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Xu Wu cleared the dishes from the table. The faucet, not fully tightened, dripped water into the pot she was using to wash the dishes.
She was well aware of the scar on his lower back. Zhou Jinye had accidentally revealed it before.
On the basketball court during summer, passionate teenagers often gathered to play. That time, it was a basketball tournament organized for the senior year students, who were under immense pressure preparing for the college entrance exam. The school arranged the game to help them relax.
Zhou Jinye was among them.
The long-immersed senior students were finally released from their studies and ran freely on the court, dribbling with abandon. Cheers and shouts filled the air.
During her physical education class, Xu Wu happened to encounter the final match of Zhou Jinye’s class.
After finishing her tasks, the teacher let them have free time. She had heard him mention the basketball game earlier and came to watch. There were still seats in the back row, so she sat there.
Even from afar, she immediately recognized the boy running and dribbling on the court.
His burgundy jersey bore the number 08.
He weaved through the sea of yellow jerseys.
The basketball, guided by his rhythmic dribbling, evaded defenders and charged toward the hoop.
“Bang!”
The ball traced a perfect parabola, hitting the rim with a resounding clang, followed by cheers from their class.
At that moment, Xu Wu thought about how everything—playing basketball, driving, and more—seemed effortless in his hands.
Zhou Jinye joined the others to celebrate. Looking up, he spotted her figure in the back.
He pushed through the crowd and ran over.
His shadow loomed beside her, carrying the scent of sandalwood mingled with sweat from the court.
Then, his voice reached her ear. “Why are you here?”
Xu Wu turned her head, and in an instant, the boy who had been on the court moments ago was sitting next to her. “I had PE class, so I came to watch.”
“Really?” Zhou Jinye’s clear eyes reflected her image, his face breaking into a carefree smile. “So, did you see how cool I looked playing?”
“Zhou Jinye, your water!”
Before she could respond, another voice interrupted them.
The other students had already left for elsewhere, tossing the water bottle into the air. A small gust of wind passed by her, and in her line of sight appeared a jagged scar—it was long, faint, but unmistakable.
As Zhou Jinye reached for the water, the movement of his clothes revealed the scar on his lower back clearly. Xu Wu froze involuntarily.
After a while, he sat down beside her again.
“You… how did you get that scar on your lower back?” After a brief silence, Xu Wu finally spoke.
Zhou Jinye paused mid-drink and looked at her. “Did you just see it?”
She nodded in acknowledgment.
He gazed off into the distance, his eyes reflecting something dark and blurry. In a soft voice, he said, “My father did it.”
Incredulity flashed across Xu Wu’s face. She pursed her lips. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.”
“It’s fine. I’ve escaped now. It’s just a pity about my mother,” he continued, his deep, emotionless eyes revealing nothing. “When I was twelve, after my mother died, I lived with him. Before that, my mother was pregnant. My father had someone on the side. One night, when I went to the bathroom, I witnessed them arguing. He pushed my mother down. He had planned everything perfectly. No matter what I said, without concrete evidence, I couldn’t prove anything. After those people left, he would tie me to a chair, blindfold me, and even during the day, I couldn’t see any light. He would use the whip he trained his dogs with to beat me. The more I struggled, the harder he hit. That scar on my lower back was from when I fell while struggling.”
Just hearing these words sent chills down her spine.
Xu Wu knew that in his third year of junior high, he had been raised by his aunt and grandfather. But she never imagined the depth of cruelty his father harbored toward his wife and son.
At twelve years old, he and his mother had barely processed the news of his father’s affair when another tragedy struck—his father killed his mother, and the violence continued. How desperate he must have felt back then.
Listening to him recount these experiences in a calm, detached tone, his face and voice devoid of emotion, it was as if the tragic protagonist of these events wasn’t him.
Xu Wu placed her hand on his shoulder and gently patted him in comfort.
“If you want to comfort me, you might as well kiss me,” Zhou Jinye quipped, his signature roguish grin returning.
But Xu Wu understood all too well that behind his calm exterior lay a fragile mask. With a smiling face, he hid the scars of his past. To him, those faint marks were deeply etched memories.
In the corner of the bleachers, unnoticed by anyone, Xu Wu gave him a hug.
The wound left by the whip remained as it always had—a permanent scar that would never fully heal.
________________________________________
After a light rain, the weather cleared.
The exhibition officially began. Xu Wu had completed all preparations. As usual, she put on her work badge and brought Shu Ke along to guide and arrange things.
Public relations responsibilities for the client were numerous and complex. Besides designing and arranging the venue beforehand, coordinating media communications, and being present during the event like they were now, post-event tasks included organizing compensation from the two client companies to the service provider.
However, those tasks would come after the exhibition ended. For now, her focus was ensuring the event proceeded smoothly.
Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.
“Xu Wu, I didn’t expect you guys to pull this off quite well.”
Just hearing the voice, she knew it was Xu Tianya.
Looking up, she saw another person by her side.
Meeting his dark, sinister gaze sent shivers down her spine. His presence pinned her in place, invisible yet suffocating. She felt a chill run through her.
From head to toe, he wore custom-tailored clothing—neat, clean, and expensive. Beneath the elegant, pale tie lurked the face of a demon. Xu Wu knew better than anyone the depths of his malevolence.
She glanced at Xu Tianya, wondering how they were connected.
Meanwhile, Xu Tianya was oblivious to the fear in Xu Wu’s eyes. Her red lips curled into a smile, her voice slightly louder than before. “This is Mr. Qin, Qin Shili. He just returned from abroad and is the largest investor in Yangkang.”
“Hello, Miss Xu. Long time no see.” Qin Shili’s laugh deepened the crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes.
The chill in Xu Wu intensified. Behind his seemingly warm smile lurked malice, like a snake coiled around her, ready to strike with venom at any moment.
She remembered what Shu Ke had mentioned earlier. So, the man named Qin was indeed him.
“Darling, you know Xu Wu?” Xu Tianya’s voice dripped with affection.
Xu Wu barely concealed her astonishment. Adults calling each other “darling” so soon either meant flirtation or casual playfulness. She hadn’t expected him to be so repulsive, still unfaithful despite his reputation for infidelity.
Qin Shili’s dark eyes remained fixed on her, as if plotting something sinister.
Yet his smile remained unchanged. “Yes, I never expected to see you here at one of Jinye’s exhibitions after all these years.”
As his words trailed off, she instinctively felt daggers waiting in the shadows.
Seven years ago, she had made a promise to him. His words carried hidden meanings only the two of them understood.
“You should know I don’t welcome you. What are you doing at my exhibition?” Zhou Jinye appeared, standing before Xu Wu, his words sharp as arrows.
Xu Tianya stared at the man who had suddenly appeared. His good looks surprised her, and his blunt words made it clear their relationship was far from amicable.
“As your father, of course I’d come to see the fruits of my son’s hard work. Isn’t that reasonable?” Qin Shili’s tone softened, though his words were laced with mockery.
He was an expert at pretending. Beneath his tailored suit lay a man ugly in every way. His words elicited nothing but scorn from Zhou Jinye. “Are you done pretending?”
Meanwhile, Xu Tianya, sensing the tension, quickly interjected with a radiant smile. “I assume this is Mr. Zhou? I’m Xu Tianya, a colleague of Xu Wu. I mentioned to her that I’d bring a friend—this is Mr. Qin.”
Qin Shili’s smile grew more piercing. “Thanks to Miss Xu for bringing me to my son’s exhibition. It’s given me the chance to see all of you.”
Xu Wu hadn’t expected Xu Tianya’s “friend” to be Qin Shili. Had she known, she would never have come. The invisible daggers at her neck made her increasingly uneasy.
Unaware of the history between the three, Xu Tianya’s gaze lingered on Zhou Jinye, calculating silently.
She had met Qin Shili at Yangkang and knew he was generous, backed by wealth and resources. No longer the girl from a small town who couldn’t afford medical bills, she had grown thorns and blossomed into her own flower. Yet, her ambition knew no bounds. Whether it was Qin Shili or anyone else, as long as they had what she desired, she cared little for others’ opinions.
Previously, she had overheard Qin Shili’s talent and sought him out. Now, knowing that the man before her was his son—handsome, intelligent, wealthy, and destined to inherit his fortune after his death—she was even more determined.
“Mr. Zhou, here’s my business card. I hope we can collaborate with Lingmei in the future.” She pulled out her card, her smile dazzling.
Zhou Jinye’s gaze lingered on her for only a second before shifting away. He didn’t reach for the card.
“Jinye, surely you’ve witnessed Ms. Xu’s capabilities. Why not take it?” Qin Shili’s gaze shifted to Xu Wu, his smile deepening.
A subtle shift in the air.
“Bang!”
Zhou Jinye grabbed Qin Shili by the tie, dragging him toward the curtain and slamming him against it.
His voice was low and cold as he warned him. “I’ve already severed ties with you. Stop provoking me, or don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
“Oh, really?” Qin Shili’s composure quickly returned, his smile widening. “You misunderstand me. Since returning to the country, when have I provoked you?”
“Are you still pretending? Don’t you recognize the position of this curtain behind you?”
“Indeed, my son knows me well.” Qin Shili, though disheveled and pinned against the curtain, showed no signs of fear. His eyes gleamed with malice. “However, this is merely a warning to those who betray their promises. Just the first one.”
Zhou Jinye tightened his grip on the tie, almost choking him.
Xu Wu couldn’t hear their conversation, but seeing Qin Shili’s face turn pale, she quickly pulled Zhou Jinye back. The media was present, and she reminded him, “Don’t do anything reckless.”
Zhou Jinye glanced at Xu Wu, noticing the cameras capturing everything. He released Qin Shili.
“Best you stay hidden and don’t show your face again.”
Qin Shili staggered a few steps, calmly straightening his crumpled tie. “Thank you, my son, for considering me so thoughtfully.”
He raised his wristwatch, his smile devoid of apology. “Time’s up. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t be able to stay for your speech. Sorry, son. Perhaps we’ll meet again.”
As he brushed past Xu Wu, he whispered in her ear, where no one could see. “You’ve seen my methods before. Remember our promise from seven years ago.”
A chill swept over her as Qin Shili’s face broke into a smile. Turning to Xu Tianya, he said, “Thank you for bringing me to such a beautiful car exhibition today. I hope you’ll show me more next time.”
Xu Tianya had witnessed the entire confrontation between Zhou Jinye and Qin Shili. Their animosity was evident, but her scheming mind remained unaffected. With an air of ownership, she replied, “Welcome back anytime.”
Xu Wu paid no mind to the others. Qin Shili’s voice lingered like a venomous snake, tightly entwining her. Her unease grew stronger with each passing moment.
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