Chapter 25 A Symbol of His Defiance

Xie Muhuan went to check on Grandma Xu in her room. Qu Qingzhi, however, grabbed Su Xingye and pulled him outside the apartment before lowering her voice, “Don’t ask too many questions.”

Su Xingye raised an eyebrow, “What did you do to him? He looks like a skeleton.”

Qu Qingzhi, in a bad mood, retorted, “Yeah, I tortured him. Didn’t give him food.”

Su Xingye snorted coldly. Did she think he was a fool?

If she had really mistreated Xie Muhuan that badly, would he still be so calm around her?

“Qu Qingzhi! You’ve gone too far!”

Out of nowhere, an angry female voice rang out.

Just as Xia Ruoxi stepped out of the elevator, she overheard Qu Qingzhi’s remark about “torturing” Xie Muhuan.

Qu Qingzhi frowned and asked Su Xingye, “You told her the address?”

Su Xingye shrugged. “She’s been hounding me every day. I was sick of it.”

Xia Ruoxi marched over with righteous indignation, “Qu Qingzhi, what did you do to Xie Muhuan this time? How can you be so cruel!”

Qu Qingzhi was speechless.

What perfect timing. She had only said it casually.

“Is Xie Muhuan inside? Open the door. I need to see him!” Xia Ruoxi demanded, her voice trembling with anger. She was genuinely worried about Xie Muhuan.

She knew he had been taken recently.

In her previous life, it wasn’t until much later that she learned Xie Muhuan had been imprisoned on a yacht, suffering horrific humiliation.

His psychological issues and eventual dark, vengeful nature probably stemmed from those experiences.

Although she didn’t know where he had been taken, she was certain he would eventually return safely.

Right now, he desperately needed someone to care about him!

“Fine.” Qu Qingzhi opened the door.

This was the world’s female protagonist, the person Xie Muhuan would care about the most in the future.

No matter what, she couldn’t stop Xia Ruoxi from comforting him.

…

The apartment had three rooms: one for Grandma Xu, one for Xie Muhuan, and a guest room.

Xia Ruoxi didn’t rush to find him immediately but instead observed the layout of the rooms. She saw the one with more masculine bedding and decided to enter.

She took out items from her backpack—specially blended essential oils and an aromatherapy diffuser.

“What are you doing?” Qu Qingzhi asked, leaning against the door.

Xia Ruoxi didn’t answer.

“Did you mix that essential oil yourself?” Qu Qingzhi already knew the answer.

In the novel, it was clearly emphasized that Xia Ruoxi was a talented perfumer.

Though she was just starting university now and wasn’t at her peak, she was still quite capable.

As the diffuser emitted a mist, a light fragrance filled the air.

Qu Qingzhi focused and took a whiff.

Red mandarin, bergamot, sweet orange, rose geranium, highland lavender…

It was a soothing blend, meant to help with sleep.

“How did you know Xie Muhuan isn’t sleeping well?” Qu Qingzhi suddenly asked.

Xia Ruoxi turned around, frowning, “Hasn’t he gone missing recently? He must’ve gone through something terrible. Stop bullying him. Have a little conscience, will you?”

Qu Qingzhi stared at her thoughtfully.

The female lead appeared two years earlier than in the plot. There must be a reason.

And it seemed like she knew something about what had happened to Xie Muhuan.

“Take your time with it.” Qu Qingzhi threw the remark casually and turned to leave.

The progression of the main plot wasn’t something she could interfere with.

Since Xia Ruoxi could make perfumes that might help Xie Muhuan, Qu Qingzhi, the so-called villainess, was happy to step aside and fade into the background.

…

After two days of running around, Qu Qingzhi was actually exhausted.

But lying in bed that night, she couldn’t sleep.

Inevitably, her thoughts drifted back to Xie Muhuan.

Would he harm himself again tonight? Would he have nightmares? Would Xia Ruoxi’s sleeping oils help?

【Wild Brother, did you give Xie Muhuan the phone?】Qu Qingzhi grabbed her phone from the bedside table and messaged Su Xingye.

【Damn! You almost made me lose my game!】Su Xingye, a night owl, was still gaming at this hour. 【Yeah, yeah, I gave it to him, and I added him on WeChat. I’ll push his contact to you.】

Qu Qingzhi’s phone buzzed, and a contact card popped up on the screen—

A simple WeChat name: Han.

Qu Qingzhi clicked to send a friend request with a note: “It’s Qu Qingzhi. Dare to ignore me?”

Two minutes passed.

He accepted.

【You’re still awake?】Qu Qingzhi quickly typed.

【Mm.】

Xie Muhuan replied with just one character.

Qu Qingzhi: 【The private doctor from my family has been there, right? Did you apply the medicine?】

Xie Muhuan: 【I can do it myself.】

Qu Qingzhi: 【???】

He could do it himself? That meant he hadn’t applied it!

Xie Muhuan didn’t respond.

Qu Qingzhi, frustrated, called him via video chat.

Xie Muhuan rejected the call.

Qu Qingzhi fumed: 【Tell me the truth. What’s your condition now? Did Xia Ruoxi’s aromatherapy make you even a little sleepy?】

Xie Muhuan: 【I’m fine.】

Qu Qingzhi sneered: 【”Fine”? You don’t even dare to video call me. Do you believe I’ll come over there right now?】

Xie Muhuan didn’t reply.

At that moment, he was standing in the bathroom, staring at the reflection of his body in the spotless mirror, his skin marred by vicious scars.

Each hideous mark was left by those men, from the whippings or burns meant to degrade him.

Every part of him that had been touched still seemed to bear the imprints of their hands, the sickening warmth still clinging to his flesh.

Dirty.

From skin to blood, every inch of him felt tainted.

The phone vibrated on the sink.

Xie Muhuan glanced at it. Qu Qingzhi was calling again.

Ignoring it, he stepped into the shower and turned on the water, rinsing off the filth clinging to his body.

He scrubbed the places they had touched, scrubbing the scars until they reopened and began to bleed again.

The gash on his thigh split apart once more, and the bandaged wrist bled red.

The pain was sharp, but it brought him a sense of relief—it represented his defiance. He hadn’t given in.