Chapter 37: Too Much Bullying

The moment Xu Huo heard Qin Yimo’s voice, he pulled Jiang Ran into his arms, both of them pressing tightly against the wall to avoid being discovered.

“Peck, listen and see what’s going on…”

The soft body fit perfectly in his embrace, her hair scattered over his collar, and a faint, fresh fragrance unique to a young girl filled his nose.

Jiang Ran’s movements froze completely, stiff in his arms, feeling the big hands on her back and shoulders, waves of heat spreading from his burning palms, making her heart tremble and then race madly like a galloping horse…

“Can you let us in first?”

Qin Yimo turned to the side, making room for the person behind her.

Only then did Han Xiao realize there were two people standing at the door.

But the moment she saw the other uninvited guest, her brows furrowed deeply, even her breathing became rapid.

“What is she doing here?”

After several days, Han Xiao once again saw the culprit who had poured Coke all over her.

Maybe she had calmed down, her expression was no longer as twisted as that day, and instead there was even a hint of [Qiao I]’s demeanor.

“Of course, she’s here to apologize… Yang Xiao, Sister Qin insisted on suing her, but she’s just started university. If things blow up, the school might not let it go. What if it affects her graduate school entrance exams or civil service exams in the future? It wasn’t that serious anyway, just a cup of Coke… Now that she knows she was wrong, please don’t pursue it anymore.”

“Why didn’t she apologize at the time?”

Han Xiao forced down the fury in her heart.

Wasn’t it her who charged up like a madwoman, tossed the Coke, and drenched her from head to toe, then shouted for her to quit the competition immediately?

Even when the security dragged her away, she was still struggling and kicking wildly. Not even hatred for a murdered parent would be this intense.

“She was impulsive then… When someone is worked up, it’s hard to listen to reason.”

Listening to Qin Yimo’s “tea talk,” Han Xiao’s face turned pale as if her heart had been stabbed by a sharp awl, the pain making it hard to breathe.

“So I deserved to be splashed?”

“No… It was all those marketing accounts stirring things up, she’s a victim too.”

Heh… a victim…

“Then why don’t you go after those marketing accounts for justice? Isn’t she a victim? Or did the marketing accounts instigate her to do it?”

Qin Yimo tried to persuade her, “Xiao Xiao, for the sake of our friendship, can you give me some face?”

“No need to say more, I refuse! Adults should take responsibility for their own actions. If you must know, I’m still a minor… Don’t you think it’s ridiculous for you to come to me now? Her life might be affected, but what about mine?”

Insane!!

Han Xiao cursed several times in her heart, still unable to calm her anger.

She wasn’t the type to shout and force others, but this was really too much.

Friends?

Maybe once.

Once upon a time, they supported each other and improved together.

But now you’ve betrayed my feelings, made years of effort amount to nothing, ruined my reputation online…

And now you come to my door waving the “friend” flag, pleading for those who hurt me.

When did the word “friend” become so cheap?

I’m defending my rights within the law—reasonable, justified, and legal.

Don’t try to use morality to bind me.

Besides, we weren’t that close to begin with.

Do I need to play nice with you?

If I wanted to forgive, would I need you to speak for her?

I’m not who I used to be.

I’m the Han Xiao who doesn’t care anymore.

“Brother… will they make up?”

Xu Huo shook his head, bringing the recording phone closer to the entryway.

“From the moment Qin Yimo decided to come here, it was destined not to work out.”

If she really wanted to reconcile for her Fan Si, Qin Yimo should have come herself to apologize humbly.

Coming here without even a heads-up, dragging her Fan Si along—how is this any different from moral coercion?

No matter how harsh Han Xiao’s words are now, she’ll endure it…

After all, she’s the “victim.”

It’s truly laughable.

“Should we help?”

Jiang Ran frowned and asked.

Xu Huo shook his head again.

“No… let her handle this herself. If we step in and speak for Han Xiao, then Han Xiao will be accused of ‘playing both the prostitute and the martyr,’ refusing to forgive but letting others speak up for her. At least this way, it’s sincere, even if Qin Yimo secretly records and posts it online, Han Xiao has reason on her side. Besides, I’ve recorded it too—if she dares to twist the facts, that’s just asking for trouble. Luckily, it was only Coke this time. What if it had been sulfuric acid? Is asking for a public apology really too much?”

“So pitiful… being bullied like this…”

Xu Huo still couldn’t figure out why Qin Yimo harbored such hostility toward Han Xiao.

In the end, the entertainment industry is all about background.

No matter how outstanding Han Xiao is, she can’t compare to her.

The whole “competing for the same image and resources” thing doesn’t make sense.

“Brother, you’re sweating.”

“Shut up!”

Why can’t this little girl just keep quiet?

That little mouth, always chattering—he really wanted to find something to block it.

“Let me wipe it for you.”

Jiang Ran’s movements were gentle.

She casually pulled out a tissue and dabbed his face lightly, then moved down to wipe the sweat from his neck as well.

“You didn’t use to have an Adam’s apple.”

“Puberty, you know. You didn’t use to have a chest either, and now… ah!”

His waist’s soft flesh was pinched, and Xu Huo dared not speak nonsense again.

Jiang Ran glared at him fiercely.

She had been working hard too.

She still remembered when she first started developing, noticing her chest was slightly raised and panicking, thinking it was so embarrassing.

But now, even though it was still only slightly raised, she felt even more embarrassed.

People online say falling in love helps you grow.

She thought it made sense—she’d always been single, so if it wasn’t true, was she just destined to stay this way?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

(White rice slams table hard)

But if she started now, would it be too late?

She sneaked a glance at her brother, and her thoughts drifted away again…

At the entryway.

Perhaps seeing that Han Xiao still refused to agree, Qin Yimo put on another humble face, and the “culprit” finally couldn’t hold back.

“Momo, it’s fine. At worst, pay some money and apologize. I don’t believe it’ll really leave anything on my record. If you can’t own up to what you’ve done, and after all the things Momo said for you on the way here, turns out you really are this kind of person!”

Han Xiao almost laughed out loud.

I’m that kind of person?

Not forgiving you makes me a villain?

“Sorry, Momo, sorry to trouble you today. You don’t need to plead for me anymore.”

After saying this, she didn’t even give Qin Yimo a chance to stop her and ran straight down the stairs.

Qin Yimo called out twice, trying to stop her, but she ran so fast that all she could do was watch helplessly.

Han Yang crossed her arms, looking at her coldly.

“What? Not taking the elevator to chase after her? This is a high floor, you’d definitely catch up.”

“Twisted melons aren’t sweet.”

Qin Yimo shrugged her shoulders and said.