Saving the Pitiful Villain (GL) - Chapter 5

Ye Mei filed the report in the morning, and the Procuratorate provided feedback in the afternoon.

Zhao Rongrong was severely reprimanded over the phone by Zhao Ji and was incredibly upset.

Zhao Ji was nearly driven mad. He was originally going to secure land worth 1.2 billion in the new development zone with only 60 million, but this time, all his efforts were in vain. Not only did he lose everything, but he also got involved in a heap of trouble.

Hearing that the denunciatory evidence was an ironclad recording, Zhao Rongrong knew she was in the wrong and remained silent like a quail.

After the call ended, Zhao Rongrong picked up a bottle and downed two full bottles of alcohol. A minion beside her, seeing her unhappiness, suggested:

“Why don’t we go find some fun to cheer up? The club has a new girl you like.”

“No interest. They’re all vulgar women,” Zhao Rongrong was extremely annoyed and needed an outlet. For some reason, the image of the young waitress at Magpie Bridge popped into her mind.

Youthful and tempting.

She licked her lips and asked, “Did you find out about the little sister I asked you to investigate?”

“We found out. She’s an orphan picked up by a crazy old man in the North Peak District. She must have latched onto someone important and was sent to East Villa High School to study.”

Zhao Rongrong’s eyes darkened when she heard this. “Do you know the address?”

“Yes.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Let’s go find her.”

She whistled, and a large group of people rushed out. Over a dozen cool, S-Class convertible cars roared through the streets.

The alleys in the old district were dark and narrow, piled up with clutter, suitable for hiding people.

By the time Yun Wu walked into the alley, it was already very dark. Faint starlight hung in the narrow sky above, drawing out a long shadow behind her.

A third of the way in, Yun Wu stopped and spoke. “Who is it?”

Zhao Rongrong’s voice, full of confidence, came from behind. “Oh, little sister, your vigilance is quite good.”

Yun Wu turned around. Zhao Rongrong and a dozen menacing-looking thugs, all holding bats and sticks, walked toward her.

Pondering for a few seconds, Yun Wu turned and bolted.

But she found that a dozen more people were blocking the exit. Zhao Rongrong grinned maliciously and slowly closed in. “I said, little sister, you got away last time, but this time, you can’t escape even with wings.”

Yun Wu lowered her head, looking particularly frail and thin amid the encircling crowd.

Under everyone’s gaze, Yun Wu frantically gripped her hem. Her voice conveyed a repressed sob. “What do you want to do? I was just working a part-time job.”

Hearing this, Zhao Rongrong sneered.

“Working a part-time job? Only a fool would believe that. That woman who took you away last night has probably already taken you to bed.”

“Don’t worry. In a bit, we’ll take beautiful photos of you, clearly capturing you crying and begging me.”

Yun Wu bit her lip, the pupils hidden beneath her bangs filled with intense malice.

Why did they always bully her?

Was being weak a crime deserving of insult and trampling?

“You are breaking the law.”

The girl trembled slightly in the night wind, her suppressed and restrained accusation sounding so tiny and vulnerable.

The smile on Zhao Rongrong’s face became even more arrogant. “Cooperate, and I’ll torment you less.”

With that, Zhao Rongrong walked up to Yun Wu, reaching her hand inside the girl’s collar.

Just then, Yun Wu, with quick reflexes, snatched the steel bat from a thug nearby and swung it straight at Zhao Rongrong’s head.

A muffled thud rang out.

The unexpected turn of events froze everyone for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, Yun Wu ran in the direction she had planned.

The crowd instantly erupted. Zhao Rongrong screamed non-stop, her voice frantic with rage.

“Catch her! I swear I’ll ruin her today!”

Everyone swarmed forward, but Yun Wu, using the obstructing clutter and aiming her attacks at their lower bodies, managed to escape a certain distance temporarily.

However, the difference in numbers was too great, and Yun Wu’s stamina was far inferior to the men’s.

Left with no choice, Yun Wu gritted her teeth and continued to strike viciously. Just as the bat was snatched away and a hand swung toward her face—

A stern voice slammed over the chaotic scene from outside.

“What are you doing?”

It was Jiang Shangxue again.

She walked in with cold eyes, followed by two bodyguards. Everyone was momentarily taken aback, allowing her to reach Yun Wu’s side unchallenged.

Zhao Rongrong was completely impatient. “Why are you here again? I advise you not to be a busybody today! Otherwise, I’ll grab you and abuse you too!”

The language was vile and disgusting.

Given the situation, Jiang Shangxue understood everything. She had originally planned to visit the Group’s new project in the North Peak District this afternoon and contact the local sanatorium to discuss arranging specialized care for the crazy old man.

She never expected to run into Yun Wu being bullied.

Looking at the aggressive group in front of her, then turning to look at the solitary Yun Wu, Jiang Shangxue felt deeply uneasy.

Is this the villain’s fate? To be insulted and trampled in all sorts of ways, then forced to become evil?

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Shangxue gripped Yun Wu’s hand, shielding her behind her back, and said coldly, “I’ve already called the police.”

Hearing that the police had been called, Zhao Rongrong grew even angrier and cursed.

“Two little sluts! Do you think I’m scared?”

“Grab them for me! Hurry up!”

Relying on their numbers and experience, Zhao Rongrong was reckless.

Jiang Shangxue kept her lips tightly pressed, her brows furrowed, as she pulled Yun Wu toward the wall.

The bodyguards she brought were mercenaries who had survived gunfights. Although there were only two of them, dealing with these thugs who were all bark and no bite should not be a problem.

Yun Wu stared intently at Jiang Shangxue from behind. She was wearing a warm-colored trench coat, and in the dark alley, her entire silhouette seemed to be plated with a warm sheen.

Just like the hand gripping hers now—soft and warm.

Yun Wu’s fingertips trembled. She lowered her eyes, hiding the turbulent darkness within.

The mercenaries were truly skilled. Before long, over thirty thugs were neatly subdued, lying scattered on the ground and howling in pain.

Zhao Rongrong’s mouth was still strong. She tried to run but was grabbed by a bodyguard. After threatening and spitting, she was severely kicked behind the knees, her hands were cuffed behind her back, and she was forced to kneel before Jiang Shangxue and Yun Wu.

The situation had abruptly reversed.

Zhao Rongrong let out a piercing scream. “Do you know who I am? How dare you treat me like this! I’ll make sure you pay dearly!”

Once the situation was safe, Jiang Shangxue turned her attention to Yun Wu.

Her hair was soaked with sweat, plastered messily on her face like spilled ink, which made the frightening, swollen marks on her fair skin even more apparent.

Jiang Shangxue reached out to touch her, but Yun Wu flinched away. Jiang Shangxue paused, then retracted her hand and said nothing.

Zhao Rongrong was still cursing, her words growing nastier.

Jiang Shangxue’s gaze moved from nearby to the distance. The alley entrance was quiet. She turned her attention back to Zhao Rongrong and suddenly burst into laughter, her face a picture of gentleness.

Thinking Jiang Shangxue was scared, Zhao Rongrong immediately became smug. “If you’re scared, hurry up and let me go!”

“Scared? Of course, I’m scared.”

Jiang Shangxue gently rubbed her wrist and walked up to Zhao Rongrong. Under everyone’s astonished gaze, she raised her hand and viciously slapped Zhao Rongrong across the face.

Smack! A sharp sound. The force was so great that Jiang Shangxue almost lost her balance when she pulled her hand back.

Zhao Rongrong’s entire face was violently knocked sideways, and the handprint swelled at a visible rate.

“Ahhh!!” Blood filled Zhao Rongrong’s mouth. “You crazy woman! Are you sick?”

Smack!

Another slap.

Smack, smack, smack!

For every curse Zhao Rongrong uttered, Jiang Shangxue delivered a slap until the girl was completely silent and dared not make a sound.

Throughout the entire process, Jiang Shangxue wore an incredibly gentle smile, which looked utterly unsettling. The thugs nearby were stunned and wisely played dead, lying on the ground motionless.

Mama mia! This woman is terrifying.

Her hand was swollen and numb from slapping. Jiang Shangxue took a breath, then reached out and clamped Zhao Rongrong’s jaw.

“I am simply educating Zhao Ji’s daughter on his behalf, as he is an incompetent parent. If he has any complaints, tell him to come to Bo Ming Road, No. 8. I’ll treat him to tea.”

Bo Ming Road was right next to A Province’s most famous 5A-rated scenic area, near one of the nation’s top universities, Nanzhou University. Those who lived there were either rich or powerful, and none were easy to cross.

Zhao Rongrong finally felt fear. Tears and snot streamed down her face. Though Jiang Shangxue was smiling, there was no amusement in her eyes—only a cold, serious warning.

Yun Wu was also stunned.

Was Jiang Shangxue sticking up for her?

Could she truly have gotten too deep into the role, becoming addicted to acting?

The long wind swept into the alley. The moment Jiang Shangxue turned her head, the cool moonlight traced her brows and the corners of her eyes. Her gaze was pure and earnest.

Yun Wu felt confused.

If this was an act, then Jiang Shangxue’s acting was too good, fooling even her.

While Yun Wu was momentarily distracted, Jiang Shangxue’s hand fell onto her head and patted it gently. Then, she pulled out a few orange candies from somewhere and pressed them into Yun Wu’s hand.

“Don’t be afraid. Auntie Jiang is here. Have some candy first.”

Yun Wu wore her East Villa High School uniform. Her naturally slender body looked even more fragile in the oversized clothes. There was no youthful vitality in her eyes.

She was like a seed that had fallen into the mud and rot—even if it managed to sprout, it couldn’t escape the fate of withering.

Jiang Shangxue felt a pang of sadness. She offered comfort. “After the police arrive, Auntie will take you to the hospital for a check-up.”

The high-quality soft paper wrapping of the candies dug painfully into Yun Wu’s palm.

She tightened her grip on the few orange candies in her hand and remained silent.

Yun Wu lowered her head, noticing that the hand Jiang Shangxue had used to slap was trembling uncontrollably.

She pursed her lips and continued to stay silent.

The police sirens arrived belatedly. Jiang Shangxue signaled the bodyguards to release Zhao Rongrong and, under Yun Wu’s gaze, walked to the alley entrance with graceful composure.

Yun Wu’s eyes followed Jiang Shangxue the entire time.

Faint voices drifted in from outside.

“Hello, Officer. I’m the one who called the police.”

“Yes, my surname is Jiang.”

“…”

While the police officers were gathering information from Jiang Shangxue, they turned on their flashlights. Upon seeing the scene in the alley, their faces were filled with shock.

One officer cautiously confirmed, “Miss Jiang, I recall you saying in the emergency call that you were being besieged by a black force of about thirty people.”

Jiang Shangxue smiled and replied, “Yes. Fighting organized crime is a war of the people. We have an obligation to cooperate with government efforts.”

The officers: ??? You cooperate like that?

The aura of the two bodyguards was unnerving. Just as the officers noticed them, Jiang Shangxue explained, “They are bodyguards I hired.”

The expressions of all the police officers instantly became subtle.

No wonder. It turned out the thugs had bitten off more than they could chew.

They had wondered why an expensive Maybach, worth tens of millions, was parked in this run-down old district.

A luxury car worth millions plus personal bodyguards.

Tsk.

Having smoothly reached a consensus, the rest of the process was much simpler. Jiang Shangxue and her group went to give their statements, while Zhao Rongrong and her thugs were temporarily taken to the detention center.

Subsequent injury assessments and hiring lawyers would follow step by step. Jiang Shangxue was prepared to teach the brazen and lawless Zhao Rongrong a severe lesson.

After giving her statement, Jiang Shangxue wanted to take Yun Wu to the hospital.

Yun Wu refused, but Jiang Shangxue’s insistence was firm.

With some give and take, Yun Wu got into the car.

The roadside scenery sped past the car window. Jiang Shangxue sat next to Yun Wu, speaking in a calm voice to reassure her and emphasizing that she should not be afraid of evil forces, should learn to ask for help, and not constantly endure abuse.

She told her to believe that the world was beautiful.

In the semi-darkness, Yun Wu couldn’t clearly see Jiang Shangxue’s expression. She found these words coming from Jiang Shangxue’s mouth laughable, as Jiang Shangxue was clearly of the same ilk as Zhao Rongrong.

Yet, this life’s Jiang Shangxue seemed different from the last in some ways.

Yun Wu thought for a long time, then suddenly asked quietly,

“Auntie Jiang, why are you being so good to me?”

Author’s Note:

Yun Wu: Auntie Jiang, Auntie Jiang, I know you’re a bad person! Humph!