Chapter 58: Her Boyfriend Could Slap

Today was not a good day for Tian Susu. In fact, for anyone else, boarding the bus to this little town meant stepping into danger. But Tian Susu was an exception. No matter how many terrifying events the others endured, no matter how many of them died, she alone remained untouched by danger or fear.

That is, until this morning, when she saw with her own eyes a corpse lying on her bed.

What made matters worse was that Cha Lan was there, deliberately stirring things up, trying to frame her for murder simply because she had rejected his confession. Now, fueled by love turned to hate, that man was out to get her. It was truly foolish of her to have once considered Cha Lan and Yin Huanmian her closest friends.

But what surprised Tian Susu even more was that she happened to overhear a conversation between Yin Huanmian and Boss Shu on the stairwell.

Yin Huanmian said, “Mei Yun died while abiding by the rules. That means even if the one watching us from the shadows breaks those rules, they won’t be punished, right?”

Boss Shu smiled gently. “This is only because someone among you has already crossed the boundaries. Here in Arctic Town, there is no such thing as self-satisfying morality. What you consider kindness only hastens death.”

Yin Huanmian frowned; this description made her think of Tian Susu.

Boss Shu lowered his gaze to her and smiled softly. “Miss Yin, you don’t strike me as someone who breaks the rules, so there’s no need to worry so much.”

Their positions were different. She wasn’t naïve enough to trust him completely, so she believed only a third of what he said.

Yin Huanmian and Boss Shu had exchanged many pleasantries, but she still didn’t know his true identity in this town. He kept a distance from her—neither too close nor too far. He was the first to blur the boundaries, yet he had never made any further requests of her.

Yin Huanmian asked straightforwardly, “Boss Shu, what do you think I should do to be fortunate enough to enter the Rose Manor?”

To directly ask a terrifying entity how to clear the game—she was likely the first.

The smile in Boss Shu’s charming eyes deepened. He scrutinized Yin Huanmian from head to toe, then came to a conclusion. “Perhaps Miss Yin could find herself a powerful protector.”

He smiled and added, “I mean a protector stronger than a human, not like Mr. Cha. You might want to look for a guardian beyond what people can offer.”

Yin Huanmian pressed her lips together, but within seconds, she had made her decision. “Boss Shu, are you free tonight?”

Boss Shu smiled. “Of course.”

He glanced meaningfully toward the stairwell, then said to Yin Huanmian, polite and refined, “Miss Yin, I’ll prepare some refreshments and wait for you.”

With a smile, he turned and left.

Once Boss Shu was gone, Tian Susu rushed out from her hiding spot in the corner. When Yin Huanmian saw her, her expression grew even more unpleasant.

Tian Susu accused her, “Yin Huanmian, I used to consider you a friend. I never thought you’d fall so low! Just to survive, you’re willing to trade your body!”

Yin Huanmian replied with biting sarcasm, “How amusing. It’s as if wanting to live is some unforgivable crime.”

Tian Susu’s little face flushed with anger. As a woman herself, she couldn’t bear to see Yin Huanmian degrade herself. “Do you know what you’re doing? You’re humiliating yourself! How can you be so shameless?”

Yin Huanmian, usually composed, abandoned decorum altogether. She retorted, “And what does my shamelessness have to do with you? Tian Susu, do you think every girl is like you—just act a little coy and men will fall over themselves to please you?”

Tian Susu protested, “I am not!”

Yin Huanmian continued, “Exactly, just look at you—always playing the innocent beneficiary, enjoying the special treatment and adoration of men without a second thought. When something upsets you, you simply cry, and there’s always a crowd lining up to call you their delicate little princess, their pitiful little crybaby. Are you stupid? You’re an adult, yet you let people call you those saccharine, nauseating names and feel no shame?”

Embarrassment flushed Tian Susu’s pale, soft cheeks. “That’s not true! I… I…”

Yin Huanmian pressed, “What about you? Oh, that’s right—our delicate little princess has always been so tender, so fragile, she bursts into tears at the slightest touch from a man. How could someone like you ever argue with anyone?”

Tears welled up in Tian Susu’s eyes, and she was on the verge of crying again.

Yin Huanmian looked at her coldly. “I just want to survive. No matter what means I use, I haven’t hurt anyone else. Mei Yun died in your room—I don’t believe you know nothing about it. Do you really think you’re so pure and flawless, Tian Susu? What right do you have to stand here and judge me from your high horse?”

Tian Susu had never been scolded like this before. Her tears fell in fat drops, but she refused to admit defeat, staring at Yin Huanmian with wide, stubborn eyes. She looked so like a soft, sweet little thing being bullied. “Yin Huanmian, you—!”

“If you come near me again…” Yin Huanmian sneered, “I’ll slap you.”

Yin Huanmian stepped forward, her red lips curled in a smirk. “A delicate little crybaby like you probably doesn’t know how to fight, does she?”

Tian Susu was so startled by Yin Huanmian’s cutting manner that she backed away two steps, as if meeting her for the first time.

Yin Huanmian finally gave voice to all the words she’d long suppressed. She felt relieved in body and mind, and didn’t spare Tian Susu another glance as she headed upstairs.

Outside the stairwell, Boss Shu listened as the sound of Yin Huanmian’s footsteps faded. He glanced toward someone not far away, smiling. “I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t keep you company, Mr. Jiang.”

Jiang Xun watched Boss Shu leave, his expression complicated.

Boss Shu wasn’t keeping him company at all. He was clearly blocking him, like a knight, from approaching Tian Susu.

Jiang Xun hastened to the stairwell. Sure enough, Tian Susu’s eyes were red from crying, her pitiful look enough to melt anyone’s heart.

When she saw Jiang Xun, she choked out, “Did you… did you hear my argument with Yin Huanmian?”

Jiang Xun said, “You don’t need to take other people’s words to heart.”

Suddenly, Tian Susu felt utterly humiliated. She couldn’t even hear the system’s voice in her head. She shoved Jiang Xun aside and ran off.

She wasn’t the kind of shameless woman Yin Huanmian said she was!

She never asked men to call her little princess or little crybaby. It wasn’t her fault they all wanted to get close to her. That was beyond her control!

Yin Huanmian could sell her body without shame if she wanted, but to slander her with such filthy words out of jealousy was simply too much. The injustice of it stung unbearably!