Chapter 232 - Caught in a Red light

A loud splash echoed in the garden. 

The two distinguished women fighting like village shrews fell into the fountain. 

However, even as they fell, no one let go of the other's hair. They had a tacit understanding that the one who let go first would be the one to lose.

No one bothered to stand up, as they continued pulling at each other's hair on the shallow water. But it was Xiong Wuyue who was clearly at a disadvantage as her gown became heavier due to the volume of water it absorbed. She had a hard time balancing herself. She tried to use Xiong Zhi's head for support. Of course, Xiong Zhi felt it and did not allow her but pushed her head further down into the water.

Song Xuantin was shocked. They really fell into the fountain! Now that they were both wet, it would be too hard to make up an excuse to cover up what happened. Song Xuantin ran to them hurriedly.

"Zhi! They are coming here! Let's get out of here now!" Song Xuantin cried in panic..

Xiong Zhi and Xiong Wuyue both heard her and halted all actions, but they were still holding each other's hair tightly. Both turned to stare with wide eyes at Song Xuantin, gasping for their breath.

"Get out of there right now!" Song Xuantin half-yelled to wake up the two from their daze.

But still no one let go of each other.

Song Xuantin could not believe that Xiong Zhi would actually act like an irrational child at such a critical time like this. She went to Xiong Zhi's side and tried to help her get up. Xiong Wuyue still did not let go of Xiong Zhi's hair.

"Miss Wuyue, let go. Everyone is about to come here," Song Xuantin took a deep breath and spoke to Xiong Wuyue. She did not bother to ask Xiong Zhi whose eyes were dangerously chilly. Song Xuantin knew that her friend would absolutely not let go first, no matter what. Her eyes already spoke volumes of that. So she tried convincing Xiong Wuyue first. After all, those people about to come were her guests.

However, in Xiong Wuyue's mind right now, if she let go first, then this damned bitch would think she had won. Thinking of that bitch's smug smile back at the Zhou mansion refueled her anger. Her grip in Xiong Zhi's hair became tighter.

Xiong Zhi's eyes glinted coldly as she felt Xiong Wuyue's tighter grip.

'She wants to bring me down with her? As if I will let her!'

She suddenly pulled down Xiong Wuyue's hair with all the strength she could muster. 

"Ahhh!" Shocked by the sudden attack, Xiong Wuyue cried. She also yanked at Xiong Zhi's hair. The two ignored Song Xuantin and continued on with their fight. A lot of their hair had already fallen into the water.

This was not only just the matter of who would win this fight. It was about their pride, the humiliation they had suffered in the other's hand, their grievances to each other, and their hatred.

If Song Xuantin knew what they were thinking, she would definitely yell: 'What pride? That's totally what you two threw the moment you fought like village shrews!'

At this time though, both were fuming mad and there was no way that the two of them would stop.

Song Xuantin face-palmed.

"Goodness!" What should she do? If people came here and saw this irrational fight, not only Xiong Wuyue would be criticized, Xiong Zhi's reputation would come crashing down too!

Geez! Should she stop the people from coming here and tell them that this was a hazardous area?

A loud chattering came from the distance.

Song Xuantin panicked. They were coming here! Oh my god!

She looked at the two who was still fighting in the shallow water. Then, she met Xiong Zhi's eyes. 

Xiong Zhi's eyes this time appeared calmer and more collected, no longer the raging eyes she saw earlier. Song Xuantin saw her shake her head meaningfully.

While still actively engaged in the catfight.

Song Xuantin was stunned. What did it mean? For heaven's sake, what did the shaking head mean?

'Didn't she know I'm very slow on things like these?!"

Song Xuantin then looked back to the entrance in tears. She stayed rooted on the spot, not knowing what to do. She no longer looked at the catfight behind her as her eyes were glued at the entrance, fearing every second ticking by as the voices outside grew stronger.

'Did shaking the head meant I should not let them in? Or was it the opposite, to let them enter and not do anything? Oh goodness, Zhi'er!'

It was a total horror movie.

Her eyes stayed riveted on the huge doors, her heartbeat pounding loudly in her ears. Anytime, the door would open... and the zombies outside would come rushing in.

After a few moments.

The entrance door opened ever so slightly. The loud voices coming from outside rushed into the garden.

With dead eyes, Song Xuantin was about to welcome her death—or welcome the guests, hopefully to buy enough time. 

Suddenly, she felt a cold, slippery, and wet hand grabbing her arm. She almost screamed in horror. 

"..?!"

"Let's go." It was Xiong Zhi. She instantly dragged her to one of the bushes, using the splashing fountain to block the entering guests' vision. As they dove into the bushes, she took a glimpse of the fountain. Xiong Wuyue was still there, struggling to get out.

"What did you do?" Song Xuantin curiously asked. The guests entered and scattered around the garden. No one found Xiong Wuyue yet. Surprisingly, Xiong Wuyue was not screaming to find her and stayed still.

"I tied her gown to the fountain," Xiong Zhi said while shivering . 

"...What?" Song Xuantin asked her incredulously. Goodness! That Xiong Wuyue have a damned fate waiting for her.

But there were still problems at hand. How could they get out of here? Especially, Xiong Zhi was wet from head to toe. What if Xiong Wuyue revealed to everyone that it was Xiong Zhi who had bullied her to that point? One look at the drenched and wounded Xiong Zhi, and everyone would know the truth!

Worriedly, she asked the one who was responsible for this mess. 

"What do you plan to do now?"

"We will get out. Do you have your phone with you?" Xiong Zhi asked, her eyes still stuck on Xiong Wuyue who was still trying to untie her gown from the elaborate carved pillars of the fountain.

Song Xuantin opened her purse. It was a good thing she kept her purse with her. She handed the phone to Xiong Zhi. Song Xuantin expected Xiong Zhi to call someone and get some help but she was shocked when she saw Xiong Zhi took a picture of the messy Wuyue who had a panicking and murderous look on her face, instead.

"Zhi! What are you doing?" Song Xuantin hissed.

"I am just taking one for remembrance." Then she gave back the phone to the stunned Song Xuantin.

'She borrowed my phone just to take a picture? Goodness, there goes my expectations.'

Meanwhile, the two of them circled around the bushes and came near the entrance. Thankfully, the thick and flowery bushes and plants with large canopies surrounded the walls of the entire garden until it reached the huge doors at the entrance.

"We will run to the door once they find her." Xiong Zhi said as she wrung out excess water and began to dry herself with a cotton handkerchief.

Song Xuantin glanced at the guests who were now starting to scatter. A group of people was talking and walking to the direction of the fountain. Xiong Wuyue was shivering due to the cold waters while still doing her best to tear her gown away from the fountain pillar. 

Song Xuantin felt that Xiong Wuyue was really unfortunate. It was her birthday, but she would be likely remembered as someone who got beaten up and drenched in water on her own debut party. No matter what the story would be behind her appearance, the fact that she appeared in front of everyone like that would forever tarnish her distinguished reputation no matter where she went. 

But still, Song Xuantin thought it was too risky for Xiong Zhi to do this!

"Heavens! Young Miss Xiong Wuyue?! How come you are here?" One of the guests in a group standing near the fountain loudly exclaimed in shock.

The attention of the people around was caught by that loud shout and they eventually found the down-trodden Xiong Wuyue still tied on the fountain. The looks in their eyes were incredulous. Everyone within the garden approached the fountain in surprise to check if the woman soaking wet with water and had a messy hair on was really the birthday celebrant. 

The more they looked, the more shocked they were. It was really her!

Surrounded by these men and women whose eyes were watching her in schadenfreude, judging her from head to toe, Xiong Wuyue could not control herself anymore and cried. She knew, now that people had seen her like this, it would leave a mark in her reputation. In their eyes, whenever they see her in the future, this scene would always pop up in their minds. 

She would be remembered as the unfortunate girl who got beaten up in her own birthday. 

What Song Xuantin thought was correct: no matter what the true story was, the one would suffer the most was the one who got caught in the act.

At this moment, Xiong Wuyue was caught in red light.

Xiong Zhi who witnessed all these smiled in delight.