"What exactly are you implying?" Shen Ya's tone turned sharp and cutting, sending an involuntary shiver down Zhao Xue's spine.
Shen Ya continued, "Du Yue can dream all she wants about challenging me, but she still has centuries to go before she's even in my league. I don't even consider her worth my attention. The real issue is that Chen Ze hasn't come to pick me up yet. A woman must maintain her dignity—why should I lower myself when he hasn't made the effort? When he finally decides to come for me, then I'll return."
"And one more thing," she added coldly, "Keep an eye on Du Yue for me. Forcing her to swallow chili powder isn't enough. You need to be merciless. Make sure she's crushed so thoroughly that she'll never dare to show her face again in this lifetime."
Shen Ya's words left Zhao Xue trembling with fear. Even after their conversation ended, Zhao Xue couldn't shake off the lingering dread.
She had always known how ruthless Shen Ya could be, which was precisely what made her terrifying. To the outside world, Shen Ya appeared as innocent as a delicate flower, but Zhao Xue knew better. The events from two years ago… hadn't they all been orchestrated by Shen Ya's hand?
Thinking about it, Zhao Xue couldn't help but feel a surge of relief.
Thankfully, she had chosen to side with Shen Ya. If she had aligned herself with the wrong person, she might not even know how or when her end would come.
---
After Du Yue lay down, her stomach felt as though it were engulfed in flames, burning with such intensity that she couldn't find a moment's rest.
Though her lips were numb, her stomach certainly wasn't spared the agony. She writhed in pain, drenched in sweat, tossing and turning on the bed, yet the torment showed no sign of easing.
Finally, as the first light of dawn began to break through the darkness, exhaustion overtook her, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.
But she didn't remain asleep for long. Soon, the sound of commotion from downstairs jolted her awake.
"Where's Du Yue?"
Chen Ze's voice cut through the air like a blade. Du Yue gasped for breath as she forced herself to sit up. In the next instant, the door was flung open, revealing Chen Ze's piercing, icy gaze.
"Awake?"
Du Yue tried to speak, but her lips were still numb. She could only nod weakly.
"If you're awake, stop pretending. Go change your clothes, put on some makeup, and get downstairs immediately!"
With that, Chen Ze turned and left. Du Yue mechanically climbed out of bed, her movements stiff and lifeless. Peering through the crack in the door, she saw several strangers sitting downstairs, cameras in hand.
Panic surged within her, but she forced herself to remain calm as she changed into fresh clothes before heading downstairs. However, her sluggish pace drew a frown from Chen Ze, especially when he took in her pale, makeup-free face. His displeasure was evident.
"Didn't I tell you to put on makeup?" he snapped. "Why are you coming down looking like this?"
One of the men quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over. "Actually, this works better. It emphasizes Miss Du's frailty, which will enhance the authenticity of the footage."
Footage…
The word echoed in Du Yue's mind, but her sleep-deprived state and physical discomfort dulled her ability to process its meaning.
Moments later, someone approached her with a script, explaining, "Miss Du, we'll be filming an interview with you and Mr. Chen shortly. All the questions are written here. Just review them and follow along as we shoot."
Script…
The word triggered a memory of the day Chen Ze had taken her from the psychiatric hospital. His words came rushing back to her. So this was part of his plan, wasn't it?
Du Yue said nothing, lowering her gaze to the densely packed text. But the letters blurred before her eyes, each line a struggle to decipher. By the time she finished reading, she was drenched in cold sweat.
Before she could fully grasp what was happening, Chen Ze snatched the script from her hands and tossed it onto the sofa. "Alright, let's begin."
"Miss Du and Mr. Chen, please take your seats together."
Du Yue sat rigidly on the sofa, every muscle in her body tense. The moment Chen Ze settled beside her, a whirlwind of emotions swept over her. For two years, they had never been this close without conflict.
"Closer," someone instructed.
How was she supposed to move closer? Before she could react, Chen Ze's hand landed firmly on her shoulder. Startled, Du Yue bolted upright, her chest tightening with unbearable discomfort.