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“Thank you, Yaoyao. I have money. I’ll quit my job tonight and pay the agency tomorrow to move out,” Zhang Beilu said emotionally. Her best friend hadn’t distanced herself just because their social statuses had changed. She still treated her as a friend, and that deeply moved her.
“Alright, I’ll see you at school then. I’ll help you find another part-time job,” Xu Yueyao said, holding her hand.
“Okay, I’ll start packing now. By the way, how did you get here?” Zhang Beilu casually asked as she opened her wardrobe.
“My driver brought me. He’s waiting outside the alley,” Xu Yueyao replied while sorting through the books on the desk. She only took the important ones, leaving behind clothes and bedding.
Hearing that, Zhang Beilu nudged her playfully and grinned. “Wow, my girl has made it big! Tell me, is Young Marshal Zhan handsome?”
Xu Yueyao’s lips curved into a smile, and she nodded. “Yes, very handsome.”
“More handsome than Fu Xiaosi?”
“Of course! No comparison, okay?” Although Xu Yueyao hadn’t met Fu Xiaosi in this world, she knew from the book that he constantly bullied Xu Yueyao. Her impression of him was terrible.
“I’d love to see for myself! He’s the famous Zhan Rongxuan, after all. He never takes photos, and even when he’s captured, it’s just his back. People like us have no chance to see him in person.”
Xu Yueyao chuckled awkwardly. She had no power to introduce Zhan Rongxuan to her friends, so she quickly changed the subject. “Lulu, pick out anything useful. I won’t be taking these with me.”
“You’re leaving all these clothes behind?”
“Yes, I don’t need them anymore.”
Xu Yueyao packed all her books and documents into two storage boxes.
“I’ll help you carry them.” Zhang Beilu picked up one box while Xu Yueyao took the other, and they walked out of the room.
As fate would have it, they ran into An Zhiyi and Xia Nuannuan again. Their hair was wet, likely from a visit to the bathhouse.
This time, Zhang Beilu didn’t start cursing. Instead, she smirked confidently and looked at them with a superior gaze.
Seeing this, Xia Nuannuan confirmed her suspicions. “Xu Yueyao, is it true? Are you really moving out?”
Xu Yueyao initially wanted to greet them to ease tensions, but when she looked up and saw the disdain in An Zhiyi’s eyes, she lost all desire to do so. It seemed they were destined to be at odds.
Lifting her chin and standing tall, Xu Yueyao elegantly said, “Please move aside, thank you.” She had never been one to force friendships. She walked right between them, her high ponytail swaying behind her. Zhang Beilu, not interested in arguing with them either, also walked past with the same grace.
Outside the alley, Uncle Zhang saw Xu Yueyao and immediately got out of the car. He took the storage box from her and placed it in the trunk, then did the same for Zhang Beilu’s box.
Zhang Beilu eyed the luxury car and kept signaling to Xu Yueyao with her eyes. Holding back a laugh, Xu Yueyao said, “Don’t forget what we talked about. I’m leaving now. See you at school.”
“Got it! See you at school.” Zhang Beilu waved as she watched the car drive away, feeling as if she had risen in status too. A newfound confidence surged within her.
On her way back, she passed Xia Nuannuan. Somehow, she didn’t find her as annoying anymore and even offered a smile.
Xia Nuannuan was so startled that she ran back to her room and said to a dazed An Zhiyi, “Those two next door must be crazy! Zhiyi, what are you thinking about?”
An Zhiyi snapped out of her thoughts. “Don’t bother with them.”
“Hmph! I’d bet anything that the rumors are true. Xu Yueyao must have been kept by someone. I wonder who started the rumors, but that person must know more details,” Xia Nuannuan speculated, rubbing her chin.
An Zhiyi’s expression changed slightly. She recalled that just a few days ago, Gao Yuyan, who had a crush on Fu Xiaosi, asked her if she knew where Xu Yueyao was. She had simply replied, “She hasn’t been around for a few days, and she hasn’t gone home either.” The very next day, rumors started spreading. She wasn’t sure if it was related to what she had said.
“Zhiyi, are you thinking about Fu Xiaosi’s brother, Fu Zheng?” Xia Nuannuan teased.
“What nonsense are you talking about?” An Zhiyi was startled, her face turning slightly red. She recalled Fu Zheng’s deep, penetrating gaze—the way he looked at her made her heart race.
“I’m telling you, just go for it! Unlike Fu Xiaosi, who plays around, I’ve heard Fu Zheng is quite disciplined. He’s a few years older than us, but he’s mature, responsible, and incredibly handsome. If you let him slip away, you’ll regret it,” Xia Nuannuan said.
An Zhiyi remained rational. She knew how outstanding Fu Zheng was, but they came from completely different worlds. It was impossible between them. She hated how overly logical she was, but she couldn’t bring herself to pursue something risky. She was afraid of getting hurt, afraid of losing everything.
—
At the largest nightclub in the imperial capital, dazzling lights illuminated the night, and the city never slept. Music, laughter, and indulgence filled the air.
“This is my last night here,” Zhang Beilu told Xin Jie, the supervisor. Xin Jie didn’t make things difficult for her. Many girls worked here, and losing one didn’t matter. She simply nodded and agreed.
With newfound motivation, Zhang Beilu aimed to make the most of her final night. She smiled sincerely at everyone. She had received so many tips that her hands were sore from collecting them.
But trouble soon found her. In one of the private rooms, a drunk businessman, Mr. Qian, grabbed her hand and started groping her. She had dealt with situations like this before and usually managed to escape tactfully. But this time, he was persistent, holding onto her for nearly half an hour. Her patience was running thin. She glanced around for help, but no one responded.
When he groped her again, she had enough. She stomped hard on his foot. Mr. Qian yelped in pain and let go, giving her a chance to run.
But she had angered him. “You b*tch! Get back here! I’ll make sure you suffer tonight!” he roared, ordering his men to chase after her.
Terrified, Zhang Beilu ran as fast as she could, stumbling through the corridor. As she turned a corner, she crashed into a man’s chest. A faint scent of wood lingered on him.
Looking up, she saw an exceptionally handsome face. His neatly combed hair, gold-rimmed glasses, and dark suit exuded sophistication and authority.
The man looked down at the trembling woman in his arms. Her eyes were brimming with tears, making her seem both fragile and resilient. She reminded him of someone else—someone just as stubborn.
“B*tch! Don’t run!” Mr. Qian’s voice roared behind her.