After Transmigrating Into a Book, I Was Played by the Black Lotus – Chapter 15

Horrifying

Lin Xingzhu, that lunatic.

When Lin Xingzhu unlocked and pushed open the door, Qiao Zijin was already preparing to undress Bai Xiying.

The sound of the door suddenly startled the woman who had nearly fallen into a frenzy. Her back stiffened, but then she disregarded it and quickened her movements.

She had to have Bai Xiying!

Lin Xingzhu stared at the unconscious Bai Xiying lying on the large bed. Her throat bobbed, and the knuckles of the hand hanging by her side cracked audibly. “Qiao. Zi. Jin.”

Lin Xingzhu’s face was as cold as frost. She strode over, stirring a gust of wind, and before Qiao Zijin could react, she fiercely grabbed the other’s neck and forcibly dragged her off the bed.

“Lin… Lin Xingzhu…” Qiao Zijin’s face was flushed, her breathing ragged, yet her eyes were filled with incomparable hatred.

Lin Xingzhu lowered her eyes, an undeniable flame of fury flickering within them. Her voice was ice-cold. “I never thought you’d be so keen on being a beast.”

“Again, and again…”

“Since you want to be a beast so badly, I’ll grant your wish. Hurry up and reincarnate as one in your next life.”

Lin Xingzhu snatched a black rope from the bedside, planted her foot against Qiao Zijin’s abdomen, and before she could react, stretched the rope with both hands and instantly tightened it around Qiao Zijin’s neck.

She clenched her jaw, put all her strength into her arms, and continuously tightened her grip on the rope.

“Lin… Lin…” Qiao Zijin’s vision swam. The lack of oxygen almost made her ignore the pain in her neck. The violent madness that had clouded her mind gradually faded, and the instinct to survive made her struggle and thrash about.

But Lin Xingzhu’s strength was surprisingly great. Qiao Zijin felt as powerless as a lamb, on the verge of suffocating to death.

The rope around her neck continued to tighten. Qiao Zijin’s eyes were already rolling back, her vision blurring, and the force of her struggles was slowly diminishing.

Just when she thought she wasn’t going to make it, the suffocating feeling suddenly vanished.

The moment Lin Xingzhu let go, the other woman went limp on the floor like a dead dog, the red mark on her neck horrifying to behold.

Mu Muqing watched this scene, utterly horrified, unable to believe that Lin Xingzhu would actually dare to kill someone in public.

Lin Xingzhu stepped over Qiao Zijin’s body and turned her head to glance lightly at Mu Muqing. For a moment, her eyes seemed to see right through her thoughts as she coldly tossed out a few words. “She’s not dead.”

Only then did Mu Muqing breathe a sigh of relief.

Now that she knew Lin Xingzhu hadn’t killed someone, worry for Bai Xiying immediately filled her entire heart. She followed Lin Xingzhu to the bedside and, seeing her bending down to untie the rope from Bai Xiying’s wrists, hastily said, “Let me.”

Lin Xingzhu pursed her lips but didn’t answer.

She kept her eyes lowered, concentrating on undoing the dead knot. She looked so focused that Mu Muqing, intimidated by the murderous aura she had just displayed, didn’t dare to step forward.

After untying the knot, Lin Xingzhu adjusted Bai Xiying into a comfortable position. When she saw her groggily open her eyes, the sharp coldness in her own gaze gradually began to soften.

“Why is it you?”

Bai Xiying’s tone was weak, her voice hoarse.

If not her, then who could it be?

The hand supporting her stiffened slightly. The dissipating coldness in her eyes threatened to freeze over again because of that sentence.

Anyone who went through the trouble of rescuing someone, only for the person to open their eyes and say something so unwelcoming with their first words, would be displeased.

Lin Xingzhu laid her flat on the bed, inconspicuously withdrawing her hand. She straightened up and, seeing that Bai Xiying was slowly able to communicate, said coolly, “I noticed something was amiss after you left the event. I hurriedly followed and sure enough, found something was wrong, so I tracked you here.”

Her expression was cold. Watching Mu Muqing step forward to ask after Bai Xiying with concern, the question “Do you need to go to the hospital?” ultimately remained unspoken.

Perhaps the current Bai Xiying didn’t need a hospital at all; someone else would take care of her.

Lin Xingzhu lowered her gaze, the shadow cast by her long lashes falling on her pale skin, looking dark and sharp.

Mu Muqing was lowering her voice, asking soothingly, “Xiying, do you want me to take you to the hospital?”

Hah, what an act.

Lin Xingzhu averted her eyes. If she really wanted to take her, why bother with such a pretense?

She smoothed the wrinkles on her formal dress, finding this room increasingly unbearable to stay in.

Lin Xingzhu’s gaze shifted, her eyes landing inconspicuously on Qiao Zijin, whose breathing was gradually steadying. Her expression grew calmer.

She glanced back at the two who were speaking softly with their heads bowed. After a moment’s judgment, she suddenly bent down and, in the same manner as before, dragged Qiao Zijin up, preparing to head out.

“Ah—!”

Qiao Zijin, who was gradually regaining her senses, let out a terrified scream, afraid that Lin Xingzhu’s murderous nature would flare up again and she would try to strangle her to death.

The feeling of being on the brink of death was simply too terrifying. Now, looking at Lin Xingzhu, Qiao Zijin’s eyes were filled with uncontrollable fear.

This is a demon!

That scream seemed to shatter something. Bai Xiying’s weak and hoarse voice sounded again, but this time, it called Lin Xingzhu’s name.

“Lin Xingzhu, don’t go.”

The straight back paused slightly.

Lin Xingzhu turned back to see Bai Xiying struggling to push herself up from the bed, her eyes fixed on her without blinking.

“…Lin Xingzhu, can you take me to the hospital, please?” she asked, biting her lip in plea.

Mu Muqing’s expression soured. She tried to intervene, “Xiying, let me take you. President Lin has to deal with Qiao Zijin. Since I was the one who brought you here, it’s only right that I take you to the hospital.”

Bai Xiying turned a deaf ear, her bright, dark eyes still fixed on her, as if stubbornly waiting for an answer.

As time ticked by, a mist seemed to gather in those beautiful eyes, giving them an indescribably wronged look.

Lin Xingzhu’s fingertips twitched. She glanced at the displeased Mu Muqing at her side and nodded in agreement. “Alright.”

“President Mu,” Lin Xingzhu said, “I’ll have to trouble you to watch Qiao Zijin.”

She handed the bound Qiao Zijin over to Mu Muqing’s care and walked back to the large bed. Her stride was powerful, yet the motion of bending down to lift Bai Xiying was incomparably gentle.

Before leaving, Lin Xingzhu looked back and instructed, “It’s best to call the police. I’ll handle this matter later.”

When Mu Muqing saw that Lin Xingzhu intended to leave, seemingly wanting to be alone with the drugged Bai Xiying, she instantly grew anxious. She wanted to say something, but Lin Xingzhu shot her a look that seemed to say, President Mu can’t even handle a small matter like this, can she?

Recalling Lin Xingzhu’s various actions tonight, Mu Muqing’s hands tensed. Finally, she replied unwillingly, “Don’t worry.”

I’ll let this lunatic, Lin Xingzhu, have her way for now.

Thinking of this, she shifted her gaze to Bai Xiying, only to see her burying her head in Lin Xingzhu’s embrace, looking exhausted and weak, which also made it impossible to see her expression.

Mu Muqing’s gaze deepened, a thoughtful look flashing in her eyes.

After settling the matter of Qiao Zijin, Lin Xingzhu left with Bai Xiying in her arms.

As she carried her into the car, Lin Xingzhu lowered her head and asked softly, “How are you feeling?”

Bai Xiying moved her head. The faint, fresh scent of Lin Xingzhu gradually dissipated from her nose. She said in a low voice, “It seems a bit better than last time, but I feel weak all over and still can’t muster any strength.”

Lin Xingzhu was lost in thought. It seemed the drug this time had a greater effect of making one feel powerless compared to the aphrodisiac from last time.

Lin Xingzhu had brought a driver to the banquet this time. After they got in the car, the driver, with great tact, raised the partition, instantly creating a private space in the back row.

Bai Xiying was currently leaning limply against her shoulder, her every breath brushing against Lin Xingzhu’s sensitive neck.

Lin Xingzhu was silently enduring it with her eyes closed when she suddenly heard Bai Xiying ask, her voice somewhat cautious, “Were you angry just now?”

Lin Xingzhu silently adjusted her position to let her lean more comfortably, but didn’t speak.

Bai Xiying’s raven-feather lashes fluttered as she explained in a small voice, “At that moment… my memory was jumbled for a second.”

She whispered her explanation, “When I was taken to the room, I seemed to see Qiao Zijin the second before I passed out. But when I woke up, I saw you looking at me with concern… I was just a bit confused.”

That was a reasonably plausible explanation.

Lin Xingzhu’s expression softened, and she nodded with an “en.”

But this also explained why Bai Xiying hadn’t let Mu Muqing take her.

It was precisely because Lin Xingzhu had acted like a perfect gentleman at the bar last time and hadn’t taken advantage of her situation, that Bai Xiying felt safe entrusting herself to her instead of someone else this time—it was simply a matter of experience.

“So, can you not be angry anymore, please?” Bai Xiying, knowing she was in the wrong, looked at her with pitiful, clear, moist eyes.

Lin Xingzhu looked down and said coolly, “I wasn’t angry.”

Bai Xiying glanced at her, pouting inwardly. But her expression remained sincere as she brought up the last thing Lin Xingzhu had said to Mu Muqing before leaving. “You mentioned calling the police…”

At this mention, Lin Xingzhu’s expression turned cold.

“Qiao Zijin is becoming more and more lawless,” she said. “There’s no sense in guarding against a thief for a thousand days¹. If you agree, we should take this opportunity to send her to prison.”

Although she had long been prepared for Qiao Zijin to snap, Lin Xingzhu hadn’t expected her to be this deranged.

Bai Xiying bit her lip, a flash of forbearance in her eyes. Then she said hesitantly, “I’m afraid it won’t be that simple.”

It certainly wouldn’t be that simple.

Lin Xingzhu tapped her fingers on her knee, contemplating her words before she spoke. “Do you remember the compensation I owe you?”

Bai Xiying looked at her. “I remember.”

She seemed to know what Lin Xingzhu was about to say.

Sure enough, she heard Lin Xingzhu propose, “How about I use it to send Qiao Zijin to prison?”

With Bai Xiying’s capabilities alone, she couldn’t possibly stand against a behemoth like the Qiao family.

And since Qiao Zijin had repeatedly violated Bai Xiying, Lin Xingzhu was willing to use this major favor as compensation. It seemed she had no reason to refuse.

However, when Bai Xiying thought of the savage person in the pool of blood from her memories, the sense of regret made her ignore the itchiness of her own body for a moment.

Her beautiful brows furrowed as she said worriedly, “Of course I’d love for her to get the punishment she deserves, but won’t this be a lot of trouble for you? Or harm the interests behind you?”

Lin Xingzhu pondered for a moment, then shook her head. “A little, but it’s nothing major. However, to accomplish this, I’ll need your help with one more thing.”

Bai Xiying’s eyes widened. She quickly asked, “What is it?”

Lin Xingzhu looked at her, her eyes deep. “I need to ask you to be my girlfriend.”

Only then would she have a sufficient reason to challenge the Qiao family and leverage the Lin family behind her to exert maximum pressure on them.

Bai Xiying’s eyes widened, not expecting that this was what she meant by “help.”

But in an instant, she understood Lin Xingzhu’s meaning and immediately nodded in agreement. “I can do that!”

With the matter settled between them, they arrived at the hospital.

Lin Xingzhu got out of the car first, walked around to Bai Xiying’s side, opened the door, and bent down to lift her up again.

The other woman flinched back slightly.

“Do you… have a handkerchief on you?” Bai Xiying suddenly asked in a small voice.

She still remembered the plain handkerchief Lin Xingzhu had taken out in the rental apartment last time.

Lin Xingzhu glanced at her, then leaned over and retrieved a handkerchief from the storage compartment by the car seat.

The warm breath from her movement brushed across Bai Xiying’s face. She bit her lip, suppressing her body’s reaction.

A flash of annoyance passed through her eyes.

After handing the handkerchief to Bai Xiying, Lin Xingzhu glanced at her and thoughtfully closed the car door, leaving her enough private space.

Inside the back seat of the car, Bai Xiying expressionlessly wiped the leather seat beneath her, taking the opportunity to slide a long-hidden glass shard into a crevice in the car.

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