Lu Sisi trembled again, utterly shocked.
She could not believe that the person who offered her a lifeline in her darkest hour was the very one who had ruined her.
"How can it be you? You already have a boyfriend, so why are you still competing with me for Ye Lingyun?"
"Heh..."
Tang Xiaomin was genuinely amused. She couldn't fathom how Lu Sisi, as dim-witted as a pig, could have caused Tang Xu's death.
"Who told you I acted against you because of Ye Lingyun?"
"Then why?" Lu Sisi screamed in despair.
Suddenly, she thought of someone, and a chill ran down her spine.
Then, she dismissed the thought.
Impossible. She had been so discreet.
The hit-and-run was also done by Zhang Guo'er; Tang Xiaomin would never suspect her.
Lu Sisi was uneasy, unsure of how much Tang Xiaomin truly knew.
Seeing Lu Sisi's lack of remorse, Tang Xiaomin decided to be blunt.
"Before Zhang Guo'er drove her car into me, she was with you, wasn't she?"
BOOM!
Another thunderclap struck Lu Sisi's mind.
Her head buzzed, and she could no longer maintain her composure.
Tang Xiaomin actually knew!
She really knew.
So, everything Tang Xiaomin had done to her was revenge!
Tang Yiyi had always been at odds with Tang Xiaomin, disappearing last year. Zhang Guo'er hadn't been seen for a long time either.
Lu Sisi's thoughts spiraled, a nameless fear overwhelming her.
But Zhang Guo'er was the one who drove the car; what did it have to do with her?
"Zhang Guo'er was the one who hit you with her car. What does it have to do with me?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Xiaomin smirked and retorted.
"When did I ever say that Tang Xu's incident had anything to do with you? Aren't you confessing by yourself?"
"I..."
Realizing she had been tricked by Tang Xiaomin, Lu Sisi panicked, but quickly regained her composure.
"If it has nothing to do with me, then why are you targeting me? Why are you trying to harm me?"
Tang Xiaomin had thoroughly investigated Lu Sisi's underhanded manipulations.
Yet, here she was, shamelessly trying to quibble when confronted.
If that was the case, then there was nothing more to say.
"Lu Sisi, you know in your heart whether it has anything to do with you or not."
"In this situation, the law cannot punish you. Since that's the case, I will be your punishment. Enjoy it."
Their eyes met, and Lu Sisi could no longer suppress her rage.
"Tang Xiaomin, you poisonous shrew..."
SLAP!
A resounding slap knocked Lu Sisi sideways.
Her leather suitcase fell to the side, scattering stacks of cash that symbolized her shame.
Ignoring the sting on her face, Lu Sisi frantically scrambled to pick up the money, terrified of losing it.
Tang Xiaomin walked over and picked up a stack from the ground.
Seeing this, Lu Sisi immediately began to snatch it back, cursing all the while.
"Tang Xiaomin, this is my money! Let go of my money!"
With a gentle pull, Tang Xiaomin took the money.
After being hit, Lu Sisi no longer dared to act out, merely glaring at Tang Xiaomin with venomous eyes.
Seeing how much Lu Sisi cared, Tang Xiaomin smiled wryly and defiantly slapped the stolen stack of bills back into Lu Sisi's face, returning it to her.
"I'm ruthless, but you? You're just a slut who sells her body for money."
"Lu Sisi, our account is not settled yet. If I don't play with you until you're dead, I'm not Tang Xiaomin."
A wicked, sinister smile curved Tang Xiaomin's lips. She left without further tormenting Lu Sisi.
Her slender back, however, now appeared as monstrous and terrifying as a demon's.
Lu Sisi sat on the ground, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
When she tried to stand, she found her legs had gone weak at some point.
What should she do?
Tang Xiaomin was ruthless and wanted revenge.
She had no power, no influence. What could she do?
Even though Tang Xiaomin had left, Lu Sisi's fear intensified.
She hastily gathered her money, hailed a taxi, and rushed home.
As soon as she arrived, she saw her brother standing in the living room with a dark expression.
"Brother... I'm back."
"You still know how to come back!"
Lu Zelei asked her displeased.
"Where exactly were you last night? Why didn't you answer your phone!"
"I... my phone was dead. I went to a friend's house and forgot to tell you."
"Which friend, and what's her name?"
In the past, Lu Sisi would have said Tang Xiaomin.
But now, she could only fabricate a story.
"I just went to borrow money from a friend. She said she'd get the money for me this morning, so I waited all night."
Lu Zelei's face was grim as he stepped forward and took Lu Sisi's suitcase, opening it.
Inside was indeed a wad of red cash, a substantial amount by the looks of it.
His heart ached inexplicably.
"Don't stay out all night next time, and remember to call me wherever you go."
"Okay, I understand."
After Lu Sisi returned to her room, Lu Zelei sat back on the sofa.
He gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked.
He saw the redness on Lu Sisi's face, her split lip, and a faint, almost imperceptible scent of intimacy.
It was clear she had lied.
And she had done something behind his back.
Lu Zelei was angry, but more so, he was filled with self-recrimination.
If he hadn't been so harsh and pressured her lately, she wouldn't have taken that step.
He only had one sister, and he couldn't even protect her. He felt immense guilt.
But without money, they wouldn't have a good life either.
Lu Zelei didn't ask any more questions, first using part of the 500,000 yuan Lu Sisi had obtained to cover some fees.
"Sisi, we only need another 300,000 yuan. I'll figure out the money, so you don't have to worry."
"But Brother, you've been blacklisted by the entertainment industry. How can you possibly find a way?"
"Don't worry about it. You just stay home."
"Okay."
Although she said that, Lu Sisi knew that if her brother truly had a solution, he would have found it by now. He wouldn't have waited until now.
It seemed he was just putting on a brave face.
At 7:30 PM, Mr. Wang called.
"Sisi, haven't you arrived at the hotel yet?"
Lu Sisi's first reaction was humiliation and disgust.
Receiving no response, Mr. Wang tempted her again.
Since Lu Sisi needed money, he didn't believe she could resist the temptation.
"I bought you a ring worth 100,000 yuan today and was planning to give it to you. Are you sure you're not coming?"
Ten thousand, plus the necklace Mr. Wang had given her last night, was worth over 100,000 yuan.
If Mr. Wang gave her another sum of money, the debt to the hospital would be cleared.
Maybe there would even be some left over.
With her problems about to be solved, all she had to do was endure it one more time.
After struggling internally, Lu Sisi couldn't help but waver.
"Give me another 500,000 yuan today, and I'll come."
"Quite an appetite."
"Will you agree?"
"Fine, I'll give it to you. I'll send a car to pick you up now."
Before long, Mr. Wang indeed sent a car to pick up Lu Sisi.