Chapter 131: The Exchange

The call ended, and Ye Yiyi’s expression grew visibly uneasy.

“A-Yao, I don’t want to go.”

Jiang Yao remained silent, quietly finishing another glass of wine.

When the glass was empty, she slammed it onto the table.

“Go. If you have to go, I’ll go with you. I’ve got plenty of anger with nowhere to vent it anyway. I’d like to see just how shameless Luo Yixian can be!”

Taking advantage of the alcohol, the two of them went together to the apartment where Luo Yixian lived.

The moment the door opened, they heard Luo Yixian shouting, “You’re only coming back now? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“The one who deserves to die is you.” Jiang Yao stood in front of Ye Yiyi and stared coldly at Luo Yixian.

“Oh, it’s you.” Realizing who she was, Luo Yixian glanced past her at Ye Yiyi. “What, you brought someone to back you up? Didn’t I tell you? She isn’t sincere toward you. I told you not to associate with her, so why can’t you ever listen?”

His voice was eerie, almost ghostly.

Ye Yiyi drew into herself and shuddered. “You’re the one who isn’t sincere toward me.”

“Well, well, someone’s gotten brave. You actually dare talk back to me now.” Luo Yixian gave a cold snort and glared viciously at Ye Yiyi.

Jiang Yao shifted one step, blocking his gaze. “Ye Yiyi has told me everything about the two of you.”

“So what?” Luo Yixian said with mocking certainty, as though he had expected this. “You want to protect this woman? With what? Do you think attaching yourself to the Cheng family gives you the power to do anything you want?”

“Cut the nonsense. I’m here because I heard you have things belonging to both Ye Yiyi and me. I want them back.”

“That’s right. I won’t hide it from you—the photos turned out really…” Luo Yixian looked Jiang Yao up and down. “They really are quite good. Why don’t you follow me too, like Ye Yiyi?”

Faced with his lecherous remarks, Jiang Yao did not lose her temper. She simply held out her hand toward him.

“Hand them over.”

“And why should I? You ask for them, and I’m supposed to give them to you?”

Luo Yixian looked smug.

“Because you ordered Feng Xiao to frame He Yunqing. Do you even know who He Yunqing is? You dare provoke him? Do you think you’re worthy of provoking him?” Jiang Yao looked at him with contempt. “Feng Xiao has already told me everything. I have her confession recorded.”

Luo Yixian’s expression shifted as he cursed Feng Xiao inwardly.

That stupid woman!

“Well? Is that enough to exchange for what you have?”

Luo Yixian puffed out his chest. “Frame someone? I have no idea what you’re talking about. For all I know, that woman was trying to frame me. And what does she have? Her word against mine? A recording? Who’s going to believe that? People will only say that He Yunqing paid enough to get what he wanted.”

“You’re right. But I’m taking those things back today, no matter what.”

“Don’t push your luck!” Luo Yixian snapped impatiently.

“What, did I hit a nerve?” Jiang Yao strolled leisurely around the room. “You debuted earlier than He Yunqing, yet your resources have never been as good as his. You’ve had so much work done on your face, yet you still don’t look as good as He Yunqing. Oh, and there’s more. You work so hard to promote yourself, and you’re still not as popular with female fans as he is. You…”

Before she could finish, a sharp slap cracked across the room.

Luo Yixian had struck her squarely across the face.

He stared at Jiang Yao in uncontrollable fury.

“A-Yao!” Ye Yiyi hurriedly stepped in front of her.

The blow made Jiang Yao’s vision go black. Her head rang, and by the time she recovered, her mouth was filled with the metallic taste of blood.

She had barely managed to withstand that strike. It was difficult to imagine how much suffering Ye Yiyi had endured after spending so long with Luo Yixian.

The more Jiang Yao thought about it, the angrier she became, and the more wronged she felt on Ye Yiyi’s behalf.

She pushed Ye Yiyi aside and faced Luo Yixian directly, giving him a contemptuous, mocking smile.

“Oh, there is one thing you’re better at than He Yunqing. He doesn’t know how to hit women. Luo Yixian, you’re nothing but a cowardly, pathetic loser who can only beat women!”

Luo Yixian was driven completely into a rage. He strode forward, seized Jiang Yao by the collar, and glared at her with terrifying eyes. Then he raised his fist and drove it hard into her abdomen.

For a moment, Jiang Yao almost thought the punch had gone straight through her body.

Cold sweat instantly broke out across her skin. The pain was so intense that she could no longer hear Ye Yiyi’s cry of alarm beside her.

Yet she did not make a sound. She continued laughing loudly in Luo Yixian’s face.

“What are you laughing at? What the hell are you laughing at?” Luo Yixian demanded furiously, his face inches from hers.

“I’m laughing because you’re not only a coward—you’re an idiot too.” Jiang Yao met his eyes weakly, but her spirit remained undiminished. “Feng Xiao’s recording may not prove anything, but the video of you hitting me is undeniable.”

As she spoke, Jiang Yao turned to Ye Yiyi.

“Did you record all of it?”

Ye Yiyi was already sobbing uncontrollably. She looked at Jiang Yao and nodded gently.

Jiang Yao smiled in relief.

“Good. I couldn’t very well take that beating for nothing.”

“You…” Luo Yixian shoved Jiang Yao aside and charged toward Ye Yiyi. “You bitch! Give it to me!”

Jiang Yao fell to the floor and propped herself up on one arm, still gasping from the pain. She shouted at Luo Yixian, “It’s useless! Do you think we’re as stupid as you are? We uploaded it while we were recording. By now, the video of you hitting me should already be in Cheng Yanchi’s hands.”

Luo Yixian’s body stiffened. He turned toward Jiang Yao, his eyes gleaming with menace.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Jiang Yao rose to her feet with some difficulty. “Unless you want to keep hitting me and make this impossible to clean up.”

She wiped the sweat from her forehead, walked up to Luo Yixian, and stared him down. Then she smiled.

“Now, are you willing to hand our things over?”

Luo Yixian remained motionless, swallowing softly.

“I’m not as despicable as you are. I can promise you this: as long as you give me our things, I’ll return the video to you as well.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“You don’t have to. At worst, we can both go down together.” Jiang Yao showed no fear. “The question is whether you have the courage to die with us.”

Luo Yixian drew a deep breath.

“Come with me.”

The two of them followed him into the study and watched as he deleted everything. They then checked carefully through the files once more before finally putting their minds at ease.

Ye Yiyi supported Jiang Yao as they left the apartment.

Tears streamed down her face as they walked.

“How did this happen? You had to get beaten because of me during the holiday. A-Yao, how do you feel? I’ll take you to the hospital right now.”

Half of Jiang Yao’s face was red, and she clutched her stomach as she smiled at Ye Yiyi.

“You fool, why are you crying? I’m fine. You’ll never have to suffer Luo Yixian’s threats again. You should be happy.”

Ye Yiyi continued to weep.

“I dragged you into this. A piece of scum like Luo Yixian gets to go on living perfectly well, while you…”

Jiang Yao raised a finger to her lips, signaling her to be quiet.

“How could I let him get away without suffering any consequences?”

Then she blinked.

“You stayed by his side for so long. Don’t you have evidence of him evading taxes? We can simply report him…”