"Get away from me!"
Liu Yuan shoved Qin Ruoyao aside.
To him, Qin Ruoyao was nothing more than a plaything he could discard at any moment.
Between a woman and his company, he naturally chose the company.
Liu Yuan grabbed Qin Ruoyao by her hair. "The role you wanted—I won’t give it to you. And don’t even think about appearing in any of the dramas I or my friends invest in!"
With that, he threw her aside.
Qin Ruoyao sat on the floor, her face pale.
She had worked so hard, sacrificed so much, and now it was all gone…
Why?
Why was fate so cruel to her, taking everything away and reducing her to a despised outcast?
Even her last hope for a comeback was being ripped away…
"No, I can’t just give up like this."
Qin Ruoyao forced herself to stand up, her body trembling.
"I will rise again, radiant and admired by all."
"I will."
In a daze, Qin Ruoyao returned to her apartment.
Sitting in her rented room, she was consumed by an overwhelming hatred for Lin Xuan, Su Hua, and Lin Li.
Lin Xuan and Su Hua returned to Night Garden.
While Lin Xuan was in the shower, Su Hua picked up her phone and gave an order. "After Lin Xuan leaves for school tomorrow, bring Qin Ruoyao to me."
The bodyguard was taken aback.
He had thought Su Hua had let Qin Ruoyao off the hook.
But it seemed she was just biding her time for revenge…
Perhaps Su Hua didn’t want Lin Xuan to see her handling Qin Ruoyao, fearing he might find her methods too ruthless.
The bodyguard felt he had figured it out.
"Yes, ma’am," he replied respectfully.
Su Hua set her phone down.
Her beautiful eyes gleamed with a cold light.
Thinking of making Lin Xuan her lover?
Hah—
Anyone who dared to covet Lin Xuan wouldn’t live to see another day.
She placed her phone aside as the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. A shadow flickered in her eyes.
Barefoot, she stepped onto the soft carpet and pushed open the bathroom door.
Inside the bathroom, Lin Xuan was still showering, water cascading down from the showerhead.
"Su Hua, you’re awake? Why aren’t you resting?"
On the way back, she had fallen asleep, so he had carried her to bed to let her rest.
Su Hua didn’t respond. Her star-like eyes simply gazed at him as she stepped closer.
Lin Xuan reached to turn off the shower, but Su Hua suddenly stopped his hand, letting the water soak her.
Her white silk dress clung to her body, revealing her graceful curves.
She stood on her tiptoes and whispered into his ear, her breath warm, "Lin Xuan, help me wash up, won’t you?"
Under the shower, their figures intertwined, blurred by the falling water.
The next day, Lin Xuan left for Qing University.
Su Hua, dressed in a red cheongsam, sat on the living room sofa, flipping through a business magazine.
Meanwhile, her bodyguards arrived at Qin Ruoyao’s apartment.
Qin Ruoyao was sitting on the floor, drinking, surrounded by empty bottles.
Two bodyguards broke in.
Qin Ruoyao, half-drunk, glared at them. "What are you doing here? This is my home. Get out!"
"Miss Qin, our boss has invited you to Night Garden," one of the bodyguards said before knocking her out.
When Qin Ruoyao woke up, she found herself in the trunk of a car, her hands tied and her mouth taped shut.
"Mmh—!"
She struggled desperately, her eyes filled with terror.
The car entered Night Garden.
"Come with us!" Qin Ruoyao was dragged inside and thrown to the ground.
When she looked up, she saw Su Hua sitting on the sofa. The woman wore a rose-colored silk cheongsam, embroidered with golden threads that formed intricate patterns. The slit of her dress revealed her pale, glowing thigh.
The tight cheongsam accentuated her curvaceous figure.
A red coral hairpin adorned her hair.
Every gesture, every smile exuded classical elegance and a unique charm.
Qin Ruoyao was stunned.
Su Hua was dazzling, making her feel like insignificant dust in comparison.
"Qin Ruoyao," Su Hua stood up and walked toward her, step by step.
Qin Ruoyao regained some composure.
Why had Su Hua summoned her? Was it because of yesterday’s incident?
The thought made her knees buckle.
"Thud—"
She fell to her knees, trembling.
"Miss Su, please spare me. I beg you."
"I’ll never do it again."
Su Hua’s slender fingers lifted Qin Ruoyao’s chin, her grip turning it red.
Qin Ruoyao’s delicate body shook.
"Your fragile appearance is quite pitiful. Is this how you seduced Lin Xuan before?" Su Hua narrowed her eyes.
Lin Xuan’s previous affection for Qin Ruoyao had been unbearable to watch.
She had long wanted to deal with Qin Ruoyao.
But fearing it would irreparably damage her relationship with Lin Xuan, she had held back.
After Qin Ruoyao was disgraced and expelled from school by Lin Xuan, Su Hua had let her be.
"I had almost forgotten about you. But then you had to reappear and catch my attention again. Last time, it was Lin Xuan who dealt with you. This time, it’s my turn," Su Hua said with a low, chilling laugh.
Her radiant smile seemed like a demon’s grin to Qin Ruoyao.
Qin Ruoyao trembled even more, her lips quivering.
"Qin Ruoyao, do you know my usual methods?" Su Hua’s lips curved into a smirk.
She paused, then continued, "I prefer making people wish they were dead."
Su Hua gestured, and Butler Wang handed her a knife.
"Su Hua, are you going to kill me?" Qin Ruoyao asked, her voice shaking.
"No, death is too kind. I said I prefer making people suffer."
Su Hua signaled, and bodyguards pinned Qin Ruoyao down, rendering her immobile.
The tip of Su Hua’s knife pierced Qin Ruoyao’s skin, cutting into her flesh.
"Ahhh—!" Qin Ruoyao screamed in agony.
Su Hua, expressionless, carved two characters into Qin Ruoyao’s face—one on each cheek. Blood dripped down.
Only then did Su Hua release her.
Qin Ruoyao’s trembling hands hovered over her face, afraid to touch it.
"My face… it’s ruined," Qin Ruoyao cried, her tears stinging the fresh wounds.
Her entire body shook with pain.
"Qin Ruoyao, toying with someone’s feelings comes with a price, understand?"
"Look at you, so delusional you thought you could make Lin Xuan your lover."
Su Hua stood up.
With a clang, she dropped the knife to the floor.
"Since you’ve lost your mind, I’ll have you sent to a mental institution for treatment. Qin Ruoyao, I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of there."