“Chapter Seventeen”

"Chapter Seventeen"

"What could have happened to make a beautiful woman wish to disfigure herself?"

"Shen Wang nodded, acknowledging Jian Yiqiu's words: 'So, what are you waiting for now?'"

"Jian Yiqiu's expression turned ugly: 'Do you also think I'm just seeking attention?'"

"'No, not at all. I'm just asking what you're waiting for,' Shen Wang replied innocently, 'Aren’t you waiting for someone right now?'"

"The wind was strong on the rooftop, making Jian Yiqiu sway as if she might fall. She looked earnestly into Shen Wang's eyes, and after careful scrutiny, realized that he might genuinely be curious, not mocking."

"Shen Wang's gaze was calm and deep, clear as if he were not standing on a rooftop conversing with someone contemplating jumping, but casually chatting on the street."

"Feeling slightly less tense, Jian Yiqiu pursed her lips. Just when everyone thought she wouldn’t respond, she said, 'I’m waiting for them.'"

"In Jian Yiqiu's beautiful eyes, there was twisted resentment. She gritted her teeth and said slowly, 'Once they arrive, I want to jump in front of them. I want my blood to splatter on each one of them.'"

"The venom in her words was chilling."

"Jian Yiqiu expected Shen Wang to ask who 'they' were or what had happened, but he simply looked at her: 'Your blood won’t reach them.'"

"Her pupils shrank sharply as she stared intently at Shen Wang."

"'They might fear your death for a while, but that’s just the fear of the dead, not of you,' Shen Wang said in a low, melodious voice, his words strikingly poignant, 'They won’t attribute your death to themselves. In ten days or a fortnight, they will have forgotten you.'"

"'What’s worse, they might continue to talk about you, and your suicide will add a dramatic end to their story, making them even more eager to share it with others.'"

"Jian Yiqiu felt a coldness on her cheeks; only when she touched them with her hands did she realize that she was crying."

"'And your mother, she’s the one who will forever live in pain.'"

"Jian Yiqiu burst into tears, thinking of her mother. Her once resolute anger softened gradually."

"As a child from a single-parent family, Jian Yiqiu’s father was mostly absent from her life. It was her mother who struggled to raise her single-handedly, promising herself she would study hard, get a good job, and give her mother a happy life..."

"In her memories, her mother was always busy, either working or doing household chores. She encountered every difficulty a single mother could face, yet she never failed to provide Jian Yiqiu with both material needs and love."

"'Other kids have it, so our Qiuqiu must have it too; can’t let Qiuqiu lose face in front of her classmates.'"

"'Qiuqiu is so cute; it’s a waste not to dress her up nicely.'"

"'Even though Qiuqiu doesn’t have a father, her mother gives her twice the love.'"

"'Qiuqiu will always be mommy’s beloved little treasure...'"

"Tears fell to the ground one by one. Jian Yiqiu suddenly began to doubt herself. Why did she come to this rooftop? Why punish herself and her mother for someone else’s wrong?"

"Just as she was about to step forward, off the edge of the rooftop, a shout suddenly came from below."

"'Are you jumping or not?'"

"Jian Yiqiu’s pupils shrank; she turned around and saw a crowd below, packed tightly together. Among them, she spotted the person she had been waiting for."

"Somehow, Jian Yiqiu’s hearing and vision seemed heightened, allowing her to hear the conversations from below."

"'I told you she was just putting on an act for attention.'"

"'She just has a pretty face, but her character is terrible, a total green tea bitch.'"

"'I heard she’s kept by someone outside school. She leaves the campus every week; who knows if she’s going to see her sugar daddy... and we don’t even know if it’s the same person every time.'"

"'Her relationships are a mess, not only with many ex-boyfriends but also two-timing, causing two guys to fight over her. In the end, she acted like nothing happened, didn’t even visit those two in the hospital...'"

"'She definitely won’t jump. With her pretentious and fake personality, there’s no way she would.'"

"'Just wait a bit longer. The fire truck is almost here, then she’ll have a reason to come down.'"

"Those malicious speculations and discussions pierced Jian Yiqiu’s heart like swords. She clenched her fists tightly, and all her previous hesitations vanished."

"The words of the crowd below echoed in Jian Yiqiu’s mind, and she suddenly took a step back, then another."

"She spread her wings like a free white bird, soaring in the wind."

"In that instant, the previously laughing and photographing crowd was stunned. The cameras shook in their hands, and screams overlapped."

"When Jian Yiqiu was on the rooftop, the crowd didn’t really feel the reality of it. It was only when she leaped down that they snapped out of their spectator mindset: a real, vibrant young life."

"The next second, another person jumped from the balcony, causing another wave of gasps."

"The man who jumped after her firmly grasped Jian Yiqiu’s wrist. Just when everyone thought the two would crash to their deaths, the man who followed her down suddenly opened a... pink umbrella?"

"The umbrella slowed their descent. Shen Wang held Jian Yiqiu in his arms and landed heavily on the ground."

"The noisy crowd fell silent for a few seconds, then erupted like cold water in boiling oil."

"'Are they okay?'"

"Shen Wang stood up from the ground, dusting off his backside. The pink umbrella in his hand was now broken. Under the shocked and admiring gazes of the crowd, he sighed, 'This umbrella was borrowed.'"

"The onlookers couldn’t make out what he was saying, swarming around them with a cacophony of voices buzzing incessantly."

"'Wow, dude, who are you? How did you manage to save her like that!'"

"'Are you both okay? I’ve called 120 [emergency services], just hang on a little longer, the ambulance is on its way.'"

"'Hey, what's your name, and which department are you from? I’m from the campus newspaper...'"

"At this point, the firefighters finally arrived, albeit late. They dispersed the crowd and conducted a quick check on Shen Wang and Jian Yiqiu, finding no serious injuries."

"After learning what had happened from the bystanders, the firefighters started looking at Shen Wang with a mix of strange expressions."

"Curiosity mixed with doubt, doubt with disbelief, and disbelief with admiration and awe… Their gazes were complex and intense."

"'How could this umbrella hold the weight of two people?' one of the firefighters wondered aloud, turning the pink ladies' umbrella over in his hands."

"Another sat squatting nearby: 'Tell me honestly, do you know lightness kung fu?'"

"Shen Wang rubbed his wrist, hissing in pain, 'If I knew lightness kung fu, I wouldn’t have gotten hurt. It was just good luck.'"

"Hearing this obvious deflection, the others were left speechless with exasperation."

"'In modern society, we should believe in science,' Shen Wang said seriously, 'Lightness kung fu is a product of fiction; don’t mix it up with reality.'"

"While speaking, Shen Wang brushed off the remaining ash of talismanic symbols from the umbrella."

"A regular umbrella certainly couldn’t bear the weight of two people, but Shen Wang had drawn some basic talismans on it. He had attached several protective talismans to the umbrella and also to himself and Jian Yiqiu."

"Shen Wang’s current abilities weren’t very strong, so he had to rely on external aids. Once his powers improved, not just a fall from a few floors, but even flying with a sword wouldn’t be a problem."

"Jian Yiqiu, traumatized, had been unconscious and only came to after being examined at the hospital."

"Upon waking up, she saw Shen Wang sitting nearby, playing a game, and asked in a daze, 'Are you dead too?'"

"In her memory, she only knew that Shen Wang had jumped down with her, but she wasn't aware that they had both landed safely."

"'Awake now, huh?' Shen Wang glanced at her in between gaming, 'It would have been a waste of my effort if you had died.'"

"Only belatedly noticing the stark white surroundings, Jian Yiqiu realized she was in a hospital, feeling a sharp pain in her wrist."

"'I gripped your wrist too hard when I caught you, accidentally dislocated it,' Shen Wang said nonchalantly, the sound of game kills emanating from his phone, 'Sorry about that.'"

"'...It's okay.' Jian Yiqiu lay in bed, her gaze empty."

"Perhaps it was Shen Wang's casual demeanor towards her, or perhaps her mindset had changed after surviving a disaster, Jian Yiqiu suddenly spoke up."

"Jian Yiqiu had always been considered beautiful, and her looks had earned her much affection, but everything changed after entering university."

"Before high school, everyone's focus was on studies. Although some tried to pursue Jian Yiqiu, the strict school environment kept her life unaffected."

"Just entering university, Jian Yiqiu's military training photos were circulated wildly, making her the so-called campus belle, attracting constant attention from male students."

"Manufactured coincidences, flowers, gifts, invitations to hang out... All these pursuits in Jian Yiqiu’s eyes were disruptions to her normal life."

"Having coldly rejected all her suitors, at some point, Jian Yiqiu's reputation plummeted."

"Some guys labeled her as pretentious, outwardly indifferent to her suitors while allegedly fawning over wealthy heirs behind their backs."

"Former admirers criticized her for her bad personality and temper, saying that aside from her looks, she had no redeeming qualities."

"Even other girls ostracized her, spreading rumors behind her back about accepting gifts and two-timing..."

"Jian Yiqiu was still the same person, yet she felt like she was no longer the Jian Yiqiu she used to be."

"'Previously, two guys were pursuing me, and they got into some conflict and fought each other,' Jian Yiqiu narrated calmly, 'A few days later, they made up and stopped pursuing me.'"

"'But rumors began to circulate in the campus that they fought over me, painting me as cold and indifferent to their story.'"

"Later, the rumors grew wildly, evolving into stories of Jian Yiqiu being kept, having abortions, numerous ex-boyfriends, infidelity... She became an invisible, isolated figure in the campus community."

Shen Wang clicked his tongue, put down his phone displaying the words 'failed' in large letters, "You're not doing this because of these reasons, are you?"

"...I got recommended for postgraduate studies," Jian Yiqiu finally revealed her pain, "But someone reported that I have a disordered private life and shouldn't be recommended."

"My recommendation was revoked."

Jian Yiqiu could endure all the isolation, insults, and rumors, but when false accusations impacted her academics, the accumulated pain of the past years seemed to overwhelm her, drowning her in despair.

"I see," Shen Wang nodded thoughtfully.

Just when Jian Yiqiu thought he was about to make a profound statement, she saw Shen Wang rummaging in his pocket and pulling out several yellow triangular objects.

"It's foolish to use your life for revenge. Don't you want those who spread rumors to pay a price?"

"I have 'Karmic Retribution Charms' here, only 288 each. Burn them to ash and mix with water, and those who have wronged you with words will develop sores in their mouths. Every time they commit a verbal sin, their condition will worsen."

"Wanna buy?"

Jian Yiqiu looked blankly at Shen Wang, instinctively responding, "Isn't poisoning someone illegal?"

Shen Wang smiled smugly, "Don’t worry, it’s harmless and undetectable. The effect is guaranteed to satisfy."

Jian Yiqiu: "..."

Although it sounded like a scam, she was really tempted.