After Breaking Up With the Scheming Bad Woman 39

Chapter 39: But I’ll Never, Ever Be Fooled by You Again.

The night was like diluted ink, splashed across the sky.

There were many locust trees on both sides of the roads in Jingcheng. This season, they were hung with white flowers like crushed jade. When the evening breeze blew gently, the petals fluttered down, creating a gentle rain of flowers.

Huai Xing sat on a bench by the roadside, her head, shoulders, and legs covered in flowers. But she was completely unaware, unable to see or hear anything, as if she had lost all her senses.

Cars passed by on the wide road, their headlights and the streetlights flickering on her, illuminating her numb expression.

Someone was out walking their dog at this hour. The little dog sniffed at Huai Xing’s pant leg and was then pulled away by its owner. “Don’t disturb the big sister.”

The words “big sister” touched a nerve in Huai Xing, pulling her out of her empty state.

She blinked with difficulty, let out a turbid breath, and then pressed her lips together tightly, brushing off the flowers that had fallen on her.

But looking at the flowers that had fallen on the ground, she was a little dazed.

She was no different from the uncontrollably falling petals before her. After all, Chu Wantang’s thought of abandoning her was so casual, as if she could be brushed aside at will.

She took another deep breath and slowly looked around.

Not long after Chu Wantang and the others had left, she had come out with her bag.

At first, she didn’t know where to go. She had always been glad that Chu Wantang was by her side after her mother’s death, so that she had someone to comfort her when she was sad, someone to guide her when she was down, so that she wouldn’t be too lonely.

Only today did she discover that she had been living in a false reality, that all of this had been intentionally guided by Chu Wantang.

So now, in the vast city of Jingcheng, where could she go?

To find Wen Shiwei? No, she couldn’t disturb Wen Shiwei. To find her friends? No, she didn’t want her friends to know about this. She had turned into a speck of dust, lost in this world.

But after calming down, she erased all traces of her return, deleted the taxi order and payment record, and then returned to the business district.

She no longer had the strength to question Chu Wantang why. She had heard those cold words with her own ears.

There was no misunderstanding of a third person misinterpreting between them.

But her heart was throbbing in waves with a delay. She raised her hand to her chest, closed her eyes tightly, and adjusted her breathing.

Don’t cry, Huai Xing, she told herself again.

Hadn’t she gotten used to this feeling before? When she heard Chu Wantang’s cold eyes ask her if she was a lesbian, when Chu Wantang said they were all adults with their own physical needs, when Chu Wantang had suddenly started a cold war with her without any warning…

On many occasions.

Did Chu Wantang know all about the feelings she thought she had hidden so well? Was tormenting her also a part of Chu Wantang’s plan?

The answer was so obvious that even thinking about it seemed superfluous.

After a long while, she stood up and walked to a nearby convenience store, grabbing two bottles of ice water.

Then she sent a message to Zhuo Xin to visit.

…

Chu Wantang and the others didn’t like to go to noisy bars to drink. They were used to staying at a quiet bar near their old university.

After so many years, the shop hadn’t closed down, and the owner had a deep impression of the three of them. A good booth would be available with just a phone call in advance.

The booth was blocked by a cloth curtain on the side facing the aisle, and opposite it was a window with an excellent view.

From here, you could see the brightly lit Jingcheng, the bustling crowds shuttling under the neon lights, their faces either smiling or serious.

A live singer was playing the guitar and singing affectionately in the room, and other customers were humming along.

Chu Wantang felt a little full after drinking some low-alcohol flower wine. She frowned slightly and scrolled through her phone with her chin in her hand.

It was almost ten o’clock, and Huai Xing hadn’t sent her a message about going home yet. She unblocked Tu Zhaoyu and Zhuo Xin’s Moments, and her furrowed brows tightened a little.

These friends of hers always took a group photo to commemorate every birthday, but Tu Zhaoyu and Zhuo Xin hadn’t posted anything yet.

Especially Zhuo Xin, who was the star of the night, but her Moments were very quiet.

“Annoying,” Su Cheng said at the side, holding a wine glass and complaining to Wan Yi about her family matters.

Hearing this word, Chu Wantang put down her phone.

She also picked up a glass of wine and drank it slowly.

Su Cheng sighed. “I’m just not in the mood for a relationship or marriage right now. This studio is giving me a headache. I haven’t made much money, and I’m full of grievances. When my parents heard this, they said it’s okay if I don’t want to get married. I’m their daughter, and they don’t want me to form a family with someone else.” She put the wine glass on the table. “I thought they had come to their senses, but then they told me to get IVF and have a child for them to raise. I don’t have to worry about anything else, and they’ll even give me an extra five million…”

Wan Yi was stunned. “Your parents’ ideas are really…”

“The problem is, I’m really tempted. It’s not fifty thousand, or five hundred thousand, but five million. Didn’t I work so hard in the first place because I didn’t want to rely on my parents? Now I’ve been beaten into submission by reality. I can’t earn five million.” Su Cheng was drinking a high-proof liquor. She said, looking at Chu Wantang, “Wantang, would you be tempted?”

Chu Wantang’s long lashes trembled. “What?”

“So you didn’t hear a single word we were just talking about,” Wan Yi said, drinking plain water self-disciplinedly. She had to drive the two of them home later. She asked tentatively, “What are you thinking about? Xingxing?”

“Nothing,” Chu Wantang said, her fingertips caressing the rim of the glass, denying with a smile.

Su Cheng had no mind to care about her friend’s distraction. She clinked glasses with her and continued to drink.

Time passed bit by bit, and the empty glasses on the table gradually increased.

Every time Chu Wantang drank a glass, she would open her phone with a tense face.

The chat box with Huai Xing was still empty, and there were no new posts on her two spies’ Moments.

Was the party not over yet?

She played with the hairpin she had taken off long ago. After hesitating for a long while, seeing that the time had jumped to ten-thirty, she still sent a message to Huai Xing: [Are you home yet?]

Five minutes passed, and no one replied.

Her face darkened a little. She thought for a moment and sent a message to Zhuo Xin: [Happy birthday, Xiao Xin.]

Zhuo Xin replied instantly: [Thank you, Sister Wantang!]

Chu Wantang: [I’m out right now. I just sent a message to Xiao Xing, but she hasn’t replied.]

Chu Wantang: [Are you guys still at the party? If it’s too late, I’ll come pick her up.]

Zhuo Xin: [The party ended at eight, Sister Wantang.]

Chu Wantang stared at the word “eight,” her breath catching, her heart suddenly racing.

She pressed her thin lips together tightly. Just as she was about to ask for some details, Zhuo Xin sent another message.

Zhuo Xin: [But Xingxing and I just parted ways not long ago.]

Zhuo Xin: [She might be in the shower right now, so she’s not free to reply.]

Chu Wantang’s breath relaxed a little, and she typed: [Okay, then I’ll wait for her to reply. Happy birthday again, Xiao Xin.]

After using the tool person, Chu Wantang switched out of the conversation.

Just as Zhuo Xin had said, after she had had another drink, Huai Xing replied to her message: [I was just in the shower, Jiejie.]

[My period came early…] Huai Xing’s message was followed by a pitiful-looking emoji.

And another sentence: [It hurts a little.]

She also asked: [When are you coming back, Jiejie?]

[Now.]

After replying, Chu Wantang put away her phone.

She asked her friends for their thoughts. “Is that about it? Su Cheng has had enough to drink, and you have to go back and get over your jet lag.”

The corner of Wan Yi’s mouth twitched. “Hehe, now you remember that I have to get over my jet lag.”

“Take me home first, thanks,” Chu Wantang said with a faint smile, not caring about much else.

It wasn’t far. In less than twenty minutes, Chu Wantang settled the drunk Su Cheng in the back seat and got out of the car.

She reminded, “Be safe. Let me know when you get home.”

Wan Yi waved her hand. “Good night.”

Su Cheng waved her arm. “Goo… good night!”

The car drove away, and Chu Wantang also entered the complex.

Before long, she returned home. The floor lamp in the living room was on, but the sofa was empty.

She washed her hands and came to the guest room door to knock. Thinking that Huai Xing was having cramps, she opened the door on tiptoe.

In the room, Huai Xing had only turned on the small night light. She was curled up on her side, half of her face hidden in the comforter, but you could still see a clear layer of cold sweat on her forehead.

Chu Wantang hadn’t changed her clothes yet. She knelt down by the bed, reached out to feel Huai Xing’s forehead, and quickly furrowed her brows. “Why do you have a fever?”

She pulled down the comforter, and Huai Xing’s pale face clearly entered her sight.

Huai Xing’s lips were not as rosy as usual. She opened her eyes and also looked at Chu Wantang, the corners of her lips twitching. “I’ve taken my medicine. Don’t worry, Jiejie.”

“How can I not worry? You’re also having cramps,” Chu Wantang asked. “Did you drink anything cold at dinner?”

“I’m so obedient. I wouldn’t drink anything cold behind your back,” Huai Xing said, taking Chu Wantang’s hand and pressing her face against her palm, the end of her words lifting. “You care about me so much, huh?”

Chu Wantang looked at her almond eyes and nodded. “Mm.”

“Did you drink a lot? Are you feeling unwell? Do you want me to make you a glass of honey water?” Huai Xing still had time to be concerned.

“Flower wine, low alcohol content. I’m very clear-headed.”

Chu Wantang said, wanting to stand up. “I’m going to wash up. I’ll be back soon.”

Huai Xing didn’t let go of her hand and held it tightly. “Jiejie.”

“What’s wrong?”

Huai Xing looked at her for two seconds, then broke into a smile and said, “Xinxin took out an ultrasound image at the dinner party today. She’s pregnant. I said that if her child wants to learn the violin in the future, she can come to me.”

Chu Wantang was speechless that she could still joke at a time like this. She played along and asked, “Then Teacher Huai, is it too late for me to learn the violin from you now?”

“It’s too late.”

Chu Wantang ruffled her hair and left the room.

As soon as she left, the smile on Huai Xing’s lips fell. She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath.

She had originally wanted to just disappear tonight, but she had been pulled back by reason.

Because she couldn’t just leave right now. She needed to handle everything first before she left.

For example, she had to find a time to resign. Otherwise, if she just left, she would cause trouble for some irrelevant people.

Her mother had taught her that if she could solve it herself, she shouldn’t trouble others.

And the hundreds of thousands that Chu Wantang had mentioned, she also needed time to settle the accounts one by one. As for the emotional value, hadn’t she also provided it?

Just like deleting tonight’s taxi order, she had to erase the traces of Chu Wantang bit by bit.

And then, never see her again.

Thinking of this, her headache became even more unbearable.

Ten minutes later, Chu Wantang was lying on her side next to Huai Xing.

She had a not-so-strong but not unpleasant smell of alcohol on her. She was rubbing Huai Xing’s lower abdomen and asking, “Has the medicine not kicked in yet?”

Huai Xing looked as if she were in even more pain. A thin layer of sweat was on her neck, her eyelashes were a little wet, her lips were slightly parted, and she didn’t say anything.

Chu Wantang pulled her into her arms and pressed her own forehead against hers. Her heart couldn’t help but be suspended.

“Why is it getting hotter…” She wanted to get the thermometer, but the next second, the person in her arms held her very tightly.

Chu Wantang was stunned for a moment and patted her on the back. “Xingxing, you’re burning up right now. Let go first…”

“Jiejie…” Huai Xing’s tears burst out, her nasal tone extremely thick at this moment.

Chu Wantang’s heart was clenched. She continued to pat the girl on the back and replied in a low voice, “I’m here.” She then couldn’t help but be puzzled. “Why did you suddenly get a fever? Did you catch a cold from the wind?”

Huai Xing listened to Chu Wantang’s usual gentle voice, and her breathing seemed to have been paused.

How could the evening breeze be enough? She had specially taken a cold shower when she came back. She needed the physical pain to distract her, but she didn’t expect it to have no effect at all.

Her world had collapsed and was difficult to rebuild.

And at this moment, facing the concern of the person in front of her, some questions came to her lips and were swallowed back, because they were meaningless. But, was all this concern fake? Was the past concern also fake, Chu Wantang?

She couldn’t ask, because the clear answer had already been fiercely stabbed into her flesh and blood in the past few hours, leaving her riddled with wounds.

The effect of hearing it with her own ears was so lethal that her shoulders trembled violently at the thought of it, and suppressed sobs were squeezed out of her throat intermittently.

The tears were not for Chu Wantang, but for herself.

The scorching tears gradually soaked Chu Wantang’s pajamas, burning the woman’s skin.

Huai Xing closed her eyes and couldn’t see anything.

“It hurts so much…” she tried to part her lips, her voice sounding extremely fragile. “My stomach hurts, my head hurts, everything hurts.”

After being with Huai Xing for several years, this was the first time Chu Wantang had seen her in so much pain.

She moved back a little, looked at her tear-streaked face, and quickly used her hand to wipe her tears. But she cried even more uncontrollably, and she couldn’t wipe them clean. Her sobs became rapid and broken, her eyelashes glistening with water, like a butterfly with wet wings in a downpour.

“Huai Xing,” Chu Wantang naturally leaned closer, stroking her face on one hand and kissing away her tears on the other, a heartache in her eyes that she herself was not aware of. “When the medicine takes effect, it will stop hurting soon.”

The warm breath fell on her face, and the concerned voice sounded by her ear.

Huai Xing’s head was dizzy as she recalled what Chu Wantang had said—

“The tears you shed for me are very sweet.”

“Such sweet tears.”

Do my tears really taste so sweet to you?

Actually, I should have noticed it back then, right? Who in this world would think that the tears shed by someone they care about are sweet?

How sad, Huai Xing.

You’ve fallen for Chu Wantang’s possessiveness and gentleness. You thought that Chu Wantang had something she couldn’t say, and that she also liked you.

In fact, it was still your own wishful thinking. You just weren’t willing to believe it.

In the twenty seconds that the elevator went up, you were heartbroken because she didn’t want to take the same elevator as you. You were worried that she would discover your feelings and be in a dilemma.

But she thought your tears were so sweet, and it made her experience the pleasure of tormenting you again.

All her hot and cold, distant and close behavior towards you has a reasonable explanation.

Thinking about these things in a daze, her whole person fell into a chaotic vortex.

Huai Xing’s body unconsciously began to feel cold and tremble again.

Chu Wantang clearly felt her even weaker state and wiped the tears from her face even more flusteredly. “You’re in a very bad state right now. Let’s go to the hospital.”

“Jiejie,” Huai Xing’s vision was blurry. The breath she exhaled was like a red-hot coal, and the mucous membrane in her nasal cavity was also burning with pain. She still insisted, “It’s normal to get sick when your immunity is low during your period. It will be fine when the medicine takes effect.”

She fluttered her eyelashes twice, her voice weak. “I’m just suddenly so tired. I really want to get a good night’s sleep.”

“Okay, I’ll watch over you.”

Chu Wantang lovingly pressed her face against hers, her voice even tinged with a nasal tone. “I’ll sleep after your fever goes down.”

Huai Xing’s lips curled up. “Thank you, Chu Chu. It’s so good to have you here.”

She licked her somewhat dry lips, wanting to see Chu Wantang’s face clearly in the teary light, but it was all in vain. All she could see was the warm, diffused light of the night lamp.

In the past few years, she had never seen Chu Wantang clearly, just like the dream she had once had of looking for Chu Wantang in a thick fog.

It wasn’t a dream…

But how she wished that all she had experienced was just a dream, so that it wouldn’t hurt so much when she woke up.

Before she lost consciousness, Huai Xing’s last thought was—

Chu Wantang, your acting is really good, but I’ll never, ever be fooled by you again.