Chapter 17

Ling Yiran felt as if her fingertip was about to catch fire. It was very hot, and her heart was pounding violently.

"Oh no! What's happening to me?!"

She withdrew her hand, her face blushing as she said, "All... all right. Let's tuck in lest the dishes get cold." After saying that, she lowered her head and started eating.

Yi Jinli smiled when he saw that Ling Yiran's face was almost buried in the bowl. His smile deepened as he asked, "Do you like me, Sister?"

"I like you," Ling Yiran replied without hesitation.

"I like you too, Sister. I like you very much," Yi Jinli said as he curled his lips into a smile. It had been ages since he had last found someone who could interest him.

...

After the inspection from the Urban Management Bureau ended, Miao Jiayu told Ling Yiran, "Yiran, we will be having a gathering with our high school classmates this weekend. Come and join us."

"A gathering?" Ling Yiran laughed. Given her current condition, she would be mocked if she were to go to the gathering. "No. I'm not free, and I won't be going," Ling Yiran replied.

"This kind of gathering with our high school classmates is rare. What is it you're busy with? Come and join us!" Miao Jiayu tried to persuade her, sighing lightly. It was apparent that she wanted Ling Yiran to attend the gathering.

If the previous super scholar and prettiest girl in the class were to attend the gathering in her current state, everybody would be shocked. Miao Jiayu couldn't wait for their high school classmates to see Ling Yiran in her pathetic condition.

"I need to work over the weekend. Do you really think that weekends would be rest days for me given the scope of my job?" Ling Yiran asked.

Miao Jiayu was speechless when she heard that. Indeed, she had forgotten.

"However..."

"I'm clearing the rubbish. Let's talk another time." Before Miao Jiayu could finish her statement, Ling Yiran turned to leave.

She was not stupid. She knew Miao Jiayu's intentions.

However, no matter how hard she tried to avoid it, the vice director instructed her to send a document over to someone from the Urban Management Bureau at the weekend at a Luxury Club in Shen City.

Ordinary sanitation workers were not allowed to enter such a luxurious club. However, when Ling Yiran went to the entrance, a staff member was already waiting for her, and he led her in through a side door.

When the staff member opened the door to a private room, many people were inside.

When Ling Yiran stepped in, she heard a familiar voice, saying, "Look who's here!"

Ling Yiran saw Miao Jiayu, Zhao Mantian, and some of her high school classmates. Miao Jiayu was the one who spoke.

Ling Yiran knew immediately that Miao Jiayu had deliberately made the arrangement. As she was from the Urban Management Bureau, the supervisors would be eager to get into her good books. As long as Miao Jiayu wanted a document and specified the person she wanted to bring it to her, the vice director would accede to her request.

"See! I didn't lie to you. The prettiest girl in our class has become a sanitation worker!" Zhao Mantian said, looking snobbish.

At that moment, Ling Yiran's uniform completely stood out from the attire of the rest of the people in the private room.

"Isn't this our beautiful super scholar? You were imprisoned for three years and I almost couldn't recognize you. Xiao Ziqi used to dote on you. What happened? Why did he allow you to be a sanitation worker? Doesn't he care for you?"

Ling Yiran's body froze. Whenever she heard Xiao Ziqi's name being mentioned, she felt like she was being pricked in the heart.

The person who spoke walked over to Ling Yiran and Ling Yiran saw that it was Shen Wanhao. Shen Wanhao's family was reputable in Shen City and he had tried to woo her once before.

After she had gotten into a relationship with Xiao Ziqi, Shen Wanhao had tried to molest her. It was only after Xiao Ziqi had taught him a lesson that Shen Wanhao had started to behave himself and stopped creating trouble for her.

Ling Yiran ignored Shen Wanhao. She walked over to Miao Jiayu and handed the document over to her, saying, "This is the document that you asked for."

Miao Jiayu smiled hypocritically. After taking the document, she said, "Yiran, sorry to have had you make the trip."

When Ling Yiran turned around and was about to leave the room, Shen Wanhao suddenly caught hold of her arm, saying, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? This is our gathering. Let's catch up."

After saying that, he took a glass of red wine and put it to Ling Yiran's lips, saying, "Come on, drink up this glass of wine. Back then, you were convicted of driving under the influence. Don't tell me that you can't drink!"

Ling Yiran refused to open her mouth. She turned her head and pushed him away.

Shen Wanhao lost his balance and spilled the red wine down himself. He became angry and gave Ling Yiran one tight slap in the face, shouting, "Ugh! Do you think you're still Xiao Ziqi's girlfriend? You're merely a sanitation worker. You don't know what's good for you!"

As Shen Wanhao was shouting, he took up the bottle of red wine beside him and poured it down Ling Yiran's head.

The cold wine soaked her body, embarrassing her.

Miao Jiayu smiled, saying, "Ling Yiran, apologize to Shen Wanhao quickly. He may forgive you."

"Apologize?" Ling Yiran found the idea ridiculous. She was being humiliated, but she was expected to apologize to Shen Wanhao!

Ling Yiran pursed her lips, her Almond Eyes looking bright. She looked determined not to give in despite being humiliated.

However, her expression caused Shen Wanhao to only become more infuriated as he said, "Ling Yiran, do you think that you're still Xiao Ziqi's girlfriend? I'm giving you a chance to apologize to me. Even if I raped you right here, no one would stand up for you!"

Shen Wanhao pushed Ling Yiran to the floor, and a ripping sound soon followed. Ling Yiran's top was torn open, revealing her flesh.

"No!" Ling Yiran screamed.

However, none of her classmates spoke for her, let alone stood up for her.

She hadn't been exposed to any sunlight during her three years of imprisonment, making her fairer than anyone. However, she was also covered with scars.

Some of the scars had not faded away, looking petrifying.

Those were the scars that she had gotten during her imprisonment.

Ling Yiran struggled to cover her body. As she was about to stand up, she felt excruciating pain in her hand. She was shocked and immediately turned her head. Zhao Mantian was stepping on her right hand with her high heels.

"Sigh. Yiran, why are you in such a hurry to leave? You have not yet apologized to our Young Master Shen," Zhao Mantian said wickedly. She looked as if she couldn't wait to see Ling Yiran in a more pathetic state as she increased the strength on her foot.

The pain in Ling Yiran's hand reminded her of her prison days when her finger bones had been broken inch by inch agonizingly.

Back then, Ling Yiran had been unable to defend herself and was forced to accept the treatment.

However, at that instant, Ling Yiran used all of her might to break away from Shen Wanhao. She used her left hand to push Zhao Mantian's foot away from her right hand before she mustered all of her strength to dash out of the room.

She wanted to get out of this place. She had to get out!

She held her torn clothes around herself and ran forward. However, a strong force came from behind her, causing her to fall flat on the floor. In the next instant, a foot was stepping hard on the back of her foot.

"Pain... it's painful!"

Ling Yiran felt excruciating pain in the back of her foot, as if it was on fire.

She heard Shen Wanhao's voice sounding beside her ear, saying, "Are you trying to run away? Don't you know that my family is one of the shareholders of this club... eh?"

Shen Wanhao suddenly paused as he made that statement.

A moment later, Ling Yiran heard a familiar voice saying, "Shen Wanhao, what are you trying to do?"

Ling Yiran froze instantly. "That is... Xiao Ziqi's voice."

She used to think that Xiao Ziqi would protect her, but she had ended up being dumped by him.

Ling Yiran shivered. She had never expected herself to meet Xiao Ziqi again in such a sorry state after getting out of prison.

"Why? Have you brought your fiancée here for a meal? What a coincidence. Your ex-girlfriend is here to have a meal with me too. However, your ex-girlfriend doesn't know what's good for her and she has agitated me. Do you want to stand up for your ex-girlfriend?"

As Shen Wanhao spoke, he pulled Ling Yiran's hair, forcing her to lift her head to face Xiao Ziqi.

Ling Yiran saw Xiao Ziqi's familiar face instantly.

The man who had used to feel sorry for her when she was in pain now merely looked at her in amazement, his eyes full of disdain.

Back then, he had given his consent to hurt her hand in the same cold manner.

Ling Yiran's pupils shrank when she saw Hao Yimeng standing beside Xiao Ziqi. She could vividly remember Hao Yimeng smiling as she had watched someone pulling out her fingernails back then, breaking her finger bones one by one.

"The pain... the pain was agonizing!"

Ling Yiran shivered more violently.

Xiao Ziqi and Hao Yimeng were like the demons in her dreams, startling her awake from her nightmares. At that instant, they were standing in front of her.

"Shen Wanhao, whatever you intend to do to her, that's your business. I have nothing to do with her," Xiao Ziqi said agitatedly as he furrowed his brows.

Ling Yiran was cut to the heart. Although she had given up on Xiao Ziqi, her heart ached when she heard him saying the same words again. She regretted loving Xiao Ziqi in the past.

"Ling Yiran, what are you thinking of? Are you hoping that someone will save you?" Ling Yiran laughed at herself.

She could only depend on herself!

"Is that so? Am I free to treat her as I wish?" Shen Wanhao suddenly pulled Ling Yiran over to an artificial pond to one side, pushing her head under the water.

Suddenly, cold water gushed into Ling Yiran's mouth and nose, suffocating her.

Shen Wanhao seemed like he wanted to take out his frustration on Ling Yiran for causing him to be beaten up by Xiao Ziqi back then. He repeatedly pushed Ling Yiran's head under the water as he said smugly, "Ling Yiran, let's see who will save you now."

"Ziqi, Yi Jinli is waiting for us. Don't let him wait too long." Hao Yimeng's voice resounded in Ling Yiran's ears.

"All right," Xiao Ziqi replied.

It was another 'all right". Back then, when Hao Yimeng had told Xiao Ziqi that she wanted to cripple Ling Yiran's hand, he had said "all right" as well.

Just two words, and yet it could send a person down to hell.

Ling Yiran felt suffocated and she no longer had the strength to retaliate.

"Will I die? I didn't die in prison but am I to die here?!"

"Who will save me? No one... will..."

Once, twice, the cold water covered her head, the water splattering perpetually with Ling Yiran being pushed under the water. However, no one went up to stop Shen Wanhao.

Hao Yimeng held Xiao Ziqi's arm and walked slowly to the steps. She curled her red lips into a smile as she watched Ling Yiran being badly treated from the corner of her eyes.

No one would save Ling Yiran. Even if she managed to survive, she would be half-dead.

"Enough! Bring that woman to me!" A voice suddenly resounded from the second floor.

"This voice..." Hao Yimeng looked at the second floor in disbelief. A slender figure was standing up there. His fine facial features were captivating, but at that instant, he was looking unusually furious.

"That is... Yi Jinli, and Yi Jinli is looking at Ling Yiran!"