Giving You Dawn And Dusk - Chapter 28.2

She was soaked through. Her long wet hair lay on the ground, making her look especially disheveled for an Alpha.

After she spat out all the water she had forced into her stomach, she planned to wake up faintly.

The original owner could not swim, but Liang Shi could.

She had never been someone who would gamble with her life.

This time, she was only trying to scare Zhou Yi’an.

She had only chosen the timing to jump after seeing Liang Xinhe and Xu Qingzhu come out of the banquet hall.

Because in high school, Liang Xinhe had been a strong swimmer and had almost entered the provincial team.

But she had not expected the one who jumped into the water to save her to be Xu Qingzhu.

An Omega whose body had not yet recovered had dragged an Alpha taller than herself out of the water. Although she could rely on the buoyancy of the water, it was still exhausting.

And Xu Qingzhu had been anxious to perform CPR on her. This slightly disrupted Liang Shi’s plan.

So she spat out more of the water she had deliberately swallowed earlier, shortening the time and trying to save Xu Qingzhu some strength.

Just as she was about to open her eyes, Xu Qingzhu had already pinched her nose and directly started giving her artificial respiration.

“……”

The Omega’s lips were very soft. Having just come out of the water, they carried a damp chill.

She breathed a large mouthful of air into Liang Shi.

Liang Shi’s hand, hanging at her side, suddenly clenched the skirt.

Xu Qingzhu gave her artificial respiration without distraction, her lips falling and leaving again and again.

On the third time, just as Xu Qingzhu moved away, Liang Shi coughed a few times, then slowly opened her eyes.

Even though Xu Qingzhu’s movements had disturbed her mind a little and made her somewhat flustered, she still forced herself to finish the scene.

After opening her eyes, she looked around. When she saw Zhou Yi’an, fear flashed in her eyes. Then she shook her head and said, “Don’t… don’t kill me.”

Everyone: “……?”

Goodness. That contained quite a lot of information.

Before Liang Shi fell into the water, everyone had only thought the two of them had argued, so Zhou Yi’an had pushed Liang Shi into the water.

But the first thing Liang Shi said after waking up was looking at Zhou Yi’an and saying, don’t kill me?

What kind of grudge was this?

“Who wants to kill you?” Liang Xinhe asked coldly. “Don’t be afraid.”

Liang Shi shook her head. “I can’t… can’t say…”

As she spoke, she started coughing, gripping Xu Qingzhu’s hand as she coughed again and again, almost as if she were going to cough her lungs out. When she lifted her head again, her face was flushed red, a few strands of hair hanging messily. But she did not look ugly at all. Instead, she looked somewhat tragically beautiful.

Her voice was hoarse and weak as she said, “If I say it, our family will… have no way to participate… in the bidding for that land in the south of the city.”

She spoke intermittently, but every person present could hear her clearly.

An actor’s line delivery skills were fully displayed at this moment.

Liang Shi had honed herself in front of cameras for many years. She already knew which expressions of hers were beautiful and what movements could evoke empathy from people.

She did neither too much nor too little. She revealed a weak smile toward Liang Xinhe. “Second Brother, I… cough, cough, cough… I’m fine.”

Liang Xinhe was already furious. He looked at Zhou Yi’an.

The people watching the show were very ethical and left the area around Zhou Yi’an empty.

Liang Xinhe roared, “Zhou Yi’an, have you really become completely lawless? No matter how great your power is, this is a society ruled by law. Murder requires a life in return! Do you really think my Liang family is a soft persimmon you can knead however you like? If my sister died here today, I would fucking make sure you were buried with her!”

“She…” Zhou Yi’an looked at Liang Shi. The other party gave her a victorious smile, but only for an instant, immediately returning to a weak and pitiful state.

The words Zhou Yi’an originally wanted to say—“She fell in by herself, believe it or not”—were all swallowed back down her throat.

No one would believe it.

Liang Shi had calculated everything.

Everyone had seen Zhou Yi’an reach out and push Liang Shi.

No one would believe that Third Miss Liang, who could not swim, would gamble with her own life.

Liang Shi was also quite insane.

Zhou Yi’an curved her lips and sneered, answering Liang Xinhe, “She isn’t dead, is she?”

“If she had died, you would be dead now too,” Liang Xinhe said.

Zhou Yi’an said, “Oh.”

“Second Brother, don’t… don’t blame Miss Zhou,” Liang Shi said. “Miss Zhou kept asking me where Cheng… where Cheng Ran was. I didn’t know, and she got angry, so she acted.”

Everyone: “……”

So there was even this layer?

“It’s because I’m useless.” Liang Shi’s voice was still intermittent. It sounded very difficult, but she was still able to send every word accurately into the ears of everyone present. “I couldn’t help Miss Zhou.”

Someone in the crowd said, “Isn’t this too domineering? Just because of a small argument, she wanted to kill someone.”

Zhou Yi’an’s expression changed slightly.

Once someone led the rhythm, people quickly echoed.

“Exactly. The Zhou family doesn’t have such a family style. I’ve met the Zhou family’s eldest young lady before. She was such a gentle and virtuous girl.”

“The Zhou family wasn’t in Haizhou City in the past few years. They only moved back not long ago. Mr. Zhou was negligent in disciplining her, and he usually dotes on this youngest daughter too much. That’s why she developed such a spoiled temperament.”

“Third Miss Liang isn’t easy to deal with either, but look how badly she was bullied today.”

“Does Mr. Zhou know his daughter is this arrogant outside? She’s ruining all the good reputation he usually accumulated.”

“Mr. Zhou is honest, clean, and upright. He’s always decisive and efficient. It’s just that he has no way to handle this youngest daughter.”

“Even so, he can’t just let her continue like this. She’ll definitely cause trouble sooner or later.”

“Does today not count as causing trouble? Third Miss Liang almost died.”

“……”

They seemed to be whispering, but in truth, every word they said could be heard by Zhou Yi’an.

Zhou Yi’an had already clenched her fists tightly.

What did these people know?

How could she bully Liang Shi?

It was clearly Liang Shi who was relying on Zhou Yi’an’s affection to press her step by step and bully her.

But everyone looked at Third Miss Liang sympathetically and sighed one after another.

She looked like she only had one breath left. Quite pitiful.

Liang Shi had achieved her goal and was ready to faint at any time.

But she felt that if she fainted right now, there was no guarantee her Omega wife would want to carry her back.

Helpless, she could only cough weakly a few times. “So… so cold.”

“Quick,” Liang Xinhe ordered. “Take her inside.”

The servers at the side immediately came over to support her. Xu Qingzhu also lent some strength to Liang Shi.

Liang Shi wanted Xu Qingzhu to leave too, but Xu Qingzhu only let the server accompany her, while she herself stayed where she was.

The early autumn wind was strong. Xu Qingzhu’s long wet hair hung over her body, and the water-green dress clung tightly to her.

Liang Xinhe told her to leave and said he would handle things here, but Xu Qingzhu shook her head.

“I’ll settle this account for Liang Shi,” Liang Xinhe said. “Don’t worry. Go change your clothes first. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

Xu Qingzhu let out a light breath. “Second Brother, let me do it.”

Zhou Yi’an already wanted to leave, but just as she turned around, Xu Qingzhu called out, “Miss Zhou.”

Zhou Yi’an turned back and raised an eyebrow with contempt. “What? You want to condemn me too?”

Xu Qingzhu walked over and raised her hand, giving her a slap.

It directly stunned Zhou Yi’an.

Everyone present was also stunned.

Father Zhou had just arrived. After hearing that his daughter had caused trouble, he had immediately rushed over. As a result, he saw his daughter being slapped.

Father Zhou: “……”

His heart was filled with complicated feelings.

When Zhou Yi’an raised her hand to hit back, Liang Xinhe blocked her.

Xu Qingzhu stood in the wind. Her thin body seemed as if it could be blown over at any moment, but when she looked at Zhou Yi’an, her gaze was firm and every word was forceful. “This slap was for my wife. She is not good in water, yet you knowingly pushed her in. If we hadn’t arrived in time, what we would be seeing now would be a corpse. My parents-in-law would have had to send off their child before themselves, and I would have lost my wife. The child in my belly would lose a mother before being born. How am I supposed to raise her?”

Everyone’s gaze toward Zhou Yi’an instantly changed.

Put this way, Zhou Yi’an was practically a sinner!

It would almost be a pity if she were not sent to jail for a few years.

Xu Qingzhu continued, “Mr. Zhou is establishing a life for the people and peace for generations, yet as his daughter, what are you doing? You are treating human life as worthless. You are smearing his name. You are painting a dark stain onto what was originally his open and honorable career. Such reckless behavior means you do not place the criminal law of Huaguo in your eyes. You are disregarding human life and disregarding the law. Even though I am only an insignificant ordinary citizen, I can see Mr. Zhou’s efforts. He works hard and toils for the people, while you ruin his reputation. I feel it is unfair for him.”

This speech directly elevated the entire matter.

Even Father Zhou, standing at the back, could not help becoming angry.

He usually kept a low profile and worked diligently, yet the daughter he doted on was making enemies for him everywhere?

This was truly intolerable.

Xu Qingzhu finally let out a heavy breath. “I believe Miss Zhou will certainly not let us wives off because of today’s matter. But we will not be afraid either. After all, I believe the heavens see all, and the law will uphold justice. If one day, the two of us unfortunately come to harm, Miss Zhou will certainly be the police’s first suspect.”

Zhou Yi’an: “……”

“Fuck!” Zhou Yi’an was so angry she spat out a curse.

Father Zhou had already left and had not stepped forward to speak for Zhou Yi’an.

Everyone understood. Mr. Zhou had abandoned Zhou Yi’an.

Just as Liang Xinhe was about to step forward, Liang Xinzhou, who had been silent all along, spoke first. “Although my Liang family only does business, that doesn’t mean anyone can bully us. Even if my sister has done wrong, it is our family’s place to discipline her. If she breaks the law, then naturally the law will punish her. May I ask what kind of private punishment Miss Zhou is carrying out? Is this still the twenty-first century?”

Zhou Yi’an: “……”

Liang Xinzhou said, “In the future, if anything happens to my sister, the first person my Liang family suspects will also be Miss Zhou.”

“On what basis?” Zhou Yi’an frowned. “Are all of you crazy?!”

“On the basis that you have precedent,” Liang Xinhe and Liang Xinzhou said at the same time.

After the farce ended, Liang Xinhe lowered his voice and asked, “Sister-in-law, are you pregnant?”

Xu Qingzhu said calmly, “I lied to her.”

To stir emotions, the elderly and children were often the most useful.

Liang Xinhe: “……”

He really had not seen it coming. His sister-in-law, who looked soft and weak, killed without needing a knife.

//

When Liang Shi was supported inside by the server, Qiu Zimin and the others had just come out of the room.

They had played mahjong the whole night and were all somewhat tired now, planning to find a place to rest.

Seeing Liang Shi being supported inside, Qiu Zimin’s expression immediately changed. “What happened?”

“Nothing…” Liang Shi still maintained her weak image.

The server at the side, however, answered, “Third Miss fell into the water just now.”

Qiu Zimin immediately moved aside. “Help Miss go rest. Tell someone to cook a bowl of ginger brown sugar water.”

The server nodded. “Okay.”

“This is Ah Shi?” A woman’s voice suddenly sounded.

Liang Shi saw Qiu Zimin’s shoulders tremble. Then she turned around and put on a fawning smile. “Yes, Mrs. Qi.”

The person called Mrs. Qi wore a cyan qipao that perfectly outlined the graceful curves of her waist. A jade-green bracelet was on her arm. She walked unhurriedly to Liang Shi’s side and raised her hand to touch Liang Shi’s face. “I haven’t seen you in so long, and you’ve grown this much.”

This arm gave Liang Shi a very strong sense of familiarity.

She frowned and avoided it.

“It has been a long time.” Mrs. Qi smiled. “Has Ah Shi already forgotten me?”

Her fingers were painted with bright red nail polish. “That makes me rather sad.”

Liang Shi’s brows furrowed slightly. Suddenly, a memory rushed into her mind.

It was this jade bracelet.

It was this hand that had pulled her into a dim room, taken off the young her’s clothes, and made her stand facing the wall as punishment.

To be precise, it was the original owner.

The fear remaining in this body awakened at this moment, making Liang Shi tremble uncontrollably.

Liang Shi remained silent and did not answer her.

Mrs. Qi said, “All right. We’ll have a proper chat next time we have a chance. Go change your clothes.”

As she spoke, her gaze swept over Liang Shi’s chest. “Our Ah Shi has grown up.”

Liang Shi: “……”

//

The inexplicable memory that had suddenly appeared made Liang Shi feel somewhat irritated.

She returned to the room and changed into a casual outfit. Not long after, Xu Qingzhu also walked in.

When Xu Qingzhu first entered, she was still full of imposing momentum, but after closing the door, she leaned directly against it and kept smoothing her breathing.

Liang Shi asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xu Qingzhu said, “……I just did something big.”

Liang Shi: “Mm?”

Xu Qingzhu said, “I slapped Zhou Yi’an.”

Liang Shi was shocked. “What?”

“Risking danger myself, I suppose,” Xu Qingzhu said. “It can be considered a success. At least it should have some deterrent effect.”

Besides, this move had successfully pulled Liang Xinzhou and Liang Xinhe into their camp. The Liang family would also protect them. It was not a loss.

Liang Shi suddenly regretted not staying behind to watch.

Xu Qingzhu took a long while to calm down. But the first thing she asked was, “Were you acting just now?”

Liang Shi: “……”

She was acting.

But how was she supposed to say that?

If she admitted it, wouldn’t she become a rogue who deliberately took advantage of Xu Qingzhu?

Her silence already represented the answer.

Xu Qingzhu looked at her and said淡淡, “You’re quite good at acting.”

Liang Shi: “……I can explain.”

Xu Qingzhu: “I don’t want to hear it.”

Liang Shi: “How about you hear me out?”

Xu Qingzhu: “Then say it.”

Liang Shi: “……”

She suddenly ran out of words.

But Xu Qingzhu did not mind this matter. She only said, “You don’t need to misunderstand. Even if the person who fell into the water had been someone else, I would still have saved them.”

Liang Shi: “……”

Splat.

Her heart broke a little.

“I know,” Liang Shi said. “You’re beautiful and kind. So do you want to change clothes now? There are some in the wardrobe. They might be a little big.”

The clothes prepared here were all Alpha sizes, so they would be somewhat large for an Omega.

Xu Qingzhu nodded.

She took a T-shirt and a pair of casual pants from the wardrobe, turned sideways, and wrung some water from her hair. Just as she was about to take off the evening gown on her body, she froze. She had almost forgotten there was another person in the room.

Liang Shi was also self-aware. She took the initiative to turn her back. “Change. I won’t look.”

Xu Qingzhu reached back and unzipped the dress.

A person deprived of sight would have sharper hearing, so Liang Shi could hear Xu Qingzhu pulling down the zipper, the gown falling to the floor, then unfolding the T-shirt to find the front and back, and pulling it over her head.

Every step could almost be judged by sound, making her heart itch even more. In the end, she simply covered her ears.

Very soon, Xu Qingzhu said, “I’m done.”

Only then did Liang Shi turn around. Xu Qingzhu said, “By the way, did you see that woman in the qipao just now?”

“Mrs. Qi?” Liang Shi asked.

“I’m not sure,” Xu Qingzhu said. “She saw me just now and said something very strange.”

“What did she say?”

“She said she didn’t expect Ah Shi to marry someone like this. She said I was somewhat similar to Jiaojiao.” Xu Qingzhu repeated her words, then asked Liang Shi, “Who is Jiaojiao?”

Liang Shi: “……”

It would be a miracle if she knew.

Xu Qingzhu did not make things difficult for her either. After that, a servant brought ginger brown sugar water.

Both of them drank it.

//

Perhaps it was because she had run into Mrs. Qi, but Liang Shi actually had a nightmare that night.

In the dream, the background was dim. It was that sealed room again. She walked inside in her own state and saw the young original owner.

The original owner had originally been crying, but after hearing the sound, she turned her head. Seeing Liang Shi, she actually smiled foolishly.

That smile was very eerie.

It made goosebumps rise all over Liang Shi’s body.

There was nothing worth looking at on the undeveloped little girl’s body, but there were very obvious signs of abuse.

Liang Shi crouched down and asked her, “Did someone hit you?”

She did not speak. She only smiled.

Then the room door opened, and Mrs. Qi, wearing the jade bracelet, walked in. She was still dressed in a cyan qipao, holding a little girl by the hand.

Mrs. Qi called her, “Jiaojiao.”

Mrs. Qi made Jiaojiao lie on the bed, then made the little girl stand there and watch.

Mrs. Qi raised her hand and pinched Jiaojiao’s body, asking her, “Are you obedient?”

Jiaojiao cried and said, “I’m obedient… Mommy, don’t hit me anymore…”

Mrs. Qi’s smile was very cold. “If you’re obedient, why did you complain to your father? Your father doesn’t want you anymore.”

Jiaojiao only knew to cry, sobbing.

Mrs. Qi looked toward the little girl standing on the floor. “Don’t watch. Your mother also sent you here.”

Mrs. Qi touched her hair. “I only said our Jiaojiao lacked a companion, and she sent you here.”

The little girl shrank back.

Mrs. Qi said, “Your mother told me to discipline you however I like.”

Then Mrs. Qi walked over, and the little girl stepped back again and again, revealing a terrified expression.

Mrs. Qi smiled and asked, “Where should I hit first?”

Suddenly, she kicked the little girl in the stomach.

Liang Shi watched in fear and cried out, “Don’t!”

She reached out to stop it, but her body was illusory, passing through the dim dust.

The light suddenly turned on.

Liang Shi abruptly opened her eyes and raised a hand to touch her forehead. Her hand came away with cold sweat.

Just now… was that the original owner’s childhood?

Did Qiu Zimin hate the original owner that much?

She was only a child. What deep hatred could there be?

Liang Shi was still shaken. Beside her, Xu Qingzhu asked, “Did you have a nightmare?”

She nodded. “A little.”

The two of them had come back early tonight. In addition, they had both fallen into the water, so they had rested early.

There was still a blanket separating them in the middle.

Xu Qingzhu had slept for a while, then woken up again, planning to go to the bathroom. That was when she discovered Liang Shi was trapped in a nightmare.

Only then had she turned on the light and woken Liang Shi.

Liang Shi clutched her violently beating heart, and Xu Qingzhu handed her a glass of warm water. “Are you okay?”

Liang Shi nodded. “I’m okay.”

It was just that the feeling from the dream had been too real, so real that it seemed as if she herself had experienced it.

Now, both of them could not sleep.

Xu Qingzhu sat there and opened her laptop. Liang Shi was bored.

After spacing out for a while, Liang Shi suggested, “Let’s watch a movie.”

Xu Qingzhu was wearing glasses and working on a proposal. Hearing this, she glanced at Liang Shi. Seeing that she still looked a little afraid, Xu Qingzhu nodded. “Downstairs?”

“We can do it in the bedroom. I had the housekeeper fix the projector,” Liang Shi said as she turned on the projector and took the chance to get out of bed to search through the drawer.

She had also asked the housekeeper to buy some discs.

Placed on top was a yuri film—The Handmaiden.

Liang Shi glanced at it. The keywords written on it were same-sex and suspense.

Back when she was still in her original world, someone had recommended this movie to her. She had always said she would watch it, but had been delayed several times.

Now, discovering it here felt rather novel, so she asked Xu Qingzhu, “Is this okay?”

Xu Qingzhu could be considered a film desert.

She did not really watch movies to begin with, so at this moment, she listened entirely to Liang Shi.

Liang Shi placed the DVD into the drive, then got back onto the bed.