After briefly explaining the situation and giving the address, she hung up the phone.
She tossed Gu Zhuoxiao’s phone back beside him and slipped the cigarette pack and lighter back into his pocket.
Only after finishing all that did she stand up and turn to leave.
But the moment she turned, a voice called out behind her: “Lin Zhao…”
Lin Zhao froze, spun around, and saw Pei Lezhi standing in the shadows of the alley, her face pale as she looked at her.
Pei Lezhi had seen everything that had just happened.
Lin Zhao had expected her to scream in fright, or to point a finger and call her a madwoman.
But Pei Lezhi simply walked quickly over. She glanced at Gu Zhuoxiao lying unconscious on the ground, then back at Lin Zhao. The fear in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by an almost excited expression.
“Did… you do this?” Pei Lezhi’s voice trembled slightly.
Lin Zhao nodded calmly. “Yes. I did it.”
She waited for Pei Lezhi’s scolding, for her questions.
Instead, Pei Lezhi grabbed her arm excitedly, eyes sparkling: “Well done! Lin Zhao, you’re amazing! You actually beat Gu Zhuoxiao like this! Finally, someone’s dealt with him!”
Lin Zhao was momentarily speechless.
“I’ve hated him for so long!” Pei Lezhi babbled on. “This afternoon, he suddenly had the nerve to send me harassing messages. I blocked him, and he used another account to send more. It was driving me crazy! If I weren’t physically weaker than him, I would’ve hit him ages ago!”
Lin Zhao patted Pei Lezhi on the shoulder. “Stop talking. The police should be here soon. Let’s leave before anyone sees us.”
Pei Lezhi nodded quickly. She glanced at Gu Zhuoxiao on the ground and asked worriedly, “What about him? If the police come, will they suspect us?”
“No,” Lin Zhao shook her head. “There are no cameras here.”
Pei Lezhi finally relaxed, nodding again. Then, as if remembering something, she snatched the cigarette from Lin Zhao’s hand and frowned: “You still smoke? That’s bad for your health. Don’t do it anymore.”
Lin Zhao nodded. “Got it. Let’s go.”
They didn’t waste any more time and quickly headed toward the alley exit.
The streetlights grew brighter as they approached the mouth of the alley, casting long shadows on the ground.
Lin Zhao was walking hastily and didn’t pay attention to where she was going. Her shoulder suddenly collided with someone.
The person staggered back a few steps, letting out a soft exhale.
Lin Zhao immediately stopped and opened her mouth to apologize, but froze the moment she saw the face.
The streetlight fell across the person’s face, revealing a delicate, clean-cut visage.
Xu Ning…
Xu Ning hadn’t expected to encounter Lin Zhao here either. She frowned and asked, “What are you doing here?”
Lin Zhao’s mind went blank. She opened her mouth, but no full sentence came out. She stammered, “I… I’m just passing by… passing by.”
Xu Ning clearly didn’t believe her and furrowed her brow even tighter.
Lin Zhao, fearing further questions, quickly changed the topic. “Aren’t you supposed to go see your grandmother at the hospital? Why are you here?”
“My grandfather’s home, so I came back first,” Xu Ning replied.
“Came back?”
Lin Zhao asked, “Your home… is here?”
Xu Ning nodded. “Yes.”
She said no more, and started to walk toward the alley Lin Zhao and Pei Lezhi had just come from.
Lin Zhao’s face went pale.
Gu Zhuoxiao was still lying in the alley.
If Xu Ning went in and saw him…
No!
She couldn’t let her go in!
She almost lunged forward and grabbed Xu Ning’s wrist, urgently saying, “Wait! Don’t go!”
Xu Ning stopped. She turned to look at Lin Zhao. “Do you need something?”
“I…”
Lin Zhao’s mind raced. Seeing the slight suspicion in Xu Ning’s eyes, she thought quickly and said, “It’s not safe for you to go home alone. What if you run into someone dangerous? Let us walk you home!”
She glanced back at Pei Lezhi, who immediately understood and chimed in: “Yes! Yes! We’ll walk you! It’s safer with more people!”
Xu Ning frowned and tried to pull her wrist free, but couldn’t. Without hesitation, she refused: “No need. My home is just ahead, very close.”
“That’s not acceptable!”
Lin Zhao held on tightly. “Think about it. If something happens, at least the three of us can escape together. You alone wouldn’t stand a chance!”
Xu Ning fell silent.
After a moment’s hesitation, she finally nodded.
Just as Xu Ning was about to step forward, Lin Zhao grabbed her again. “This alley has no streetlights. I’m afraid of the dark. Let’s take another route.”
She couldn’t let Xu Ning enter that alley. Even if it meant going out of their way, she had to guide her away.
Seeing Xu Ning didn’t speak, Lin Zhao lightly shook her arm and softly said, “Let’s take another route. I don’t want to go this way.”
Xu Ning froze. She hadn’t expected Lin Zhao—usually fearless—to be afraid of the dark.
She said nothing, just nodded and walked toward another street illuminated by streetlights. “Follow me.”