Chapter 89 - 89 Jiang Xue's Handiwork
89 Jiang Xue’s Handiwork
Zhao Yuan put down the medicated ointment, setting her hands against her hips. She pretended to be angry, saying, “Xixi, what are you talking about? They were the ones who did something wrong, not you. Why should I blame you? It’s not like you hit me. Besides, we’re friends. You even took revenge for me. What’s there to blame? If you continue to say sorry, I’ll get angry. We’re not strangers.”
Shen Xi quickly backtracked. “Okay, okay. I shan’t apologise. Don’t be angry. I won’t do it again.”
Zhao Yuan happily dropped her act upon achieving her desired outcome, her red and swollen face full of smiles.
They returned to the dormitory together once the nurse gave them the green light. On their way back, they bumped into Jiang Xue and Su Li. It appeared that they, too, had just returned.
Jiang Xue was ecstatic when she saw the red and swelling faces of Shen Xi and Zhao Yuan. Feigning concern, she asked, “Ah, Xixi, what’s wrong with your face? You look rather roughed up.”
Shen Xi ignored Jiang Xue, but the latter would not let the matter rest. After all, she did not often get a chance to mock Shen Xi. How could she let her nemesis off so easily?
Jiang Xue covered her mouth and gasped in an overly exaggerated manner. “Xixi, did you get beaten up by that man’s girlfriend? Look! Your pretty face is all banged up; it’s heartbreaking. I’ve always said you should not sell your body for money, but you would not listen. This is what happens to mistresses.”
Shen Xi looked up sharply. “We didn’t even tell you how we were injured. How are you so sure I was beaten up for playing the mistress to his girlfriend? Did you hire someone to bully Zhao Yuan and me? How else would you be so well informed?”
Jiang Xue refused to meet her gaze, her eyes darting away furtively. Shen Xi caught onto the action. It seemed the mess with Tao Zi was Jiang Xue’s doing.
Naturally, Jiang Xue did not affirm Shen Xi’s accusation, immediately refuting, “Why would you think that? Why would I get someone to beat you up? I’m just speculating based on the rumours flying around. It would not surprise me if you managed to implicate Zhao Yuan in your mess. But that is how it goes for mistresses, isn’t it?”
“Don’t you think so, Zhao Yuan?” Jiang Xue tagged on at the end, belittling Shen Xi as much as she could get away with without exposing her involvement.
Zhao Yuan remained silent. Her family did not possess the same standing as Jiang Xue’s. It might be alright if she rebuked her now and then, but nothing good would come out of offending Jiang Xue. If she did and created a family feud, her parents would probably beat her up before Jiang Xue could. She might even be forced to go to Jiang Xue’s house to beg for her forgiveness.
Zhao Yuan was many things, but she was not dumb. Jiang Xue’s snide remarks were more than enough to hint at her involvement. The Shen family may not fear the Jiangs, but the same could not be said of her; her only recourse was to suffer in silence. Fortunately, she had not gone overboard in her revenge. Otherwise, things could spiral out of control.
Zhao Yuan might have feared Jiang Xue, but Shen Xi did not. She rolled her eyes as she directed her words at Jiang Xue, “You don’t have any proof to speak of. Unless you happen to have some, you should remain silent. Honestly, did you even brush your teeth this morning? I can’t help but smell something foul whenever you open your mouth.”
Shen Xi’s words angered Jiang Xue. It took her a great effort to reign in her anger, but some of it leaked into her words in the form of a threat. “Shen Xi, I’ve always been polite when speaking to you. Don’t you think you’ve been rather rude? Before you speak, I think you ought to consider the consequences of your words.”
Shen Xi sneered, “Consequences? What consequences do you have in store? Are you going to send trouble to my doorstep? Who? Another Peach?
Jiang Xue’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, but she rallied herself by raising her voice, “Who is this Peach? What are you talking about? I don’t know anyone by that name.”
Jiang Xue was so obvious in her coverup that Shen Xi burst into laughter. “Peach? Who said I’m referring to a person, not a fruit?”
Shen Xi’s comeback caused Jiang Xue to panic. She blamed herself for being too impatient and exposing herself just like that. All she could do was play along and act dumb. As long as she did not admit to anything, no one could lay a finger on her.
She had been cautious in contacting Peach, using a newly bought number. Even the deposit was in cash, and Peach had had to collect it from a random storage box.
The chances of Shen Xi acquiring evidence of her transaction were close to nil.
She knew it, and Shen Xi did too. For Shen Xi, it was not about digging up the evidence so much as knowing who the perpetrator was.
Revenge is a dish best served cold. She had plenty of time to lead Jiang Xue to her comeuppance.