Had he come specifically to find her?
Just as this question emerged in Xiang Wan's mind, she forcibly killed it, and a wave of grievances swept over her, overwhelming her.
If it weren't for him ruining her family, leaving her with nothing, she wouldn't have had to endure everything she faced today. For the past eighteen years, no one had even raised their voice to her, and now, with such a stark contrast, she was almost instantly crushed.
Her eyes reddened as she 'whooshed' up from her seat, "Call you? So you could be the first to see me made into a joke? You probably guessed what kind of treatment I would receive at school, didn't you? This is all thanks to you. Are you satisfied now?!"
As she hysterically growled, she hurled the stain-covered backpack that was beside her towards Zuo Xingyun; although the stains had already dried, they still left marks of moss on his white shirt.
The contents of the backpack scattered all over the floor, and Xiang Wan's water-damaged cellphone also fell out.
Zuo Xingyun did not respond to her emotional outburst but silently stared at the cellphone on the ground for a few seconds, bent down to pick up the scattered items, then stepped forward and took her wrist, "Let's go, we're going home."
His voice was soft, his tone gentle as flowing water, trickling into Xiang Wan's heart.
His action easily shattered Xiang Wan's already crumbling façade of strength.
Xiang Wan silently looked down at their clasped hands, feeling something ripple within her.
She couldn't understand why he was doing this; he was obviously terrible, yet he still left her with a sliver of fantasy.
It was ridiculous, but for a moment, she really wanted to throw herself into his arms for a bit of comfort, as if the man before her was the only support she had; what was it that gave her such an illusion…?
Xiang Wan did not refuse to go with him, perhaps because she was too exhausted to struggle anymore.
On the way home, Zuo Xingyun drove in silence; the rearview mirror reflected half of his incredibly attractive face and conspicuously displayed the weariness in his eyes. He always seemed so tired…
Xiang Wan curled up in the back seat, trying to disappear into the darkness, the faint bad smell emanating from her body causing her some embarrassment.
Fortunately, Zuo Xingyun showed no signs of disgust, and she could barely convince herself that maybe the smell wasn't that bad.
The two fell into a temporary state of 'harmonious coexistence,' but it was only a truce for the moment, with even communication seeming superfluous.
The rest of the journey was silent. Upon arriving home, Xiang Wan immediately rushed into the bathroom. The sound of rushing water filled her ears, like a downpour, and she, like a pedestrian caught in the storm, gradually numbed.
The piece of hair that was stuck with chewing gum had to be cut off. She had grown her beautiful long hair since childhood, spending a lot of energy and money on its maintenance every year. The moment she cut it off, she was so sad that tears fell...
After showering, she left the bathroom to find Mrs. Zhang waiting in the room for a long time.
Seeing her red eyes, Mrs. Zhang's face was a mixture of heartache and anger, "Miss, with what happened at school, the school must give us an explanation!"
Xiang Wan collapsed on the bed, staring at the Tasseled Crystal Lamp on the ceiling and said faintly, "How do you ask for an explanation? The whole city knows about my family's situation; everyone can't wait to step on me. This is just the beginning; there will be more to come…"
Mrs. Zhang's voice broke into a sob, "So we should just let those rascals bully you?! Now the madam is still in the hospital, but isn't there also the second master? Our house isn't without people!"
Zuo Xingyun?
Xiang Wan laughed bitterly, "Mrs. Zhang, I won't count on him. Even if you don't believe that my dad was killed by him, you've seen with your own eyes that he took over my family's property. Don't say things like that anymore; it makes him sound like a good person."
No sooner had she finished speaking than a knock on the door suddenly sounded.
Mrs. Zhang wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and went forward to open the door.
Xiang Wan followed the sound with her eyes and met Zuo Xingyun's calm and profound gaze.