Returning - Chapter 153

Chapter 153: Cruelty

If not for Xue Zhan's repeated warnings, Xue Zi'ang's fist would have landed on Xu Chengyan's face days ago.

He certainly didn't care about listening to Xue Zhan, but when it came to Zhao Yu's revenge plan, he had no choice but to forcibly suppress his rage and hatred toward Xu Chengyan. After all, fighting Zhuang Ye had already been too impulsive. If he clashed with Xu Chengyan now and the Zhuang family grew suspicious, Zhao Yu would be left in an impossible position.

But now, when he hadn't even gone looking for trouble, that bastard still dared to come here so brazenly and provoke him. The fury he had barely managed to keep bottled up in his chest instantly burst free, utterly beyond his control.

"Stop right there!"

He straightened his clothes, ready to charge out in a rage, but Xue Zhan's stern reprimand rang out from behind him.

Xue Zi'ang halted, turning back to look coldly at Xue Zhan.

Xue Zhan's gaze was equally icy as he enunciated each word: "If you don't want to ruin her plans, then stay put in the office."

Zhao Yu had already dressed quickly. Though her legs were still trembling, she didn't hesitate for a moment, stepping past Xue Zi'ang and pulling open the office door to go out.

That Xu Chengyan was willing to come to her on his own was, as far as she was concerned, a good thing. As for whether that man was motivated by retaliation for being set up and caught in the act by Xue Zhan, or simply out of a man's possessiveness, or lust—none of it mattered to her.

But the moment she stepped out, a strong hand clamped down on her arm, and Xue Zhan pulled her right back into the office.

Xue Zi'ang's office had been hastily converted and lacked a lounge or bathroom. Xue Zhan's office, however, had everything one could need. Zhao Yu, without the slightest politeness, prepared to do as she had several times before and head straight into his bathroom to clean up.

Yet Xue Zhan kept his grip on her arm, his deep, dark eyes fixed intently on her. "Why did you sleep with Xue Zi'ang?"

Zhao Yu's face was a picture of innocence. "He wanted to. I couldn't resist."

The force on her arm unconsciously tightened. He said nothing, just continued to stare at her.

Zhao Yu smiled self-deprecatingly. "My body responded to him. I was empty and lonely. Is that reason enough?"

He gazed at her silently for a long time before he finally, slowly, released his grip. But just as she turned to head into the bathroom, his voice came from behind again: "Zhao Yu... are you not planning on staying alive?"

Zhao Yu's body froze, her steps halting instantly.

Xue Zhan kept his eyes fixed on her back. "The person you hate most isn't Zhuang Yiqing. It's yourself. After you've gotten your revenge on Zhuang Yiqing, the next one... is supposed to be you, isn't it?"

Her fingertips clenched tightly at the hem of her clothes. Zhao Yu didn't answer, just stared blankly at the bathroom door.

"Xue Zi'ang has made you soften. You feel you've wronged him. You want to repay him with your body, just like you did with Shang Lu." Xue Zhan suddenly let out a cold laugh. "And me? The same—repay me with your body? Even Ji Sui, whom you've used... are you planning to use the same tactic on him too?"

Zhao Yu remained silent.

Xue Zhan strode around to face her directly, his gaze boring into her. "You think it's really that simple? You've schemed with all your cunning, manipulated so many people, even dragged me into your calculations. Do you honestly believe that what you owe me can be cleared away just by sleeping with me a few times? Do you think Xue Zi'ang is so desperate over you, to the point of life and death, just because he wants your body?"

Zhao Yu looked at him quietly, and slowly the corners of her lips lifted into a faint, gentle smile.

He raised a hand, his fingertip slowly tracing along her lower lip, swollen and red from Xue Zi'ang's kisses. "I'm warning you—don't think you've got me completely figured out. Don't think I'm truly willing to do anything for you. The person I'm helping is my woman, not a dead woman. If you dare entertain those thoughts again, I will wash my hands of this at any moment."

She still said nothing, merely looking at him without moving, a faint smile lingering on her face.

Of course, Xue Zhan knew his warning was utterly useless against her. If she truly didn't want to live, no threat he made could stop her.

But just moments ago, watching that eerily calm demeanor as she gathered her clothes after being with Xue Zi'ang and prepared to walk out, a terrifying notion had suddenly crashed into his heart—and he had been truly afraid.

Even though fury raged and bitter jealousy seared through his chest, compared to that horrifying thought, witnessing her with another man had suddenly become far less unbearable.

"Zhao Yu." He stared at her steadily. "Don't you think... dying would be too easy for people like us? We should... bear all our guilt, torment ourselves slowly, and live on, one day after another."

"Like me—how simple would it be to die? But Xue Zi'ang is still here. He lost his father as a child, and his father's death was indirectly my fault. So I must live, and live well, to shoulder the responsibility of caring for him and protecting him in his father's place."

"It's the same for you. You think that once you've avenged your mother and Yu Jin, you can follow them in peace? Yu Jin is dead, but her parents are still alive. You think that three million of yours can absolve you of the responsibility to look after them?"

"What the hell is money worth? Do you think they need it right now? They've pinned all the hopes of their remaining years on you. What right do you have to make them endure the pain of losing a daughter all over again?"

Xue Zhan knew these words pierced her heart, every single one of them, cruel beyond measure. He would probably never speak anything so vicious again in his entire life.

He also knew that she, already riddled with wounds, might not be able to withstand this at all.

But he had no other choice.

Zhao Yu still stared at him blankly, her lips trembling, the hands gripping her hem shaking. Finally, her entire body trembled uncontrollably.

Yet she still just stared at him, unable to utter a single word.

His hand grasped her shoulder, then slowly moved up to stroke her cheek. "That day at the hospital, I already made my choice. You won. I won't stop you from seeking out Ji Sui and Xu Chengyan anymore. But you... you will stay alive for me. You're already laden with debts. You no longer have the right to decide your own life and death."

Zhao Yu's teeth were clenched so hard they ached as her whole body trembled, a glint of tears flashing in her eyes.

He pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her head. "I'll help you with your revenge. You... stay alive with me."

Zhao Yu still said nothing, but buried her face in his chest and wept uncontrollably, the sound finally breaking free.

Get instant access to all chapters now.

Previous Table of Contents Next