Pretending To Be Affectionate [Transmigration] - Chapter 30

Scenic View Hotel combined guest accommodations and dining in one establishment. Because of its height and expansive views, anyone standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows on its upper levels could look down upon the most prosperous stretch of Yuncheng’s nighttime skyline.

That was also why it had become the most exclusive five-star hotel in Yuncheng.

A server hurried forward to guide Ling Yu as soon as she stepped out of the elevator.

Ling Yu declined with a smile, then turned aside and took a tiny recording button from her handbag. Using a safety pin, she fastened it inside her bra.

Afterward, she sent Xu Miao a message.

[Call me in one hour. If you call three times and still don’t hear my voice, contact the police immediately. I’m in Room 1209 at Scenic View Hotel.]

Once that was done, Ling Yu left her handbag at the front desk and instructed the receptionist to give it to Wang Cheng, one of the guests in the banquet hall on the top floor.

008 said worriedly, [If you hand your phone over to Sister Wang and something happens later…]

Ling Yu interrupted it.

[Be more confident. Remove the “if.” Jiang Wei won’t allow me to bring a phone inside. He learned that lesson three years ago.]

That reminder seemed to make 008 recall something. Its voice grew even heavier.

[Host, maybe we should call the police after all. Once someone like Jiang Wei resorts to underhanded tactics, you’ll have a very difficult time handling him.]

Even 008 had belatedly realized that something was wrong. Of course Ling Yu understood even more clearly that Jiang Wei had not summoned her merely to talk.

[What reason would I give the police? We don’t have any evidence.] Ling Yu’s tone turned meaningful. [Jiang Wei is facing criminal charges, yet he can still openly host a banquet in Yuncheng. Daddy, do you think the Jiang family might have people inside Yuncheng’s police force?]

008 fell silent.

Ling Yu suddenly curved her lips.

[The law is impartial, but Jiang Bochuan understands how to exploit its loopholes far better than you imagine. Do you really think I didn’t report Jiang Wei after discovering that perverted secret room of his?]

008 froze.

[Host, didn’t you say Jiang Bochuan threw you out of Gangcheng that very day?]

Ling Yu laughed softly.

[That’s right. But before that, I photographed all the pictures on Jiang Wei’s wall and reported them to the local police. What you’d never expect is that, less than two hours later, the evidence ended up in Jiang Bochuan’s hands.]

What made Jiang Bochuan frightening was not merely his ability to wield overwhelming influence. He was meticulous and had cultivated a vast network of connections.

Ling Yu did not take Jiang Wei seriously.

The person she feared was Jiang Bochuan.

Several years ago, after the incident in the secret room, she had crossed swords with him.

The photographs she submitted involved around a hundred girls. Ling Yu could not publish them online without obtaining their permission first.

If she had done that, those girls’ reputations, futures, and dignity would have been destroyed.

Moreover, Ling Yu had not been directly victimized. Jiang Wei had not managed to assault her, so she had no grounds to accuse him herself.

That was why she had filed an anonymous report.

Yet less than two hours later, Jiang Bochuan had driven her out of Gangcheng.

He effortlessly destroyed the backup copies of the photographs. Afterward, he issued Ling Taiguo an absolute order: Ling Yu was never to enter Gangcheng again.

Ling Yu was neither a saint nor an emissary of justice. Having confronted Jiang Bochuan before, she understood how vast the difference in power between them was. Back then, she alone could never have brought Jiang Wei down.

She had neither proper grounds nor witnesses with whom to prosecute him.

Even now, it would be exceedingly difficult.

But understanding the situation was one thing. Watching them distort black and white, trample the law, and mock justice right beneath her nose for a second time was another.

Ling Yu discovered that she could no longer close one eye and pretend nothing had happened.

She had her own principles.

Even if this world existed only inside a novel, and every development revolved around preparing the no-romance female lead to humiliate her enemies and grow stronger…

Even if its characters possessed broken moral compasses solely to manufacture dramatic conflict…

Ling Yu was not native to this world. She had grown up with sound principles and received the most orthodox education in a peaceful country.

Whether it was Li Juan or Yan Shu, they were living, breathing people inhabiting this fictional world—not disposable tools the author could kill at any moment.

When Li Juan had said that insignificant people in this world should not expect justice, Ling Yu had genuinely felt heartbroken.

What the hell were Jiang Wei and Jiang Bochuan?

What gave them the right to control the law?

Ling Yu wanted to tell Li Juan that a person’s life belonged in their own hands. No piece of garbage had the right to dictate it.

This time, she wanted Jiang Wei dead for more than simply pulling Gu Qing back from the brink.

She also wanted to see whether the faith she held was correct—or whether evil truly could triumph over justice.

Li Juan was the only witness who had told the truth in court. Even though she had been cowardly, fled from danger, and ultimately surrendered to fear, Ling Yu would still protect her as much as she could.

After Ling Yu remained silent for so long, 008 anxiously reminded her:

[Host, don’t you think you should discuss this with the female lead? In the original novel, after the female lead returned to Gangcheng, the Jiang family was never mentioned again. I’m wondering whether Gu Qing had already bankrupted them before she truly rose to power.]

Ling Yu’s expression shifted slightly. She politely waved goodbye to the receptionist, then turned and walked back toward the elevator.

[She won’t come.] Thinking of Gu Qing’s cold and heartless face, Ling Yu laughed softly. [Daddy, Gu Qing is losing control tonight. To her, I’m nothing more than filth she’d discard like a worn-out shoe.]

008 exclaimed, [People should still have hope. What if she does come? I think Gu Qing treats you rather…]

[Enough. If I don’t enter hell, who will?]

Ling Yu brushed the recording button hidden against her chest and abruptly smiled.

[In any case, before I enter hell, I’m dragging someone down with me. Xu Miao had the people at the old man’s factory custom-make this little gadget for me. I have to put it to use somehow. Let’s go.]

008 sighed.

[Getting on your bad side is actually rather terrifying.]

Ling Yu lowered her lashes and answered carelessly:

[Thank you for the compliment.]

Ten tall, muscular bodyguards dressed in black stood outside Room 1209.

When Ling Yu stepped out of the elevator, the red-carpeted hallway was eerily quiet.

She did not encounter a single hotel employee as she walked down the corridor.

Ling Yu surveyed her surroundings without revealing her intentions. Three seconds later, she roughly guessed that Jiang Wei had reserved the entire floor in advance.

His brazen preparations to deal with her were as stupid as ever.

What puzzled Ling Yu was that Jiang Wei might be foolish, but Jiang Bochuan had actually permitted it.

Suspicion flickered through her foxlike eyes. She glanced again at the black-clad bodyguards outside the door.

Given Jiang Wei’s usual habits, he would never want anyone to hear his hysterical screams.

That meant the bodyguards outside could only have been sent by Jiang Bochuan.

Ling Yu had just sensed that something was wrong when the bodyguards spotted her.

They surrounded her with practiced efficiency, blocked her path, and prepared to search her.

“I refuse,” Ling Yu said decisively. “I don’t particularly like being touched by men.”

She did not lower her voice. Through the reinforced security door, whoever was inside could clearly hear her.

Several seconds later, Jiang Wei pulled open the door and frowned at the man leading the bodyguards. He raised the phone in his hand and ordered, “Let her inside. I’ll speak to my father.”

Ling Yu’s brows knitted even more tightly.

She watched as Jiang Wei placed the call.

…

“Dad, don’t worry. I’ll definitely get it.”

…

“This concerns the case. I won’t act recklessly. You’re worrying too much. Ling Yu alone isn’t capable of much.”

…

“The backup photographs she has are nothing more than what was inside my secret room three years ago. Don’t worry. If she refuses to hand them over, then she won’t be leaving tonight.”

Jiang Wei repeatedly reassured Jiang Bochuan before instinctively glancing at Ling Yu.

She stood with her arms crossed and her head lowered, making her expression impossible to see.

She appeared distracted, as though deep in thought.

His implications had been too obvious. Ling Yu now understood what was happening.

No wonder Jiang Bochuan had openly supported Jiang Wei’s misconduct. He had probably guessed that Ling Yu possessed photographs capable of ruining Jiang Wei’s chances of acquittal.

Ling Yu clicked her tongue.

They dared to treat her so brazenly tonight because Jiang Bochuan knew they were in Yuncheng, the Xu family was currently splitting apart, and Ling Taiguo would not care whether she lived or died.

With such a perfect opportunity before them, forcing her to surrender the evidence that threatened Jiang Wei was undoubtedly the ideal move.

Coldness flashed through Ling Yu’s eyes.

“Dad, how about this? I’ll have Li Juan search her. They’re both women, so it’ll be more convenient. Besides, Ling Yu responds better to gentleness than force.”

…

“All right, I understand. Don’t worry, and enjoy your tea with Uncle Li.”

Jiang Wei ended the call. A veiled, sticky lust appeared in his eyes as he looked at Ling Yu.

“Ling Yu, it’s been three years. I never imagined you’d fall into my hands again.”

A triumphant smile spread across his scarred face.

“I really have to thank your friend.”

“Hahaha! Are you surprised? You were standing up for your friend just moments ago, and she betrayed you in the blink of an eye. Ling Yu, are you happy?”

Ling Yu lifted her eyelids and looked expressionlessly at him. Then she glanced past Jiang Wei’s shoulder and into the room.

Li Juan approached gracefully and stopped behind him.

When she felt Ling Yu’s gaze, her eyes flickered, and she quickly looked away.

Jiang Wei sneered and kicked Li Juan’s calf.

“What are you standing there for? Search her.”

Li Juan bit her cracked lips. Her complexion alternated between red and white, while dried blood still stained her cheeks.

She walked toward Ling Yu in a wretched state. Without looking at her, she lowered her trembling lashes and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Ling Yu remained motionless. Looking through lowered lids, she glanced at Li Juan’s approaching hands.

“Sister Juan, this is…” Ling Yu curved her lips, unable to suppress a scoff. “Rather unexpected.”

She had known Jiang Wei must have prepared a trap, but she had never imagined Li Juan would be the trap.

It was so absurd that it was almost impressive.

Ling Yu laughed in anger.

“When did you start cooperating with Jiang Wei’s little performance?”

Li Juan’s lips trembled even harder. Her fingers curled inward, and she lowered her head as timidly as a frightened animal.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

She apologized three times in succession. Tears spilled from her sunken eyes, and she began sobbing uncontrollably.

Ling Yu glanced at her.

“That apology shouldn’t be directed at me. It should be directed at Yan Shu.”

At the mention of Yan Shu’s name, Li Juan abruptly stiffened. Then tears streamed down her face without restraint.

Ling Yu lazily interrupted her.

“Stop crying. Do you know why Jiang Wei called me here?”

Li Juan nodded shakily, her gaze instinctively drifting toward the pile of equipment in the corner.

While speaking, Ling Yu used Li Juan’s moment of distraction to slap away the hand searching her chest.

She asked with an ambiguous smile, “And you could still lure me here as though nothing was wrong? Were you hoping Jiang Wei would torture me to death as brutally as he did Yan Shu?”

Li Juan’s chest heaved as she hiccupped through her sobs.

“He won’t.”

“He won’t.”

“Xiao-mei, you’re so capable. That won’t happen to you.”

“I’m sorry. I was too scared. If I didn’t do this, I would be the one he used those things on. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was afraid.”

Ling Yu watched her repeatedly apologize, tears and mucus covering her face, and suddenly found herself with nothing to say.

She did not even feel angry.

What could she possibly say to someone so pitiful for her misfortune, yet so infuriating for her refusal to fight?

Ling Yu withdrew her hand and smiled with lazy understanding.

“It’s all right. You don’t need to apologize. When strong people become angry, they draw their blades against those stronger than themselves. When weak people become angry, they draw their blades against someone even weaker.”

Her tone remained level, as though discussing the weather.

“You’ll simply remain the latter for the rest of your life. I expected too much from you.”

Ling Yu did not look down on people casually.

Unfortunately, some people chose to degrade themselves.

Li Juan understood her.

Her sobbing stopped abruptly. She stared stiffly into Ling Yu’s radiant eyes.

In those crystal-clear pupils, she saw the version of herself who had lost everything she once was.

An unprecedented humiliation left her with nowhere to hide—not humiliation inflicted by someone else, but something she had brought upon herself.

Ling Yu withdrew her gaze and shoved Li Juan aside.

“Enough. The search is over. Your hands are too filthy for me.”

Jiang Wei burst out laughing from the side. He seemed to particularly enjoy watching Ling Yu suffer a setback.

The search ended perfunctorily. He made no demand that Li Juan continue.

Seeing that Jiang Wei had enjoyed himself, Ling Yu tilted her head and abruptly asked, “Have you laughed enough?”

The savage scar along Jiang Wei’s mouth twisted even more grotesquely.

He laughed loudly. “Not yet.”

Ling Yu shrugged and turned to leave.

“Then carry on. Goodbye.”

An arm immediately blocked her path.

“Ling Yu, we haven’t seen each other in three years. We should at least catch up.”

As Jiang Wei spoke, he motioned toward the sofa beside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“You know very well that unless you satisfy me tonight, you won’t be leaving this room.”

As if she had heard a joke, Ling Yu maintained her smile and gave a quiet “oh.”

“You said the same thing in the secret room three years ago.”

Her implication was clear.

She had escaped back then, and she could use her own hands to beat him to the ground and walk out openly tonight as well.

Jiang Wei’s face darkened. Recalling something, he grinned viciously.

“This time is different. You have your dear Sister Li Juan to thank for that. While you were arguing with Madam Yun, she took the opportunity to drug your wine.”

Jiang Wei reached for Ling Yu’s hand.

“My dear Yuyu, how do you feel? Is your whole body starting to heat up?”

“Ugh—”

Before Jiang Wei’s hand could even touch Ling Yu’s skin, she suddenly bent forward and vomited everything in her stomach.

A revolting mess splattered all over Jiang Wei’s black suit.

The man’s face instantly cycled through several shades.

Suppressing her emotions, Ling Yu imitated Gu Qing and gave Jiang Wei a disdainful sidelong look.

“I warned you not to come near me. It brings misfortune.”

Gu Qing drove her Porsche at breakneck speed the entire way.

She had not even had time to remove the plastic gloves from her hands. Over her black dress, she had managed to throw on only a thin windbreaker.

As she reached the entrance of Scenic View Hotel, she happened to encounter Wang Cheng.

At that very moment, Xu Miao’s call came through on Ling Yu’s phone.

Gu Qing answered it.

Xu Miao’s voice carried an unusual degree of anxiety.

“Yuyu, tell me the truth. What exactly are you doing? Why did you tell me to call the police?”

“What are you doing in Room 1209 at Scenic View Hotel?”

“Hello? Say something!”

“Damn it!”

Xu Miao could not stop herself from cursing.

“It’s me,” Gu Qing said.

Xu Miao made a confused sound.

“I’m Gu Qing.”

Xu Miao froze for three seconds.

“Is Ling Yu with you?”

“No. I only received the phone she left with her colleague ten seconds ago.”

“This is bad.” Xu Miao’s voice abruptly became shrill. She drew a rapid breath. “Gu Qing, do you know Jiang Wei?”

“For the sake of how much my cousin likes you, can you please save her?”

Gu Qing’s dark-blue eyes held a layer of crimson that was not usually there. She lowered her gaze.

“Explain clearly.”

“You know about Jiang Wei’s case, don’t you? Ling Yu was once taken into that beast’s secret room too…”

Gu Qing’s cold, elegant brows twitched violently. The fingers holding the phone tightened almost imperceptibly.

She turned her sharp gaze toward the receptionist.

“When did she go upstairs?”

The young receptionist felt the surrounding temperature plummet. Gu Qing’s gaze scraped across her like a blade, as though it might peel the skin from her back.

Her lips trembled.

“Ten minutes ago.”

Before she could finish speaking, a gust carrying a faint fragrance swept past her.

The coldly beautiful woman had already disappeared.

Back in Room 1209, Ling Yu had just finished imitating Gu Qing and delivering her arrogant line.

The next second, the door was violently kicked open from the outside.

Gu Qing stood in the doorway wearing her thin windbreaker.

Her long, wavy hair billowed through the air. Her phoenix eyes were half-lidded, concealing the emotions within them.

She merely stood at the entrance, yet her clear, chilling gaze made her resemble a demonic executioner emerging from hell.

Behind her, the ten towering men who had guarded the door lay scattered across the floor, beaten unconscious.

Gu Qing briefly swept her gaze over Ling Yu’s flushed cheeks.

Then her lifeless eyes settled on Jiang Wei.

“You clearly don’t understand what misfortune truly means.”

Her voice remained unhurried.

“I’ll help you.”

Gu Qing spoke so calmly that Ling Yu almost thought she was making a joke.

But the next moment, Gu Qing advanced gracefully, her high heels clicking against the floor.

When her long, slender legs stopped one meter away from Jiang Wei, she abruptly changed direction.

Her stiletto heel drove viciously between his legs.

The unprepared Jiang Wei was kicked to the floor.

Ling Yu stared in shock.

At some point, a scalpel had appeared in the hand of the restrained and coldly elegant woman. Gu Qing idly spun the blade between her fingers.

Then it suddenly flew from her hand.

Li Juan, who had remained silent on the other side of the room, cried out in alarm.

Ling Yu lowered her gaze in disbelief.

The blade Gu Qing had just thrown was embedded precisely in Jiang Wei’s most vulnerable part, buried nearly an inch deep.

He screamed in terror and agony.

Another razor-sharp blade slid between Gu Qing’s fingers.

Her face was completely devoid of emotion. But upon closer inspection, her translucent eyes had turned dark red.

Her gaze was eerily still—and cold enough to make one’s blood run dry.