Chapter 96: Crimson Decay

That night, the message she sent to Han Xuan ultimately went unanswered.

It wasn’t until the second day, and then the third, that Chu Susu started to get a bit worried. She sent a few more messages, but there was still no reply.

So, she chatted with the art team leader to fish for information indirectly, only to hear some unexpected news.

Han Xuan’s phone was broken.

“This kid Xiao Han is really unlucky,” the team leader said. “That day at the exchange meeting, her phone got accidentally knocked over by someone else, and the screen cracked so badly it was completely unusable.”

Chu Susu: “Knocked over by someone? From another company?”

Team leader: “Yeah, it was our client.”

Chu Susu: “How could they be so careless?”

Team leader: “Exactly. Our schedule was tight, and we didn’t have time to buy a new one, but luckily, we can get it reimbursed once we’re back.”

Their company had partnerships with some phone manufacturers, and since it was the client’s fault this time, even if they couldn’t pursue it openly, the company would definitely compensate the employee.

The screen was cracked so badly that the team leader even took a photo and sent it to Chu Susu.

Spiderweb-like cracks spread out, dense and shocking.

The art team’s business trip was hectic, so it wasn’t until they returned that Chu Susu reconnected with Han Xuan.

When the girl walked into her office carrying a lunchbox, there was still a hint of apology on her face.

“I only had time to buy a new phone today,” she said guiltily. “But all the previous chat records are gone. Did you message me?”

Han Xuan placed the lunchbox on her desk. Inside was teriyaki chicken leg rice, fragrant and overflowing.

“I sensed that you had something to tell me, but the past few days were so busy, and there were so many people around. I couldn’t get away to find you.”

She explained softly, her gaze seeking confirmation from the other—what exactly had happened before.

Chu Susu hesitated for a moment. She had originally wanted to tell her about Luo Yiyi, but after thinking it over, she decided against it.

After that day, she had contacted property management, who promised to print out Luo Yiyi’s face and show it to every security guard, ensuring he wouldn’t get close again.

After her reminder, the bug in the card-swiping system had also been fixed.

Moreover, although Chu Susu had essentially warned Luo Yiyi, for safety’s sake, she had no intention of seeing him again.

This way, the risk factor had been minimized, so there was no need to worry Han Xuan.

She was always the dominant one in her relationships and at work. Truth be told, she didn’t particularly like that feeling of being cared for meticulously—

After all, they were all adults.

Last time, Chu Susu had only casually mentioned Qiao Qian, and not only did Han Xuan not get angry about her wanting to use her, she even wanted to lend a hand because Qiao Qian was Chu Susu’s friend.

Chu Susu worried that if she brought it up this time, Han Xuan might, for her sake, help deal with Luo Yiyi’s troubles.

Luo Yiyi was different from Qiao Qian. He was someone directly possessed by the Hunter—or rather, the Hunter was lurking right by his side.

Chu Susu felt this was too dangerous for Han Xuan.

So, the words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back: “It’s nothing. I just wanted to ask if you have time on New Year’s Eve.”

Han Xuan blinked in slight surprise and didn’t ask what they would do for New Year’s Eve. She just said softly:

“As long as you’re looking for me, I have time.”

“But…” She paused. “On New Year’s Day, won’t you spend it with your family?”

Chu Susu smiled. “New Year is Lunar New Year, which is still far off. Besides, my dad probably wouldn’t be happy to see me anyway.”

After all, what Chu Zhen hoped most was for her to “turn over a new leaf” and quickly marry some man.

That incident from high school, which Chu Susu didn’t want to recall, had created an irreparable rift between them. She had tried to mend things afterward, but no amount of explanation helped.

On top of that, she had never hidden her dislike for men, so the misunderstandings between them grew, impossible to untangle. Gradually, Chu Susu grew cold toward it.

They had opened up during Han Yao’s birthday banquet, so Han Xuan naturally knew what she meant.

A certain sorrow welled up in her eyes as she lowered her head slightly, like a sigh or an apology:

“If that thing hadn’t happened back then, it would have been good. You two wouldn’t have… ended up like this.”

Chu Susu thought about it nonchalantly, then smiled faintly. “Maybe.”

Indeed, everything had started with that incident.

Though she mostly avoided recalling it, the humiliation of having her dignity crushed in front of everyone was still vivid.

Without that incident, Chu Zhen’s attitude toward her probably wouldn’t have been so extreme.

He blamed everything on homosexuality, convinced that “being gay” had turned Chu Susu into that kind of “bad kid” who went to hotels with others at 15—a twisted child.

So sometimes, Chu Susu thought that if she could do it over, that would be great.

Without that incident, things would have been much easier. Maybe she could have tried communicating properly with Chu Zhen.

Even if he still didn’t accept it, the outcome would surely be better than now.

“But it’s already happened, so whatever.” Chu Susu took a bite of the chicken leg rice, smiling contentedly. Han Xuan’s cooking was as good as ever. “I can’t change anything.”

Han Xuan stared at her in a daze. “Maybe, I could…”

She didn’t finish the rest, but her eyes faintly glowed purple, clearly hinting that she could make Chu Zhen change his mind.

After all, she had the ability to control hearts.

Chu Susu shook her head without thinking. “Nah.”

Even if it worked, it wouldn’t be Chu Zhen truly accepting her. What was the point of fake harmony?

“Do you have plans for Christmas?” she asked. “If not, we can spend both Christmas and New Year’s Eve together.”

“Sure.” Han Xuan nodded. “Where do you want to go, or should we just cook at home?”

“I want to go out.”

“Where to?”

Chu Susu blinked playfully. “Secret.”

Han Xuan paused, her eyes shifting imperceptibly, looking a bit dazed as if deep in thought.

“Is it a surprise for me?” she asked innocently.

Chu Susu secretly called her a little fool in her heart. Something like this, you just know it in your heart—why ask out loud?

Of course, she wouldn’t answer, just smiled mysteriously. “Guess.”

In fact, Chu Susu had already picked the place, or she wouldn’t be so confident.

This was thanks to when she returned from Jiang City. Bored on the plane, she had guided the gaming noob Han Yao through a couple rounds of Plants vs. Zombies.

After that, the other had invited her over to teach her gaming, even offering a high price.

Following the principle of “fool not to take free money,” she happily agreed.

However, Fucheng’s Eldest Miss was busy with company affairs as usual, her feet barely touching the ground, so up to now, Chu Susu had only gone once.

That day was her first visit to the Han family mansion. Even though she’d imagined it beforehand, she couldn’t help being stunned by its opulent, gilded grandeur.

Was this the extravagance of the wealthy?

At the entrance of the mansion stood a white jade beast carving, exquisitely detailed, instantly catching Chu Susu’s eye. She couldn’t help stopping to admire it.

The butler who came out to greet her kindly reminded her, “This is an ancient mythical beast, used for warding off evil.”

Only then did Chu Susu suddenly remember how eerie the Han family was, and she shivered slightly, not daring to look at the surroundings again.

Once suspicion takes root in one’s heart, everything looks off. Luckily, there were no such decorations in Han Yao’s study.

That day, Chu Susu sat on the carpet teaching Han Yao Plants vs. Zombies all afternoon. The ordeal nearly shattered her worldview.

A game even elementary school kids could breeze through—how could a business titan like Han Yao be this hopeless at it?

Money that’s easy to earn doesn’t exist.

Han Yao knew she was terrible too. She was silent for a moment, then asked, “For someone like me, is there any hope for League of Legends?”

Chu Susu was firm: “No.”

Han Yao unleashed her money power: “What if I pay more?”

Chu Susu: “……Fine, but it’ll take more time. Download the game first and play a few matches against bots by yourself.”

Just as she dove back into teaching, the butler suddenly knocked on the study door.

He entered and said respectfully, “Miss, the servants just cleared out a batch of things.”

“What things?”

“Some odds and ends that Miss Han Xuan left here before.”

Han Yao was about to say to call her and see if she wanted them sent over or to come pick them up, but she paused and instructed the butler to bring them in.

There weren’t many items: some art tools, and a small backpack containing a few notebooks.

The dates on the notebooks were from junior and senior high school.

“Here.” Han Yao grinned and picked one up. “Want it? Consider it thanks for your help.”

Chu Susu: “……What kind of thanks is this?”

“Isn’t it? Don’t you want to see Han Xuan’s childhood diary?”

Chu Susu shot her a look. “No, that’s her privacy.”

Han Yao had already opened the first page. “This is the diary essay I handed in to the teacher. It has tons of comments from classmates written all over it. The whole class probably saw it, so there’s no privacy to speak of.”

She tossed the notebook to Chu Susu. “It’s up to you now. I’ve handed it over.”

Chu Susu struggled internally for a long time before finally giving in.

She sprawled out on the carpet in Han Yao’s study and flipped open the worn notebook.

Han Xuan’s handwriting was neat and elegant, just like the girl herself. Even after all these years, every page remained pristine and tidy.

The early entries were all ordinary essays, but one page in the middle caught her eye.

—<My Senior Sister>.

Chu Susu immediately recalled what Han Xuan had once mentioned: the girl she had a crush on back in school.

“I have a senior sister I admire greatly. Not only is she outstanding in her studies and pretty and lively, she’s also helpful, kind, and generous…”

The moment these adjectives appeared, Chu Susu knew this senior sister had to be the one Han Xuan was talking about.

She could almost picture a young Han Xuan, painstakingly rummaging through her limited vocabulary for every beautiful word she knew to praise and describe her.

Chu Susu couldn’t help but feel a bit bothered by it, so she turned her head and asked, “Do you know who Han Xuan had a crush on back in school?”

She clearly saw Han Yao purse her lips, as if holding back a laugh, before shaking her head.

“Really?”

“Yeah.” Han Yao glanced at her. “When would I have time to dig into a little kid’s emotional journey?”

“Not even a little?”

“Nope.”

Chu Susu felt a bit disappointed. It was a shame she still couldn’t figure out who that person was.

It didn’t really matter even if she knew, but everyone would be curious about something like that.

She kept flipping through the notebook, listening to Han Yao say beside her ear, “There’s a high school classmates’ reunion at the end of December. You going?”

“On Christmas?”

“No, two days after Christmas.”

“I should be able to.” Chu Susu turned her head. “What, the all-powerful Eldest Miss is going too?”

Han Yao twitched the corner of her mouth but ignored her.

Chu Susu hadn’t seen her high school classmates in ages. It’d be nice to catch up, and she could casually ask around about any girls who might fit the description.

Of course, just in passing.

In a later diary entry, Han Xuan wrote about wanting to go to an amusement park, but her family relatives were too busy and lacked both the time and money to take her.

“I want to save up money bit by bit to buy a ticket to the amusement park, ride the Ferris wheel at night once, and enjoy that feeling of reaching the highest point and looking at the stars.”

“I also want the amusement park staff to set off a bouquet of fireworks for me, so they appear together with the stars at the highest point.”

Chu Susu stared at it for a long time, then jotted down that passage.