Chapter 26 – Thankfully, He Appeared Just in Time

Su Rong didn’t know any martial arts, nor did she have a weapon in hand—she could only dodge.

Zhu Hui played with her like a cat tormenting a mouse, smiling menacingly.
“Let’s see where you can run. Back inside, I made your life worse than death. Don’t think that being out now means you can fight me. I’m telling you—you don’t stand a chance!”

While dodging, Su Rong shouted, “Zhu Hui, how much did Su Xue’er pay you to torment me like this?”

Zhu Hui froze for a moment—how did she know? But she quickly recovered.
“Don’t spout nonsense! This has nothing to do with Su Xue’er. I simply can’t stand the sight of you. What, what can you do to me?”

Liu Xu had already called the police. She got out of the car and began recording them on video, trying to circle around for a chance to grab the baseball bat.

Zhu Hui chased after Su Rong, raising the club to smash down on her head—when suddenly, a pair of glaring headlights shone from a car nearby. Zhu Hui instinctively raised a hand to shield her eyes.

Seizing the chance, Su Rong kicked her in the stomach. Zhu Hui staggered, almost falling. Su Rong snatched the club from her hands, and at the same time, Liu Xu pulled the baseball bat from the trunk.

The tide of the fight shifted. But Zhu Hui was prepared—she grabbed at their sticks and yanked with brute force. Just as it looked like she might wrest the weapons away, the car with the headlights stopped.

Leng Xiao got out, strode over, and barked, “Stop!”

Zhu Hui froze, then snarled, “Mind your own business!”

Liu Xu shouted, “Assistant Leng, she’s the one who beat Su Rong in prison! Last time at the black market, she also locked Su Rong in a dark room. And she smashed my car!”

Leng Xiao had only intended to help when he saw two women being chased—he hadn’t expected so many twists. But since he had already stepped in, he couldn’t just walk away. He had actually just finished dinner with a client at Zhu Ji Farm and happened to be passing by.

By now, Zhu Hui had been beaten until her face was bruised and swollen, her gaze fierce and cold. “This is between me and them. It’s none of your business. Stay out of it!”

Leng Xiao glanced at Liu Xu’s damaged car. “Have you called the police?”

Liu Xu nodded. “Yes, already.” With Leng Xiao backing them up, both women felt much safer.

When Zhu Hui heard that the police were on their way, she tried to run. Leng Xiao grabbed her, twisted her arm behind her back, and pinned her against the car trunk. She cursed and spat insults nonstop, cheek pressed against the metal.

Soon, the nearby patrol police arrived. Leng Xiao handed Zhu Hui over and briefly explained the situation. Zhu Hui was taken away.

After Su Rong and Liu Xu thanked him, they went to the police station. With Liu Xu’s video, the evidence of Zhu Hui smashing the car was irrefutable. Liu Xu’s car was towed to a 4S shop; the damages were estimated at 150,000 yuan—all to be paid by Zhu Hui.

Zhu Hui screamed that she had only smashed the car to vent her anger.

Su Rong also revealed how Zhu Hui had once locked her in the black market’s dark room, nearly costing her life. Hearing this, Zhu Hui didn’t dare argue further. If things were dug deeper, her dealings with Su Xue’er might be exposed—and she still needed Su Xue’er’s money. She spat viciously, “You just wait!”

In the end, Zhu Hui was detained for 15 days for property damage and ordered to pay 150,000 yuan in compensation. She accepted it—after all, Su Xue’er would have to foot the bill.

Leaving the station, Liu Xu laughed with Su Rong.
“Serves her right! That vile woman wanted to retaliate against us, and she ended up putting herself behind bars.”

Su Rong exhaled deeply. “I’ll settle my accounts with her slowly. Liu Xu, I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”

“Don’t say that. If it were me in trouble, wouldn’t you help me? Back in sixth grade, you stood up for me without hesitation, and you kept protecting me afterward. I swore back then I’d stick by you through thick and thin. I’ll never forget your kindness. Honestly, tonight we owe a lot to Leng Xiao. Do you think Sheng Qiye was in that car too?”

Su Rong wasn’t sure. “I don’t know. But now I owe them another favor. I should make another trip to the black market soon—try to find a few gemstones for them. While Zhu Hui’s locked up, it’s the perfect chance to handle this. Otherwise, I won’t know how to repay them.”

“Sounds good. I’ll go with you.”

They hailed a taxi, then went their separate ways home.

When Su Rong returned to the Su household, Su Xue’er came out, arms crossed, eyes cold. She had already been informed about Zhu Hui’s humiliation earlier that night, and the thought of Su Rong benefiting from it soured her mood.

Su Rong’s gaze was just as icy.

“Well, well, a scratch on your neck. Did you get into a fight?” Su Xue’er sneered.

Su Rong touched her neck—it must have been from her scuffle with Zhu Hui. “That person reported back to you so quickly?”

Su Xue’er faltered for a moment, but quickly masked it with venomous words. “What are you talking about? A scratch like that—did you get caught seducing someone’s husband and beaten by his wife? With your status as an ex-con, what man would want you?”

To avoid being falsely accused, Su Rong swallowed her urge to slap her. She brushed past her and went straight to her room. At least Zhu Hui had been taught a lesson today. More importantly, Leng Xiao had appeared just in time. That thought left her in good spirits.

The next morning, Su Rong went to the prison to visit Li Nan, bringing food and supplies. Li Nan was her benefactor—she had to come.

When she heard that Doctor Hua was treating her, Li Nan’s eyes turned red.
“Doctor Hua… he didn’t give you a hard time, did he?”

Su Rong smiled. “No. He’s actually quite kind. I even told him those two phrases you taught me.”

Li Nan grew tense. “Did he agree to treat you because of those words?”

Su Rong knew the truth—that it was Sheng Qiye who convinced him—but she didn’t want to dampen Li Nan’s spirits. “Mm. Thank you, Sister Nan.”

Li Nan seemed touched. “That’s good to hear.”

Su Rong added, “By the way, Doctor Hua mentioned you. He asked about your situation. I told him you were doing well.”

“He… really asked about me?” Li Nan’s voice caught slightly.

Su Rong nodded. “I told him those phrases were from you, and then he asked about you. Sister Nan, do you know Doctor Hua?”

Li Nan smiled and shook her head. “Let’s not talk about him. Rongrong, how are you doing?”

Su Rong told her about the incident with Zhu Hui last night.

Li Nan chuckled. “You’ve got guts. But Zhu Hui is vicious and ruthless—you need to be careful.”

“I will,” Su Rong assured her. They chatted for a bit more, but visiting time was too short.

As Su Rong was leaving, Li Nan said one last thing.
“Rongrong, if Doctor Hua asks about me again, tell him this: Qingdai knows she was wrong. Qingdai wants to go home.”

Su Rong wanted to ask who Qingdai was, but the guards had already taken Li Nan away. She had no choice but to leave.

She then hurried to Yu Palace, just in time for the painting class.

Professor Ye Shuyi had brought in everyone’s works from the previous day. She had written critiques and given scores for each, all of them fairly high.

Su Rong’s painting had also been graded, but the mark left her confused.
“Professor Ye, was there something wrong with my painting?”