Chapter 72.5: Exposed (5)

What was even more frightening than being instantly decapitated was to have one’s head held under a guillotine, not knowing when the blade would fall. It was the faint glimmer of hope that the blade might not fall in the end that stoked one’s deepest fears.

The more she thought about it, the more afraid she became. She didn’t even notice the cold sweat drenching her back. She anxiously stood up and withdrew her trembling hand from Li Xiaoxing’s grasp.

The resulting confused look on Li Xiaoxing’s face shook her out of her daze, and she quickly added, “Sorry, I need to use the washroom for a moment.”

Ignoring the commotion around her and Li Xiaoxing’s worried shouting, Ji Xinxin lifted her skirt and rushed out of the dining room. She headed to an open place and took a deep breath to soothe her anxiety.

Calm down, calm down…

How could I possibly calm down?!

Ji Xinxin slammed the metal board beside her to vent her emotions. Her movement was so forceful that her palm reddened in pain, but it did little to assuage her anxiety.

Fear and fury coalesced into a raging tsunami that threatened to drown her.

It took her many years of work to make her way up the social ladder with grace and composure, but Ji Fanyin was threatening to undo her work and push her back into the abyss she had climbed out of.

She subconsciously reached for her phone, wanting to call Ji Fanyin and confront her about why she didn’t reveal the truth to Li Xiaoxing. She wanted to holler at the latter for making a fool out of her.

But as she reached for her waist, she realized that the gown she wore allowed no space for her phone. Her courage instantaneously deflated. She lost all strength and huddled up into a squatting position. She could feel her own eyes tearing up.

I can’t win. I can’t win against that person.

I was only able to win over big sis with my tricks because she’s soft-hearted.

But the other ‘Ji Fanyin’ has a heart as cold as stone. She has no intention of leaving any breathing space for me.

I thought that I had played every move well, but she could see through everything.

How could there be such a terrifying person in the world?

I’m scared…

The sound of a wheelchair gradually approached. Then, she heard Li Xiaoxing’s voice.

“… Xinxin,” he called out. “Are you crying because you aren’t willing to be with me?”

Ji Xinxin buried her head into her knees and immersed herself in her tears. She was too emotionally crushed to gather any strength to deal with Li Xiaoxing.

Li Xiaoxing asked on, “Xinxin, are you going to reject me?”

Ji Xinxin continued to ignore him.

An eternity seemed to have passed before she heard a long sigh from him.

“I understand now.” His voice was still as placid as ever, as if nothing in the world could hope to faze him, “Let’s return to the hotel. We’ll talk tomorrow.”