Fate

"She's actually quite unreasonable."

"I met her at noon. She said I was cute, said she liked me."

"At the time, I just thought it was the kind of compliment girls give each other."

"But that very night, I realized that wasn't the case at all."

Tao Yaoyao fell silent. The rushing river water washed against the sand on both banks, making a comforting noise.

She silently recalled that night when she was half-coaxed, half-forced. After a good while, Tao Yaoyao continued:

"After that, she did a lot for me."

"She helped me teach a lesson to the girls who ganged up to ostracize me."

"She gave me lots of gifts, gave me a lot of money, and made my life fly from the mud straight into the clouds in an instant."

"She pulled me out of hell."

"So I would be willing to do anything for her..."

Tao Yaoyao's voice was very soft, yet it carried an unquestionable finality.

"Oh."

"Right!"

Tao Yaoyao seemed to suddenly remember something.

She turned her head to look at Lin Yu, who hadn't interrupted the whole time, revealed a sweet smile, and said in a brisk tone:

"I think you would understand me, right?"

"Just like you and Tang Manman. Xu Mingyao is my Lin Yu."

"Tang Manman would be willing to give her all for Lin Yu..."

"Cut the fucking bullshit."

Lin Yu, who had been listening silently until now, finally couldn't help but speak up. His voice was as cold as the water in the long river before them.

Tao Yaoyao's voice came to an abrupt halt. He finally turned his head to look at her, his dark eyes, sprinkled with a layer of moonlight, exceptionally icy.

"I would never push my own woman out to be used as a tool."

Tao Yaoyao froze for a moment. Immediately after, the light that had just lit up in her eyes quickly dimmed.

She silently turned her head back, looking at her wet shoes, and said softly:

"I'm sorry."

Lin Yu had mercilessly torn away the fig leaf Tao Yaoyao had draped over herself.

Tao Yaoyao knew that the feelings between her and Xu Mingyao couldn't be called love.

She relied on her money and status, and was grateful for the help—though hardly gentle—she had once given her.

As for her forcibly twisted sexual orientation, rather than feeling indifferent, Tao Yaoyao felt mostly numb inside.

Physical reactions were unavoidable.

It was like hearing a very vulgar, terrible joke. Even though you didn't find it funny and were even a bit disgusted by its vulgarity.

You would still be physiologically amused and laugh out loud because of its clever setup and punchline.

She had been listening to terrible jokes like this all along.

Whether she found them funny or not didn't matter anymore.

She laughed anyway.

So be it.

And what about Xu Mingyao?

She might also be dependent on her. After all, she was her exclusive plaything that she kept by her side almost all the time. When she was happy, she would share it with her; when she was angry, she would take it out on her...

But in her heart, there was almost nothing but that woman she longed for but could never have.

It had been so many years.

Had she ever let her into her heart, even just a little bit?

Tao Yaoyao didn't know.

But she knew that the relationship between her and Xu Mingyao was not love.

Instead, it was a deformed, twisted, and complex emotion.

This cruel reality was like a brazier full of burning charcoal. Even if Tao Yaoyao didn't touch it, or even avoided facing it, she still couldn't escape the heat it radiated.

Tao Yaoyao didn't want to face it, so she had picked up an exquisite lid to cover up these scorching coals.

But just now, Lin Yu had ruthlessly snatched it away.

Because that love belonged to him and Tang Manman.

She and Xu Mingyao didn't have that...

...

"Tell me."

Lin Yu turned his head back, took a deep breath, and continued looking at the long river shimmering with moonlight not far away. He said coldly:

"Out of all the things we've been through, how much of it was deliberately arranged by you two?"

Tao Yaoyao blinked. After a brief recollection, she gave a rough answer.

"About a third or a fourth."

Speaking of this, Tao Yaoyao unconsciously revealed a knowing smile.

"Most of those things weren't planned by me."

"Maybe there really is a strong affinity between us."

Tao Yaoyao's heartfelt words almost made Lin Yu blow his top.

Don't give me that bullshit about destiny and fate, I clash with that crap!

"What about today?"

Lin Yu turned his head and stared into Tao Yaoyao's eyes, not giving her any chance to lie.

"Was it an accident, or did you arrange it?"

Tao Yaoyao looked hesitant. After a slight pause, she spoke the truth.

"Today was an accident."

"I didn't expect Hu Hao to do something like that either."

"But everything was still within my control."

"In S City, as long as I mention my relationship with Xu Mingyao, those people would immediately switch sides and stand with me."

Hearing this, Lin Yu suddenly remembered what Tao Yaoyao had said right before falling into the water.

Looking at it this way, it seemed Tao Yaoyao really hadn't been harmed by Hu Hao.

"Heh."

Lin Yu suddenly scoffed.

At a time like this, why was he still thinking about these things?

Looking at Tao Yaoyao's beautiful face under the moonlight, Lin Yu silently weighed each matter in his mind, trying to determine how he should get revenge on her and that damn woman.

Scenes from the past flashed through Lin Yu's mind like a slideshow.

The feelings from that time traveled through the memories, crossing time, crashing wave after wave against the hatred in Lin Yu's heart—a hatred that was already built on shaky ground.

Gradually.

Lin Yu felt a bit tired.

He withdrew his gaze, stood up, and looked at the cold moonlight scattered across the ground before him. He warned coldly:

"Go back and tell that damn woman to behave herself."

"If she dares to pull any more disgusting stunts to sicken me."

"I'll make her end up begging on the streets."

With that said, Lin Yu turned around and looked down at Tao Yaoyao. Facing her upturned, exquisite face, Lin Yu asked without a trace of warmth in his expression:

"You should know Qing Mo, right?"

The night breeze blew past, bringing with it the rustling sound of leaves.

Tao Yaoyao lowered her head and nodded gently.

"I see."