231: Chapter 231 Xia Linzi's Memories

Xia Linzi's body went limp in an instant, as if all her strength had been drained away. She slumped in the chair, lacking even the energy to lift her head.

Her tears fell like broken strings of pearls, hitting the coarse hemp rope with faint tapping sounds.

Five hundred thousand.

For the sake of Zhou Chong, she had worked day and night in a factory for four years. She worked twelve hours a day on rotating shifts, her fingers worn raw countless times. She ruined her health, and every penny she earned, she gave to him.

She lived frugally, wearing the same clothes for years, not even daring to treat herself to a meal of meat or a bottle of mineral water.

Later, for the sake of his company, she cast aside her dignity to become someone's mistress. Every cent she earned from that was also given to him, without a penny kept for herself.

She had sacrificed her youth, health, dignity—everything—to Zhou Chong. And yet, for a mere five hundred thousand, he had bought her life.

Immense regret and rage instantly submerged her like a tide, enveloping her until she could barely breathe.

She stopped pleading and stopped crying. She simply looked at Scarface quietly. The fear was gone from her eyes, replaced by a deathly despair and a hatred that seeped into her very marrow.

She hated her own stupidity, her own naivety, and she hated Zhou Chong's hypocrisy, selfishness, cruelty, and heartlessness even more.

She began to slowly recall her past with Zhou Chong; it flashed through her mind scene by scene, like a movie.

From the ignorant fluttering of her heart to her humble sacrifices, then to the cruel betrayal, and finally to this life-or-death predicament.

Every scene was like a knife repeatedly carving into her heart. Every detail made her ache so much she couldn't breathe.

Back in high school.

Xia Linzi and Zhou Chong were both students at the town's No. 1 High School, in the same year but different classes.

Xia Linzi was in Class Two. She was the Chinese class representative, had average grades, and was a bit introverted and quiet.

She usually sat quietly at her desk reading or doing homework, yet she was pretty with fair skin. When she smiled, she had two shallow dimples that were very charming, and her classmates were all willing to be friends with her.

Her family background was ordinary; her parents were farmers in the town. She had a younger brother, and while their life wasn't wealthy, it was stable.

Her parents loved her dearly. Although they favored boys over girls, they never let her suffer any grievances and always saved the best for her.

Zhou Chong, on the other hand, was in Class One. He was the top student, consistently ranking in the top three of the entire grade. He was the pride of the teachers and the "good child" in the mouths of parents.

He was clean-cut and handsome, with a high bridge to his nose. His eyes weren't large but were very spirited. He always spoke unhurriedly with a refined air, wearing clean white shirts with sleeves neatly rolled up to reveal slender wrists.

In that innocent high school campus, Zhou Chong was the object of many girls' secret crushes, and Xia Linzi was no exception.

The first time Xia Linzi noticed Zhou Chong was at the opening ceremony of their freshman year.

The sun was just right that day, spilling through the windows of the teaching building onto the playground, feeling warm and cozy.

The entire school's teachers and students stood on the playground for the opening ceremony. Zhou Chong, as the student representative for the top of the grade, went on stage to speak.

He wore a clean white shirt, black trousers, and polished leather shoes. Standing on the rostrum, his posture was upright, his voice clear and powerful, and his gaze firm and confident.

He spoke about his study tips and his determination to work hard, get into a good university, and change his fate. His tone was sincere, and his eyes were full of longing for the future.

Sitting in the Class Two formation, Xia Linzi looked at his back. Her heart suddenly began to thud, like a little rabbit was trapped inside. Her cheeks grew inexplicably hot, turning red all the way to her ears.

She had never felt like this before. Just looking at someone's back made her heart race and made the whole world feel quiet, leaving only his voice echoing across the playground.

She secretly took out her notebook and wrote the name "Zhou Chong" on it, her handwriting neat but carrying a hint of shyness.

From then on, Xia Linzi's gaze would unconsciously follow Zhou Chong.

During the morning exercises when all students were on the playground, she would peek out from the formation to watch him. She watched him raise his arms and kick his legs; his movements were standard and crisp. The sunlight fell on him, plating him in a golden glow.

She would memorize the sequence of his exercises and follow his movements. Even if she sometimes couldn't keep up, she felt very happy.

On the way home from school, she would intentionally slow her pace to follow behind him, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far, just to catch another glimpse of him.

She watched him carrying his backpack, chatting and laughing with classmates, occasionally stopping to greet the elderly by the roadside, or walking with his head down, his fingers unconsciously tapping his backpack strap.

She would follow behind him for a long stretch of road, from the school to the town's main intersection, then from the intersection to the turn-off for her own home, before finally turning back to go home.

Her footsteps were very light, for fear of being discovered. Every time she finished following him, her heart felt as if it held a piece of candy, sweet and delightful.

When he was absent due to illness, she would secretly organize her notes, writing them neatly and marking every key point clearly.

On the last page of the notes, she wrote "Wishing you a speedy recovery" in elegant handwriting.

During a break between classes, she would sneak over to Class One, put the notes in his desk cubby, and then run back to her own classroom as fast as she could, her heart racing for fear of being caught.

She didn't know if he saw the notes or if he realized she was the one who left them. She just felt happy every time she saw him return to school looking much better.

Her love was cautious and humble, like a seed quietly sprouting in the depths of her heart. She never dared to say it out loud, only hiding it and guarding it silently.

She felt she wasn't good enough for Zhou Chong. He was the top student in the grade and the pride of the teachers.

While she was just a girl with average grades and an introverted personality. Her love was like a tiny flower in the dust—blooming humbly, yet persistently.

Zhou Chong seemed to have noticed Xia Linzi's feelings.

When she was criticized by a teacher and sat with her head down crying, he would sneak from Class One to Class Two to hand her a note. The note said, "Don't be sad, you're already great," in elegant, gentle handwriting.

When she encountered a difficult math problem and sat frowning in deep thought, he would take the initiative to walk to her side and patiently explain it to her, step by step, until she understood.

His explanations were very detailed and his voice was very gentle. Looking at his profile, she felt her heart start to race again.

When school let out, he would intentionally take a detour to walk part of the way with her, chatting about her studies or funny things happening in class.

He would listen to her talk about things at home, her brother's mischief, and her parents' nagging. He would listen intently and occasionally smile.

She felt that the road had become so short; every time, she wished they could walk just a little longer, and then a little longer.

Xia Linzi felt that this was proof that Zhou Chong also had feelings for her.

She liked him even more.

She even began to fantasize about getting into the same university as him, walking and studying together on campus, then graduating, getting married, and having children, living a plain and happy life.

She would write these fantasies in her notebook and hide it at the very bottom of her backpack. Every day after school, she would take it out to look at it and smile secretly.

On Christmas during their sophomore year, the class organized a party. Everyone chipped in five yuan to go to the town's KTV to sing and eat cake.

That night, everyone had a great time singing, drinking, and playing around. The atmosphere was extremely lively.

Xia Linzi wore a newly bought red sweater that her mother had knitted for her. She felt she looked very pretty today and was very nervous and expectant.

When the party was nearly over, it was almost eleven o'clock. Everyone was preparing to go home, and fewer people remained in the KTV, leaving only a few close classmates.

Zhou Chong suddenly walked up to Xia Linzi and handed her an exquisitely wrapped apple. It was in red wrapping paper tied with a golden ribbon, looking very beautiful.

"Linzi, Merry Christmas."

...