HomeFalling In LoveZhui Luo - Chapter 48

Zhui Luo – Chapter 48

An imposing iron gate appeared before them, with an exceptionally well-maintained and beautiful garden beside it. The giant banana leaves reached as high as two stories, incomparably better than those at Lu Xixiao’s home.

Zhou Wan sat quietly in the car, watching everything appear outside the window.

The driver stopped the car at the entrance.

Old Master Lu got out of the car using his cane. Zhou Wan hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to support him.

She didn’t say formulaic phrases like “be careful.” She just quietly supported Old Master Lu’s arm, not applying too much force, but ready to catch him if he were to fall.

“This is where I usually live,” Old Master Lu said with a smile. “It’s a pity none of my sons or daughters live here with me. I get lonely by myself. When Xiao was young, he often stayed here with me for a few days.”

Upon hearing him mention Lu Xixiao’s childhood, Zhou Wan tilted her head slightly.

Old Master Lu led Zhou Wan into the house, dismissed everyone else, and personally poured her a cup of water.

Zhou Wan accepted it with both hands, thanked him, and sat down opposite him.

If Zhou Wan wasn’t Guo Xiangling’s daughter, if she didn’t have anything to do with Xiao, Old Master Lu might have admired her ability to remain so calm, ruthless, and resolute.

“When Xiao was young, he was an exceptionally good child. Everyone who met him praised him. His mother raised him well, but unfortunately…” Old Master Lu sighed, speaking with such sincerity that it seemed like he was just having a casual chat with Zhou Wan. “He once had a younger sister. I gave her the nickname Wanwan because she had beautiful eyes and loved to smile. When she smiled, her eyes would curve into lines.”

Wanwan.

Wan’wan.

Zhou Wan silently clenched her palms, suddenly feeling a pain in her stomach.

It throbbed, like being pricked by needles.

“Xiao loved his little sister very much and often played with her. It’s just a pity that his entire childhood was filled with constant loss. All those important to him were lost one after another.”

“After that, his personality changed. He became indifferent to everything. Whether possessing or losing, he was never earnest about it. He must have broken many girls’ hearts, but that’s because he had lost too much before, so he didn’t dare take anyone too seriously anymore.”

“But I can see that Xiao likes you. You’re different from him.”

Old Master Lu’s tone was so gentle that even Zhou Wan couldn’t figure out why he had brought her here.

“That’s precisely why I came to find you,” Old Master Lu looked at Zhou Wan quietly. “Xiao is different from you. He bears the Lu surname, which involves too many people and too many matters. Many people are watching him, so what you’re doing isn’t just revenge against your mother – you’ve also put him in a very difficult position.”

“What will people say if they find out about your relationship?”

Old Master Lu smiled slightly, his voice low and calm, “Disgusting, perverted, immoral, filthy… these things won’t disappear just because your mother is gone.”

With each word he spoke, Zhou Wan’s body tensed further.

“I previously agreed with Mr. Lu that once Guo Xiangling lost everything, I would… disappear from Lu Xixiao’s world forever,” Zhou Wan lowered her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. “I’ll leave in a few days.”

“The sooner the better.”

Old Master Lu said, “Xiao is unorthodox. He likes you, and might truly be willing to give up everything for you, but you’re a smart person. You should know what kind of condemnation he would face, and what he would lose.”

“I know.”

Zhou Wan stood up and bowed deeply to Old Master Lu. “I’m sorry. I was too selfish and caused trouble for you all.”

*

When Lu Xixiao woke up, the house was very quiet. There was no one in the living room, and he thought Zhou Wan was still sleeping, but then he noticed an umbrella missing from the entrance.

He glanced at the gloomy sky and drizzling rain through the floor-to-ceiling window, and called Zhou Wan.

It rang for a long time.

No one answered.

Lu Xixiao frowned, inexplicable anxiety spreading through his heart as he recalled what Butler Zhang had said earlier.

He quickly walked to the wardrobe and yanked it open. All the clothes were still there.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, self-mockingly tugging at the corner of his mouth as he closed the closet door and went to the living room.

Lu Xixiao ordered two breakfast meals, but even after they had gone cold, Zhou Wan hadn’t returned. He grabbed another umbrella from the entrance, preparing to go look for her.

Just as he was about to lock the door, his phone suddenly vibrated with a text message from an unsaved number.

It was an address.

Lu Xixiao frowned and called the number directly.

“Hello.” It was Luo He’s voice, carrying a somewhat grudging smile. “Lu Xixiao, long time no see.”

He remained silent, standing under the eaves with his phone, his face darkening as he stared at the curtain of rain before him, his eyes filled with obscure darkness.

“Come to the address I sent you, alone,” Luo said with a laugh. “If you’re late, don’t feel heartbroken when your little girlfriend cries.”

His expression remained unchanged, only his jawline tightened, drawing a sharp line that seemed almost lethal.

But the reason told him that Zhou Wan was a smart person. She knew Luo He, she surely wouldn’t have fallen for his trap.

“Where is she?”

“Don’t believe me, huh?” Footsteps could be heard from Luo He’s end as he walked to the other side and crouched down, holding out the phone. “Say something.”

Lu Xixiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

The other end was completely quiet, without a sound.

Luo He: “Little sister, don’t be so stubborn. Now’s not the time to play at being deep and affectionate. If he doesn’t come, you won’t have a good ending.”

Lu Xixiao’s brows furrowed tightly as he said in a low voice: “Zhou Wan.”

Still no response.

Luo He gave a cold laugh and suddenly grabbed Zhou Wan’s hair, yanking her head back.

The movement was so sudden that Zhou Wan couldn’t help but let out a painful whimper from her throat.

Very soft and brief, almost inaudible.

But Lu Xixiao heard it.

The veins on his forehead instantly bulged as he snarled with murderous rage: “Luo He, if you dare hit her, I’ll definitely kill you!”

Hearing his furious voice, Luo He laughed even more gleefully: “Don’t worry, I just pulled her hair a bit. Alright, Lu Xixiao, come quickly. I don’t have much patience.”

*

Before Lu Xixiao could speak, Luo He hung up the phone and tossed it aside.

He crouched down to be at eye level with Zhou Wan, then reached out and patted her cheek: “Sister, if you don’t want to get beaten up later, you’d better cooperate.”

Under an iron shed at the abandoned Pingchuan City station, Zhou Wan lay on the ground with her hands and feet bound.

The young woman’s hair was messily scattered over her shoulders, and her pants were covered in dirty, mottled dust. She wasn’t crying, nor did she show any signs of excessive fear. Only her eye sockets had been forced into a bloodshot color as she glared hatefully at Luo He.

Once again, Luo He saw Lu Xixiao’s shadow in this frail girl.

He sneered: “What are you so proud of? Wait and see if Lu Xixiao can still be proud later.”

“No matter what he’s like, you’ll never match up to him.”

“Fine then.” Luo He laughed. “You just keep your eyes wide open and watch later.”

He straightened up and turned his head. Jiang Yan was being restrained by two others, constantly struggling and cursing him as untrustworthy, a thug, and a hoodlum.

Luo He walked over and without a word, kicked Jiang Yan in the stomach. His body instantly stiffened, cold sweat immediately breaking out as he groaned in pain.

“I’m a thug and a hoodlum, so what does that make you?” Luo He looked down at him contemptuously. “You’re not even as good as a thug. No brains, just a hypocrite.”

“But I still have to thank you.” As Luo He spoke, he smiled and helped Jiang Yan up by his arm. “If you hadn’t called, Zhou Wan wouldn’t have come. Isn’t that right?”

Jiang Yan was so furious he couldn’t speak.

After leaving Lu Zhongyue’s company, Jiang Yan’s mind was filled with Old Master Lu’s words. He hated Lu Xixiao intensely, truly not understanding what made him better than himself, wishing he would disappear from this world forever.

That’s why he acted rashly and told Luo He he had a way to lure Lu Xixiao out.

But he had never intended to harm Zhou Wan.

He had told Luo He that no matter what happened to Lu Xixiao in the end, they absolutely could not harm Zhou Wan.

In Jiang Yan’s heart, Zhou Wan was his only friend.

He harbored some ineffable feelings toward Zhou Wan.

Sensing Zhou Wan’s gaze upon him, Jiang Yan felt as if he’d been struck by an icy arrow. He didn’t dare admit it, feeling helpless, scared, and wronged.

“No,” he instinctively denied, “Zhou Wan, it wasn’t me.”

Zhou Wan neither believed nor reproached him, simply shifting her gaze away indifferently.

Soon, the sound of a noisy engine rumbled outside the abandoned station.

Luo He raised an eyebrow and smiled, “That was quick.”

He walked behind Zhou Wan and roughly dragged her a distance. Zhou Wan’s palms were forced against the ground, the friction tearing lines of blood across her skin.

She frowned in pain, her hair falling forward across her chest, the ends dragging on the ground and stirring up dust. Through her hair strands, she saw a figure appear in the distance, dressed in black, walking with purposeful strides.

When Lu Xixiao saw the scene before him, murderous rage erupted from his entire being.

He was drenched from the rain, his shoulders and hair wet.

Zhou Wan pressed her lips together hard.

“You do like her quite a bit,” Luo He said with a smile, dragging Zhou Wan to the side.

Lu Xixiao’s voice was hoarse: “What do you want?”

Luo He bit down on a cigarette and sauntered in front of him, flicking off some ash as he spat out two words: “Kneel.”

Lu Xixiao’s expression remained unchanged. He didn’t move.

Luo He knew all too well what a proud person Lu Xixiao was.

He would rather die than suffer such humiliation.

So at this moment, he grew even more excited, his pupils taking on a crazed light as his smile turned savage. He enunciated each word: “Kneel. Down. Before. Me.”

Zhou Wan stared intently at Lu Xixiao.

The young man’s face was dark, but he showed neither angry humiliation at the insult, nor did he retreat or avoid it. He was terrifyingly quiet.

Zhou Wan’s heart kept rising until she felt she might vomit blood.

Luo He observed Lu Xixiao’s expression, savoring every minute detail like fine wine.

He paused, then said with a smile: “Otherwise, I’ll strip her clothes off and post photos at your school. She looks a bit thin, but since you like her so much, her figure must not be bad.”

Only at this moment did Lu Xixiao’s expression finally crack.

No longer his usual cold and distant self, his eyes were bloodshot, filled with red veins – the first time Zhou Wan had ever seen such vivid color on his face.

As if realizing something, she suddenly screamed.

“Lu Xixiao!” she shouted, “Don’t!”

From the beginning until now, Zhou Wan hadn’t cried, hadn’t shouted, hadn’t begged.

Even after Lu Xixiao arrived, she hadn’t made a sound, afraid that even the slightest reaction from her would affect him, until this moment–

But she watched helplessly as Lu Xixiao lowered himself, his knees bending.

And knelt straight down.

Perhaps this kneeling made no sound at all, but Zhou Wan heard a “thud.”

The sound of his kneecaps hitting the ground.

“No! Lu Xixiao, get up!” Zhou Wan’s mind went completely blank as she struggled desperately, screaming and crying: “No, don’t do this, Lu Xixiao… get up!”

The proud youth who had always been the center of attention knelt without a word, straight-backed.

The world fell silent, yet everything seemed to be turning upside down.

Zhou Wan couldn’t accept Lu Xixiao being like this.

She couldn’t bear to see Lu Xixiao being humiliated. If it had to be like this, she would rather die herself.

She had already hurt him so much; she couldn’t let his remaining pride be shattered and taken away too.

But Lu Xixiao didn’t look at her once. He just knelt there, his pants dirty with dust, like a fallen god.

Luo He laughed maniacally beside them. After fighting with Lu Xixiao for so long, he had never imagined there would be a day when he could truly trample Lu Xixiao under his feet.

He laughed until his stomach hurt and tears came to his eyes, bending over with one hand supported on Lu Xixiao’s shoulder, his jarring laughter echoing through the car shed. “Lu Xixiao, to think you’d see such a day.”

Finally managing to straighten up from laughing, he felt his pants pocket but couldn’t find his phone, so he looked around.

Then he walked to the side to pick up his coat, took out his phone from the pocket, opened the camera, and took a photo of the kneeling Lu Xixiao.

“How do you think my photo turned out?”

Luo He held the photo in front of Lu Xixiao’s eyes, laughing, “Let me think what title to use… How about ‘Lu Xixiao Kneels and Begs for Mercy, Kowtows in Apology’? How’s that?”

“Luo He, let her go,” Lu Xixiao said from his kneeling position, looking up, his voice flat. “Everything else is between you and me.”

Zhou Wan cried until she was completely broken.

She struggled, shouted, and screamed, wanting Lu Xixiao to get up, wanting him to stop caring about her, wanting to say she wasn’t worthy of such treatment and sacrifice from him.

As she cried and shouted, she glimpsed the umbrella that had fallen to the ground.

The dust mixed with rainwater on the umbrella’s surface, forming muddy patches.

During Zhou Wan’s earlier struggle, the umbrella had somehow broken, its sharp ribs protruding, gleaming faintly like stark white bones.

At this moment, Zhou Wan suddenly remembered when she first met Lu Xixiao.

It was also a rainy day like this when she was cornered by a group of thugs. Her umbrella had been knocked away, landing upside down, broken, its ribs exposed with sharp ends.

At that time, she had thought: she would not be humiliated, would not be defiled.

If it came to that, she would stab that person’s eyes with the umbrella rib.

She had never been a weak girl; her inner self had always been fierce and dark.

She clenched her fists, her rationality dangerously close to breaking.

But at that moment, mixed with the sound of wind through leaves, she heard Lu Xixiao’s voice.

He hadn’t been carrying an umbrella, wearing a black hoodie with the hood pulled over his head, his body carrying a strong scent of tobacco and a very faint woody fragrance.

He had gently gripped her wrist, pulling her behind him.

He had saved her.

In every sense of the word, he had saved her.

Physically and mentally.

It turned out she had been indebted to him since such an early time.

She already owed Lu Xixiao too much.

His money, his love, his dignity, and his pride.

At least, before she left, Zhou Wan wanted to try to make amends, no matter what she had to pay, no matter if she would fall from there, completely descending into a lightless hell.

Ignoring the painful friction of the ropes on her wrists and ankles, she threw herself forward, falling heavily to the ground.

She stretched out her arms, struggling forward with all her might until finally, her fingertips touched the umbrella handle.

She pulled it towards her, forcefully breaking off the protruding rib. Her fingertips were cut, and bleeding.

“What are you doing?” Luo He berated his men who were restraining Jiang Yan. “You can’t even watch one person properly!”

He saw Zhou Wan’s movements but couldn’t imagine that someone with such a face, crying so miserably, would dare to do anything.

He let his guard down, quickly walking to Zhou Wan’s side, bending down to grab her collar, intending to drag her back.

It was at this moment that Zhou Wan raised the broken umbrella rib.

Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with painful tears, yet she struck down with absolute resolution.

When several drops of hot blood suddenly splashed onto her face, Zhou Wan abruptly stopped moving, her entire body freezing as she turned her head slowly to look at her bloodied hand.

She didn’t know how much force she had used, but the umbrella rib had pierced straight into Luo He’s the collarbone.

Luo He stared at Zhou Wan with wide eyes, unable to believe what had happened.

The entire world seemed to pause.

It took several seconds before Luo He felt the pain.

He clutched his collarbone with one hand, his humiliated rage turning to madness: “You’re asking for death!”

His other hand reached into his pocket.

A knife flashed a blinding white light.

Zhou Wan saw it clearly but suddenly had no strength to dodge. Her blood-stained hand wouldn’t stop trembling. She could almost feel herself falling step by step, the surrounding light growing dimmer and dimmer until finally, there was no light, no sound at all.

When Luo He raised the knife, Zhou Wan froze in place and closed her eyes.

At least she wouldn’t be Lu Xixiao’s weakness anymore, and wouldn’t make him lose his dignity again.

But in the next second, she was pulled down by a force.

Her nose was filled with the familiar scent of tobacco, and… a heavy smell of blood.

Stream after stream of fresh blood poured from Lu Xixiao’s chest, soaking through his clothes and completely staining Zhou Wan’s hands red.

At this moment, Zhou Wan’s vision began to blur.

In her daze, it was as if she had stabbed Lu Xixiao, as if all of this was because of her.

Her entire body shook uncontrollably: “Lu Xixiao…”

The young man’s face had lost all color as he fell into her arms. His fingers slowly pried open hers, holding them, intertwining their fingers with a hint of comfort.

“Wan Wan, you did well.”

His fingers tightened slightly around her hand, but quickly lost strength and loosened. He looked at her earnestly and said softly: “Don’t be afraid anymore.”

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