Shi Qian was not stupid. As she watched Xu Zihao stare so strangely at Lei Nuwa, she knew that he was wavering. She was furious– Lei Nuwa, the bitch engaged to Liu Yichen, was also trying to steal her Xu Zihao!
'That bitch is trying to take everything away from me. She needs to learn her place.' Shi Qian, while angelic and gentle in front of Liu Yichen, was vindictive and malicious inside. She felt as if she was better than every other girl– and that those she deemed fit, should follow her to the death. Xu Zihao was one of the people she refused to let go– even if she made him miserable with his unrequited feelings and her blatant boasting about her relationship with Liu Yichen, he was not supposed to love anyone else.
She would make Lei Nuwa regret being alive.
***
Lei Nuwa was completely unaware of Shi Qian's plotting– in fact, she believed she had managed to duck the radar of Liu Yichen and Shi Qian completely. She had zero interactions with them, and neither seemed to notice her.
As she was walking to her room during lunch, she felt a sick, familiar feeling of paranoia. While she couldn't see anyone, she knew someone was watching her– following her. She began to walk faster to her room, trying to act unaware as to not alert whoever was trailing her. However, right before she made it into the building, she felt a hand cover her mouth, and she was dragged into an alley.
Lei Nuwa kicked and fought her attacker, but two other men came into view and held her arms, rendering them useless. She tried to breathe and calm down, to channel the confidence she had during the sparring match, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free from those restraining her. Another came into sight, brandishing rings that connected to form a brass knuckles-esque weapon. Lei Nuwa could not scream because of the hand over her mouth, and the lack of air also began to make her light headed.
'I got too comfortable. This is still the life I have always known. Just because a few things changed, doesn't mean my fate will end up any different than it always is.'
The heavens were not kind to Lei Nuwa. The hope that she had seemed to move in and out of her like the low and high tides. She slumped and stopped fighting back. The man with the rings began hitting her torso in different areas, and didn't stop. Lei Nuwa did not react– her eyes were dead, no anger or fear. When the guys were finally done, she fell to the ground, sliding down the alley wall.
Xu Zihao was walking when he saw a girl being dragged off by four men into a dark alley. He was not a sympathetic man– he had planned to move along like nothing had happened, when he noticed the girl's bracelet. Lei Nuwa.
He snuck near the alley way to watch the scene. He recognized the boys; they were Shi Qian's 'goons'. He was unsure of whether to step in, because he did not know if it would just put Lei Nuwa into more bad situations. He watched the strongest of the four hit her again and again, and was disturbed at Lei Nuwa's corpse-like response. When they were finally done, he moved out of sight and let the four run off, most likely to report to Shi Qian. Xu Zihao ran up to Lei Nuwa and felt her pulse. He wasn't sure why– he knew that she would be alive, but his body had moved before his mind did in order to make sure. Lei Nuwa saw the blurry figure in front of her, and thought it was another assailant. She closed her eyes, and waited for the inevitable pain of the man's heavy hand.
Xu Zihao felt frustrated.
"Dumb girl, what if I had been another attacker? Would you just sit there and play dead?" Upon hearing his voice, the girl's eyes opened abruptly. Xu Zihao was taken aback at the sight of her purple irises. There was a beat of silence before he spoke again. This time, his voice was soft and unsure. "You don't want revenge? You won't even fight back?"
Lei Nuwa laughed darkly and closed her eyes again.
"Fighting back is like pushing against a wave. You will just end up drowning."
"You don't even know who you're up against– you won't even try!" He was unsure why he was so angry at her indifference.
"Shi Qian."
"What?"
"I know who I'm up against. Shi Qian. Or Liu Yichen. Maybe even you. Are you going to go tell your Qian Qian that they didn't finish the job? That I am still breathing?" She could not help but speak with venom laced in her words. Xu Zihao sighed.
"I am not in her pocket." Lei Nuwa laughed again.
"And my eyes are brown." She yelped as Xu Zihao picked her up. Pain shot up and down her sides, and she began to beat on his chest. "That hurt, idiot!" She also felt panicked, that he would do exactly what she said he would.
"Put me down, or I will make sure you're never able to have children!" She began to kick. Xu Zihao pushed her gently against the wall in frustration.
"I'm taking you to the paid students infirmary. It has more privacy, unless you want me to dress your wounds in front of everyone?" Lei Nuwa glared at him like a mouse would glare at a tiger.
"I do not need you to dress my wounds. Put me down, and go back to your Qian Qian. Tell Yichen to send men with bats instead, if he wants more results." Xu Zihao felt like tearing his hair out.
"I am trying to help you– Shi Qian, Liu Yichen, don't say their names anymore. I do not escape their grasp to be haunted by them through you, Lei Nuwa."
"Everyone knows that you dote on Shi Qian like a lovesick puppy! Just leave me alone, put me down, torment me from afar. But stop spewing false, flowery words."
"What must I do to get you to believe me?! Shall I get on my knees, declare my feelings from the rooftops?" Xu Zihao, despite his frustration and exasperation, did not let go of Lei Nuwa. He stared into her eyes, fire burning deep inside of his own.
Lei Nuwa knew better than to trust him, but his convincing sincerity led her to stop fighting. She sighed, and Xu Zihao let her down.
"You do not need to tend to any wounds. There are no elders here to see your deeds." The last part was said with a playful tone, referencing the first time he had helped her. Zihao, shocked at her changed demeanor, let out a surprised laugh. He held his hand out for Nuwa to take.
"Let me help. Not just with your injuries, but your revenge, your justice."