Chapter 17: Men Only Slow Her Draw

Yu Fuqing completely ignored Shen Xinluo and strode toward the emergency exit. “Uncle Shen,” he called.

Sitting on the steps, smoking and scrolling through his phone, Shen Yanghong hurriedly stubbed out his cigarette and stood up. “Young Master Yu, are you leaving? I’ll take you to the ski resort.”

Yu Fuqing replied coldly, “I’d like to discuss Lu’s contract with Yuxing Entertainment with you, Uncle Shen. We can talk on the way.”

“Of course, of course.” Shen Yanghong had been racking his brains for a way to ask for money—wasn’t this just the opportunity?

Ignored as if she were invisible, Shen Xinluo followed behind, biting her lip in indignation as she watched the two men walk away. In the end, her mother was the only one who cared. If her mother were here, she would definitely find a way for her to sign with Yuxing Entertainment too. But her father… her father didn’t care about her at all. He only cared about Bai Lu, the one who could make him money!

No, she had to contact her mother—she had to tell her about this! Her mother would definitely help her!

Shen Xinluo dashed back to her hospital room, not even bothering to close the door, and immediately called Wu Liping. “Mom, Brother Fuqing wants to sign Bai Lu! I want to sign too! Please think of something…”

The hospital rooms were next to each other, and Bai Lu, standing at her own door, heard this and smiled faintly. There was no need to listen any further.

With a yawn, Bai Lu closed her door. So far, everything was proceeding exactly according to her plan. There hadn’t been a single misstep.

She placed her notebook under her pillow, and as she drifted off to sleep, a gentle smile lingered on her lips—until a terrible nightmare made that smile vanish.

…

Her body trembled slightly, blood seeping from every pore. The air was thick with the stench of gasoline and burning flesh.

Someone yanked her by the hair. The pain was excruciating, tearing her apart, but she couldn’t make a sound.

“Boss, this Bai Lu really has a stubborn life—she still isn’t dead after all that!”

“It’s not her life that’s tough, it’s her car. That’s a Maybach—costs at least two million. But even the most expensive luxury car can’t save her life in the end.”

“What a shame about that face. The nation’s darling, Bai Lu. Tsk tsk! That face, that figure! If only we could have a bit of fun with her before she dies—”

“Shut your filthy mouth! Miss Lu isn’t one to be crossed. She only wants Bai Lu’s life. If you try anything, we’ll die even more miserably than Bai Lu!”

“Boss, don’t be angry, I’m just talking. Look at her—she’s been smashed up so badly, I probably couldn’t even get it up.”

“Cut the crap. Did you put the truck driver’s body in the driver’s seat yet? Move faster—once the body’s in place, set the fire and let’s get out of here. This road is deserted, but you never know who might come by. If we’re seen, we’re finished!”

“But Bai Lu’s still breathing. If someone saves her… No, I have to finish her off.”

“You idiot! Bai Lu isn’t going to make it. She’ll die soon enough. If you suffocate her now, the police will know it wasn’t an accident. Lu Yiting’s death is already making Chairman Lu suspicious. Do you want the Lu family tracing this back to us? If you mess up Miss Lu’s plan, do you think you have more than one life to lose?”

“Boss, no one knows Bai Lu is Lu Yiting’s real daughter. Don’t be so paranoid. No one will ever suspect we killed both Bai Lu and Lu Yiting and made it look like suicide.”

“Shut up, you moron. I’m done explaining. Go move the body and start the fire!”

She forced her eyes open. Through a haze of blood, she could make out two gleaming gold teeth.

———

“Dad! Dad!”

Bai Lu woke up screaming.

“Lu, Lu Bai!” The face looming over her was Ye Jingyan’s.

She was still gasping for breath, her heart pounding, when she finally recognized him. “Doctor Ye…”

Her voice was trembling, on the verge of tears, something she couldn’t control. The pain before death was unbearable—her father must have suffered terribly too.

Ye Jingyan tried to comfort her. “It’s alright, it was just a nightmare.”

Bai Lu closed her eyes. No!

It wasn’t a nightmare. It was the truth!

Her father hadn’t committed suicide, and her accident wasn’t an accident at all.

If she died, no one would be able to expose Shen Xinluo’s fake identity. Shen Xinluo could live as the Lu family’s daughter forever. If her father died, no one would ever know what Shen Xinluo had done—the blame for those crimes would rest on her father’s shoulders forever.

When she opened her eyes again, Bai Lu was calm.

It didn’t matter, really. She had already decided that Shen Xinluo and Yu Fuqing would pay for her father’s death.

If they’re going to die anyway, she’d changed her mind—she wouldn’t let them die so easily.

She would carve them up, piece by piece, grind their bones to dust.

There was no hurry. Not at all.

A swift death would be too merciful.

She would destroy them, little by little. That was the only fitting punishment.

All at once, Ye Jingyan pulled her up. “Bai Lu, time for your medicine. And breakfast.”

She gritted her teeth. “Doctor Ye, I’m a patient!”

“I know you’re a patient, that’s why you need to eat and take your medicine. After breakfast, I’ll take you to the hot springs. There are herbs in your medicine to help you sleep. A soak in the springs, then a nap afterwards, will do you good.”

Bai Lu raised her brows. “Hot springs? There are hot springs here?”

He hadn’t mentioned hot springs in her previous life.

Ye Jingyan explained, “This isn’t just a private hospital—it’s more like a private sanatorium. The reason it was built here in the first place was because Mr. Huo, the owner, loved the tranquility and the mountain hot springs. He spent a fortune diverting the springs here. There are more than ten pools, each with different properties, all great for your health.”

She eyed him suspiciously. “Doctor Ye, you can stop pretending. I know this place is the private estate of the richest man, Huo Yanfang. Are you sure I’m allowed in the hot springs he built for himself?”

“Today, no one can stop me. I’m doing my best for my favorite idol.” Ye Jingyan was shameless. “And anyway, as long as Huo Yanfang doesn’t find out, what’s the harm?”

Bai Lu silently gave him a thumbs up.

When it came to guts, no one could top Ye Jingyan.

Those eyes of his, filled with a desire to destroy everything, still made her shiver, but she knew he had his boundaries—even if he acted like a fool sometimes.

And besides, he wasn’t just anyone. She’d guessed as much in her past life, back when they used to chat.

She nodded. “Isn’t it a bit much to go to the hot springs first thing in the morning?”

He shot her a look. “Are you questioning my medical expertise?”

Bai Lu didn’t reply; she simply picked up her spoon and started eating.

“Eat slowly,” Ye Jingyan warned, narrowing his eyes. “By the way, I heard from the nurse that your Brother Fuqing came to see you yesterday? Bai Lu, no dating—you’re not even of age.”

She nearly choked.

Was Ye Jingyan her father or something?

Date? As if.

She was busy getting revenge, busy becoming the queen of the entertainment industry—who had time for romance?

And if she ever did, it wouldn’t be with Yu Fuqing.

Nonsense!

She had no interest in romance. Men would only slow her down when it was time to draw her sword!

———

A side note: Ah Hua’s other novel, “Trial Marriage 99,” has been adapted into a web drama and is airing today on iQIYI! Members can binge the entire series, non-members get weekly updates. Go check it out, you won’t regret it! o(╥﹏╥)o