Chapter 450: The Fake Heiress of the Underworld Becomes the Archery Champion (3)

Chapter 450: The Fake Mafia Heiress's Rise to Archery Champion (3)

At this moment, Tang Qing had a visible scratch on one side of her face.

There was still a spot of blood at the corner of her lips, and her hair was disheveled.

At a glance, it was obvious that Tang Qing had just been in a fight.

She looked disheveled and dust-covered.

This created a stark contrast with Zhuang Yangqiu, who was walking toward her with a natural elegance.

The sunset's glow fell on one side, like a clear dividing line, sharply separating the two.

"It's you, Zhuang Yangqiu!"

Tang Qing's greeting carried clear delight.

According to the system's earlier introduction, in the storyline, she had always been Zhuang Yangqiu's obsessive follower.

The arrogant and domineering young lady had somehow fallen for the refined and noble piano prodigy.

In the original plot, the Zhuang and Tang families were considered family friends.

They had initially been partners in the underworld, but the Zhuang family had long since legitimized their businesses, becoming the renowned Zhuang Corporation in City C.

Zhuang Yangqiu had been famous from a young age, showing exceptional musical talent early on and earning the title of "nationally known piano prodigy."

Due to a childhood engagement, Tang Qing had already cast herself in the role of Zhuang Yangqiu's fiancée. The arrogant young lady was rude to everyone—

except Zhuang Yangqiu, toward whom she softened considerably.

Unfortunately, Zhuang Yangqiu had never valued this softness from Tang Qing; in fact, he disliked it!

"Zhuang Yangqiu, where are you headed?" Intent on striking up a conversation with her crush, Tang Qing took a step forward.

Zhuang Yangqiu instinctively took a step back!

His gaze swept over the injuries on Tang Qing's face, and he frowned slightly. "Fighting again?"

Like a schoolchild, Tang Qing immediately raised her hand!

With a somewhat ingratiating tone, she smiled, her eyes curving. "This time, it really wasn't my fault!"

"I just ran into some scum on the road..."

"Bullying the weak! I was just... stepping in to do the right thing!"

Her sheepish tone contrasted sharply with the ferocity she had shown earlier when dealing with Fan Zuo!

It was hard to imagine the young lady having such a soft side.

Zhuang Yangqiu's expression remained unchanged as he coldly said, "Alright."

Putting more distance between them, Zhuang Yangqiu prepared to walk past Tang Qing.

As he passed by, Tang Qing seemed to suddenly come to her senses and grabbed hold of his sleeve!

"Wait!"

Having just gotten into a fight, Tang Qing's palms were now covered in dust.

When her hand landed on Zhuang Yangqiu’s arm, she immediately left a dark, dusty handprint!

Zhuang Yangqiu calmly gazed at Tang Qing's hand, frowned, and asked, "Did you need something else?"

Tang Qing, however, spoke seriously, "Yes, I do."

"Zhuang Yangqiu, on Monday, I sent you a WeChat message saying I was waiting for you on your doorstep..."

"Why didn't you come?"

The look Tang Qing directed at Zhuang Yangqiu now carried a distinct stubbornness!

The answer to this question was extremely important to Tang Qing.

On that Monday, she had suddenly been informed that more than a decade of happy family life had been nothing but a deception...

She was not, in fact, the Tang family's beloved daughter.

It was also on that day that Tang Qing suddenly realized that the parents she had always known could so decisively and completely transfer their affection to someone else.

Tang Qing could still remember that feeling vividly!

It was as if a piece of her heart had been violently shattered, and every breath she took brought fresh pain!

This kind of pain was something she had never experienced, not even in the toughest fights in the octagon...

That Monday was the darkest day of her life.

Perhaps craving some real comfort, Tang Qing had sent this cry for help to Zhuang Yangqiu!

But...

That night, Tang Qing stood outside the Zhuang family's door, waiting from evening until late at night, and he never showed up.

The night was cool, and the sounds of frogs and insects chirped repeatedly!

It felt like mockery, repeatedly reminding her of all her delusions!

"Monday?"

That day of sharp, piercing pain was mentioned by Zhuang Yangqiu with an unbelievably casual and dismissive tone.

He said, "Did I ever agree to that?"

"Tang Qing, it seems I have no obligation to see you."

The most elegant and refined piano genius spoke with the coldest indifference.

As if struck by Zhuang Yangqiu's words, Tang Qing murmured, "This time was different."

"When I sent you the message, I clearly saw the light in your piano room..."

Before she could finish, Zhuang Yangqiu interrupted sharply!

"So what?"

"Do I have to drop everything for you?"

"Tang Qing, don't always throw your Young Lady weight around with me. I'm not having it."

Zhuang Yangqiu's eyes were full of disgust as he said these words.

He had grown up together with her since childhood and knew all too well the temper of this Young Lady. Whatever she wanted, others had to obey.

Even if she reined in her sharp edges a bit in his presence, deep down, she was still that entitled Young Lady!

She never knew how to respect others, born with arrogance, crass and unrefined, forever unable to hear "no"...

All these traits of Tang Qing were exactly what he disliked the most!

"Zhuang Yangqiu."

Once again pushed away harshly by the person she loved, Tang Qing's voice lost its light.

"You've heard, right—"

"I'm not really a Tang."

"Zhuang Yangqiu, it happened too fast, just one night—it seems like I've lost everything..."

All her former arrogance vanished overnight, completely left her utterly deflated.

From the incident until now, Tang Qing had kept this vulnerability well hidden. Only when facing Zhuang Yangqiu did she cautiously speak of it.

But Zhuang Yangqiu seemed completely oblivious to Tang Qing's current devastation, his voice still cold. "I did hear about it."

"That might be for the best."

At these words, Tang Qing, with her downcast expression, suddenly jerked her head up!

"What did you say!"

She never expected it!

Her last hope for redemption, when placed in Zhuang Yangqiu's hands, would so directly and ruthlessly crush her once again!

In an instant, that all-consuming pain seized her heart!

Even breathing became difficult.

Amid this sudden, immense pain, Tang Qing once again heard Zhuang Yangqiu's voice.

What he said was:

"Tang Qing, take this opportunity to work on that attitude of yours."

After saying this, Zhuang Yangqiu didn't linger. He pushed away Tang Qing's grasping wrist and walked off without a backward glance.

Leaving Tang Qing standing there stunned and alone.

The Young Lady who had never learned to bow her head in her entire life could no longer hold back the catch in her voice. Defiant tears spilled uncontrollably.

She whispered to no one, "Zhuang Yangqiu, on Monday, I was abandoned by the whole world..."

The figure walking away hesitated just slightly!

But still didn't break stride...

"You are truly cruel."

Under her breath, these words only Tang Qing herself could hear.

The tension that had been building since Monday, the last shred of belief, shattered completely under Zhuang Yangqiu's indifference!

Always haughty and arrogant, the young lady now looked just like a forsaken puppy, helplessly crouching by the roadside.

Fighting back tears, Tang Qing instinctively looked upward—she’d often done this.

It was something Tang Junshan had repeatedly reminded her of:

Children of the Tang family don’t cry.

Only... now she barely qualified as a child of the Tang family.