Throughout the four years of college, she didn't believe she had provoked Tang Wanxin. She had always minded her own business, having no issue with that woman. However, since freshman year, Tang Wanxin refused to let her be, slanderously accusing her of theft, attempting to frame her for cheating by throwing cheat sheets onto her desk during final exams, sabotaging her desk and chair to publicly humiliate her, and even paying people to intercept her off-campus... If it weren't for Lingyu's repeated assistance, she feared she would have been tormented to death by this madwoman over her university years.
She pulled Lingyu away from the cold confrontation with Tang Wanxin and used sign language to tell her, "Ignore that crazy woman, let's enjoy ourselves."
"Who does that woman think she is, as if owning a little of the Tang Family makes her lawless. Ignorant woman, she probably doesn't even know her father owes my brother a huge debt..." Lingyu glanced coldly at the curly-haired woman, then turned away to sip her own cocktail, still indignant.
Qianxue turned her head, about to tell Lingyu to stop speaking, when she suddenly saw several tall figures enter the bar, led by a man in a dark purple Armani shirt. Startled, she quickly turned away, pretending to drink.
The man swept the room with a cold gaze, his brows unfurrowed, and followed a waiter into a luxurious private room. Several well-dressed men respectfully followed him, and after them, a few flamboyantly dressed women were led in by the waiter...
"Qianxue, let's go somewhere else to have fun, I don't want to see that detestable face of Tang Wanxin," Lingyu suddenly said, the panic clear on her face.
"Sure, let's go outside," Qianxue readily agreed, not wanting to be seen there by that man.
Therefore, the two of them hopped off their high stools and hurried towards the exit of the bar.
As they left, Tang Wanxin gave a signal to a man next to her. He understood and immediately stood up to follow them.
By the time they exited the bar, the sky had darkened, and neon lights flickered everywhere on the street.
Qianxue looked at her watch, grabbed Lingyu, who was walking swiftly, and told her with sign language, "It's getting late, we should head back."
A frown formed on Lingyu's face: "I am heading to the Northern region tomorrow, we're supposed to have fun all night."
Qianxue shook her head, eyes full of reluctance, yet insisted, "Not returning overnight will worry your parents. Besides, you are leaving tomorrow, so you need to rest well." She squeezed Lingyu's hand with a warm smile, "I'll see you off tomorrow."
Only then did Lingyu smile, pulling on Qianxue's hand and walking forward like a joyful little bird, "Daddy said I wouldn't be training in the Northern region for more than a year, and I will come back to see you often. The Northern region isn't far from central, so this isn't really a goodbye... Qianxue, you agree, right?"
Qianxue smiled and nodded, "Yes, I might stay here permanently."
"That would be great, Qianxue!" Lingyu jumped with joy, her whole face blooming like a flower: "If Qianxue stays here, then I offer my two brothers to you, pick either my eldest or second brother, and we will truly become one family."
Qianxue smiled silently. She didn't want to be apart from Lingyu, but she was aware of her own status; Lingyu's brothers were out of her league.
"My eldest brother is somewhat cold, but he's very manly and in great shape. His handsome face naturally attracts a lot of attention, although he has turned into a workaholic since taking over Daddy's company... As for my second brother, he might not be as handsome as the eldest, but he's very considerate, a real family man, and he's about to return to the country... Qianxue, who do you pick? Qianxue..."
After walking for a while, Qianxue stopped, and using sign language, she said, "Lingyu, let's part ways here. I'll see you at Zhongzheng Airport tomorrow."
Su Lingyu also stopped, and earnestly said, "Qianxue, I was serious about what I said before. I hope a man will take good care of you. Truthfully, I'd prefer you to be with my eldest brother. He is a good person; he just became colder after a past trauma..."
Qianxue gave a wry smile and told the earnest Lingyu using sign language, "Right now, I just want to find a better job and then bring grandma here to take good care of her. Your brothers, they'll meet women worthy of them. So Lingyu, don't worry about me." Nor did she want Lingyu to look down on her after finding out that she had been able to finish college only by being that man's mistress. She couldn't afford to lose Lingyu, her only confidant.
Feeling the wetness in her eyes, she quickly said "Goodnight" to the silent Lingyu with a sign, then headed towards her seaside apartment.
She walked a long distance, and as the surroundings grew increasingly quiet and remote, she began to come out of her reverie.
The road to the seaside was quiet, and walking alone under the streetlights without a car was somewhat dangerous.
She had never been out at night before, so it was only then that she realized this, and with a hardened resolve, she walked while looking out for any taxis passing on the road.
It was a long wait until she finally felt disappointed.
No cars passed on the road to the seaside, let alone a taxi. The dim streetlights only cast faint circles of light, stretching her shadow long and solitary.
She had no choice but to continue her determined walk to the seaside, quickening her pace.
"Beep..." At that moment, a series of car honks sounded behind her, clearly directed at her.
She turned around, and the intense headlights immediately blinded her. Before she could react, the car screeched to a halt in front of her. Suddenly, the world spun, and she was roughly snatched into the car.
God, her misfortune had brought her face to face with a villain! She began to whimper in terror.
Two men in the backseat forcefully restrained her fighting arms and legs, asking the woman in the front seat, "Wanxin, what do we do now?"
The woman in the front seat didn't turn around, but her eyes narrowed maliciously, "Take her back to A&H, I want her to give those men a free striptease show... Haha..."
They indeed took her back to A&H.
Tang Wanxin, of course, had paid off a bartender, which is why they dared to drag the struggling Qianxue into the staff rest room.
As soon as they were inside the rest room, Tang Wanxin forced the cocktail brought by the bartender into her mouth.
All the while, the two men restrained her from each side and taped her mouth shut with adhesive tape.