Chapter 90 Four Wolves Pounce

This seemed even harder for her to accept than the double betrayal by Xia Ling and Yan Feng. Even back when Jiang Ciyou was stabbed in the back by Xia Ling, she had never once regretted helping her or treating her sincerely, not even for a second. Jiang Ciyou believed this was her way of living, her code of conduct. Her kindness toward Xia Ling was not because Xia Ling was especially worthy, but because she wanted to be true to her own goodness.

But now, in this moment, a deep doubt took root in Jiang Ciyou’s heart.

Was kindness a mistake? Was kindness meant to be exploited by demons, to destroy one's life and drag one into hell?

Xia Ling knelt on the ground. “It’s not like that, truly it isn’t. The summer of our freshman year, Scarred Xiang was released from prison. He came looking for me immediately. He put a knife to my throat and demanded to know where you were. If I didn’t tell him, he threatened to kill us both.”

“At that time, you were volunteering at Saint May Orphanage, living and eating with the children.”

“I was so scared, I just told him. I never imagined he’d go after you, that he’d drug you, that he’d rape you. I always thought you were so skilled, your family background so powerful—he wouldn’t dare. But I was wrong, he really did it.”

Jiang Ciyou gripped a small silver whistle in her hand, holding it so tightly it was nearly misshapen. Yet even now, she struggled to suppress her emotions.

“Xia Ling, do you really think I’ll believe you? Wasn’t it you and Scarred Xiang who plotted against me from the start? Otherwise, how would you know everything so clearly?”

“I didn’t, I swear I didn’t. Scarred Xiang came to show off to me afterwards. He told me everything he’d done, and he even recorded a video. I still have it on my phone…”

As Xia Ling spoke, she pulled out her phone and scrolled to a video.

In the video, Jiang Ciyou could be seen, drugged and unconscious, lying on a hotel bed. Someone was holding the phone, filming from a first-person perspective. Scarred Xiang’s leering voice came through: “You think you’re so tough, but in the end, you still fell into my hands. If you’re so capable, why don’t you get up now? I’ll make you suffer.”

Then he continued, “Xia Ling, do you see? Your protector is right here. Tonight I’ll ruin her, and from now on, no one will protect you. You think that by making a rich friend you’ve made it to the top? When you sent me to prison, you should have seen this day coming. Just wait—after I’m done with her, I’ll come for you too! You filthy brat! You should be grateful I even look at you!”

The video cut off abruptly.

Though the footage was unclear, Jiang Ciyou recognized that voice. It was undoubtedly Scarred Xiang.

At that moment, the elevator doors slowly opened. Xia Ling, still kneeling, finally looked up. But what she saw was not a wolf, but Yan Feng.

Xia Ling was dumbfounded.

What was happening?

Yan Feng’s face was twisted with pain and heartbreak, mixed with a barely suppressed fury. He strode over to Xia Ling and practically dragged her out.

“Xia Ling, you’re despicable. After what Ciyou went through, you actually slandered her…”

Yan Feng’s mind raced with the contents of Xia Ling’s diary. Jiang Ciyou had been violated by a fiend, yet Xia Ling twisted the facts, sowed discord in front of him, making him believe Jiang Ciyou was a wanton woman without self-respect. He’d even hurt her because of it.

Yan Feng grabbed Xia Ling by the collar. “You’re a viper, Xia Ling.”

Xia Ling was utterly helpless. She gazed pleadingly at Yan Feng. “Feng, Ciyou is going to kill me. She wants to kill me!”

“You deserve it!” came another voice from not far away.

Xia Ling looked over. It was Bo Jin Xiu.

Why were the two of them here? When had they arrived?

She wasn’t surprised by Yan Feng’s appearance; she’d messaged him before coming, knowing he’d come sooner or later—just not this late.

In fact, Yan Feng had still been at the hospital when he received her message. Bo Jin Xiu, unable to reach Jiang Ciyou all night, had gone to the hospital early in the morning, thinking she’d visit Yan Feng. He happened to see Yan Feng leaving alone and followed.

When they arrived, Xia Ling had just hidden herself in the elevator. So everything that followed, their confrontation, every word spoken—they heard it all.

Bo Jin Xiu finally understood the truth. Jiang Ciyou’s first time had not been with Yan Feng, but was destroyed by a petty thug. And Jiang Ciyou had saved Xia Ling from this thug multiple times.

Yet in the end, it was Xia Ling who dragged Jiang Ciyou step by step into the abyss.

Jiang Ciyou now approached, walking toward Xia Ling with slow, mechanical steps. She stopped in front of her. Xia Ling, still kneeling, began bowing her head repeatedly in apology. “Ciyou, I know I was wrong. I was just so scared back then, that’s why I didn’t go to help you. I was just too scared.”

Jiang Ciyou squatted down and gripped Xia Ling’s chin. “You could have called the police, Xia Ling.”

She’d received such a video, yet hadn’t even reported it. That left Jiang Ciyou, desperate and trapped, utterly without hope of rescue.

“I was scared… I really was just so scared…” Xia Ling sobbed, begging for mercy.

“No, Xia Ling, you weren’t scared—you just wanted to use this to destroy me. You’re an accomplice. You must pay the price!”

Terror flashed in Xia Ling’s eyes as she looked at Jiang Ciyou before her. Jiang Ciyou’s eyes were bloodshot, her face still strikingly beautiful, but the way she looked down at Xia Ling from above, her exquisite features tinged with madness, made her look eerily serene, as if possessed by a quiet kind of insanity. It was impossible to guess what she might do next.

Suddenly, Jiang Ciyou raised the silver whistle to her lips and blew.

From the four corners, the four wolves that had vanished reappeared, emerging slowly, baring their fangs as they crept toward Xia Ling.

When Yan Feng arrived earlier, he’d only seen the shadows of wolves, not the animals themselves, and had thought he was hallucinating. Now, as he saw the four wolves surrounding the three of them, his eyes widened in shock.

Bo Jin Xiu, however, remained calm. Standing next to Jiang Ciyou, he showed not a trace of fear. His gaze stayed fixed on her face, noticing how different she was from her usual self—no longer the flirtatious, quick-witted woman, but someone transformed, as if a vengeful spirit risen from hell had taken residence in her body.

Her expression was blank, cold, her movements stiff and unnatural—as though she had become someone else entirely.

Bo Jin Xiu understood.

She was ill.

Her heart was sick.

And the four wolves drew closer, prowling, noses wrinkled, teeth bared, low growls rumbling—a terror so palpable it seemed, at any moment, they might spring and tear them all to pieces.