Volume One, Chapter 13: The Tarnished "Jewel"

She was originally skilled at scheming—if she could get Wen Yang onto Han Ting’s bed, then there would be absolutely no chance left between her and Pei Yanchuan.

Unfortunately, that worthless Wang Shuo was unreliable.

“If you don’t want to suffer anymore, stay away from Brother Yanchuan,” she warned.

Wen Yang stopped, calmly pulling her wrist free from Xu Qiqi’s grasp, unfazed by the threat.

It was a tacit admission that Xu Qiqi had drugged her. Wen Yang’s gaze looked at her like she was nothing but trash.

Xu Qiqi hated that cold and indifferent expression so much that her eyes reddened with frustration, as if she were always the one losing control.

“Our families are already discussing an arranged marriage! You can’t be that blind, can you?”

“Your mother abandoned you, and your biological father is a murderer. You don’t deserve Brother Yanchuan! So why keep clinging to him?”

Xu Qiqi’s voice grew louder, dripping with venom, stabbing at Wen Yang’s heart like a thousand knives.

She thought she had grown invincible after enduring so much malice, but she couldn’t tell which word—“blind,” “abandoned,” or “murderer”—pierced her heart with such pain.

Passersby in the hotel lobby glanced at them with increasingly strange expressions.

Seeing Wen Yang remain silent, Xu Qiqi prepared to strike again, but suddenly her chin was caught tight.

Wen Yang sneered, “Yeah, then why do you still dare to bother me?”

Standing a full half-head taller at 1.7 meters, she gripped Xu Qiqi’s chin with a tone neither light nor heavy but radiating an imposing aura: “If you keep scheming behind my back, maybe I’ll get so provoked that I try climbing up to the Pei family.”

Xu Qiqi tried to break free, but before she could, Wen Yang released her and forcefully flicked her chin outward.

Xu Qiqi staggered, nearly twisting her ankle.

“Miss Xu, try not to eat so much salt when you’re fine,” Wen Yang said coldly. “I don’t deserve him, but that doesn’t mean a gossiping toad like you does.”

With that, she shoved Xu Qiqi’s shoulder aside and walked out.

Xu Qiqi turned and stared at Wen Yang’s retreating figure, hearing her mockery and seeing the bite mark in her mind, her eyes full of malice.

Everyone familiar with the upper-class circles knew that Pei Yanchuan, the heir of the Pei family in Xuancheng, had a first love who, after their breakup, never had another woman by his side.

Even someone as proud as Pei Yanchuan—would he ever go back to Wen Yang?

No, it must be Wen Yang’s shameless obsession!

She was nothing but a shameless seductress!

Swiping her phone screen, Xu Qiqi dialed a number.

“Are you sure you can get that thing?”

“Fine, I’ll pay whatever it costs, as long as Wen Yang suffers a living hell...”

…

Wen Yang stood by the roadside outside the hotel as a cold raindrop fell on her forehead.

The rain, just beginning to fall in the late afternoon, started now.

During the early evening rush hour, the ride-hailing app showed over twenty people ahead in the queue.

Raindrops fell in thin strands on her hair and shoulders as pedestrians quickened their steps.

The blaring horns of cars pierced through the misty rain.

She tightened her coat, about to find shelter from the rain when a black van pulled up in front of her.

The rear window rolled down, and a familiar voice called her name: “Yang Yang, I didn’t expect it really to be you.”

Wen Yang froze, surprised to meet the busy Mu Ran here.

“Hey, want a ride?” Mu Ran’s agent, Sister Sun, popped her head out of the front passenger window, beaming.

Wen Yang glanced at the ride-hailing app’s unchanging queue and, without hesitation, crossed to get in.

The engine started, and Mu Ran smiled brightly, reaching out his hand. The two, long unseen, clasped hands like schoolchildren, childish and innocent.

Her voice was gentle: “As expected, Sister Sun’s eyes are sharp. From afar, she said that the one standing there must be you.”

Sister Sun looked back through the rearview mirror: “Where’s the girl headed? Long time no see—you’re even prettier now.”

Wen Yang thanked her and gave the address of Jinlan Residence.

At the end of every month, she returned home to pack clothes and belongings to take back to the dorm. She had calculated the timing; after a couple more moves, everything would be settled.

By then, she would have just graduated—moving out of the dorm to find her own place.

“Yang Yang, why are you here?” Mu Ran’s face was carefully made up, his brows soft and gentle, his words tender.

Wen Yang saw others in the car and didn’t elaborate, only saying she had come to find someone and retrieve something.

Sister Sun answered a call in the front seat: “Although we didn’t meet, thanks anyway, Old Liao. I know it’s hard to get an appointment with the boss of Guangyu Technology. No worries.”

Wen Yang listened, while Mu Ran explained, “Rumor has it Guangyu Technology is launching a new mobile game. Their last one exploded across platforms, so Sister Sun wanted to connect and see if there’s a chance for endorsements.”

“They said Guangyu’s boss is staying at the Wenhua Hotel today, so we thought we’d try our luck.”

Mu Ran finished speaking just as Sister Sun hung up. She spoke up from the front passenger seat: “By the way, Xiao Wen, you’re graduating soon, right? I remember when I first saw you at the school gate—it’s amazing how time flies.”

Mu Ran chimed in: “Yeah, Sister Sun has always had you in mind, often saying it’s a pity she didn’t sign you.”

Wen Yang smiled, teasing, “Good thing I’m self-aware. I don’t have Ran Ran’s temper. If he’d signed me, I’d probably be spending every day battling trolls until I drop.”

Sister Sun laughed heartily, the atmosphere cozy.

By the time they arrived at Jinlan Residence, the rain had eased.

Mu Ran invited her to the Nightfall Gathering tonight, promising to host as an apology for standing them up yesterday.

Wen Yang agreed.

As she stepped out, Sister Sun couldn’t help asking again, “Hey girl, you really don’t want to consider entering the industry?”

Wen Yang’s foot was already on the ground, the wind lifting the ends of her chestnut curls. With her slender waist and delicate features, including a distinctive tear mole beneath her eye, she was unforgettable.

Even standing still, she was the most dazzling presence.

She smiled slightly, sincere yet unyielding: “No, Sister Sun. There’s too much dirt on me—I can’t risk anyone digging it up.”

She thanked them once more and closed the door.

“Such a pity,” Sister Sun murmured.

She truly admired Wen Yang’s face and the resilience shining through. She had a good eye for people—Wen Yang was a “beautiful jade” still covered in dust.

Just as she secretly guessed, this “jade” would soon turn the tide, living brightly and passionately, transforming into a woman whose worth would leave others speechless, untouchable by anyone...