"Bai Yiran? Is that you?"
Hearing someone calling her name, Bai Yiran looked towards the voice and saw a flamboyantly dressed girl approaching her.
Bai Yiran recognized her; she was her high school deskmate Lou Jing. Back then, Lou Jing was very loyal to Bai Yiran and even helped her fend off bullies. However, later Lou Jing didn’t get into college, while Bai Yiran attended the city’s best university, and their interactions gradually decreased. Especially after she met Luo Chen, Bai Yiran’s life mainly revolved around Luo Chen, and she completely lost touch with Lou Jing.
"What happened to you? Were you bullied?" Lou Jing walked over and looked at Bai Yiran with concern.
Feeling like her high school self when Lou Jing stood up for her, Bai Yiran suddenly felt quite worthless.
"Say something! What’s going on?"
Looking at Lou Jing, warmth filled Bai Yiran’s heart, "I’m fine, what are you doing out at this hour?"
It was just half past five in the morning, and the sky was still gray.
"I just finished my shift and am heading home, but why are you wandering around like this?"
"Can I stay at your place for a while?"
Lou Jing looked at Bai Yiran, with a hint of surprise in her eyes, "Sure, as long as you don’t mind the mess. Come with me!"
It turns out, after graduating high school, Lou Jing floated around society for a few years. Later, due to life’s pressures, she became a host at Golden City.
Golden City is the most prestigious nightclub in the city, renowned for its high-quality and attractive hosts.
When Bai Yiran first heard that Lou Jing was working at Golden City, she was surprised, but didn’t show contempt. At least Lou Jing is earning money by her own means, while she herself had lost the ability to make money.
"How did you get hurt?" Lou Jing asked while applying medicine on Bai Yiran.
Bai Yiran gave a bitter smile, "I got bit by a dog."
"That’s one damn horny dog!" After years at Golden City, Lou Jing could tell what kind of injury Bai Yiran had at a glance. Since she didn’t want to talk about it, Lou Jing didn’t ask further; everyone has things they prefer not to touch.
The phone suddenly rang, startling Bai Yiran. She picked up the phone, trying to keep her voice calm, "What’s up?"
"Girl, we need to talk," Leng Yichen’s voice was a bit fatigued but as cold as a winter wind.
"I think we don’t need to talk anymore. Please let me go." At this point, Bai Yiran wasn’t afraid anymore.
"So, you’re determined to do this?"
"Yes!"
Leng Yichen laughed, but Bai Yiran felt that laugh was chilling.
"Girl, you really shouldn’t be like this."
Bai Yiran’s heart skipped a beat. Just as she wanted to ask Leng Yichen what he meant, the call was already disconnected.
A bad premonition crept upon Bai Yiran’s heart.
Bai Yiran felt she couldn’t return home like this and could only call back to say she would stay at Lou Jing’s for a while. Her grandmother didn’t suspect much. However, Cheng Shishi knew something was wrong; Bai Yiran wouldn’t stay out for no reason. Eventually, Bai Yiran told Cheng Shishi Lou Jing’s address.
"Sis! What happened to your injuries!"
"Shh!" Bai Yiran pointed at the sleeping Lou Jing. She worked night shifts and mostly slept during the day. "Don’t worry, I’m fine."
"Brother-in-law... ugh! That bastard Leng Yichen did this? Did he hit you?" Cheng Shishi hadn’t experienced much, seeing Bai Yiran’s injuries, she assumed it was from a beating. "Even though Luo Chen was trash, he never hit you! How could Leng Yichen lay a hand on you? That bastard!"