5
I didn’t understand her intense malice
L
My parents, even with limited internet access,
knew about the drama. They were so upset,
they ended up in the hospital. I was running
around like crazy.
Cheng Yingnan seemed unaffected by the
online drama, helping me with everything at
the hospital, winning over my parents.
“Don’t worry. When the online buzz reaches
its peak, it’s the best time to strike back.”
Sitting in the hospital corridor, sharing my
potato and beef stew with Cheng Yingnan, I
sighed.
“I don’t mind. Even if we can’t find the
evidence, they’ll forget about it eventually. It’s
just that I involved you, an innocent person.”
Cheng Yingnan smiled, sipping his soup,
before speaking. “I’m not so innocent.”
The next day, someone threw paint at my
apartment and tried to break in. Luckily, I
wasn’t home.
く
When I went to the police station to give my
statement, Cheng Yingnan was live–streaming
outside my wrecked apartment.
He found the bar’s security footage, showing
me leaving the VIP room and then Alex and a
half–dressed Su Xia leaving together.
Then, he showed our childhood photos,
calmly saying, “Lily and I grew up together. I
went abroad after high school, and I came
back for her wedding.”
“But her fiancé ran away and then teamed up
with another woman to insult her. He cheated
on her.”
“Now, the mistress and the ex are bullying
her, thinking she’s weak and helpless.
Pathetic.”
Cheng Yingnan stopped there, ending the live
stream and posting legal letters regarding
Alex’s illegal entry and Su Xia’s slander.
The police quickly caught the vandals, and it
turned out Su Xia had hired them.
When I left, Alex was waiting at the police
station, looking awful.
“Now you’re playing games with me?”
I ignored him and walked away, provoking him
further.
“Childhood sweethearts. Great. Lily, do you
like me or him? Tell me honestly!”
I stopped, Alex bumped into me. He sighed
and pulled me into a hug.
“Stop this, okay? I won’t let other women get
close to me. Can’t we go back to how it was
before?”
I pushed him away, looking at him coldly.
“Alex, what do you think I am?”
“Do you think I’m so lowly? I work hard, take
everything, and for what? I’m a person too. I
don’t like you anymore. I don’t want to be
with you. Can’t you understand?”
Cheng Yingnan’s car pulled up. I got in,
く
watching Alex standing there, stunned.
“You were so mean to me. If I get back
together with you, I’d be crazy.”
Cheng Yingnan didn’t speak for a while. I felt
the tension and initiated a conversation.
“Thanks for helping me.”
He looked at me at a red light. “I came back
once after you graduated college.
وو
“I saw Alex. Maybe he has a bad memory; he
doesn’t remember me now.”
His words were cryptic. “What?”
Cheng Yingnan parked by the river, turning to
- me. “Walk? Clear your head.”
I nodded. We walked side–by–side, his tone
flat, as if talking about something
insignificant.
“That year, I was going abroad and wanted to
say goodbye properly. But my father had a
sudden emergency overseas, and I had to
leave in the middle of the night. I’m sorry.
99
The evening breeze brushed my face. I looked at him. “It’s okay. I know you had a difficult
time.”
