Return of the Goddess

Ning Xi opened her eyes dazedly, and saw the kneeling Chang Shi Gui before her.

They had not met for more than two months. Ning Xi paused for a moment, waiting to see if Chang Shi Gui had anything to say.

Seeing that Ning Xi was awake, Chang Shi Gui stood up and said nonchalantly: “I heard that your ride hasn’t arrived. I’ll send you back”. His tone seemed colder than before.

Ning Xi straightened up, and stretched her slightly sore neck. “Mr Chang?” It was then that she realised that she was covered by a men’s jacket.

Both of them had not kept in contact during this period. Meeting again now, Ning Xi actually felt that it had been a long time.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Xiao Yang’s eyes darted between the two of them, but she did not dare to say anything. She did not know if her eyes were playing tricks on her, but Mr Chang’s gaze was filled with gentleness when he was draping his jacket on Sister Xixi. But now, the way he looked at Sister Xixi was completely different.

“Thanks for the offer, but my ride will be arriving soon”, Ning Xi took off the jacket and returned it to Chang Shi Gui.

“Don’t mention it”, Chang Shi Gui stared deeply at her, and took the jacket. When he turned to leave, he heard the commotion from behind him.

After seeing who the couple quarrelling was, he took a look back at Ning Xi. Her eyes were also fixated on the couple, her expression eerily quiet.

From her expression, he saw hidden traces of ridicule and hatred.

“Stop forcing me!” Wei Siqi seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown, trembling as she spoke.

“I’m forcing you?” Chen Yijun sniggered, “What good do you think will come out of you releasing the photos? Let everyone know that you were not only part of, but the mastermind behind that incident, and make us into laughing stocks?”

Amidst the conflicting remorse and fear that Chen Yijun felt towards Ning Xi was also an explained feeling of ambiguity. At the same time, Wei Siqi and him had been attached for so many years. While he was tired of their frequent arguments, he still loved her. Hence, he wanted to make it up to Ning Xi, but was also worried that the incident would be exposed.

If Wei Siqi’s and his involvement in Ning Xi’s bullying incident was exposed, not only would the Wei and Chen family be disgraced, he would also be in a disadvantageous position in his fight against that illegitimate son for the family inheritance.

Therefore he could only hope that Ning Xi was willing to settle the issue privately. Even though Ning Xi’s popularity would be affected if the issue blew up, but the ones with the most to lose were them.

“Are you truly concerned about me, or do you just not want Ning Xi’s past to be exposed?” Wei Siqi could no longer listen. In her eyes, Chen Yijun was just lusting after Ning Xi now that she had become beautiful.

Or rather, he had never gotten over her.

Unbeknownst to many, Wei Siqi had found out during high school that Chen Yijun often stole glances at Ning Xi, and even secretly took photos of her. Perhaps even Chen Yijun was oblivious then to the fact that he was already attracted to Ning Xi.

Otherwise, she would not have made things difficult for Ning Xi, resulting in the tragedy then.

All these years, she was worried that Ning Xi might return, afraid that Chen Yijun might realise his feelings for Ning Xi. And now, everything that she feared was becoming a reality.

She truly loved Chen Yijun, how could she bear for Ning Xi to snatch him away?

“Siqi, please,” Chen Yijun noticed the stares around them, and lowered his voice, “Don’t make a scene here”.

“If you were not scared of cheating even after our engagement, why would I be scared of making a scene?” Wei Siqi glared at the onlookers, “What are all of you looking at? Haven’t you seen people quarrelling before?”

The crowd quickly disperse. While many were interested in the scandal, they did not want to invite trouble. However, a distinguished man stood nearby, a laptop bag in tow.

Wei Siqi glared at him. Just as she was about to start scolding the man, her gaze locked onto someone behind him.

Xu Chuan was so spooked by Wei Siqi’s gaze that he unwittingly took two steps back.

“Ning Xi…” Wei Siqi raised her trembling fingers and pointed at Ning Xi, who was seated on the bench. Her expression was a combination of fear and anger. “What is she doing here?!”

Xu Chuan looked at Wei Siqi, then turned his head again. So the person that Boss approached was Ning Xi?

Judging from the woman’s expression, she seemed to be acquainted with Ning Xi. Could Ning Xi be that “she” from the argument between Young Master Chen and his fiancee?

Looking at Wei Siqi’s unstable temperament, Xu Chuan feared that she might suddenly turn violent. He stepped closer to Ning Xi and Chang Shi Gui, with the thought that he could protect them if this woman rushed up to attack them.  

Chen Yijun did not expect to meet Ning Xi here. At the thought that Ning Xi might have overheard his argument with Wei Siqi, he lowered his head awkwardly.

Who knew that Wei Siqi would misunderstand this action as bashfulness? She said in a mocking tone, “Acting shy? For whom?”

Xu Chuan thought that Chen Yijun would leave after hearing this, but what surprised him was that this Young Master Chen was more tolerant than he expected.

Hadn’t Ning Xi slapped Chen Yijun when Boss and him visited Ning Xi at the set of The Legendary Chronicles of Tanhai?

Reminded that Ning Xi had previously been a victim of campus violence, her cold attitude towards Chen Yijun, coupled with the conversation between the Chen couple, Xu Chuan pieced the entire story together.

The couple was definitely involved in the bullying incident then, otherwise Ning Xi wouldn’t have displayed such an attitude towards them.

From Xu Chuan’s perspective, Ning Xi was a nice person. She would even treat an assistant like him politely, and never put on airs. For such a person to look at someone with such disdain only showed how trashy this person was.

Assistant Xu did not think that his attitude arose from irrational, relational considerations.

Looking at Wei Siqi’s twisted expression, Ning Xi suddenly felt her interest waning. The relationship between the Chen couple was already going downhill without her interference. Was Wei Siqi’s hatred towards her just a means to cover her fear and guilty conscience, or did she really think that Ning Xi would be interested in someone like Chen Yijun?

In Wei Siqi’s furious face, Ning Xi unabashedly sneered, “Some people are just so interesting. Just because they treasure a piece of trash, they think that others would also covet it”.

Her gaze flashed across Wei Siqi and Chen Yijun, her expression mocking, “Wei Siqi, aren’t you thinking too highly of yourself?”

“Apart from acting tough, what else can you do?” Wei Siqi was incensed, and said at the top of her voice, “If it wasn’t because of you shamelessly crushing on Yijun, why would I have to teach you a lesson?”

Cheng Shi Gui stood solemnly beside Ning Xi without a word, but when Wei Siqi said that Ning Xi had a crush on Chen YIjun, his face hardened.

“I had a crush on Chen Yijun?” Ning Xi sniggered. Her gaze swept past Chen Yijun, and Chen Yijun sheepishly avoided her gaze.

“I said it then, and I’ll say it again now. I was never interested in Chen Yijun. Why would I like a man like Chen Yijun,” Ning Xi pointed at Chen Yijun, “Whoever told you that I had a crush on him?”

A memory flashed across Wei Siqi’s mind. That year, she had chanced upon Chen Yijun and Ning Xi in a conversation. When she asked Chen Yijun why he had been sitting with Ning Xi, what had Chen Yijun’s response been?

He said that Ning Xi might be interested in him, but he did not want to embarrass her, hence he patronized her for a while.

Wei Siqi shook her head. Instead of looking at Chen Yijun, she shouted at Ning Xi, “Do you think that I’ll believe what you are telling me now?”

“You are really pitiful”, Ning Xi chuckled, “You can’t even see the true colours of the man beside you. What merits do Chen Yijun have that would attract me?”

“Just because he’s good looking, or that his family is rich?” Ning Xi coldly laughed, “His looks were inherited from his parents, and his wealth earned by his parents. He’s worthless, why would I fall for him?”

Xu Chuan was stunned by Ning Xi’s insults. She was literally saying that only Wei Siqi would fall for someone so useless, and Ning Xi wasn’t blind like her.

He looked at the woman that Ning Xi had insulted, and felt that she might faint from anger.

Wei Siqi wanted to refute Ning Xi’s words, but instinctively she knew what Ning Xi said was true. Ning Xi truly did not have a crush on Chen Yijun; what was known then as the “attack on the mistress” was only an excuse for her wrongdoings.

Perhaps she also knew that Chen Yijun had been lying to her. However, because she feared that Ning Xi would snatch Chen Yijun away, she ignored his lies.

Chen Yijun was already somewhat interested in Ning Xi even when she was fat. Now that she had become beautiful, and had been accorded the title of “goddess” publicly, would Chen Yijun’s heart still have a place for Wei Siqi?

“In the name of protecting your love, you unscrupulously hurt others”, Ning Xi walked in front of Wei Siqi, and lowered her voice, “A woman like you is just plain pitiful”.

Wei Siqi shivered. She clenched her teeth, “What exactly do you want?”

“Me?” Ning Xi whispered softly, “I’m back to claim my debt from all of you”.

Ning Xi’s voice was gentle like the wind, without any hint of aggression. To Wei Siqi, however, this side of Ning Xi was even scarier. She looked fearfully at the smiling Ning Xi, unconsciously taking a step back.

“Enjoy the good times now”, Ning Xi smiled as she adjusted her cap, “Don’t disappoint me”.

“You… You are deranged!” Wei Siqi’s throat was parched, she turned towards Chang Shi Gui, who was standing behind Ning Xi. “Do you think that Ning Xi really likes you? She’s only using you to take revenge on us!”

Ning Xi was a temptress, not only did she seduce Chen Yijun, she even seduced the President of Chang Enterprises! “Do you know how she used to look?”

Chang Shi Gui looked at her coldly. “You don’t need to tell me what Ning Xi’s intentions are. Also, no matter how she looked in the past, it will not affect her position in my heart”.

“Even if all she wants is to use you?” Wei Siqi looked at Chang Shi Gui in surprise, thinking that all these men had gone crazy.

“If she’s willing to make use of me,” Chang Shi Gui turned to look at Ning Xi’s side profile, his expression softening, “If she really wants to make use of me, I’ll let her do so willingly!”

Ning Xi’s eyes widened, her eyelids quivered for a moment before she regained her composure.

Wei Siqi was speechless. She shook her head, “Are you guys crazy?”

Chen Yijun did not think that Chang Shi Gui would harbour such feelings towards Ning Xi. He stared dazedly at Ning Xi without a word, then turned to look at the indomitable Chang Shi Gui. It seemed like even Chang Shi Gui could not resist her charms.

“Ning Xi, let’s go”. Chang Shi Gui did not want Ning Xi to waste her time on this couple any longer. He glanced outside, covered her with his jacket, then turned back to Chen Yijun, “Young Master Chen, you should not drag others into your private matters”.

Then, without any care for Chen Yijun’s reaction, he put his hand over Ning Xi’s shoulder and led her out.

Chen Yijun was silently rooted on the spot, his expression somewhat cold and gloomy.

“She’s really back to take revenge on us,” Wei Siqi laughed hoarsely, “There’s no escape for us”.

It was no wonder that Ning Xi returned back as a celebrity, spoke about how fat she was in her youth, and raised the issue of campus violence during the programme. She had intended for all these to happen; she was only waiting for the right time to take revenge.

“Yijun, what should we do?”

Chen Yijun did not answer her. Perhaps in his heart, there was no answer to this question.

--------

It was during torrential rains that the merits of owning an off-road vehicle was visible. Some cars had stalled from being submerged in the rain, but Ning Xi’s ride was cruising on smoothly.

“What happened at the airport … thanks”. Ning Xi lowered her head and thanked Chang Shi Gui.

Chang Shi Gui continued looking through the documents in his hands. “I just said and did what I wanted to”.

He could not look at her. He was afraid that once he looked up, he would not bear to let her leave.

It was silent once again in the car. Half an hour later, the car turned into Ning Xi’s neighbourhood. There was a blackout, possibly due to the rain. The underground car park was also shrouded in darkness.

The driver turned on the lights in the car and smiled, “Sir, we have arrived at Miss Ning’s residence”.

Ning Xi was about to step out of the car.

“Ning Xi”.

Chang Shi Gui caught her wrist.

Ning Xi turned and looked into the depths of Chang Shi Gui’s eyes. These eyes contained an adoration that Ning Xi was afraid to face.

“Mr Chang, thanks for sending me back”. She put her hand on the hand that was still gripping onto her wrist, and pushed it away. “Goodnight.”

Chang Shi Gui was silent for a moment, then put a small torchlight into her hands. “It’s dark outside, watch your steps.”

Ning Xi held the torchlight, watching as the silent Chang Shi Gui wound up his window, the off-road car driving out of the car park. Without the lights from the car, the entire car park once again plunged into darkness.

Click.

Ning Xi turned on the torch, and a sliver of light appeared.

The torchlight was small, and the light was weak, but there was enough visibility for her to walk home.

“Boss, the rain is too heavy, please get into the car”. The worried Xu Chuan walked towards Chang Shi Gui. There was no umbrella in the car, and Chang Shi Gui was drenched from standing out in the open for some time.  

After seeing the lights on a particular floor come on, Chang Shi Gui turned back without a word towards the off-road vehicle which was parked at the main road of the neighbourhood.