Since that day, Wen Zhishao seemed to have completely let go of the past. She insisted on dragging Jiang Ciyou along wherever she went, even involving her in the wedding preparations.
Jiang Ciyou watched Xie Chi tirelessly accompany Wen Zhishao for gown fittings. She listened to Wen Zhishao playfully complain about how Xie Chi's hands had trembled uncontrollably during the ring exchange rehearsal. She walked the stage with them, step by step, verifying every detail of the ceremony.
"How wonderful," she thought sincerely.
The kind-hearted finally got their happy ending, while a villainess like her could make a dignified exit.
"Ciyou, in the future, do you and your boyfriend want to hold your wedding here too?"
Wen Zhishao wanted a unique wedding and had finally settled on the Shadowless Chapel perched atop a seaside cliff. Seeing the pure white walls, her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Jiang Ciyou, however, noticed she was standing too close to the precipice and frowned. "Don't stand so close to the edge. It's too dangerous."
"Okay, I'm coming back." Wen Zhishao smiled, but just as she lifted her foot, she cried out. "Oh no, I have a cramp!"
Seeing her figure sway precariously, Jiang Ciyou had no choice but to step forward and pull her back.
But the instant she grabbed hold of Wen Zhishao, the other woman suddenly whispered, "That day... after you entered the room, why didn't you come out?"
Jiang Ciyou froze. The video released to the public had been edited; everyone thought Xie Chi had thrown her out immediately.
Why would Wen Zhishao ask that?
Realization crashed over her. Wen Zhishao was the one who had leaked the video. But why?
Wen Zhishao was already with Xie Chi, and Ciyou had no chance left. Why expose everything now?
A mask of innocent purity still hung on Wen Zhishao's face. "You slept with Xie Chi, didn't you?"
The question was so blunt that Jiang Ciyou was rendered speechless.
"I didn't want to do this," Wen Zhishao sighed, her tone dripping with feigned pity. "But Xie Chi cannot have any stains on his record... Rest in peace."
As the words left her mouth, she yanked hard. Jiang Ciyou stumbled, pitching dangerously toward the cliff's edge.
Wen Zhishao watched expressionlessly. But a second later, her face twisted—Jiang Ciyou had dropped to her knees, stabilizing herself and refusing to fall.
The mask of purity shattered. Wen Zhishao stepped forward to push her again, but her foot landed on a loose rock. She slipped.
"Ah—!"
A piercing scream tore through the air. Not far away, Xie Chi whipped his head around just in time to see Wen Zhishao falling.
Jiang Ciyou lunged forward. She caught Wen Zhishao's arm in a death grip. A jagged rock sliced through the vein in her own arm, sending dark red blood dripping down, drop by drop, onto Wen Zhishao's face.
"Save me! Save me, I don't want to die!" Wen Zhishao screamed in terror, her fingernails digging deep into Jiang Ciyou's flesh. "Jiang Ciyou, forgive me! Don't... don't let go!"
Jiang Ciyou didn't speak. She gritted her teeth, trying desperately to haul Wen Zhishao up, but she lacked the strength. Instead, she was nearly dragged down with her.
Fortunately, Xie Chi arrived in time. He hauled Wen Zhishao up to safety.
Seeing the blood on Jiang Ciyou, his expression shifted sharply. "What happened?"
But before she could answer, Wen Zhishao fainted. Xie Chi could no longer spare a thought for Jiang Ciyou; he scooped Wen Zhishao into his arms and strode away.
Jiang Ciyou didn't call out to him. She tore a strip from her shirt, pressed it firmly against her wound to staunch the bleeding, and hailed a taxi to the hospital.
After getting bandaged, she checked her phone. There was only one notification—official confirmation that she had been accepted as a Doctor Without Borders.
The order attached was simple: Assemble in three days to depart for the frontline.
She paused, her gaze falling on the wedding photo of Xie Chi and Wen Zhishao. They looked so perfect together.
And she... she would only ever be a stain between them.
Jiang Ciyou lowered her lashes, her fingers moving lightly to type a reply: "Received."
When she returned home, Jiang Ciyou reached out to turn on the lights, but her wrist was suddenly seized in a grip so powerful it felt like her bones were being crushed.
"Why did you push Zhishao off the cliff?"
Under the pale moonlight, the fury in Xie Chi's eyes was almost tangible, radiating a ruthless desire to tear her to shreds.
"What? I pushed her?" Jiang Ciyou asked in disbelief. "Xie Chi, I used every ounce of my strength to save her! How could I—"
"Keep acting."
Xie Chi cut her off, refusing to believe a single word. He threw Jiang Ciyou heavily onto the floor, snatched a riding crop from the wall, and lashed out.
Crack!
"If you didn't push her, why would she fall for no reason?"
His voice was hoarse, dripping with disappointment and disgust. "Zhishao pleaded for you so many times. Is this how you repay her? Do you have no conscience at all?"
Just as the last word fell, his phone rang.
"Captain Xie, it's bad! Miss Zhishao... she's committed suicide!"