Chapter 23: Fang Xiaocao : Still One Step Too Late?
“I didn’t! Stop making things up!”
“I’m going to rip your mouth apart!”
Han Xue shrieked and lunged madly at her high school classmate who had exposed her secret.
“You bitch, you think I’m scared of you?”
The classmate rolled up her sleeves and cursed.
Just as the two were about to throw punches, the others stepped in, restraining Han Xue together.
Someone even shouted, “Don’t hit her face! This bitch still has to entertain Boss Shen’s guests. Don’t mess her up too much!”
“Boss Shen, we’ll bring her back for you.”
One of them fawned over Shen Tao, bowing and scraping with a face full of flattery that was unbecoming of their age.
Shen Tao merely smiled without a word.
He turned away and stared at a nearby streetlight, ignoring the sycophant.
A burly security guard pointed toward the KTV entrance and picked up his walkie-talkie, pretending to relay a message.
“Go check on the guests in Room 608—see if they’re still there.”
The lackey immediately understood.
He turned back to the group restraining Han Xue and ordered, “One of you girls, fix up her makeup. Then take her to 608.”
Eager to escape, the group didn’t bother with sentimentality. They hastily freshened Han Xue up and dragged her into the KTV.
“Boss Shen, don’t worry.”
“We’ll make sure she serves the guests well.”
The lackey beamed as he flattered.
Shen Tao gave an imperceptible nod, saying nothing.
The lackey, feeling like he had been granted amnesty, rushed inside.
Shen Tao shot a glance at the security guard, who nodded and followed suit.
Fang Xiaocao quietly withdrew her phone and sent the recorded video to Wang Qiang, along with a message explaining the situation.
“We were best friends once. Even though you were heartless, I can’t be.”
“Han Xue, this is the most I can do for you.”
She put her phone away, murmuring to herself.
Her Land Rover’s engine hummed to life as it pulled out of the parking spot.
Ding-dong!
A notification popped up on her phone.
She glanced at it.
[Hot Noodles: Was that really worth it?]
“What do you mean, ‘worth it’?”
She replied.
[Hot Noodles: If word gets out and you anger Shen Tao, it’ll be a huge problem.]
“So, does Shen Tao know?”
Fang Xiaocao smirked.
[Hot Noodles: At least for now, I don’t know.]
“Even if he finds out, wouldn’t my all-knowing, future-seeing friend warn me in advance?”
She sent a voice message, laughing.
“I believe in you!”
[Hot Noodles: Dammit, I don’t even believe in myself. Can you stop playing with fire?]
“Come on, be a little more confident, Future Me!”
“Knowing the future is cool, okay?”
She grinned.
[Hot Noodles: Miss, you’re playing with fire.]
“Mm, I like the thrill.”
She put her phone down as the Land Rover drove away from the nightlife district.
Just as she exited, several police cars zoomed past her in the opposite direction.
“Officer Wang sure is fast.”
She chuckled, watching the flashing lights disappear in her rearview mirror.
Ding-dong!
Another message.
She sighed. “Again?”
She unlocked her phone and checked.
This time, it wasn’t Hot Noodles. It was Wang Qiang.
[Wang Qiang: Don’t tell anyone about tonight. I’ll keep it confidential for you. Shen Tao has connections.]
She read the message, smiled slightly, and replied with an “OK” emoji.
Back at the Xintiandi neighborhood, she parked downstairs and headed home, unaware that a shadowy figure was lurking nearby, watching her every move.
“Two tigers, two tigers, running so fast—”
Her phone blared loudly, rousing her from sleep.
Frowning, she grabbed her phone and groaned, “Who the hell is disturbing my beauty sleep this early?”
She squinted at the screen—Su Wanqing.
“Damn it.”
She rolled her eyes and grumbled but answered anyway.
“Hello? What is it?”
She yawned, her voice weak.
“It’s early! Don’t you sleep? Why are you disturbing my dreamland?”
Before Su Wanqing could respond, she launched into a protest about the injustice of being woken up.
“Wake up, wake up!”
“I have major gossip for you!”
Su Wanqing squealed excitedly.
Hearing the word “gossip,” Fang Xiaocao blinked and woke up a little.
She sat up, leaning against her headboard, and asked curiously, “What gossip? Spill.”
Everyone loves a juicy story!
Fang Xiaocao had zero resistance when it came to drama.
“Listen, Han Xue got… you know.”
Su Wanqing whispered mysteriously.
Fang Xiaocao froze for a second.
Then she rolled her eyes.
Suddenly, she wasn’t interested in this “big scoop” anymore. She flopped back into bed.
“Old man moves fast, huh?”
She muttered.
From the moment Han Xue was taken to KTV to when Wang Qiang arrived, only a few minutes had passed.
She hadn’t expected Han Xue to still end up in trouble.
“Huh?”
“How do you know it was an old man?”
Su Wanqing was stunned on the other end.
Fang Xiaocao’s eyes widened.
“Oops, almost exposed myself.”
She quickly changed the subject.
“Old man? What old man?”
“I meant, I’m just not interested in this gossip.”
“You must’ve misheard me.”
Then she giggled mischievously.
“Tiger girl, be honest! Have you been single for too long? You don’t like abs anymore and are into old men now?”
“Pfft! I’ll spit salt soda on you!”
“Han Xue’s the one who likes old men. My type is still eight-pack hotties!”
Su Wanqing huffed.
Fang Xiaocao opened WeChat and glanced at the class group chat.
Sure enough, the gossip about Han Xue had already exploded there.
The truth was mixed with rumors, making it impossible to tell what was real.
“Hey! Don’t change the subject! I was telling you about Han Xue’s drama!”
Su Wanqing hadn’t given up.
Back at the hospital, Fang Xiaocao had told Su Wanqing about Han Xue and Qi Yu’s affair.
So now, Su Wanqing absolutely loathed Han Xue.
When she found out that Fang Xiaocao had run Qi Yu over with her car, she even joked, “First move after making it big—chopping down your crush!”
“Okay, okay, stop nagging.”
“I’m already reading about it in the group chat.”
Fang Xiaocao sighed.
“Ugh, how could you!”
“I was trying to give you the exclusive, but you went straight to spoilers!”
Su Wanqing pouted.
“What should I do, then?”
Fang Xiaocao teased.
The moment Su Wanqing acted spoiled, Fang Xiaocao knew—this girl was about to scam her.
“You can make it up to me by treating me to spicy hotpot!”
Sure enough, Su Wanqing’s next sentence exposed her real motive.
(End of Chapter 23)
