Chapter 81: How Dare You Bring Up the Past?
Xu Ruming’s intention was to have Xie Qingling and Xu Qingsui fight and wear each other out while she simply watched from the sidelines.
Now that Xie Qingling was suddenly asking her for help, it left her at a bit of a loss.
But she had laid this path herself. Now that things had come to this, it was impossible for her to wash her hands of the matter.
Her heart was a mess of conflict, but in the end, she could only bite the bullet and say, "If there’s anything I can do to help, I certainly won’t refuse. It’s just that recently, because of Xu Qingsui, Brother Ling’an and I have been targeted. I don’t mind for myself, but I can’t drag Brother Ling’an into more trouble."
Xu Ruming tactfully demurred, trying to avoid getting herself involved.
"I know this is a difficult thing to ask, and it might even affect you, but I just got here and truly don’t have anyone else to turn to. I can only rely on you."
"But rest assured, if Jing Yu really does try to involve you later on, I won’t just stand by and watch. I’ll make sure this fire doesn’t spread to you."
There was no refusing now. Hearing Xie Qingling say she would take responsibility, Xu Ruming’s mind started turning again.
’Since Xie Qingling said so, doesn’t this mean I can go after Xu Qingsui without any worries?’
’If something goes wrong, I can just push the blame onto Xie Qingling.’
Xu Ruming had an almost perverse obsession with bullying Xu Qingsui; there was no way she would pass up this opportunity.
"Since Guide Xie has already said so, then I have nothing to worry about. I wonder, what would Guide Xie like me to do?"
"For now, I’m not sure what Jing Yu’s intentions are, so I don’t want to blow things out of proportion. Perhaps we can start with a warning. If she knows when to back down, we can just let this matter go."
Hearing Xie Qingling’s words, Xu Ruming’s eyes lit up.
When it came to dealing with Xu Qingsui, even the slightest suggestion was enough for her to come up with countless methods.
She nodded at once. "Leave this to me! But if Captain Lu finds out..."
Having learned her lesson a few times in this matter, Xu Ruming was being rather cautious.
"Don’t worry. If Jing Yu finds out, I definitely won’t let him punish you."
A glint in her eyes, Xu Ruming immediately took her leave to prepare her plan.
After Xu Ruming left, Xie Qingling’s expression changed instantly. She glanced at the pastries on the table and, with a look of disgust, swept the plate into the trash can.
"What a joke! Trying to use me as her weapon? Then go ahead and test Lu Jingyu’s limits for me!"
The recent turmoil didn’t seem to affect Xu Qingsui. As always, she went to the cafeteria for her meals every day.
As for the various stares she received along the way, they didn’t bother her in the slightest. After all, back at the Xu Family’s home—thanks to Xu Ruming—she had been baptized by such gazes daily and had long since grown indifferent to them.
However, Lu Jingyu might have been affected by something, as he hadn’t shown his face for two days.
Xu Qingsui just figured Lu Jingyu’s ability to handle pressure was a bit weak and didn’t give it much thought.
One day, as she was on her way to the cafeteria, a hand grabbed her from behind as she passed a small alley, yanking her into it.
Her experience from her past life in the Apocalypse kept Xu Qingsui on high alert. She reacted instantly, aiming a side kick at her attacker.
But her opponent was prepared. He caught her leg and simultaneously pressed his whole body forward. He pinned one of her arms and a leg as he slammed her against the wall.
Immobilized, Xu Qingsui could only look at her attacker.
A familiar face came into view, and Xu Qingsui immediately furrowed her brows.
Shen Ling’an!
Knowing about Shen Ling’an’s past with the body’s original owner, Xu Qingsui felt a wave of physical revulsion at seeing him so close.
She struggled to break free from his hold, but Shen Ling’an had been prepared and held her firmly against the wall.
Ever since Xu Qingsui had taken back the Jade Pendant and struck him, Shen Ling’an had sensed there was a side to her he didn’t know.
And having recently seen her with his own eyes—influencing events from Lu Jingyu’s side—he had grown increasingly suspicious of Xu Qingsui’s true abilities.
He had been wanting to talk to Xu Qingsui alone recently. Just now, he’d happened to run into her on her way to the cafeteria and, on a whim, decided to test her.
That was why he had come prepared and anticipated her counterattack, which was how he’d successfully managed to restrain her.
Feeling the palm that had caught Xu Qingsui’s kick growing slightly warm, Shen Ling’an was inwardly surprised. If he hadn’t prepared in advance, that kick would have likely made him suffer again.
"Let me go!"
Staring at Shen Ling’an’s face right in front of her own, Xu Qingsui’s tone was ice-cold.
A corner of Shen Ling’an’s mouth lifted. "Qing Sui, no need to be so cold to me, is there? After all, we grew up together. Isn’t there anything we can’t talk about nicely?"
Hearing Shen Ling’an call her so intimately already made Xu Qingsui sick to her stomach, but his next words made her want to vomit up last night’s dinner.
She tried to struggle again, but Shen Ling’an was ready for it, so she had no choice but to give up.
"Shen Ling’an, are you even capable of having a decent conversation? If you had told me back then that you two had gotten together, I could have just let go and backed out. But what did you do?"
"And now you’re telling me to have a ’decent conversation’? Do you have any right to say that?"
"Can I take this to mean you’re blaming me for falling for someone else?"
Already feeling disgusted, Xu Qingsui spat right in Shen Ling’an’s face upon hearing him say such a thing.
Shen Ling’an, who had still been smiling, his face instantly darkened. He freed a hand, grabbed Xu Qingsui’s chin, and snarled, "So you’re choosing to do this the hard way, is that it?"
"Xu Qingsui, do you think you can look down on me now that you’ve latched onto Lu Jingyu?"
"Let me tell you, you’re just a woman I cast aside. No matter who you latch onto, you’re still just my leftovers."
"Besides, you think Lu Jingyu can actually protect you? I’m telling you, he can barely protect himself. Don’t count on him to save you."
Xu Qingsui narrowed her eyes. ’So Shen Ling’an is plotting something, and it might be even more serious than I initially thought.’
"Xu Qingsui, you really surprise me. Weren’t you so chaste when you were with me, guarding your body like it was precious jade? So how exactly did you please Lu Jingyu?"
"Your backer won’t be standing for much longer. I can give you a chance, for old times’ sake. As long as you serve me well, I can still protect you after Lu Jingyu falls."
As he spoke, Shen Ling’an brought his nose to Xu Qingsui’s neck and sniffed deeply.
A gust of hot, moist breath hit Xu Qingsui’s neck. She couldn’t take it anymore. Bracing herself against the wall, she kicked her free leg straight at Shen Ling’an’s crotch.
Shen Ling’an never expected Xu Qingsui could still move. He suddenly felt a cold dread spread through his groin.