Dong Sisi returned that evening with a grim expression. However, when she saw Lu Huan, she didn’t react with her usual sarcastic tone. Wei Jia even noticed that Dong Sisi seemed afraid upon spotting Lu Huan.
Wei Jia immediately recalled the viral video online, in it, Lu Huan had spoken those words while Dong Sisi was standing right across from her.
Lu Huan’s video had been circulating around campus over the past few days, sparking widespread condemnation and ridicule toward Jiang Wenshu.
After all, the only reason Jiang Wenshu had managed to win over someone as exceptional as Lu Huan was due to her “heroic rescue.” Later, Lu Huan clarified that she had been drawn to Jiang Wenshu because she seemed different only to realize she was just like everyone else.
As it turned out, Jiang Wenshu had coincidentally appeared during the last of the ten times Lu Huan was being bullied, yet she had exaggerated her role as if it were some grand feat.
Most people had only befriended Jiang Wenshu because she was Lu Huan’s girlfriend. They were curious about Lu Huan but found her unapproachable, so they directed their attention toward Jiang Wenshu instead.
Now that everyone knew Jiang Wenshu had used such underhanded methods to pursue Lu Huan, they looked down on her and began distancing themselves.
None of this seemed to affect Lu Huan. She continued attending classes as usual and going to the cafeteria with her roommates after school.
In the evenings, Lou Qing often dragged her to play games with Cui Lin and the others. Occasionally, her roommates Wei Jia and Wu Xinyu would join.
One day, as Lu Huan and her roommates were leaving class, she spotted a figure standing in the distance. The person noticed her too, a smile playing on their lips that didn’t quite reach their eyes.
Lu Huan hadn’t expected An Ke to show up at her school. Remembering that Yu Lan had already obtained solid evidence, she quickly guessed why An Ke had come.
“Jiajia, Xinyu, you two head back to the dorm first. I’ll catch up later,” Lu Huan said.
“What’s wrong?” Wu Xinyu had also noticed An Ke, it was hard to miss her striking buzz cut and the tattoo on her neck.
Students leaving class had taken notice of the woman, stopping to stare curiously. Some girls even let out small squeals, nudging each other as they debated whether to approach and ask for her contact information.
An Ke’s edgy, handsome appearance and unique style held an inexplicable allure for the students.
It was no wonder so many girls had been drawn to her in the past, giving her opportunities to take advantage.
Lu Huan waited until Wei Jia and the others were farther away before walking over. Because of what happened at the bar last time, she was still afraid of An Ke. But with so many people around, she mustered the courage to ask, “Wh-what do you want?”
An Ke took the cigarette from her lips and blew smoke into Lu Huan’s face. Watching the girl cough in discomfort seemed to amuse her. Leaning in with a narrowed gaze, she asked, “Where did you hide it, sweetheart? Hand it over, will you?”
“Hide what?” Lu Huan covered her mouth with her hand, timidly taking a step back.
“Don’t play dumb with me,” An Ke’s expression darkened. “That bitch Yu Lan sent it to you, don’t tell me you don’t know.”
“I really don’t know.” Lu Huan wasn’t lying Yu Lan truly hadn’t sent her anything.
But An Ke didn’t care about that. She grabbed Lu Huan’s wrist with a smile and said, “How about you message Yu Lan and tell her to return what she stole?”
Though she was smiling, her expression was anything but friendly. Lu Huan struggled, but her strength was no match for An Ke’s.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I don’t know anyone named Yu Lan either,” Lu Huan insisted, tugging at her wrist in an attempt to break free.
An Ke scoffed, her smile vanishing as she coldly retorted, “Do you think I’m stupid? Last time I took her to get a tattoo, you were there.”
Lu Huan had initially thought An Ke had discovered her messages with Yu Lan, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. Shaking her head, she said, “I left early that day.”
“Don’t play games with me, sweetheart,” An Ke warned. “If you don’t know Yu Lan, then have your Lou Qing contact her. Surely you can’t claim not to know her, since the two of you came out of the room together that day.”
Just after Lou Qing had finished touching up a tattoo for a regular client, her phone on the counter rang. Xiao Mu, who was sitting nearby playing a game, glanced over and teased, “Boss, your little Huan Huan is calling.”
Lou Qing pressed a hand to the top of Xiao Mu’s head, ruffling her hair roughly before taking the phone outside. Answering the call, a smile touched her lips. “Huan Huan.”
“Sis.” The girl’s voice on the other end sounded urgent.
Lou Qing’s brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“Lou Qing.” Another woman’s voice came through the receiver. After a moment’s thought, Lou Qing recognized the familiar tone. “An Ke, what do you want with Lu Huan?”
An Ke chuckled. “No, I’m not looking for her right now. I’m looking for you.”
Ten minutes later, Lu Huan and An Ke arrived at Starry Sky Studio. Tattoo artists were still working on the first floor, but Lou Qing led the two of them upstairs, closing the door behind them. She pulled Lu Huan behind her before turning to An Ke. “What do you want?”
“Has Yu Lan contacted you?” An Ke stared intently at her, not missing a single expression.
“No,” Lou Qing replied without hesitation. “Her tattoo was touched up a few days ago. She has no reason to come back.”
An Ke narrowed her eyes, studying her for a long moment before saying, “Call her and tell her there are still some parts that need finishing.”
“Our transaction is over,” Lou Qing stated firmly.
An Ke pulled over a chair and sat down, tilting her chin up slightly as she glanced behind Lou Qing. “If you don’t want me waiting for her at her school every day, you’d better call her over.”
Just then, Lu Huan’s phone rang from her pocket. Instantly, An Ke’s gaze snapped back to her.
Lu Huan had a feeling it was Yu Lan calling.
“Who is it?” An Ke asked suspiciously when Lu Huan didn’t answer right away.
“It’s my roommate,” Lu Huan said, clutching the back of Lou Qing’s shirt as she looked at An Ke. “She wants to meet me for dinner at the cafeteria.”
An Ke clearly didn’t believe her and gestured for her to take out her phone.
Lu Huan could only hope it really was her roommate calling, but when she checked the caller ID, she knew that hope was dashed.
Lou Qing saw it too and shifted to shield the girl further.
An Ke, who had been sitting, immediately stood and snatched the phone from Lu Huan’s hand, answering it directly. “Where are you?”
A low and chilling voice made Lu Huan bury her face in Lou Qing’s back in fright. On the other end, Yu Lan was clearly terrified as well, but seeing the police in front of her, she mustered some courage and said, “I, I’m at home.”
“At home?” An Ke raised an eyebrow. “Where is it?”
” I won’t give it to you.” Yu Lan was following the police’s instructions to lure An Ke out.
An Ke replied, “It’s useless even if you take it. I still have backups here.”
Lu Huan knew this was a bluff. After all, when Yu Lan had copied the video, Lu Huan had used her system to locate and delete all the backups An Ke claimed to have.
Yu Lan was aware of this too, but she didn’t respond immediately. After a long pause, she asked, “How many backups do you have?”
Clearly, she had taken the bait. An Ke was pleased. “Come over, and I’ll tell you.”
Yu Lan hesitated, but An Ke continued, “You have half an hour. If I don’t see you by then, I’ll release your video.”
“I’ll come, don’t post it!” Yu Lan said urgently.
An Ke hung up, tossed the phone to Lu Huan, and sneered, “I never thought you’d lie too.”
Lu Huan didn’t dare to speak.
Lou Qing said, “Since the person you’re waiting for is coming, we’ll take our leave now.”
“I never said you could leave.” An Ke crossed her legs, sitting lazily. “If you don’t want your little darling to be harassed by me constantly, feel free to go.”
Lu Huan wasn’t afraid because she knew An Ke would soon be arrested, but she couldn’t say anything. Instead, she grabbed Lou Qing’s hand and said, “Sister, I’m not scared.”
An Ke raised an eyebrow.
Lou Qing, however, didn’t want to take the risk. An Ke was unpredictable when she lost her temper, and she couldn’t let Lu Huan face that danger.
There was a sofa in the room, so Lou Qing led Lu Huan to sit down.
Half an hour passed quickly. Footsteps echoed outside the door and An Ke instructed Lu Huan to open it.
When the door opened, Yu Lan was there, along with the police. An Ke, who had somehow moved to the window, saw the situation and immediately tried to jump out. However, the area outside was already surrounded by police, and she was arrested on the spot.
As An Ke turned to look out the window, she caught sight of Yu Lan and the others standing by the window. She said nothing, her expression calm, as the police escorted her to the car.
Yu Lan took a step back, moving away from the window.
“Are you okay?” Lu Huan asked anxiously.
Yu Lan shook her head.
But her face was pale, and she seemed preoccupied. It didn’t look like she was fine, but since she didn’t say anything, Lu Huan didn’t press further.
News of An Ke’s arrest quickly spread through their circle, especially shocking Jiang Wenshu. When she heard the news, she found it hard to believe.
Back when Lu Huan had broken up with her, she had mentioned that An Ke had drugged her. But to Jiang Wenshu, it had seemed like a distant, insignificant matter something she hadn’t witnessed firsthand.
Now, with An Ke arrested, many of her acquaintances were summoned to the police station, some facing charges similar to An Ke’s.