Сhарtеr 22: Оur Relationshiр Is Аlreadу So Sordid
“Тhеу’vе аll bеen fоund. It wаs Хiа Shi and her grоup.”
Gu Yanche рlаyеd with а lightеr, wаtсhing Xiе Zоngхun’s icy ехprеssion. His voiсe drоpped slightlу. “We grеw up tоgеther. Don’t gо too far.”
Хiе Zоngхun’s voicе wаs соld, his lowerеd eуes revеaling no еmotion. “Тhey didn’t think abоut gоing tоo fаr whеn they werе hitting my wоmаn.”
“Your… womаn?”
Gu Yanchе rollеd thе wоrds arоund in his mouth, finding them аmusing no mattеr hоw hе heard them.
He was just about tо tеase a few mоrе words when Wen Yао arrived.
She wore a pale yellow thin jacket, her hair tied in a high ponytail. Even with a mask on, she was stunning enough.
Wen Yao got into the car, her face feeling a bit stifled. Thinking only Xie Zongxun was there, she removed her mask.
Xie Zongxun glanced sideways. Still so red. The marks on her body were hard to fade; who knew when they would fully heal.
“Tsk, that really is a bit harsh. I take back what I just said.”
Gu Yanche glanced over and let out a soft click of his tongue. Such a fair, clean face had been beaten to a pulp. Anyone who saw it would think it was pretty pitiful.
Hearing the sound, Wen Yao glanced back. Gu Yanche raised an eyebrow in greeting. “Gu Yanche.”
Wen Yao smiled politely and replied, “Hello, I’m Wen Yao.”
Xie Zongxun drove the car to Chunwu, a bar Gu Yanche opened for fun. He had poured a lot of money into it, and its style was exaggerated and flashy.
“What are we doing?”
Wen Yao had never been to a bar before and instinctively resisted.
Gu Yanche smiled with an air of frivolity, his tone lazy.
“Your man is backing you up, little sister.”
What did that mean?
It wasn’t until Xie Zongxun led her into a private room that she clearly saw the people inside—the very group who had beaten her yesterday.
Her mind was a bit chaotic. She didn’t understand Xie Zongxun’s intention.
Xie Zongxun pulled her into his embrace, his tone brooking no argument. “Apologize.”
Xia Shi’s face was burning with pain at the moment. Seeing it was Wen Yao, she couldn’t help but lose her temper again. “Apologize my ass! Xie Zongxun, have you gone crazy? How dare you have people hit me!”
The person behind her directly kicked the back of her knee, forcing Xia Shi to her knees. She lifted her chin, a look of arrogance on her face, and sneered coldly at Wen Yao.
“A woman who’s been played rotten, and you still have the nerve? Running to tattle to your sugar daddy, huh? You seductive fox, you’re utterly disgusting!”
Wen Yao clenched her fists and took a deep breath.
She raised her hand and delivered two merciless slaps across Xia Shi’s face.
Her tone was flat, without much fluctuation, as if settling an old debt years later.
She just wanted to resolve the matter from back then, not the emotions from back then.
“You hit me twice last time. This is me returning it.”
Call it bullying with borrowed power if you will. She didn’t want to suffer grievances for no reason. Having someone to back her up, not using it would be foolish.
Besides, Xie Zongxun hadn’t bullied her any less either. It was just dogs biting dogs. She didn’t care what others said or how they looked at it.
Xie Zongxun glanced at Wen Yao, then looked coldly at the kneeling Xia Shi. “Last time I’ll say it. Apologize.”
His expression was unpleasant; it wasn’t hard to see his anger.
To be honest, Xia Shi had never seen Xie Zongxun with this expression before. Since childhood, the impression he gave others was always indifferent, as if he didn’t care about anything.
That kind of person was the most terrifying. Once they had something they cared about, they would probably guard it with everything they had.
She opened her mouth, having calmed down as well. With a livid face, she bowed to Wen Yao and said, “I’m sorry.”
Wen Yao pressed her lips together and replied coolly, “Mm.”Xie Zongxun noticed her expression softening, took her hand, and led her out of the private room. His tone was casual, as if the earlier commotion had never happened.
“Shall we go to Yuanshan to eat?”
Wen Yao nodded.
As they got into the car, a shadow of worry suddenly crossed her brow. She tugged at the hem of Xie Zongxun’s clothes, her voice meek and obedient.
“She said her father is a major shareholder at the school and could fire me anytime he wants.”
Xie Zongxun took her hand, rubbing it gently in his palm, offering her a reassuring answer.
“He wouldn’t dare.”
Along the way, Xie Zongxun couldn’t help but recall Wen Yao’s resolute and composed expression from earlier.
It wasn’t quite what he had expected.
He voiced the discrepancy he felt.
“I didn’t expect you to fight back.”
Wen Yao was taken aback for a moment before slowly replying, “Having someone to rely on and not using it would be foolish.”
After a brief pause, she corrected herself.
“I shouldn’t put it that way. You’re not my reliance.”
Xie Zongxun raised his eyes slightly.
“Do you want that?”
“Want what?”
“Do you want me to be your reliance?”
Wen Yao answered decisively, “No.”
“Hmm?”
She tilted her head, as if seriously contemplating the question before speaking. “I want to rely on myself, to depend only on myself throughout my life. During university, I studied hard, looked for internships and part-time jobs, saved some money to support my sister’s education and pay for my grandmother’s surgery.”
“After graduating, I’ll find a job, preferably as a translator or in the foreign ministry. Once I’m settled, I’ll bring my grandmother and sister to live with me. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll just return to my hometown.”
Wen Yao’s eyes sparkled as she spoke of her dreams for the future—a vision she had imagined countless times, now flowing smoothly and effortlessly from her lips.
Xie Zongxun’s chest tightened, as if filled with countless tiny bubbles, sour and swollen.
In her eyes, achieving these things would take so many years. Were these things, in her view, already enough to be considered a good life?
He asked, “What about falling in love?”
Wen Yao shook her head. “No.”
“Someone like me… wouldn’t be fair to anyone else.”
Xie Zongxun frowned. “Is being with me that disgraceful?”
Wen Yao took a deep breath, her gaze steady and calm.
“It’s this relationship itself that’s disgraceful.”
“You forced me at first, but later, I did accept it. If I were truly steadfast, I should have found a building to jump from.”
“But I didn’t. I didn’t dare.”
“And the condition you offered—arranging surgery for my grandmother—I couldn’t refuse. I have no backbone.”
“I surrendered to the oppressive force.”
The more Xie Zongxun listened, the more uncomfortable he felt. This was how she saw herself.
“Am I the oppressive force?”
“Yes.”
Xie Zongxun abruptly stopped the car, his expression serious and his tone earnest.
“Wen Yao, I don’t mind you using me or anything like that.”
“We’re compatible in bed, and outside of it, I don’t mind indulging you.”
This was the first time he had voiced his inner thoughts to her.
In fact, if things continued as they were, he probably wouldn’t grow tired of her for a long time.
He felt he hadn’t treated her too badly. Sometimes, he even felt a desire to spoil her.
“I’m hungry.”
Wen Yao clearly had no intention of continuing this conversation. Deep down, she resented him.
But she had no control over this predicament. In the end, she was merely a plaything in his palm.
All she hoped for now was that he would grow tired of her soon.
To let her go early, so she could live a normal life.Ordinary, common, with small bits of happiness.
After finishing her meal, Wen Yao returned to the dormitory.
Only Tang Li was in the dorm. Wen Yao had tried to initiate conversations with her many times that morning, but had been rejected every time.
It was a bit awkward now, but she still greeted her.
Tang Li ignored her.
After an unknown amount of time, Tang Li sighed, sounding somewhat annoyed, then turned and asked Wen Yao:
“Is Xie Zongxun pursuing you?”