Chapter 26 Shattered and Fragmented

Pain can be petty, or it can be shattered and fragmented. As for me, there’s only one thing to say: my updates are ahead of any other site, and there are fewer ads.

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After a long stretch with no answer, the call was automatically disconnected; the ringing ceased, and the only sound left in the quiet room was her desperate, tearful pleading.

“Is that so? Did you hear what I said last night?” Lu Huaining tossed her phone onto the bed, seized her shoulders, and shoved her forcefully aside. She collapsed to the floor, struggling to catch her breath, when the phone rang again. Seeing him stride toward the bedside, she froze, clutching his leg tightly, as if a drowning person had grasped the only driftwood, refusing to let go.

“Let go.” He halted, his tone cold. “Don’t make me use force.”

“No…” Her once clear voice was now hoarse from crying, every word soaked with tears. “Please, Mr. Lu, I really don’t dare disobey you anymore this time. I won’t contact him again, not a single word, I… I’ll stay by your side and serve you, not daring to rebel in the slightest. Please, please don’t tell my mother. If she finds out, she’ll surely die. I beg you…”

Lu Huaining bent down, lifted her chin, and gazed deep into her eyes, finding only boundless despair. He frowned slightly, his fingers slipping into her collar. She didn’t dare move, staring at him with pleading eyes.

He gave a cold laugh, released her, and jerked his chin, signaling her to answer the phone. As if receiving a pardon, she scrambled to the phone, trembling as she picked it up. Her mother, Zhong Yilan’s familiar voice came through, as gentle and calm as always. “Ning Ning, are you busy? Why didn’t you answer earlier?”

“I…” She started to speak, startled by her own hoarse voice. Her mother noticed, concern coloring her words. “Why are you crying? Did something happen?”

“It’s nothing…” Xue Zuining bit her lip, glancing at the man beside her. “I was foolish, the director scolded me.”

On the line, Zhong Yilan sighed softly. “It’s your mother who’s held you back.”

“No, it’s not!” Xue Zuining hastily denied, but her mother continued, “If you’re busy with work, focus on that. When you have time, remember to call and let me know you’re safe. Don’t make me worry.”

Xue Zuining didn’t dare breathe too loudly as she agreed. When she hung up, she felt like the most shameless person alive, more worthless than the wild grass, which at least had its own sunlight and soil.

Turning around, she realized the man behind her had already left.

She sank listlessly onto the soft carpet, discovering her entire body was soaked in cold sweat. It took a moment for her to regain her normal voice. When she went downstairs, Xiaoyu was bustling in the kitchen, carrying dishes.

She poked her head out. “Sister, it’s time to eat. Sit down quickly.”

Xue Zuining watched as Xiaoyu set the thick soup on the table, speaking as she worked, and was about to say something when she noticed two sets of dishes laid out.

She was about to look down when the man came around the table and sat across from her. Soup was placed by their hands, its rich aroma filling the air, yet the presence of the unwelcome other made everything tasteless.

“Remember to dress up well later. At four this afternoon, Old Yang will pick you up.” Lu Huaining took the wet towel Xiaoyu handed him, wiped his hands, and caught her puzzled gaze.

“But I have plans this afternoon.” Xue Zuining knew it was a flimsy excuse, but it was true.

“It’s just a meeting before filming. There’ll be plenty of time for networking later. Don’t forget, the prerequisite for me making you famous is your absolute obedience.” Lu Huaining ended the conversation unilaterally, pushed back his chair, changed clothes, and left directly.

Xue Zuining closed her eyes and silently counted to ten, or else she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t overturn the entire table in the next moment.

It took two whole hours for her makeup to reach a satisfactory result. Facing her reflection in the mirror, she took a deep breath, then chose her outfit, finished tidying up, and finally went downstairs with her bag.

Driver Old Yang glanced at his watch—it was already a quarter past four. Seeing the red figure emerge from the villa, he swiftly got out and opened the door.

Xue Zuining saw the man resting with his eyes closed in the back seat, gritted her teeth, and got in.

The drive was silent, an unbridgeable distance between them. He said nothing, and she pressed her lips, lost in thought. The car sped out of the city, racing along the ring expressway. She watched the streetlights fly by, nervously clenching her fingers. Where was he taking her, and what scene awaited her? She knew well that the so-called upper-crust life, though dazzling on the surface, was, at best, a world of intoxication and paper luxury, and at worst, utter decadence. Maybe what they loved most was that scent of burning money.

The car pulled into a hot spring resort, stopping in front of a villa. She got out, the night breeze cool on her shoulders, giving her a sense of being worlds apart from reality. As soon as she stepped inside, her vision dimmed; though what greeted her was not as debauched as she had imagined, it was shocking enough.

Steam billowed from the hot spring pool, where a bare-chested young man was frolicking with several scantily clad young women, laughter and playful shrieks mingling with splashes. The man, noticing her as an uninvited guest, suddenly scooped up a handful of water and flung it in her direction.

Xue Zuining instinctively turned away, immediately so embarrassed she didn’t know where to rest her gaze. Amid the flowers, a handsome man reclined lazily on a gently swaying swing, holding a beautiful woman whose clothes were in disarray. One hand caressed her long legs, the other held a glass of wine. He took a sip, then fed her a mouthful, and the woman nestled into his arms, laughing softly.

Hearing someone arrive, the man didn’t even turn, focused on teasing the woman in his arms. “Young Master Lu, you’re so late today. All the wine on the table is yours.” He flirtatiously pinched the woman’s chin. “Nian Nian, what are you hiding for? It’s not the first time you’ve met Young Master Lu.”

The woman twisted away from his cold embrace, lifting her head. Her once refined features were now alluring under heavy makeup, her large, bright eyes shimmering, her tone coquettish. “I’m just afraid I’ll say the wrong thing and upset Young Master Li.”

“If you still haven’t learned the rules, have you made no progress?” The man avoided her eager lips, pushed her aside, and headed toward the crowd.

The farce in the hot spring was still ongoing, and the man approaching her was obviously of the same breed. Xue Zuining simply couldn’t accept it, stepping behind Lu Huaining, but he grabbed her arm, forcing her forward, speaking leisurely, “Feili, hurry up and drag Su Yi out of the water. Be careful he doesn’t soak his brain in the hot spring.”

Before he finished, a defiant voice interrupted the exchange between the two men.

“Hey, hey, hey, Young Master Lu, we’ve been brothers for twenty years! If you diss me like this today, aren’t you afraid we’ll never have fun together again?”