Chapter 80: Li Linger
Xi Meng pursed her lips and frowned. “I was born in a rural village. My family was very poor. My father worked away from home, and my mother ran off with a man from the city. My father lost all hope and passed away a few years later. I dropped out of high school and came to Hua’an City to work.”
“I got a job in a factory. Because I was pretty, it was easier for me than for others. I gradually learned to use my looks to get what I wanted. The factory manager’s son was attracted to me. Whatever I wanted, he would buy for me, even his father. But I overestimated myself. He tried to force himself on me.”
“I was desperate. I kicked him in the balls and ran away. That’s when I met Fu Qi. He was about to get into his car when he saw me crying for help.”
“Fu Qi’s family was very powerful. He had a wife at the time, but he pursued me relentlessly, even helping me deal with that father and son. When I started my company, he paved the way for me, securing bank loans, getting me first access to development projects. Finally, he got divorced. His wife even came to me and told me he was impotent, but for me, that was good news.”
“So, we got married soon after, but we didn’t have a wedding, just a marriage certificate. My business grew bigger and bigger, and he resigned from his job to avoid suspicion. That’s my life, more or less.”
Tang Ze stroked his chin and looked at Sun Ting. “Why did you stop the car?”
“I was listening to the story. I was afraid I’d get distracted and have an accident.”
Sun Ting said pitifully.
Tang Ze suddenly understood. He looked at Xi Meng and patted her leg. “No wonder you’re so tight.”
“…”
Ye Qingyi protested. “Am I loose? It was my first time!”
“Mine too! As if it wasn’t everyone’s first time! My fans in the live stream asked me out, and I didn’t even go!”
Sun Ting scoffed, unimpressed.
An Bai also raised her hand and said weakly, “Actually, it was my first time too.”
Tang Ze burst out laughing. These women were hilarious. “Alright, alright, it was my first time too. No one’s at a loss.”
“Chatting with you all, I always feel out of place. You’re so dirty, I can’t keep up.”
His words drew a chorus of “hissing” from the four women. We’re just talking, but you’re actually doing it. How can you compare?
“Master, what about your story?”
Xi Meng was curious about his past. Was he a ruthless person before?
The other three women didn’t dare to speak. The contrast with his current self was too great.
“Yiyi, you tell her. I’ve already told it once.”
Tang Ze was generous. His dark past was a good story to share.
Ye Qingyi immediately started gossiping. “Our master was actually a very honest boy before.”
“Hey, you’re actually telling it?”
“But you told me to!”
Ye Qingyi was startled.
Seeing her pale face, Tang Ze burst out laughing. “Just kidding, keep going.”
“Master, you…! I’m not telling.”
She crossed her arms and stared out the window, angry. She had thought she was about to die.
Now it was An Bai’s turn. “Bai, you do it.”
“Okay, okay! Our master was the kind of person everyone could bully. He was suppressed at work, and when he pursued a girl, he was publicly humiliated. So pitiful.”
Xi Meng’s gossip radar was on full blast. “What girl?”
Tang Ze smiled. “It’s that… what’s her name, Bi Jian’s mistress.”
“Bi Jian? You killed them, Master?”
Xi Meng suddenly remembered.
“Yes, they tried to drug me and take my supplies, but I killed them first. Actually, I went to your complex mainly to find this woman.”
Tang Ze thought, I don’t want to kill people, but if I don’t, they’ll kill me. What choice do I have?
Xi Meng sighed. Everyone had a past, but Tang Ze was different. Other men would hide their past, but he didn’t care about sharing it, even with a self-deprecating tone.
Sometimes he seemed cruel, but sometimes he was like a child, forced into this by the apocalypse.
“Where are we going now?”
Xi Meng asked, seeing the car heading back into the city.
“To find a celebrity. I don’t know if it’s true. If not, we’ll go straight to Yunhai City.”
“Find a celebrity?”
Tang Ze nodded. “Maybe this big star is in deep trouble. As a man, I have to help.”
The four women rolled their eyes. Anyone who was “helped” by him would be mentally scarred for life.
But Tang Ze was right about one thing. The big star was indeed in deep trouble.
Hai’an Garden, the most luxurious villa district in Hua’an City, was full of detached houses, with a beautiful environment. Each villa was worth around 200 million yuan, and many wealthy businessmen and celebrities had bought homes there.
But now, these rich people regretted it. Why had they bought a home in this godforsaken place?
The entire Shuangdong District had lost power a week ago, and Hai’an Garden was no exception.
At this rate, they would freeze to death. Fortunately, some had fireplaces and could burn books for warmth.
Some had plenty of supplies, thanks to the rich people’s fear of death. They had always hoarded supplies, just in case of a doomsday scenario, and this time, it had really come.
But some hadn’t hoarded, or hadn’t hoarded much.
For example, the villa where Li Linger lived was running out of food.
Sitting by the fireplace, wrapped in blankets, Li Linger tore pages from a book and threw them into the fire. The flames illuminated her stunning face, like the most beautiful flower in spring. She needed no makeup; her natural beauty was enough to captivate millions.
Her eyes, which should have been bright and lively, were now filled with despair. But her eyebrows, like a graceful stroke of a brush in a landscape painting, added a touch of playfulness and spirit. Unfortunately, her warm smile was gone, replaced by the repetitive motion of tearing pages.
Before the apocalypse, Li Linger was a rising star in the entertainment industry. Her heartfelt performance in a TV series had won over the audience, and her career had taken off. Brand endorsements, movies, even an appearance on the Spring Festival Gala. She was only 22, still in college.
She had been here for a commercial shoot and was resting when the rain started. She had been trapped ever since.
She had thought the rain would pass quickly, but she had run out of food and had only half a bottle of water left. The rain hadn’t stopped. Was she going to starve to death?
Once, when the rain had stopped for a while, many people had broken in, armed with clubs and knives. She had been terrified.
