The short-haired girl was named Lu Xuanxuan, also a young heiress from a wealthy family.
She had met Tong Yao before and got to know Bai Song through her.
Unlike the rational and capable Tong Yao, Lu Xuanxuan had an older brother who inherited the family business, expanded their empire, and shouldered the responsibility of supporting the family. As for her, she was born to be a pampered young lady who never had to lift a finger.
The young heiress was free-spirited and unrestrained, doing whatever she pleased without ever compromising her own happiness.
She first met Bai Song at a party hosted by a mutual friend.
At first, she was merely curious about the person by Tong Yao’s side, but soon found herself completely captivated.
Bai Song had an exquisitely refined face, yet her eyes held a naive, bewildered innocence that made people want to tease her.
She wore a perfectly practiced smile as she followed Tong Yao, appearing effortlessly composed, seamlessly blending into the banquet and the crowd around her.
But in truth, her eyes betrayed her she was afraid of this environment, overwhelmed, even resistant.
No matter who approached her, even with the friendliest greetings, she would startle like a frightened rabbit, her gaze fluttering nervously, a faint blush rising on her cheeks, her hands and feet fidgeting awkwardly.
Yet she never lost her poise.
With a slight lowering of her panicked eyes, she would reopen them, most of the fear already dissipated.
She would raise her glass, flashing a bright, confident smile, responding to whatever was said with grace and composure.
What an intriguing person.
Lu Xuanxuan was instantly smitten by this seemingly strong exterior that, when peeled back, revealed a soft, sweet core.
Even knowing Bai Song was Tong Yao’s girlfriend, she was determined to pursue what she wanted.
Miss Lu launched an aggressive pursuit of Bai Song.
But every advance was firmly and unequivocally rejected.
Undeterred, Lu Xuanxuan only grew more persistent, convinced that Bai Song was truly the one for her!
Then, when the Tong family rejected Bai Song, throwing their relationship into crisis and forcing Tong Yao to sever ties with the Tong Group, Lu Xuanxuan sensed her opportunity had arrived.
Even now, she still remembered.
That afternoon, the sunlight was warm and gentle. She had specially invited Bai Song to a cat café downtown.
She had noticed that Bai Song was actually quite shy and socially awkward, preferring animals over people.
So she thoughtfully chose a café themed around chubby orange tabbies, hoping the adorable, plump feline hosts would help Bai Song relax and perhaps accept her.
Unfortunately, Bai Song arrived late, as if she had run all the way there.
Breathless, her forehead and the tip of her nose glistening with fine beads of sweat.
Flustered, Bai Song gulped down the glass of ice water in front of her the moment she sat down, then licked her lips.
Her soft, pink lips shimmered with a dewy gloss.
Just as Lu Xuanxuan was lost in admiration of her beauty, Bai Song smiled.
That smile her dark eyes sparkling like stars left Lu Xuanxuan utterly spellbound.
“Miss Lu, I’m sorry. I’ve already made myself clear before, and I declined this invitation too. But since you insisted on meeting, I thought it would be better to say this to you in person one more time.”
“I’m rejecting you not as some tactic of playing hard to get or anything like that. Tong Yao and I are doing well, I love her. Whether she’s the successor to the Tong Group or not, in my heart, she’s just Tong Yao. Since I chose her, I chose all of her. So please don’t say things like that anymore. If she saw this, she’d be heartbroken. I’m sorry, but she’s waiting for me, I have to go now.”
After drinking a glass of water and saying her piece, Bai Song stood up, apologized, and hurriedly took her leave.
All that remained was Lu Xuanxuan, watching Bai Song’s retreating figure as she rushed back to her beloved. The joy she had felt upon Bai Song’s arrival for their meeting instantly dissolved into a bitter, tangled mess of emotions.
Bai Song was truly wonderful.
Deep in the throes of love, Bai Song’s eyes sparkled whenever she spoke of Tong Yao, as if glowing with light, her entire being radiating sweet, pink bubbles of happiness.
That blissful expression made it impossible for anyone to bear disturbing her.
By choosing Tong Yao, Bai Song had effectively positioned herself against the Tong Group.
Even if Bai Song had some assets of her own, sooner or later, the Tong Group would scheme to take them away.
Everyone knew that Tong Yao had given up a bright future for Bai Song.
Whenever people mentioned Bai Song, it was always with a critical eye. But no one ever considered that Bai Song, in choosing to stand by Tong Yao, had also prepared herself to give up everything.
If only the person Bai Song loved were her, how wonderful that would be.
Lu Xuanxuan gave up.
Not because she no longer liked Bai Song.
But because she liked Bai Song even more.
She truly adored Bai Song.
The Bai Song she loved should be loyal and unwavering, willing to weather any storm with the one she cherished.
If Bai Song had abandoned Tong Yao just because she was no longer part of the Tong family, then she wouldn’t have been the Bai Song Lu Xuanxuan loved in the first place.
Since she couldn’t have Bai Song, and couldn’t bear to watch her flaunt her love with another woman, Lu Xuanxuan chose to stay far away.
Out of sight, out of mind yet she never expected their reunion to be under such lamentable circumstances.
But where was Tong Yao?
The Tong Yao whom Bai Song loved so deeply, the one she refused to abandon?
Bai Song was so gravely ill, why was she wandering the streets alone, even collapsing with such injuries?
Could it be they had broken up?
A suspicion formed in Lu Xuanxuan’s mind. Without calling Tong Yao, she hurried into the hospital room to check on Bai Song first.
When Lu Xuanxuan returned to the ward, she was still unsettled. She didn’t know whether Bai Song was aware of her illness or if she should be the one to break the news.
Bai Song was already awake, though in poor condition her face as pale as paper, even her lips drained of color.
She had lost so much weight that she nearly disappeared beneath the blankets.
Seeing Lu Xuanxuan, Bai Song was visibly surprised. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out at first. After clearing her throat twice, she finally spoke hoarsely, “So it was you who saved me. Thank you.”
Otherwise, she might have died in agony on the street.
Lu Xuanxuan stared at her, her eyes instantly reddening.
How had she become so gaunt in less than half a year?
The doctors had said it was only in the mid-stages, why did she look so terminally ill already?
It was as if she were beyond saving.
Looking at Bai Song’s exhausted gaze and sallow complexion, Lu Xuanxuan’s heart ached so much that tears welled up. Suppressing a sob, she asked, “Song, how did you end up like this?”
Bai Song struggled to lift her hand, touching her own face with a faint smile. “Have I gotten uglier? Can’t be helped, I’m sick.”
Her heart was uneasy as she tried her best to cover the bruises, blue and purple, scattered across her body.
But there were simply too many. Even raising her arm revealed a ring of red marks around her wrist from being bound, and her neck was covered in love bites.
Bai Song pulled the blanket tighter, wanting to hide beneath it.
The system raised an eyebrow. “You’re not thinking of asking Lu Xuanxuan to save you, are you?”
It seemed like a good idea, but after a moment’s thought, Bai Song shook her head.
“Forget it. Lu Xuanxuan is just a young girl, how could she possibly stand against Tong Yao? Rather than dragging her down with me, it’d be better if she could just sponsor me some money so I can run far away.”
Lu Xuanxuan looked at her, unable to bear the sight of Bai Song’s calm expression, as if she didn’t even care about such a serious illness. Finally, she couldn’t hold back anymore she collapsed onto Bai Song’s body and burst into loud sobs. “How… how could it be you?”
It was the same outcry every patient’s family made upon learning the cruel truth. Bai Song knew she wasn’t looking for an answer just a way to vent.
Bai Song didn’t speak. Instead, she gently stroked Lu Xuanxuan’s head, resting against her chest.
Her hand, parched from dehydration, was much rougher than before. When it accidentally brushed against Lu Xuanxuan’s delicate forehead, it left the tender skin reddened.