While Cen Lingqiu was driving to the hospital to visit Zhang Li, she passed through a somewhat disorderly street. People were walking about haphazardly, so Cen Lingqiu drove slowly to avoid the crowd. Suddenly, a person darted out in front of her, and Cen Lingqiu slammed on the brakes just in time.
She got out of the car to see if she had hit anyone.
A half-drunk man was sitting by the roadside, a good distance from the front of the car. It seemed he hadn’t been hit, just startled.
Seeing that the man was mostly unharmed, she prepared to leave.
The man suddenly turned his head and looked at her.
The man before her was unkempt, his clothes old and filthy, his face weathered and sleazy.
Cen Lingqiu found him somewhat familiar. After a moment’s thought, she finally realized who he was.
Yu Lianyi, Yu Mingjiao’s father.
Ever since Yu Sui’an’s appearance, Cen Lingqiu had the System extract information on all of Yu Mingjiao’s family members, just in case.
The appearance of Yu Lianyi made Cen Lingqiu abruptly realize the reason the System had mentioned—why Yu Mingjiao’s self-destruction index would peak on her birthday, possibly even leading to suicide.
Yu Lianyi was a gambler who loved to drink. After Yu Mingjiao became disabled, he didn’t want to raise a disabled daughter, so he ran off to another city and rarely returned.
He had been wandering around for years. He had returned to Lan City this time because he had no money for gambling and remembered he still had a daughter, planning to come back and get money from her.
Naturally, Yu Mingjiao refused to give him any and threw him out.
Having failed to get the money, Yu Lianyi was furious. He then heard that Lin Dong was pursuing Yu Mingjiao, but she kept rejecting him. A malicious plan formed in his mind: he would deliver Yu Mingjiao to his bed and then demand money from Lin Dong.
On her birthday, Yu Lianyi would feign an apology to Yu Mingjiao, claiming he wanted to celebrate with her, but in reality, he would secretly drug her tea.
The subsequent plot was cliché and disgusting. Yu Lianyi would take Yu Mingjiao to a hotel room. Lin Dong, drunk that day, would see a woman on the bed who greatly resembled his white moonlight and wouldn’t be able to resist.
According to the subsequent development, after the female lead discovered she had slept with the male lead, she would have a breakdown and hide far away from him. Meanwhile, after sleeping with her once, the male lead would realize he actually liked her and would start pursuing her again.
So, the reason the System detected that the female lead would commit suicide on her birthday was because of this incident. Yu Mingjiao couldn’t bear it all, fell into complete despair, and then killed herself.
Cen Lingqiu couldn’t help but feel disgusted.
She absolutely could not let Yu Lianyi harass Yu Mingjiao.
Absolutely not.
She had to think of a way to stop him.
Cen Lingqiu’s mind raced, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Yu Lianyi needed money.
That made things easier.
She went to her car and grabbed a wad of cash. She had just withdrawn it today, planning to follow Zhang Li’s advice and donate it to a temple to pray for Zhang Li’s swift recovery.
It just so happened to be useful now.
She handed the money to the man, feigning an apology. “Mister, I’m sorry for bumping into you. Take this money as compensation for your medical expenses.”
The man’s eyes lit up at the sight of the money. He quickly took it, stuffing it into his pocket as if afraid she would change her mind.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Aiya, I’ll take this money and go to the hospital to get checked out.”
Perhaps afraid she would change her mind, the man clutched his pocket and said with a squinting smile, “Well then, little lady, I’ll be off to the hospital…”
Cen Lingqiu nodded.
The man ran off as if fleeing.
Cen Lingqiu watched the man’s hunched, fleeing back with a cold gaze, then took out her phone and made a call.
A male voice came from the other end of the line. “Hello, Sis.”
“Lin Dong, lend me a few people.”
Yu Sui’an was on her way back from school and planned to buy something at the supermarket near her home when she saw two familiar figures. She moved closer and realized it was her dad and that woman.
Why was that woman giving Dad money?
Yu Sui’an felt that Cen Lingqiu had ill intentions, so she took out her phone and recorded the scene.
The first thing she did when she got home was to question Yu Lianyi.
“Dad, did a woman just give you money?”
Yu Lianyi’s eyes darted away. “What woman? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Dad!” Yu Sui’an’s tone grew heavier. “I clearly saw that woman give you money. What did she say to you?”
Yu Lianyi thought Yu Sui’an wanted to split the money with him and refused to admit it, saying impatiently, “What nonsense are you spouting, you damn girl? What woman gave me money!”
Yu Sui’an grew anxious and moved forward to search the man’s pockets. He shoved her away, roaring, “Damn girl, will you ever stop!”
“Dad!” Yu Sui’an fell to the ground, her expression sorrowful. “Do you know who that woman is? Big Sis almost died at the hands of their family! Her younger brother even locked Big Sis in a villa and wouldn’t let her out. Don’t you know how much Big Sis has suffered because of them, Dad?!”
But Yu Lianyi only cared about the last part of her words. “A villa? That guy likes your sister? Is his family very rich?”
Yu Sui’an’s anger surged. “Is that all you care about? Why don’t you care about Big Sis!”
Yu Lianyi clicked his tongue and slapped her, his face contorted. “Tell me that man’s name! He must like your sister. Your sister has the face of a seductress—”
Yu Sui’an couldn’t listen anymore. Clutching her reddened face, she tried to leave.
Not getting the answer he wanted, Yu Lianyi grew agitated. He grabbed Yu Sui’an by the head and slammed it against the ground.
“Damn girl, hurry up and tell me!”
Yu Sui’an’s head was soon bleeding, staining her entire face. Her eyes were dazed, but she gritted her teeth and refused to speak.
The man kicked her stomach and her face. Yu Sui’an covered her head, refusing to say a single word no matter what.
“Fine! Both of you are so tough, is that it?” Yu Lianyi kicked her hard in the stomach and threatened, “If you don’t talk, I’ll go back to our hometown right now and dig up your mother’s corpse!”
Yu Sui’an knew the man’s conscience had been corroded by alcohol and gambling; he would do anything for money.
She was scared. With trembling lips, she spoke the name.
Having gotten the answer he wanted, the man left in satisfaction.
Yu Sui’an was covered in bruises from the beating and couldn’t get up at all.
Amidst the pain racking her body, she had only one thought.
Did it hurt this much when Big Sis used to get beaten?
Yu Mingjiao had submitted her work a few days ago and was now waiting for the results of the second round. She had an exam in a few days, so she was at home studying today.
Someone was knocking on the door, the sound urgent.
She went to the door and saw Yu Sui’an’s face on the electronic screen.
Her face was covered in various bandages, and her expression was unusually anxious.
She didn’t want to open the door.
But Yu Sui’an’s knocking grew more and more frantic, and it was very loud.
Yu Mingjiao frowned impatiently, annoyed.
She opened the door.
The moment the door opened, Yu Sui’an half-knelt on the ground. Her legs had been kicked hard by Yu Lianyi, and the pain made it impossible to stand.
“Big Sis—” Yu Sui’an crawled to her side, her face streaked with tears. “I’m sorry—I’m sorry.”
Yu Mingjiao didn’t understand. She avoided Yu Sui’an’s touch, her expression cold.
“If you’re going to cry, cry outside.”
One of Yu Sui’an’s eyes was swollen shut, so she could only look at Yu Mingjiao with the other.
“Dad’s back,” she said, her voice filled with terror. “I… I told him about you and that man. He… he’ll definitely go to that man for money…”
Yu Mingjiao gritted her teeth. “Are you crazy? Do you want me to die that badly? Yu Sui’an, why haven’t you grown up yet!”
“I didn’t want to say it, Big Sis, I really didn’t,” Yu Sui’an said, her eyes red-rimmed. “Even if he beat me to death, I wouldn’t have said it. But he threatened me with Mom’s grave. I—I had no choice.”
Yu Mingjiao looked at her.
Yu Sui’an’s face was covered in injuries. A deep handprint was visible on her left cheek, which was swollen high.
She kept crying, her face a wretched and terrifying sight.
Yu Mingjiao: “He hit you?”
Yu Sui’an nodded.
Yu Mingjiao found it ironic.
In the past, Yu Sui’an had always been spoiled. Forget being hit, she had rarely even been scolded.
As time passed, she had become the person Yu Mingjiao used to be.
Yu Mingjiao felt no pity for her.
“Stop crying,” Yu Mingjiao said, annoyed. “Get in.”
She needed to know what had happened, why the father who had abandoned them had suddenly returned.
Yu Sui’an limped into the living room and sat on the sofa.
“Explain everything clearly.”
Yu Mingjiao sat across from her, watching her with a blank expression.
“Big Sis, that woman is definitely trying to harm you!” Yu Sui’an said hurriedly. “I saw that woman give Dad money!”
Yu Mingjiao propped her forehead on her hand, her gaze chillingly cold. She clearly didn’t believe her.
Seeing her disbelief, Yu Sui’an jumped up from the sofa and limped over to her, showing her the video she had recorded.
“Big Sis, don’t get too close to her. She gave Dad money, she must have bad intentions. Maybe…” Out of fear, Yu Sui’an’s youthful imagination ran wild, and she started spouting nonsense. “Maybe she asked Dad to do something bad to you. After all… after all, Dad is your relative, so it would be easy for him.”
“Shut up.”
Yu Mingjiao cut her off sharply.
She didn’t even realize how stiff her own tone had become.
“If there’s nothing else, get out.”
Yu Sui’an added, “Big Sis, Dad will definitely come looking for you again. He’s not a normal person anymore. He only wants money, and he’ll do anything to get it.”
“Stay away from that woman. Her family will definitely team up with Father to harm you…”
The girl’s incessant chattering filled her ears, pushing Yu Mingjiao’s irritation to a new level.
“I told you to shut up!” Yu Mingjiao said coldly, pointing to the door. “Get out.”
Yu Sui’an pouted aggrievedly. Because of their last unpleasant encounter, she no longer dared to defy Yu Mingjiao.
Clutching her waist, she walked slowly toward the door, looking back every few steps.
When she reached the doorway, she repeated one last time.
“Sis, you must not get too close to that woman. She’s not treating you sincerely at all.”
The living room returned to silence.
As if exhausted, Yu Mingjiao bent over, covering her face with her hands.
She couldn’t stop thinking about the video from just now.
She had clearly seen Cen Lingqiu give money to her father and say something to him, after which her father had walked away with a smile on his face.
That woman knew her father. In the past, she and Lin Dong had investigated every detail about her; she definitely recognized her father’s face.
She also knew how much Yu Mingjiao hated that man.
Why give him money?
What did she say to that man?
Was it about her?
Yu Sui’an’s words from earlier swirled in her ears like a demon’s whisper, burrowing into her mind and assaulting her reason.
Did this woman really have ulterior motives?
Just as Yu Sui’an had said.
No.
Impossible.
It was just a video; it didn’t prove anything.
Yu Mingjiao desperately tried to explain it to herself.
But her thoughts were like a tempest, wildly pulling her in every direction. The slightest hint of suspicion was enough for Yu Mingjiao to imagine all sorts of extreme outcomes.
She was a suspicious person by nature; the slightest disturbance could kill her rationality.
Yu Mingjiao’s eyes grew frenzied. She scratched at her wrists incessantly with her nails, and soon, long, bloody marks appeared on her fair, slender wrists.
She was completely oblivious to the pain.
Yu Mingjiao thought about asking Cen Lingqiu about this matter.
But she never asked.
She was afraid the truth was just as she imagined.
She couldn’t accept being deceived by Cen Lingqiu.
Not even a little.
So she suppressed her nearly maddening suspicion, waiting for Cen Lingqiu to bring it up herself.
But Cen Lingqiu acted as if nothing had happened.
She even showed concern for her, asking if she hadn’t been eating well, saying she had lost a lot of weight.
Hearing her concern, Yu Mingjiao’s heart split into two voices.
One was an icy voice.
Disgusting, hypocritical woman.
The other was an aggrieved voice.
Why do you still care about me? Is it so hard to be honest with me?
These two voices argued ceaselessly in her mind, and Yu Mingjiao felt her sanity slipping.
While they were eating, Cen Lingqiu received a call and went to the balcony to answer it.
Yu Mingjiao watched Cen Lingqiu on the balcony, her grip on her chopsticks tightening slightly.
Before, Cen Lingqiu always took her calls in front of her.
Why was she hiding to take the call? Was there something she had to keep from her, something she couldn’t let her hear?
The weed of suspicion grew more and more rampant.
Cen Lingqiu was unaware of Yu Mingjiao’s suppressed state of mind; she was preoccupied with her phone call.
“Is it done?” she asked.
The person on the other end said, “It’s done, Young Miss. We beat that man up. His legs and hands are broken, so he’ll be bedridden.”
“Good.”
Cen Lingqiu hung up, a faint, cold smile touching her lips.
That man should have no energy to bother Yu Mingjiao now.
Cen Lingqiu had given the man money on purpose. She knew the first thing he would do after getting it was gamble. She had then borrowed a few people involved in loan sharking from Lin Dong, who was well-connected and knew all sorts of people.
She had these loan sharks use the lure of high returns to entice Yu Lianyi into gambling with them, letting him win at first before cheating him out of all his money.
When Yu Lianyi was unwilling to accept his losses, they goaded him into taking out a high-interest loan from them, brainwashing him into believing he would surely win later. Having already lost his senses, Yu Lianyi impulsively took the loan. Only after signing the contract did he realize it had to be repaid within three days.
He lost the subsequent games and was now saddled with a massive debt that he couldn’t possibly repay in three days.
When the loan sharks’ enforcers saw he wasn’t repaying the money, they beat him severely.
From then on, as long as he couldn’t repay the money, his life would be in the hands of the loan sharks.
She wanted this man to live like a dog for the rest of his life, far away from Yu Mingjiao.
But she didn’t plan to tell Yu Mingjiao about this. Whatever happened to that man had nothing to do with Yu Mingjiao, and she didn’t want Yu Mingjiao to hear about such sordid things.
Even if she were to tell her, she would wait until her birthday and present it as a gift.
Cen Lingqiu walked into the living room and found Yu Mingjiao picking at the palm of her hand.
She went over and took Yu Mingjiao’s hands, frowning. “What are you doing?”
Yu Mingjiao turned her face away, refusing to look at her. Her voice was cold and hard with pique. “I don’t know.”
Cen Lingqiu: “…”
What’s wrong with this child now?
Yu Lianyi lay in the hospital for several days. When he ran out of money to pay the fees, he had no choice but to pack his things and go home.
Both his legs and hands were broken. He could only limp back on one leg, his movements comical.
After being discharged, he was walking out when a man looking down at his phone walked in. Their shoulders bumped, and Yu Lianyi’s body was so frail that the light touch sent him sprawling to the ground.
The man looked up from his phone and glanced at Yu Lianyi.
He frowned, seemingly debating whether to help him up. Finally, he clicked his tongue and pulled him up by the arm.
The man was very strong and pulled too hard. Yu Lianyi felt like his bones were falling apart and let out a cry of pain.
Seeing him standing steady, the man let go. Just as he was about to walk past him, Yu Lianyi suddenly grabbed him.
“You’re—” Yu Lianyi looked at him closely. “You’re Lin Dong, right?”
Lin Dong stopped and narrowed his eyes.
Yu Lianyi supported himself with his crutch and gave him an ingratiating smile. “I’m Yu Mingjiao’s father.”
Yu Mingjiao’s birthday was on the winter solstice. The day before her birthday, she suddenly received a call from Yu Lianyi. She hung up immediately.
Yu Lianyi called again.
Yu Mingjiao stared at her phone, the video Yu Sui’an had shown her suddenly flashing through her mind.
After a few seconds of indifference, she answered.
“Mingjiao, how have you been lately?”
Yu Lianyi’s hypocritical, smiling voice sounded from the other end of the line.
Yu Mingjiao was concise. “If you have something to say, say it.”
There was a pause on the other end. “Hahaha, well, it’s like this. I came across your mother’s diary a few days ago, and after thinking about it, I decided it would be best to give it to you.”
Yu Mingjiao knew this was just an excuse, but she couldn’t help but be moved by the mention of her mother’s belongings. Besides, she also wanted to know what Cen Lingqiu had actually said to Yu Lianyi that day.
There were too many things she wanted to know.
“Understood.”
It was snowing again today.
Yu Mingjiao took a taxi to her old home.
She hadn’t been back in a very long time. Sometimes she even felt she would never return to this house in her lifetime.
She didn’t like this house.
This wasn’t a home.
Yu Mingjiao went upstairs and knocked on the door.
After waiting for several minutes, someone opened the door. Yu Lianyi was on crutches, his left leg and right arm wrapped in thick plaster casts. He looked like a weathered, broken-down old dog.
“Mingjiao,” Yu Lianyi smiled at her.
A smile that made Yu Mingjiao want to vomit.
She said directly, “Where are my mother’s things?”
Yu Lianyi walked into the living room and gave her a glass of water. “It must be cold outside. Have some water first.”
Yu Mingjiao ignored him. “The diary you mentioned doesn’t exist, does it?”
Yu Lianyi’s eyes darted away. “What are you talking about? Of course I have it. Dad will give it to you in a bit. You’ve finally come home, don’t be in such a hurry.”
So annoying.
Yu Mingjiao didn’t want to stay a second longer. She couldn’t be bothered to play games with Yu Lianyi. Pressing a hand to her forehead, her voice was suppressed with extreme coldness. “That woman who gave you money the other day, what did she say to you?”
Yu Lianyi gave a concealing smile, nervously and awkwardly wringing his hands as he played dumb. “What woman? Mingjiao, why do you keep saying things Dad doesn’t understand?”
Why did every single one of them have to hide things?
Yu Mingjiao’s gaze was sinister. The ball of suspicion in her heart had grown to the point where it felt like it was seeping from her very bones.
“Mingjiao, have some water first,” Yu Lianyi said, pushing the glass toward her.
He was so insistent on her drinking the water. It seemed there was a problem with this glass.
Her dear father, truly capable of any foolishness for the sake of profit.
Yu Mingjiao tapped her nail against the glass intermittently, then suddenly spoke. “Dad, I remember there’s a bank card in my room. Mom saved some money for me in it. I forgot to take it when I left. Can you get it for me?”
Yu Lianyi got excited the moment he heard the word “money.” “Really? Ah, okay, Dad will go get it for you.”
He hobbled toward the room on his crutches, his movements clumsy.
Yu Mingjiao let out a cold laugh, then swapped the two glasses of water on the table.
A short while later, Yu Lianyi came out with a bank card, his eyes shining. “Mingjiao, is this it?”
Yu Mingjiao took a few steps forward and glanced at it. “Yes.”
“So how much money did your mom save for you in there?” Yu Lianyi asked, unable to contain his excitement.
Yu Mingjiao thought for a moment. “Over a hundred thousand, I think.”
“Over a hundred thousand…” Yu Lianyi murmured. He then asked anxiously, “Do you still remember the password?”
“The password…” Yu Mingjiao lightly touched the rim of her glass to her lips, feigning distress. “Dad, the water seems to have gotten cold.”
“Ah, is it cold?” Eager to please her, Yu Lianyi picked up the glass in front of him and took a sip. “It’s fine, not too cold.”
“Can you pour me a new one?”
In order to get the password, Yu Lianyi suppressed his temper and pretended to be a doting father. “Okay, okay, Dad will go pour one for you.”
He started toward the water dispenser, but after just a few steps, he collapsed.
Yu Mingjiao’s expression was calm. She glanced indifferently at the man on the floor and curled her lips into a faint, mocking smile.
She went to the man’s side, pulled the phone from his pocket, and unlocked it with his fingerprint.
The first thing she did was open his contacts.
Among the many phone numbers, her eyes focused directly on a familiar one.
She tapped it and dialed.
The phone rang for several seconds before it was answered.
“Hello.” A familiar and disgusting voice pierced her ear like a needle.
The man’s voice on the other end was nonchalant. “What, you handled things with your daughter?”
Lin Dong!
Yu Mingjiao bit her lip hard, slammed the phone down to end the call, and then hurled it violently to the ground.
The already low-quality phone instantly shattered into pieces.
A flying fragment grazed Yu Mingjiao’s cheek, leaving a bloody scratch.
In that moment, all her suspicions seemed to be confirmed.
She couldn’t help but connect the three of them.
Cen Lingqiu giving her father money, her father making some kind of deal with Lin Dong, the drugged water—everything pointed to her being the target of this group’s scheme.
What Yu Mingjiao found most unacceptable was Cen Lingqiu’s concealment.
Was this woman ultimately on the same side as her brother?
Did she give Yu Lianyi money to help her brother use her father to drag her into their plan?
Why?
Was this really the truth?
Why hide it from her?
Why deceive her?
Why say nothing at all?
Lin Qiu.
Yu Mingjiao chewed on the name in her heart, grinding her teeth.
As if caught in a torrential downpour, Yu Mingjiao felt drenched and cold to the bone.
Her eyes were bloodshot as she broke down in the small room, filled with hatred.
Meanwhile, Lin Dong was confused. The concussion from his last car accident seemed to be acting up again, so he decided to go to the hospital to ask a friend about it. There, he coincidentally ran into Yu Mingjiao’s father. The man said he was very optimistic about them and that he could make his daughter come to him willingly.
Lin Dong had recently been under surveillance by his grandfather’s people, who forbade him from seeing Yu Mingjiao. He was worrying about how to get her to his side when someone conveniently offered to help, so he naturally accepted.
But why did the call suddenly hang up?
When Cen Lingqiu went to the temple to donate incense money, she saw a string of red sandalwood beads. The craftsmanship was fine yet simple.
The moment she saw the red-stringed bracelet, she felt it would suit Yu Mingjiao perfectly.
Yu Mingjiao’s wrists were like jade, fair and delicate. Red would complement her skin tone beautifully.
So she bought it, planning to give it to her.
Tomorrow was her birthday. If all went well, her mission would be almost complete. She wanted to give her a small gift before she left.
Hearing a sound from across the hall, Cen Lingqiu opened her door. “Where have you been?”
“Why are you covered in snow? Didn’t you bring an umbrella?”
Yu Mingjiao kept her head down, not even glancing at her as she opened her door and went straight inside.
Cen Lingqiu followed her in.
She took out the bracelet and held it out to her. “I saw this bracelet at the temple and thought it would suit you. Try it on.”
As Cen Lingqiu spoke, she moved to put it on for her.
With her head still lowered, Yu Mingjiao violently flung her hand away. The bracelet was sent flying into a corner of the living room.
Cen Lingqiu: “…”
She calmly watched the bracelet fly off, then fixed her gaze on her and spoke. “Tell me. What is this about?”
“Lin Qiu.”
Yu Mingjiao’s gaze was utterly cold. “Is there nothing you want to say to me?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“What do you think?” Yu Mingjiao curled her lip and retorted, “Why did you give my father money? What are you planning to do to me?”
“Are you trying to destroy me?”
“Or are you trying to use my father to lock me back in that damn cage of yours! To make me a toy for you and your brother!”
Cen Lingqiu didn’t know how Yu Mingjiao found out she had given that man money. She picked out the key point from Yu Mingjiao’s accusations.
“You think… I want to harm you?”
“What else?” Yu Mingjiao’s expression was colder than ever. “Isn’t that just the kind of person you are?”
Cen Lingqiu fell silent, frowning slightly.
“You don’t believe me?”
“Why should I believe you?”
That was right. Yu Mingjiao had no reason to believe her.
The original owner had done such terrible things to her. She was just a wandering soul who had taken over someone else’s body. Yu Mingjiao had no reason to believe her at all.
Cen Lingqiu couldn’t help but find her own question somewhat laughable.
It was just that when Yu Mingjiao doubted her, she couldn’t help but remember something.
In the past, her younger siblings would often cause trouble and then blame her. No matter how she explained, her grandparents never believed her, and it would always end in a beating.
Being doubted by Yu Mingjiao, she had subconsciously felt that she was different from those people, which was why she couldn’t resist asking back.
But in reality, everyone in this world was the same, including Yu Mingjiao.
It was just that she had become too engrossed in this world, and had unconsciously brought Yu Mingjiao into her circle of trust.
She had presumptuously thought that Yu Mingjiao would believe her.
She had never been like this in the past. No matter the mission, she would never get attached to any character and would leave the world cleanly and directly.
But she had made an exception for Yu Mingjiao.
She had developed feelings of reluctance and always wanted to give her many things before leaving for good.
She thought Yu Mingjiao was different.
But in fact, she was the same.
Cen Lingqiu belatedly realized that she had developed many inexplicable emotions in this world.
This wouldn’t do.
She didn’t like having any lingering feelings for a mission world.
It was meaningless.
Cen Lingqiu was like a traveler who had been on the wrong path for a long time. Suddenly realizing her deviation, she decided to turn around and walk back to the correct path.
【77.】
She called out to the System in her mind.
【I’m here.】
【Check Yu Mingjiao’s self-destruction index.】
【Twenty percent.】
That’s good.
Yu Mingjiao would no longer break down over such trivial matters.
There was no need for Cen Lingqiu to explain anymore. She believed Yu Mingjiao wouldn’t die over this. Tomorrow was her birthday; as long as she got past this point, everything would return to normal.
“I have nothing to say,” Cen Lingqiu said with a light sigh.
But this sentence hit Yu Mingjiao’s breaking point. She gritted her teeth.
“Why won’t you say anything?”
“Why do you keep hiding things from me?”
“You haven’t changed from beginning to end!” Yu Mingjiao hated her indifference. Her misty eyes were like a dull, murderous knife, slicing away at her sanity, making it impossible for her to remain calm.
The suspicions of the past few days, Cen Lingqiu’s concealment, her father’s exploitation—all of it had been torturing her spirit bit by bit.
And now, all her suppressed emotions were torn open by Cen Lingqiu’s apathy, spilling out in a torrent of filthy, dark, and reckless words.
“You’re just a hypocritical woman!”
“You never had any sincere feelings for me! Since you’ve always hated me, why didn’t you just kill me from the start? Why did you have to pretend to be a damn good person to deceive me!”
Yu Mingjiao grabbed her hair in agony. She felt like she was going insane.
But she didn’t even know why she was going insane.
The more frantic she became, the more her words became like knives.
“You’re just like all the others, a disgusting bitch!”
“Go die.”
No matter how frantic she became, Cen Lingqiu remained consistently calm.
And it was precisely this calmness that Yu Mingjiao detested the most. She wanted Cen Lingqiu to say something, but she remained silent.
It wasn’t that Cen Lingqiu didn’t want to say anything. She wanted to, but she didn’t know what to say, nor could she bring herself to say it.
She felt a little tired.
What was the use of saying anything? Would Yu Mingjiao even believe her?
Even if she did believe her, it would be meaningless. Her mission time was almost up. After tomorrow, she would leave this world, and the original owner’s body would die.
Whether Yu Mingjiao believed her or not had lost all value. It was better to just let her continue hating the original owner.
Yu Mingjiao was supposed to hate Lin Qiu anyway.
After all, a victim cannot forgive their abuser.
Cen Lingqiu sighed and said, “Calm down.”
“Don’t come celebrate my birthday with me tomorrow.”
Yu Mingjiao became strangely calm, her tone devoid of emotion.
“I find you disgusting.”
Huge thanks to R and Cal for the support!
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