Chapter 041: The Proud and Stubborn Are Always Tough on the Outside, Soft on the Inside
The sound of dripping water echoed in the bathroom.
A cold wind whistled through the half-open window, making it hard to bear.
Ye Fuli had climbed over the wall to get in.
She had calculated everything perfectly, successfully evading surveillance cameras and security guards. But she had forgotten one crucial thing: there was a water basin in front of that tree.
In her previous life, that pond had long been filled with soil and planted with a profusion of roses.
But now, it hadn't yet been transformed into a flower bed.
Fortunately, there wasn't much water in it today. After falling in, she only got her clothes and pants wet, without making much noise.
Later, she climbed up the pipes above the staircase all the way to this spot, entered through the window, and immediately came face-to-face with Ye Zhen, who was lost in thought.
Taking Ye Zhen hostage was practically her first instinct.
"Ye Zhen, speak!"
Ye Fuli put immense pressure on Ye Zhen.
She was soaking wet now, with water dripping from every strand of her hair, all of it landing on Ye Zhen.
But Ye Zhen dared not resist. She could only cautiously explain what had happened the previous night, repeatedly insisting she truly had no intention of running away.
"Are you sure you didn't hurt your hand on purpose to avoid me?"
Ye Fuli gripped her slender right wrist, scrutinizing the thickly wrapped bandage.
The injury didn't look fake, but it was unclear how serious it truly was.
Ye Zhen lowered her eyes.
The initial fear gradually subsided.
She felt little resentment, only a faint sense of relief at having survived.
After all, she had witnessed it with her own eyes—the person Ye Fuli had climbed through the window to find last time had been "fatally beaten."
She hadn't been beaten yet, and there was still room for explanation.
Though the situation was extremely unfavorable for her—Ye Fuli might still attack her even after hearing her explanation—she had to say something. She couldn't just sit there and wait for disaster!
"Ha ha! I'm actually pretty afraid of pain. I'd never resort to any kind of self-inflicted injury ploy… Besides, why would I run away? I think being with you is still… really… really… really fun."
"Remember? We went off fireworks together, cooked meals together, walked home from school together, even went swimming together!"
"Even if you, Ye Fuli, never considered me a friend, I secretly believed we were very close, very good friends."
At this point, Ye Zhen sniffed softly.
She paused for a long moment before adding in a faint voice, "I have no money and I'm not smart. Where could I possibly run to…"
Ye Fuli froze.
She seemed skeptical of these empty platitudes meant to placate women.
But at this moment, the murderous intent radiating from her had noticeably diminished.
She released Ye Zhen and slowly backed away, leaning against the sink. Through the darkness, her gaze fixed on Ye Zhen. "You really can't run?"
Ye Zhen felt a chill run down her spine under that gaze.
In truth, she did intend to flee. Who would willingly spend their entire life under another's rule?
But not just yet.
"I won't run until you're willing to let me go," Ye Zhen said, tugging at the corners of her mouth into a bitter smile.
"Then swear it."
"…Alright."
Ye Zhen hesitated, then raised her trembling hand slightly.
Seeing her pitiful state, Ye Fuli felt no satisfaction whatsoever. Instead, an inexplicable irritation welled up inside her. "Put your hand down."
As someone who had reincarnated, Ye Fuli had vowed the very day she realized her rebirth that she would never show mercy to anyone around her.
No matter what they said or did, she couldn't trust them.
They were all deceivers, all meticulously self-serving individuals!
She would make these hypocritical creatures taste every ounce of the suffering she had endured.
But now…
Facing Ye Zhen, she found herself repeatedly softening.
Ye Fuli turned away and twisted open the faucet. Icy water streamed through her fingers, crashing into the equally cold sink. It splashed wildly, soaking her clothes even more.
She scooped a large handful of water and splashed it onto her face.
This touch of coldness brought her back to her senses.
She reminded herself once more: she must not show mercy.
Once she gave in, she might end up like in her past life—doomed beyond redemption.
She'd been deceived too many times, numbed by betrayal—how could she repeat the same mistake? This lifetime, no matter how pitiful Ye Zhen pretended to be, no matter how sincere she acted, she couldn't trust her!
"I'm not leaving tonight."
Before her eyes, Ye Fuli stripped off her soaked outer garments, leaving only her undergarments.
Pure white streetlight filtered through the windowpane, casting a soft glow upon her jade-like figure. The light gave her an aura of sacred, untouchable purity.
Ye Zhen lowered her head uncomfortably, unable to look at her for too long.
The XP system was something beyond one's control.
It was like some men, after being deeply hurt by a heartless woman, would swear, "I'll never love again," yet upon seeing that very woman—or even someone who resembled her—they couldn't help but glance twice.
Ye Zhen despised her own weakness for this very reason.
Her guilty reaction naturally made Ye Fuli ponder for a moment.
However, Ye Fuli didn't press the issue. Instead, she casually changed the subject.
"Go find me a set of clothes I can wear. Don't alert anyone at home. Can you manage that?"
"Mm, I can."
Thus, Ye Zhen hurried out of the bathroom as if fleeing a disaster.
Only upon seeing Huang Li did she recall that she and Ye Fuli weren't the only ones in the room.
Huang Li had likely heard the commotion from the bathroom, but he tactfully pretended nothing had happened.
Moreover, right in front of Ye Zhen, he opened the Xinhua dictionary he carried with him and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.
The dictionary had long been hollowed out inside.
Usually, it held either cigarettes or his phone, but today he'd miscalculated—only cigarettes were stashed inside.
"I'm going out to the balcony for a smoke. Don't tell my mom."
Huang Li waved the cigarette pack in his hand, headed to the balcony, and closed the sliding door behind him, keeping his deeds hidden.
Mind your own business, enjoy the peace.
…
"Here, take a look at this set of clothes. Will they fit? My clothes are all smaller sizes, so they might look a bit odd on you…"
Ye Zhen took a white nightgown and entered the bathroom.
Of course, she also included her own panties and a white camisole.
These childish styles were completely out of Ye Fuli's taste, but she had no choice now and had to put them on.
Seeing her about to change, Ye Zhen quickly turned away.
"Why can't you ever look me in the eye?" Ye Fuli teased. "Are you really that insecure?"
Ye Zhen: "…"
Is this insecurity?
This is clearly a display of my moral integrity!
It's just so embarrassing to keep taking advantage of being a girl.
After quickly changing clothes, Ye Fuli gathered all her discarded garments and tossed them to Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen looked utterly shocked: "Ye Fuli, you… how could you give me these things?"
Her hands trembled, and she didn't know where to look.
Seeing her own nightgown on Ye Fuli made her feel utterly unfamiliar.
Why did this distinctly lolita-style design suddenly take on the aura of a stepmother's dress?
"Of course, so you can wash them for me."
Barefoot, Ye Fuli walked up to her, slipped off the white socks she hadn't had time to remove yet, and tossed them to her.
"Wash them thoroughly. I'll be checking…"
As she spoke, she paused again, her gaze settling on Ye Zhen's right hand, wrapped in gauze.
The icy-cold woman sighed helplessly, snatching all the dirty clothes back from Ye Zhen's hands. "I'll let it slide this time. Next time, you'll wash more."
Ye Zhen choked on her words.
Perhaps to prove her loyalty and reliability, she quickly added, "I can do it! This injury isn't actually that serious…"
"Enough. Are you trying to ruin yourself?"
Ye Fuli cut her off.
Facing those pitifully wide eyes, Ye Fuli let out a disapproving "tsk," feeling a pang of unease.
"If you insist on doing something for me, just go get me something to eat."