“I’m merely giving you a taste of your own medicine,” Xu Ying whispered, a faint, chilling smile playing on her lips as she watched Chen Yanran grimmice in pain . “Look at you now, so utterly pathetic. Your reputation shattered, your child gone. What will become of you from now on ?”
This was far from over. Chen Yanran, now branded a “slut,” would become a target for every ruffian in the village. The grim reality of her future settled upon Chen Yanran, twisting her face with rage. “Xu Ying, I’ll kill you!” she shrieked, before a gush of blood erupted from her mouth, as she collapsed, unconscious.
Xu Ying straightened up just as the doctor arrived, swiftly carrying Chen Yanran to the waiting car. As Xu Ying melted back into the crowd, her gaze found Dong Wenzhong and an evil smile touched her lips for his impending doom . He was still entangled in his own mess. How else could she torment him if he just found out that he couldn’t even return to the city?
An inexplicable chill crept through his boday as Dong Wenzhong met her gaze. His gut screamed that Chen Yanran’s downfall was no accident; Xu Ying’s hand was surely in it.
“Can you believe this?” someone whispered in the crowd. “What a scandal! The child wasn’t even Xu Xiangdong’s. She looked so innocent, yet she acted so wildly behind closed doors!”
“Indeed, you can never judge a book by its cover,” another chimed in. “She seemed so sweet, but her private life was a complete mess!”
Xu Xiangdong stood frozen in his place , his face a sickening mix of green and white. He had fought so hard for Chen Yanran, even defying his own mother, only to have his hopes brutally dashed. It was all his delusion, a twisted fantasy to spent a happy life with her ,that she also love him with all her heart , but it all shaterred even the child she carried wasn’t even his. How could she be so utterly disgusting?
In the hospital, Chen Yanran awoke to an empty stomach, a hollowness that mirrored the desolation in her heart. She touched her flat abdomen, and a bitter, ironic laugh escaping her lips. She hadn’t wanted the child initially, she only use it to trap Xu Xiangdong into marriage. She had even plotted for Xu Ying to cause her miscarriage, hoping to incriminate her because of this .
But Xu Ying had changed, transformed after her near-drowning. She had found work, brought prosperity to the village, even joined the food factory’s R&D department. She had established a workshop for the village, and her reputation soared even in the neighbouring villages . It became nearly impossible to even approach Xu Ying now, let alone trap her. And just when Chen Yanran thought she had finally secured her future, Xu Ying returned, not with just simple malice, but with a grand, devastating conspiracy. Chen Yanran closed her eyes as tears of bitter unwillingness flowing freely. Her life shouldn’t have been this way at all she should be the most reverned person of this village rather than that ignorant XuYing.
After a few days, without money to pay her medical bills, Chen Yanran was unceremoniously discharged by the hospital with great disdain . Back in the village, she sought out Xu Xiangdong again , but his foolishness also had its limits. The thought of a woman who had been with so many men becoming his wife sickened him . Their engagement was irrevocably broken by him . Soon, the village’s old bachelors and unsavory characters began to openly leer at Chen Yanran .Blocking her way whenerever they could .They also start openly making comments saying .
“What does it matter now?” one sneered.Why are you playing innocent ? You’ve already been with so many men already; a few of us brothers won’t hurt you right .”
“Don’t pretend to be so high and mighty,” another spat. “You’re just a used rag. We’re doing you a favor by even looking your way.”
On the other hand as all the matter at hand resolved Xu Ying swiftly packed her belongings, ready to return to the food factory. As for finding the person who had ruined her father in her previous life, Xu Ying felt a cold, unwavering resolve for it . She couldn’t forgive them. She continued to secretly monitor the educated youths. If that person returned to the city in this life, then perhaps she would relinquish her hatred, deeming it an apology from fate. But if they failed to return and, as in her previous life, caused the deaths of her father, elder brother, mother, sister-in-law, and unborn niece, she would never, ever let it go.
On the day Xu Ying left, Mother Xu’s eyes brimmed with tears. “You’ve only just come home, and now you have to go back to work again,” she sniffed. “We all have jobs now, it doesn’t matter how much money you make. Why don’t you just rest at home? Besides, Chinese New Year is almost here. You’ll be back so soon, you might as well just celebrate at home.” Mother Xu clung to her daughter, reluctant to let her go.
Xu Ying gently wiped the tears from her mother’s eyes. “Mom, I’ll only be gone for half a month, then it’ll be time for New Year’s. It’s not like I’m leaving for a long time. Just wait for me at home, I’ll be back soon.”
Mother Xu sniffled, still looking sad. Father Xu also patted his wife’s back and said . “Our daughter will be back before you know it. Look at you, crying like this. Do you want her to worry about leaving us here ?”
His words spurred Mother Xu into action. Her daughter work was in the kitchen; she didn’t want to distract her and risk any accidents. “Daughter, go on then. Goodbye.” Mother Xu waved sadly as her daughter departed.
Huo Chen had been brooding in his home since their last encounter, seething with unspoken anger, waiting for Xu Ying to come to him to appease him . But when he heard that she was going back to her job he felt dismayed that she had left without even saying a word. With nowhere to vent his frustrations, he grabbed his bicycle and rode after her.He paddled with all his might and finally catch upon her .he screamed her name in desperation to stop her .
“Xu Ying!”
Xu Ying turned, surprised. “Huo Chen.” She hadn’t expected him to come.
As he rode closer he asked with great pain “Don’t you like me any more ?” Huo Chen’s face was stern, but his palms were sweating.
Xu Ying quickly shook her head. “Of course I like you. Why else would I be with you?”
“Then why didn’t you come to meet me at all ? If I hadn’t come this time , you would have even forgotten that you even have a partner now ,” Huo Chen’s eyes held a flicker of sadness, though his face remained strong and unyielding.
“I was busy this time so I forgot!” Xu Ying blinked, with a hint of guilt in her voice. There was affection for him within her heart , yes, but perhaps not yet a deep, consuming love.
Huo Chen said nothing, but the air around him, as he rode his bicycle, seemed to crackle with silent displeasure. Xu Ying hurried to catch up, riding shoulder to shoulder with him, carefully coaxing. “Don’t be angry. I promise I won’t do it again.”
Huo Chen’s lips twitched, and he turned his head, his expression instantly devoid of emotion. “Really?”
“Really,” Xu Ying affirmed, looking at him earnestly.
Huo Chen turned back, a wave of profound happiness washing over him. They rode side by side and the journey that should have taken over an hour seemingly vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Xu Ying had brought no luggage with her and t o make amends to Huo Chen, she decided she would report for work the next morning. Huo Chen’s heart swelled. The thought that she would delay her work for him meant that Yingying truly cared about him .
They stopped at the market first, buying meat and vegetables, before heading home. “Come on, I’ll cook for you,” Xu Ying offered with a smile.
Huo Chen followed her into the yard, then into the kitchen. “I’ll help you.”
Xu Ying didn’t stand on ceremony. A man, after all, was meant to be put to use. “Okay, you can wash the vegetables there and cut the meat into bite size peices.”
Huo Chen obediently set to work, washing and chopping with practiced ease. Xu Ying watched his profile. How could she have been so blind in her past life, chasing after Dong Wenzhong when such a handsome man was right infront of her?
Huo Chen suddenly turned feeling her gaze , and found her smiling face was unexpectedly closeer to him . His eyes lingered on her red lips for moment , a fleeting thought momentarily clouding his mind. Xu Ying hadn’t anticipated his sudden turn. Her heart pounded as she felt his closeness.
“You—” Xu Ying began, but before she could finish her words , Huo Chen leaned in, his lips start brushing hers in a gentle kiss that soon deepened, exploring with more intensity. Xu Ying stared at him in shock seeing his proactive approach , her hands involuntarily clutching at his collar.