Chapter 47: Confession and Jealousy

Zhong Huayan began pitching her tent alone.

Everyone else was out enjoying the yachts and rowboats, or grilling barbecue. The open-air karaoke echoed loudly in this tranquil, wooded place, drowning out all other distant sounds. Zhong Huayan had deliberately set up her tent near the edge, as her heart had been troubling her just moments before; she sat on the mat to recover.

She had barely settled for a few minutes when the music from the karaoke abruptly cut out. A man’s voice pierced the air, shrill and intrusive.

“Li Yanyan from Class Twelve, from the first moment I saw you, I was captivated by your voice. I want to take this autumn outing as a chance to confess— I love you!”

Suddenly, every student from Jingfu University, except those at the amusement park, turned to look her way.

With skin as fair as porcelain and a backdrop of sun-dappled green woods, she appeared like an elfin angel escaped to the mortal world, dazzling and beautiful beyond compare. Yet no one noticed the extreme exasperation on her face.

That afternoon alone, she had overheard at least ten boys confessing their feelings to her. She had ignored them all, unwilling even to respond.

In the shadowed corner of a rooftop, a group of boys in school uniforms remained silent. None dared speak, for seated before them was the second young master of the Xu family.

Xu Chuyin, listening to the confessions from below, was thoroughly irritated. He lit a cigarette, the vice president’s gilded badge on his school uniform gleaming bright.

Xu Chuyin’s face did not match the image of a smoker.

“Those boys who just confessed in public— find a chance to teach them a lesson.”

In Jingfu University, the wealthy still held sway. The strong devoured the weak; if you lacked power and background, and someone set their sights on you, you were doomed to become another entry in the annals of campus bullying.

After issuing his order, he stood up, glancing down at the woman’s location from above. The once insecure, easily deceived coward had now become the high and unattainable, aloof Kunqu beauty of the school.

A pearl cast before swine?

Xu Chuyin stubbed out his cigarette. The wind ruffled his hair, yet nothing could mar his composure. His eyes seemed clear, but in a fleeting instant, a greedy, dark crimson flickered in their depths.

Zhong Huayan looked at a message on her phone from someone plaintively seeking sympathy.

[Ah Hua, is the porridge really that bad?]

[Yes, keep trying.]

After a pause, another baffling message arrived.

[Ah Hua, no matter how old they are, men’s intentions toward women are never truly innocent.]

[Are you saying your intentions toward me are not innocent?]

[No, you misunderstand. I mean, the boys at your school— just because they’re young doesn’t mean they’re innocent.]

Suddenly, Zhong Huayan looked up, realizing that Fu Yanyan’s information was so up-to-date, he must be in league with the school authorities.

[It’s fine. They’re not as energetic as you— you finish work and still know my whereabouts.]

[How could I? Don’t accuse me, I was just chatting idly.]

On the other end, Fu Yanyan was on the verge of tears. Why was Ah Hua always so sharp?

He would never admit the truth, or he’d never win her back, no matter how hard he tried.

The assistant had long since seen through it— Miss Li was the real chairman here, while the man beside her was just a fraud! A fraud! He was nothing but a lovesick fool.

“Li Yanyan, would you like some barbecue? Join us?”

A few girls from another class approached shyly, inviting her to eat.

“Did you know? We used to hate Xu Yuan. Not only did she bully you, she sometimes bullied us too! But as the princess of the Xu family, we had no way to fight back!”

“Yes, I really admire you! Not only did you defeat her with your own abilities, you even made her look like a drowned rat!”

“Li Yanyan, you’re our savior. Now Xu Yuan doesn’t dare bully us anymore. Yesterday, many teachers, even the principal, harshly criticized Xu Yuan in the parents’ group chat!”

“The principal finally grew a conscience. I heard he even discussed Xu Yuan’s expulsion with the Xu family! Her behavior’s gone too far— even the teachers can’t stand her now!”

“After all these years, we finally saw Xu Yuan get her comeuppance. She was terrifying— last time she slapped me for no reason! The teacher didn’t care at all, just gave my mother some money and had her sign a waiver, not even a hint of punishment.”

...

The air buzzed with countless voices.

Zhong Huayan quickly grasped the gist. Just as she was about to get up for some barbecue, she thought she heard a faint cry for help during the brief pause in the karaoke music.

She became alert.

Then, she unmistakably heard it again— a woman’s voice crying out twice for help.

“Wait, did any of you hear someone shouting for help?”

The five girls with her were bewildered, shaking their heads.

At that moment, Xu Chuyin walked over, surveying the silent gathering before asking, “What’s going on?”

The five girls, now close enough to see Xu Chuyin clearly, suddenly blushed. “Just now, Yanyan said she heard someone calling for help!”

“I’m sure I didn’t mishear. It was in the woods behind.”

“Then… I’ll go with you to check. I’m a guy— it should be fine.”

Everyone assumed she was just imagining things. After all, sometimes people do hear phantom sounds.

They waited in silence for a few minutes, but heard nothing more.

Upon learning Xu Chuyin would go, the other girls grew eager. “What if something happens to just the two of you? Let’s all go— with so many of us, we’ll be safe.”

Everyone agreed this was sensible, and set off toward the deeper woods.

The forest floor was thick with fallen leaves, which crackled crisply beneath her steps. After a few minutes, the seven of them looked around but saw nothing unusual.

Just as they were about to turn back, a cry rang out in the distance— a plea for help!

“Did you all hear it this time?”

“I did!”

“So did I— it sounded just ahead!”

The seven hurried forward, convinced that perhaps a classmate had gotten into trouble in the woods, or maybe a couple had accidentally fallen down the hillside.

No one sensed any real danger— they all rushed to help.

Arriving at a wooden cabin, Zhong Huayan had just taken out her phone to contact the school and report their whereabouts when—

“Hands up! Now!”

“Hands up, or I’ll shoot you dead right here!”

Four men emerged from the treetops, all covered in tattoos. They did not look local— more like men from the borderlands where three countries meet. Their Mandarin was heavily accented.

Zhong Huayan, with just one emergency number left to dial, had pressed it only halfway when the leader pulled the trigger.

Her phone was instantly destroyed, her hand grazed and bleeding. A few centimeters more, and she would have been killed.

Xu Chuyin rushed forward to shield her.

The students quickly squatted down as the other three men began speaking in Burmese and tied their hands behind their backs with ropes.

Zhong Huayan’s mind raced. These people were clearly not after Fu Yanyan. But they weren’t here for a random robbery, either.

Judging by their gear and composure— the way they handled their weapons without a tremor— they were clearly well-trained.

There was no doubt: someone had hired them for a kidnapping.