Chapter 57: Harsh Words
The bartender looked awkwardly at the two women staring at each other. Suddenly, a sharp look came from Xiao Moyan. The bartender saw the anger in her eyes and quickly lowered his head, nervously wiping the wine glass with a cloth.
"You still don’t trust her, do you? You still like her, don’t you?! Xiao Moyan, look at me!"
Hu Feifei bit her lip and stared at Xiao Moyan, tears ready to fall. Xiao Moyan didn’t look at her. She just lowered her head to look at Xia Lingying’s red face, gently touching her forehead and speaking softly.
"Feifei, you’re overthinking. It’s not the right time to act against her yet."
"You’re lying!"
Hu Feifei's eyes reddened. She reached out and pointed at Xia Lingying in Xiao Moyan’s arms, angrily saying:
"You said you were going to deal with Tianhuang, right? Xiao Moyan, open your eyes and take a good look. The person in your arms is Tianhuang's President Xia. If you want to deal with Tianhuang, the first one you need to handle is her. I don’t expect you to do it yourself, but at least don’t get in my way. Now! You hand her over to me right now!"
Hu Feifei’s head was spinning with anger. Xiao Moyan, can’t you speak up? Can’t you stop looking at this woman? Are you really that cheap?!
Upon hearing this, Xiao Moyan raised her head, narrowing her eyes as she looked at Hu Feifei, and coldly said,
“To deal with Tianhuang, I, Xiao Moyan, won’t resort to such vicious methods.”
“Xiao Moyan, you said you would wholeheartedly go after Tianhuang and not leave any mercy. Now, have you softened? Are you starting to pity her again?”
“This is my business, you don’t need to interfere.”
“Move aside! Give her to me!”
Hu Feifei’s face turned red with anger as she reached out, forcefully trying to take Xia Lingying from Xiao Moyan’s arms, her whole body consumed by intense fury.
She had already sent someone to follow Xia Lingying early in the morning, tracing her all the way from the Xiao’s house to the bar. In secret, she contacted the bartender, laced Xia Lingying’s drink with a drug, and deliberately brought along a promiscuous male actor under the Nanyang Group’s wing. She had already planned to send the drunken Xia Lingying to the bodyguard’s room, take some photos, and smear her reputation to affect her standing in the boardroom. Of course, Hu Feifei knew very well the position Xia Lingying held in Xiao Moyan’s heart. She didn’t dare to harm her, only pretending to do so, leaving the rest to the gossip reporters. However, she didn’t expect that Xiao Moyan would be so sensitive, fiercely protecting Xia Lingying, like a mother protecting her cub, not allowing anyone to touch her. And she said "forget," was this her idea of forgetting? Perhaps, Xiao Moyan had personally followed Xia Lingying to the bar!
With her wrist held by Xiao Moyan, Hu Feifei looked up and met Xiao Moyan’s furious eyes.
“Feifei, I told you, no one is allowed to touch her except for me!”
“But you also said you would forget her!”
“Miss—”
Hu Feifei’s bodyguard noticed something was wrong and quickly stepped forward, trying to separate the two. At the same time, Su Lianxue squinted her eyes and took a large stride to stand in front of Xiao Moyan. The tension in the air was palpable. As the door to the bar swung open, Fang Ruolin, who had hurried over, was startled by the standoff. Her gaze immediately fell on Xia Lingying, and as if understanding something, she pursed her lips and stepped forward to grab Hu Feifei.
“Feifei, what are you doing? We’re all on the same side,” Fang Ruolin said.
Hu Feifei looked up at Fang Ruolin, gritting her teeth.
“See for yourself! How should I put it? This is such a great opportunity!”
Fang Ruolin grabbed Hu Feifei’s hand and looked at Xiao Moyan, but Xiao Moyan still kept her head lowered, focusing on Xia Lingying, her brows furrowed tightly.
Fang Ruolin sighed, looking at Hu Feifei, and slowly whispered, “Feifei, this aggressive approach is indeed not advisable. As for Xia Lingying, I believe Xiao has already made her decision in her heart…”
“She made a decision? If she had, she wouldn’t have fallen so low today!”
“Feifei, don’t say that about her…”
Su Lianxue knew Hu Feifei’s temper. When she got angry, her words were sharp, but when Su saw Xiao Moyan’s cold yet exquisite profile showing an expression of sadness, her heart couldn’t help but ache. Su Lianxue, who had always been expressionless, felt a pang when she looked at Fang Ruolin’s fragile expression. Her right foot unconsciously took a step forward, and her lips moved a few times, but she still couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Xiao Moyan, who had been silent all this time, finally raised her head. Looking at the group, she coldly said, “You don’t need to argue anymore. Feifei is right. I, Xiao Moyan, am still in love with her, Xia Lingying. I just can’t forget her. I won’t allow anyone to touch her! I am despicable, I am worthless! If you want to help me this way, then I would rather be alone!”
After speaking, Xiao Moyan lowered her head, removed her mink shawl, and draped it over Xia Lingying. She half-carried her and walked out of the bar without looking at anyone.
Once they left the bar, the night was already dark. Xiao Moyan carefully carried Xia Lingying, walking down the steps while frequently turning her head to check Xia's face. The two tall, stunning women, holding each other so openly, caught the attention of everyone passing by. Xiao Moyan paid no mind to the stares. She gazed at Xia Lingying's flushed cheek, her eyes full of tenderness and love. She kissed her hot forehead, sighed, and gently helped Xia Lingying into the car.
Throughout the drive, Xia Lingying didn't settle down. She waved her hands, repeatedly murmuring Xiao Moyan's name, her brow furrowed, looking very uncomfortable.
Xiao Moyan drove fast. When they arrived at the beach, she put a coat on Xia Lingying and helped her out of the car. After the earlier commotion, Xiao Moyan was physically exhausted. She could only squat down, wrap her arms around Xia Lingying’s legs, and with a forceful jolt, lift her onto her back.
In the haze, the familiar mint scent seemed to fill her nose again. Although Xia Lingying had no awareness, she mumbled a few words incoherently. Xiao Moyan could still feel the dampness on her back. Her heart ached, and she tightened her hold on her.
Why did it have to be this way? The President of Tianhuang, drunk in a bar late at night—was this really right?
Stumbling, they entered the room. Xiao Moyan carefully laid Xia Lingying on the bed, removed her shoes and socks, covered her with the blanket, and turned to the bathroom to fetch a basin of water. She returned holding a towel.
Xia Lingying on the bed slept restlessly. Her hands tightly gripped the blanket, burying her head in it, greedily inhaling the familiar scent. Tears flowed down her cheeks, landing on the soft cotton sheets, disappearing in an instant.
She knew Xiao Moyan wouldn’t just leave her. She knew there was still a place for her in her heart...
Xiao Moyan walked out of the room holding the basin, gently rolling up her sleeves, revealing a fair, delicate arm. She reached out and gently wiped Xia Lingying's tear-streaked face, over and over again. After a while, she stopped, holding the towel tightly, her gaze fixed on her. The sorrow and bitterness inside her surged.
Wasn’t it all a lie? Wasn’t it all just deception? Why? Why cry at the Xiao Mansion on such an important day? Why do you keep calling out my name? After being with Tianhuang for so long, how could you still be so childish, so unguarded? If I hadn’t followed the whole way today, I’m afraid...
The towel was removed, but Xiao Moyan still couldn’t control the longing in her heart. She raised her right hand and slowly stroked Xia Lingying's cheek.
The touch was still that familiar sensation, and before him was still the beloved person he cherished. Breathing in her scent, everything felt as natural as it could be. Yet, why couldn’t it go back to the way it was?
Xiao Moyan quietly gazed at Xia Lingying, his heart in turmoil. If, if there had been no past grudges between him and Xia Lingying if they had been just children from ordinary families, if they were not in the entertainment industry, if...
But sadly, there were no 'ifs.'
"Xiaoxiao..."
Her red lips parted slightly, and Xia Lingying gently called out. Her eyes were still tightly closed in unbearable pain. Her headache was excruciating. Subconsciously, she waved her hands, gripping the cool fingers on her face. In that instant, tears streamed down her face.
"You’re awake aren't you?"
Suddenly, Xiao Moyan quickly pulled her right hand back, straightened up, and took a few steps back, crossing her arms. She coldly looked at her. Xia Lingying's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her eyeballs slid under her eyelids. After a long while, she struggled to open her eyes, her beautiful eyes still glazed with the remnants of alcohol, looking at Xiao Moyan with a dazed and helpless gaze.
"Xiao..."
"You flatter me, Miss Xia."
Xiao Moyan responded indifferently, her face returning to its original coldness.
Xia Lingying’s head was heavy, but she still forced herself to lift it, gazing at Xiao Moyan. Just one glance and her heart felt like it was being sliced open by a knife.
Xiao Moyan had lost weight, a lot of weight.
Her brown hair hung limply in front of her chest, and the weight of exhaustion enveloped her. The look she gave her was as unfamiliar as the first time they met, with no trace of affection left.
Trying to push back the tears in her eyes, Xia Lingying looked at Xiao Moyan and choked out softly,
"Xiao, please don't be like this, let's not be like this, okay?"
"What should we do then?"
Xiao Moyan responded strongly to Xia Lingying. Xia Lingying half-hugged the blanket, helplessly looking at Xiao Moyan. The coldness in her words caused her heart to ache.
"Since that's the case, why did you bring me home? Why didn’t you just let me drown myself in alcohol?"
Xiao Moyan looked at Xia Lingying expressionlessly, then sneered after a while.
"You're not drunk at all, and you're not drugged at all, right? Mr. Xia, you're really hiding it."
Xiao Moyan stared at Xia Lingying with a blank expression. After a while, he sneered.
"You weren't drunk at all. There was no drug in the wine, was there? President Xia, you really hide it well."
Xia Lingying stared at Xiao Moyan in a daze. After a moment, she lowered her head, pursed her lips, and said nothing.
The bar had already been acquired by her family, the Xia family. Who would be bold enough to drug the daughter of the Xia family? She had noticed the subtle hint from the bartender early on and sensed something was wrong. She had thought about leaving, for times had changed, and she was always extremely cautious about everything. But tortured by the pain of longing and unable to bear it, she remembered the past and decided to take the risk and stay. Because she believed that Xiao Moyan would certainly appear.
Xia Lingying's silence confirmed his suspicion. Xiao Moyan's eyes grew even colder as he looked at her, his smile mocking yet not reaching his eyes, and he softly spoke.
"Looks like I underestimated President Xia. I still saw you as the naive newcomer from the beginning. No, maybe the so-called naivety back then was also a disguise."
"No, Xiao, no..."
"I really didn't expect that the Xia Lingying who used to hide behind me when something happened has now transformed into such a shrewd and calculating President of the Xia Family. Heh, no wonder you're Xia Ran's daughter."
Xia Lingying shook her head vigorously, her eyes filled with tears of grievance, and she murmured as she looked at Xiao Moyan.
"I just wanted to see you."
Xiao, it’s really not a lie, I just wanted to see you. I had no choice, that’s why I did this. Though no drugs were in the wine, Xia Lingying had indeed swallowed glass after glass of strong liquor. Now, after hearing Xiao Moyan’s words, not only did her , but it felt as though her heart had been emptied and was numb.
"See me? See me for what? Could it be that the people you sent in secret never properly informed you of my whereabouts? Are you restless day and night because you fear I will take the throne again and use it to retaliate against your Xia family, you father and daughter?"
Xiao Moyan, once again deceived, was already filled with anger. Without reason, she just wanted to provoke Xia Lingying. She raised her voice, mocking her coldly. Every word was like a sharp blade, stabbing into Xia Lingying’s heart.
"Or, are you just like Qiu Muying, naturally a promiscuous woman? The best at playing with others’ feelings and then pretending to be innocent?"
Author's Note:
It's a showdown between the strong.