Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xia Ruya changed into a snowy white, long-sleeved dress and allowed her long locks to cascade down her back. She only wore a simple pair of pearl earrings, and her outfit made her look even more thin and frail than she already was. The clothes made her look pretty and pure.
She had intentionally chosen to dress that way.
She deliberately wanted to appear weak and vulnerable.
Xia Ruya was then brought to the police car.
Along the way, Xia Ruya’s mind was sent into a frenzy, and all she could think about was the possible events that she would be facing next. She might become the prime suspect of a murder case, or directly be pinpointed as the murderer. She could be taken to court and put behind bars, or be involved in a lawsuit. All of the possibilities made her feel extremely terrorized and afraid. She was worried of letting others find out that she had been raped. She was afraid that others would find out that she had been stained. She even thought about fleeing!
Yes, flee!
Once she escaped, she would no longer have to face these issues.
However… where could she run to?
In this big, big world, where would be a safe place for her to stay in?
What was she supposed to do?
She could not help but feel distressed. She stared out at the lush greenery outside the window with a look of melancholy and agony on her face.
Heaven is so unfair to me. Both Wen Xinya and I got abducted, by why did she manage to escape unscathed? Yet, I got abused, insulted, humiliated, raped, and even… ended up committing murder!
Why?
Xia Ruya could not snap herself out of her negative emotions.
“Miss Xia, Miss Xia…”
The voices made her anger and resentment disappear instantly. She looked up at them in puzzlement.
One of the policemen said, “Miss Xia, we’ve arrived.”
He had no idea what she was thinking. She had been hanging her head low and hence, he could not see her expression. However, she exuded a detestable vibe.
Xia Ruya suddenly sobered up and smiled at the two police officers with a vulnerable expression. “I’m really sorry. I was thinking about something. I didn’t hear you.”
Xia Ruya alighted from the car.
Upon arriving at the entrance of a small and old police station. However, one would feel a sense of justice when standing in front of the door and staring at the large signboard. Xia Ruya’s legs almost turned into jelly.
The two policemen then brought Xia Ruya into the police station.
The police officers made her feel like turning around and escaping. She clenched her fists tightly and told herself to calm down repeatedly!
The police officers brought her to a room.
Xia Ruya stood still by the door and wondered to herself, Are they going to detain me? Interrogate me? Or what?
“Go inside!” said the police officer.
Xia Ruya’s body stiffened and she said smilingly, “Thank you.”
She then walked into the room.
“Ruya, good that you’re alright!” Before Xia Ruya could even react, she was hugged tightly by Ning Yuya, who leaped towards her and hugged her tightly. Ning Yuya wrapped her arm tightly around Xia Ruya’s neck, making her feel like she was almost going to suffocate.
“Ruya, I was so worried when you went missing for a week! Thank god you’re alright.”
Xia Ruya finally recovered from the shock and asked in bewilderment, “Yu… Yuya?”
What is Ning Yuya doing at the police station? Could it be… that everyone has found out that I colluded with the abductors to get Wen Xinya kidnapped? It can’t be… that happened so long ago. It doesn’t make sense at all.
Ning Yuya let go of Xia Ruya and laughed at the sight of how confused she looked. “Ruya, where have you gone in the last week? Why didn’t you contact me? Did something happen?”
As soon as she discovered that Xia Ruya had gone missing, she immediately went to the police station to make a report. After some investigation, the police found… that she had probably gone into hiding on purpose and hence, it could not be considered to be a case of a missing person.
Xia Ruya became more clear-headed. She looked at Ning Yuya and asked, “Yuya, why are you in the police station? What do you mean I went missing?”
Did the police bring me to the police station because I went missing?
Ning Yuya explained everything to her and said, “I came here today to have the case resolved, but the police said that you have to be here in person in order for the case to be resolved.”
Xia Ruya finally figured out what actually happened. She heaved a sigh of relief, feeling weak and feeble while her sweat trickled down her back.
She cursed and berated Ning Yuya in her head, finding her to be extremely nosy. She even got the police involved. Fortunately, I managed to escape in time. Otherwise… something terrible might have happened.
Noticing the sullen expression on Xia Ruya’s face, she hurriedly asked, “Ruya, are you alright?”
At this moment, Ning Yuya could not describe how Xia Ruya seemed to her. It was as if… she had become depressed and moody. Ning Yuya shook her head, thinking to herself that it must be an illusion.
Xia Ruya shook her head and said, “I’m alright, don’t worry.”
Ning Yuya heaved a sigh of relief and felt that she must have been hallucinating. “Ruya, where did you go for the past few days? Why didn’t you contact me? Mother and I were worried sick.”
Ning Yuya scanned Xia Ruya from head to toe, only to discover… that Xia Ruya had only gone missing for a week and yet, she seemed to have become an entirely different person. She was terrifyingly emaciated and no longer as gentle and beautiful as she used to be. She also looked rather austere and menacing.
After a moment of silence, Xia Ruya smiled and said, “I was just in low spirits, so I went to the village alone.” She then held Ning Yuya’s hand and continued, “Yuya, I’m sorry to have made you and Aunt Ning worry about me.”
She decided to use the village as an excuse because it was remote and technology was not advanced there. Hence, it was a more convincing excuse.
Feeling sorry for her, Ning Yuya said, “No wonder you’ve become so thin. Mother is going to be so worried if she sees you! When you went missing, Mother kept asking about you. She was so worried that I almost got jealous.”
Feeling touched, Xia Ruya said, “I’ll accompany you to visit Aunt Ning at the nursing home later. It’s been a while since I last saw her, and I do miss her, actually.”
Extremely thrilled, Ning Yuya held her hand tightly and said, “Great, Mother will definitely be glad to know that you’re safe and sound.”
Xia Ruya’s smile was stiff as she allowed Ning Yuya to pull her away.