no longer afford to support this crybaby.
Whether she can mature by then depends on her own destiny.
After standing in the cold wind for half a day, Lian Yi had lost her patience and started walking towards the residential area. Xu Qingyao was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed her. As she passed Xie Ling, who had been silent all along, she didn't forget to glare at him.
A smug and provocative smile played at the corners of his lips.
"Oh right, you just said that Chen Ziting distorted the facts and tried to smear me, right?" Lian Yi suddenly remembered this and glanced at Xu Qingyao.
"Okay." Xu Qingyao nodded, wanting to open her phone to show Lian Yi the screenshot.
"It's all nonsense, I can't be bothered to read it."
Lian Yi slightly raised her chin and looked straight ahead. "It seems that what I said just now was not accurate enough. It's a bit of a pity that Chen Ziting may not be able to get away unscathed."
Before she uncovers the real mastermind behind that long list of names, Chen Ziting? She could give it to Li Xilai's mother's firm as a warm-up.
They'll probably waive this order for her since she's a big client.
"The college entrance exam is just around the corner, why make trouble for yourself?" Lian Yi clicked her tongue lightly, but there was no trace of regret in her eyes.
"...Lian Yi".
Before Xu Qingyao could speak, the boy's voice, which was already past puberty and slightly deep but clear, came from behind her. It should have been a familiar, calm and somewhat indifferent tone, but it sounded like it contained complex emotions.
Xu Qingyao followed closely behind Lian Yi. When she saw Lian Yi stop after hearing the voice, she turned her head and glared at Xie Ling with displeasure.
That annoying man is such a nuisance!
Lian Yi sighed inwardly; she didn't really want to talk to Xie Ling at this moment.
It's not that I harbor any resentment towards him.
His choice was valid at the moment he made the decision, and from his standpoint, it was not problematic.
Lian Yi has always had a sense of detachment from everything she has now. All these troubles and disturbances are ultimately just the stories of the fake heiress 'Lian Yi', and have nothing to do with her now that she's retired.
This applies to both people and things.
Therefore, Xie Ling's decision was neither surprising nor infuriating to her.
What Lianyi was concerned about was whether Xie Ling's current guilt would make her think more emotionally, otherwise it would put her in a difficult position.
"It's so cold outside, you should go back first." She turned around, took out her hand, and squeezed Xu Qingyao's frighteningly cold fingers.
"Hmm... okay." Although Xu Qingyao really didn't want Xie Ling to have a chance to be alone with Lian Yi, since Lian Yi had spoken, she could only nod somewhat sullenly. After taking a few steps, she couldn't help but turn her head and peek at the situation.
"Teacher Xie, did you come to apologize to me so late?" After Xu Qingyao walked away, Lian Yi looked away and smiled at Xie Ling.
"Lian Yi, about today's events..." Xie Ling paused. He thought he had a lot to say, whether it was his apology to Lian Yi or his recklessness and arrogance.
Or perhaps it was Xu Qingyao's words, "You can keep hooking her after being forgiven," that made Xie Ling want to seriously and clearly explain some things to her.
But regardless of the type, the words and phrases that were just organized and practiced in my mind.
Looking into Lian Yi's clear, amber-like eyes, Xie Ling felt as if she had lost the ability to speak for a moment.
"...I'm sorry." After saying that, Xie Ling closed her eyes helplessly, realizing for the first time the depth of her own taciturn nature.
He clearly meant more than just that.
"Xie Ling, you don't need to apologize to me."
Lian Yi smiled as she looked at him, her gaze focused, but her mind was racing with thoughts completely different from what she was saying.
This is really not right. Even if Xie Ling feels guilty towards her, he shouldn't act like this.
He should acknowledge his original intentions and stance, but he will feel guilty for causing her current situation.
Seeing the tension in Xie Ling's eyes, she wanted to laugh, but then she couldn't laugh anymore because of the thought that her retirement plan seemed to be in jeopardy.
"You should have heard it just now. I'm not exactly a good person. Even after all these years, if I'm unhappy with my former classmates, I can still drag them out and torment them to vent my anger."
Lian Yi spoke calmly, her lips slightly upturned, her smile as bright as ever, "Just as I don't need other people's approval and praise, I don't need your sympathy and guilt either."
"I don't believe that repaying evil with kindness can change others. If something can be solved with money, there's no need to reason with them. I will expose those who are secretly laughing behind their screens, one by one, and punish them with violence, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth."
"So your guilt is really useless to me."
Xie Ling looked at her after she finished speaking, her eyes slightly complicated. "That's not how it is, Lian Yi."
"Hmm?" Lian Yi smiled and said easily, "Teacher Xie, I accept your apology, but if you want to lecture me, forget it, it's quite cold outside."
"...I have always been dealing with you with preconceived notions and prejudices."
He lowered his eyes, recalling Lian Yi's nonchalant tone just now, as if she wasn't talking about herself. That relaxed and casual self-deprecating tone made him feel a slight pang in his heart.
“Until this situation changed, I stubbornly didn’t realize it. Xu Qingyao is right, my behavior did seem hypocritical, but because you never showed your vulnerability, you naturally ignored all of this.”
When Lian Yi heard the words "Xu Qingyao said", the smile on her lips faded slightly.
She knew it, she knew it!
There was indeed a traitor.
"...But the truth is, regardless of whether you can bear it or resolve it, I shouldn't ignore your feelings and make decisions on my own."
Xie Ling paused, her clear black and white eyes gleaming beautifully under the bright lights of the residential area, her gaze earnest. "You said you would take your anger out on your former classmates when you were unhappy, but what I saw was you doing this for Xu Qingyao."
“You told Song Qiqi that you would no longer protect her, but after you heard me talk about this, you were still willing to help her.”
"Lian Yi, I know I'm not qualified to judge what kind of person you are, but in my heart, you've never been the way those voices portray you."
"I'm sorry, it's only now that I'm facing these issues..."
Lian Yi's expression grew increasingly calm as he spoke each word that shattered her previous impression of him.
She looked at Xie Ling. His black hair was blown aside by the cold wind, revealing his smooth forehead. His cool and aloof eyes, with their slightly furrowed brows and wrinkled eyelids, seemed to carry a hint of hesitation and unease.
His superior bone structure supports his face, and at the age of transition between adolescence and youth, he has a dignified and refined temperament without appearing mature at all.
I used to be a bit thin, which made me look rather frail, but now I'm not so thin anymore, and my shoulders and waist are much more upright.
Lian Yi admired the beauty, but the faint smile in her eyes gradually turned cold.
She narrowed her eyes and said mockingly, "Xie Ling, who gave you the confidence to stand in front of me and presumptuously analyze me?"
"Just because I told you I liked you?"
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