I’m A Scumbag Woman—I Flirt, But Never Marry [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 14

“What?”

Xu Tinglan froze, thinking she had misheard.

“Leave with you?”

“That’s right. Leave this place and that scumbag behind. Come live with me.”

Gu Shuofeng rested one hand against the edge of the washing machine and leaned closer.

She didn’t move near enough to make Xu Tinglan feel pressured, yet she didn’t remain so far away that the gesture lost its effect. The distance was precisely right—close enough for her breath to faintly brush Xu Tinglan’s cheek and for Xu Tinglan to see the enticing curve of her lips.

Seduction had always been a matter of subtle influence.

Gu Shuofeng had begun from the moment she first met Xu Tinglan. Otherwise, for whom had she struck such an alluring pose while leaning against the bathroom door?

That scumbag?

Don’t make her laugh. She might strain her waist.

Under the present circumstances, even if Xu Tinglan were attracted to women rather than completely straight, she couldn’t possibly entertain any thoughts about Gu Shuofeng.

But what did that matter?

A frog had to be cooked gradually in warm water. Like spring rain silently nourishing the earth, seduction had to seep in unnoticed.

When Xu Tinglan’s feelings finally erupted, every past movement and gesture from Gu Shuofeng would surge from her memories, becoming engraved so deeply that she could never forget them.

Since Xu Tinglan was both beautiful and pitiful, Gu Shuofeng would go easy on her.

Xu Tinglan frowned.

As expected, Gu Shuofeng’s seduction didn’t stir the slightest ripple inside her. All she felt was disgust and disdain.

“I don’t know what kind of scheme you’re attempting, but I’m sorry—I have no interest in playing games with you. Please leave my home immediately. I want to rest.”

After speaking, Xu Tinglan walked around her and left the bathroom. Her chin was slightly raised, and every step was proud and elegant.

Despite her filthy, torn dress, nothing could conceal her dignified bearing.

She pulled open the front door with a clatter, stepped to the side, and rested one hand on the handle. Her gaze remained fixed straight ahead, as though even a single glance at Gu Shuofeng would be too generous.

“Please leave.”

Xu Tinglan’s self-restraint was truly extraordinary.

If another wife discovered that her husband’s mistress had barged into her home, merely skinning the woman alive would have been considered merciful. How could anyone possibly remain so calm and allow her to leave?

Knowing that Xu Tinglan was refined was one thing.

Experiencing that refinement personally was another.

An indescribably subtle emotion suddenly stirred in Gu Shuofeng’s heart, but it vanished immediately, and she paid it no attention.

Gu Shuofeng leaned forward and pushed the door closed.

Not only did she refuse to leave, but she even intended to shut the door.

Xu Tinglan had never imagined she would behave this way. She hurriedly pulled backward with all her strength, trying to keep it open.

But how could her thin arms possibly compete with Gu Shuofeng’s physical strength, which was several times greater than an ordinary person’s?

Bang!

The door locked.

“What are you doing?! Don’t force me to call the police! Leave my home immediately!”

Suppressing her anger, Xu Tinglan tugged on the door twice more. Gu Shuofeng held it firmly in place, making it impossible to open.

Gu Shuofeng spoke gently.

“I’m only considering your welfare. After all, family scandals shouldn’t be aired in public.”

“I don’t need your false kindness!”

Leaning against the door, Gu Shuofeng took out her phone and opened her messages before turning the screen toward Xu Tinglan.

“Look. What is this?”

Xu Tinglan instinctively glanced at the screen.

It was filled with notification messages from China Mobile. Each one stated that a particular number had called her at a specific time and listed the number of attempted calls.

A long row of messages displayed the same number.

It was a number so familiar that heat immediately gathered behind Xu Tinglan’s eyes.

She desperately suppressed her tears. Her pride wouldn’t allow them to fall in front of Gu Shuofeng.

“You…”

Gu Shuofeng interrupted her after only one word.

“Do you see them? Last night, he used the excuse of returning the clothes I left at the hotel and repeatedly called to harass me. He even went to my apartment and kicked my door. I had no choice but to turn off my phone and pretend I wasn’t home.”

First, she had pretended to be innocent at the hotel. Now she had come here to perform the same act?

Even Xu Tinglan couldn’t believe that she didn’t lose her temper. She merely glanced indifferently at this ridiculous mistress.

“If I remember correctly, weren’t you the one who called him just now?”

“That’s right. I called him because I was saving you.”

“Saving me?”

Xu Tinglan gave a cold laugh.

“Then I truly must thank you.”

“I’m not joking. I really was saving you. Do you know what he told me?

“He said that, to him, you’re nothing more than a useful tool. You can stabilize his career and earn money for him. At the same time, you’re also a decent housekeeper who keeps his life perfectly organized.”

Those heart-piercing words weren’t fabricated.

They were entirely Wang Jianfei’s true thoughts.

The hand Xu Tinglan had wrapped around the door handle began to tremble.

The composure she had barely maintained vanished instantly!

What refinement? What self-restraint?

Enduring silently after being bullied to this extent wasn’t refinement.

It was stupidity!

Xu Tinglan abruptly raised her hand and swung it toward Gu Shuofeng’s face!

Gu Shuofeng reacted swiftly, catching her wrist.

A smile remained on her lips, but it now carried unmistakable bitterness, as though every previous smile had been maintained through sheer force.

“I know you’re furious, but please hear me out.”

Gu Shuofeng sniffled, and the corners of her eyes faintly reddened.

“He only said those things to reassure me. He doesn’t want to divorce you, but he also wants a woman on each arm and the pleasure of enjoying both of us.

“I mocked him and asked whether he was afraid his wife would discover the affair and cause trouble. Do you know what he said?”

Perhaps the faint tears in Gu Shuofeng’s eyes affected her.

Or perhaps Xu Tinglan simply couldn’t move because her wrist remained trapped in Gu Shuofeng’s grasp.

Coldly, she asked, “What did he say?”

“He said he had a way to make you keep quiet.”

Xu Tinglan stiffened.

Nevertheless, she kept her slender back straight and said nothing.

Gu Shuofeng continued, “I asked what method he intended to use. He said he would record humiliating videos and take photographs of you, then use them to threaten you.

“He said that even if you didn’t compromise for the sake of your own reputation, you would do it for your father.”

What?!

The two women stood extremely close. Xu Tinglan’s suddenly constricted pupils were clearly reflected in Gu Shuofeng’s eyes.

“He also said he would act tonight. If you don’t believe me, look for your household’s camera and see whether it’s still in its usual place.

“I timed my call precisely. Since he left so quickly, he probably didn’t have time to return it.”

Xu Tinglan pressed her lips together and stared at her.

Then she suddenly turned and rushed into the study.

Click.

The study light came on.

The creak of a cabinet door and the sound of frantic searching came from inside.

A moment later, Xu Tinglan emerged with a face as pale as paper.

She raised her eyes and glanced at Gu Shuofeng before turning and entering the bedroom.

Gu Shuofeng followed.

The bedroom lights cast a dim, warm-yellow glow. The color scheme had deliberately been designed to be dark and sleep-inducing.

Feeling dizzy and unsteady, Xu Tinglan looked around. She walked to the window and pulled the heavy curtains apart with a rustle.

A row of potted plants lined the windowsill, from winter cherry to pothos, each one different.

The plants had originally been arranged from left to right, ending near the center of the windowsill. This placement followed the direction of the sunlight and allowed them to receive as much of it as possible.

Now, however, the plant closest to the center had been moved to the right.

A circular ring of dust remained where it had once stood. On top of that dusty mark was the faint impression left by a square object.

Xu Tinglan closed her eyes briefly.

Then she turned and began opening drawers and searching through cabinets.

She didn’t need long.

Inside the lower drawer of the bedside table near the window, she quickly found a black Sony DSLR. The lens cap had clearly been fastened in a hurry and sat crookedly with a visible gap.

The passage was narrow, and Gu Shuofeng stood behind her, unable to see her expression.

She only saw Xu Tinglan remove the camera and slowly straighten.

Turning it on was such a simple movement, yet Xu Tinglan appeared to be carrying a weight of a thousand pounds. Her fingertips trembled three times before she finally pressed the button.

Click!

Beep—

The camera turned on.

Xu Tinglan opened the most recent recording.

It had been filmed half an hour earlier.

The image showed a pair of feet in open-toed slippers. The picture shifted in and out of focus, clearly a test recording.

Soon, the camera turned around, revealing Wang Jianfei’s face as he adjusted the settings.

He moved a potted plant, placed the camera on the windowsill, and pulled the curtains from both sides until they concealed the lens. Only a small gap remained, which barely affected the recording.

His phone suddenly rang.

Wang Jianfei looked at the number and hurriedly tiptoed toward the door. He carefully peered through the gap to check outside, then locked the door and returned to the window to answer the call.

Everything had unfolded exactly as Gu Shuofeng imagined.

Xu Tinglan stood perfectly straight, her head lowered as she stared at the camera and silently listened to the conversation.

Although she couldn’t hear the person on the other end, Wang Jianfei’s words alone were enough to confirm that almost everything Gu Shuofeng had said was true.

Wang Jianfei had indeed gone to find Gu Shuofeng the previous night.

Gu Shuofeng had indeed refused to see him.

Beep!

The recording ended and automatically stopped playing.

Xu Tinglan’s knees suddenly weakened, and her body swayed.

Gu Shuofeng hurried forward to support her.

“You absolutely cannot remain in this house. He could attack you at any moment, and remaining vigilant won’t help.

“You can’t even push me away, so how could you possibly push him away? Come with me. I’ll help you deal with him.”

Gu Shuofeng held Xu Tinglan’s wrist and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, securing her against her body.

Xu Tinglan pushed several times.

She truly couldn’t break free.

What a blatantly cruel irony!

She knew what she was about to face yet lacked the strength to change it—and the mistress she despised had to be the one who reminded her!

More than anything, the helplessness of being restrained and unable to escape stabbed directly into Xu Tinglan’s already wounded and furious heart.

She raised her eyes and glared at Gu Shuofeng.

Red veins stood out in her eyes, and her chest rose and fell violently. Even the hands gripping Gu Shuofeng’s arm trembled.

She looked as though she would burst into tears at any moment.

Yet she stubbornly refused to cry.

“I don’t need your help! Let go of me!”

Whether it came from an artist’s pride or her dignity as a woman, Xu Tinglan would never allow herself to accept charity from her husband’s mistress.

Gu Shuofeng sighed softly.

She had been careless and said the wrong thing.

“I’m not helping you.”

Gu Shuofeng looked into her eyes.

“You’re helping me.”