After ending the call with the Elder Princess, Gu Sang received a WeChat message from Chen Yun: "Sang Sang, are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you out for dinner."
For some reason, Chen Yun had seemed preoccupied ever since their last meal at her place.
Gu Sang replied with a slightly worried affirmative.
When school let out, Gu Sang waited for Chen Yun at the school gates. But after half an hour, there was still no sign of her.
Concerned that something might have happened, Gu Sang called Chen Yun.
Just around the corner, about 200 meters from the school, Chen Yun was leaning against a wall, her mind in turmoil. She clutched her phone tightly, unsure how to face Gu Sang.
In truth, she had arrived half an hour earlier.
But thinking about what the Scumbag Man had instructed her to do, she felt scared, helpless, and uncertain. She couldn't bring herself to face Gu Sang.
"Ring ring ring..."
Chen Yun hurriedly answered the phone, her voice tinged with guilt as she hid behind the wall: "Sang Sang, I'm so sorry. Just as I was about to leave work, my boss suddenly asked me to stay late."
"There's so much to do, I completely forgot to call you."
Far from being angry, Gu Sang was entirely understanding: "It's no problem at all. We can always reschedule. Your work is more important."
After a pause, Gu Sang noticed the tension in Chen Yun's voice and couldn't help but ask: "Has the Scumbag Man been bothering you recently? If he has, you must tell me."
"I'll help you figure something out."
Chen Yun's hand trembled as she held the phone. Hearing these comforting words, she was on the verge of tears.
She felt like such a terrible person!
She was letting Gu Sang down so badly. Sang Sang had been so good to her, helped her so much, and yet here she was, still conflicted about what to do!
"He hasn't come to bother me. I have to go now, I'm so busy here!" Chen Yun's eyes flashed with determination as she hung up, fighting back tears.
Chen Yun hastily wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and peeked out from behind the wall, catching a glimpse of Gu Sang standing at the school gates.
Even from such a distance, she could see the concern on Gu Sang's face.
Of course!
Gu Sang considered her such a dear friend. How could she even contemplate such a terrible idea! It was enough that her own life was ruined; she couldn't drag anyone else down with her!
Chen Yun cast a bitter smile at Gu Sang's back before returning to her rented apartment.
The Scumbag Man, who had been anxiously waiting in the room, saw Chen Yun return alone. His expression instantly turned vicious: "Why didn't Gu Sang come with you?"
"Chen Yun, it seems you're still not taking my words seriously!"
"Do you want all your colleagues and family to know what a slut you are in bed?"
"Let me think, how would your parents react if they received those photos of you!"
The Scumbag Man started scrolling through his phone contacts, as if he were really about to teach Chen Yun a lesson.
Chen Yun turned pale with fear and instinctively tried to snatch the phone away.
"Slap!" The Scumbag Man suddenly raised his hand and struck Chen Yun hard across the face.
The force of the slap left Chen Yun dazed. She stumbled and fell to the ground, her vision blurring.
All along, the Scumbag Man had maintained a polite and cultured image in public. They had been together for seven years, and in all that time, this was the first time he had ever hit her!
The realization that the man she had once dreamed of spending her life with could be so terrifying once his mask slipped overwhelmed Chen Yun with a flood of emotions.
Chen Yun covered her face and burst into tears: "Wuu wuu wuu..."
The Scumbag Man was quite pleased to see Chen Yun in such a state of pain, conflict, and regret. It gave him a secret thrill, a feeling of utter satisfaction.
At work, he was a nobody, the lowest of the low, someone everyone felt free to berate.
Only with Chen Yun did he feel this sense of control over another person's fate!
"When we broke up before, weren't you so high and mighty? Didn't you threaten to sue me, thinking you had Gu Sang to back you up? You worthless woman!"
"Alright, stop crying."
"I'll give you a few more days. If you still haven't sorted things out with Gu Sang by then."
"Not only will your photos be spread all over the internet, but all your coworkers and every last relative of yours will see them too!"
The Scumbag Man reached out and gripped Chen Yun's chin, commanding: "Do you understand?!"
Chen Yun lowered her head, nodding as her body shook like a leaf.
Seeing his once proud girlfriend now reduced to such a pitiful state over a few intimate photos, the Scumbag Man felt immensely satisfied!
If he had known it would be this easy, he would have played this card much sooner!
Tch!
If Chen Yun could be threatened with private photos, surely a young lady from a prominent family like Gu Sang would be even more concerned about her reputation. If he could just get some dirt on Gu Sang, then...
A cruel smile spread across the Scumbag Man's face as he cast a cold glance at Chen Yun before leaving the apartment.
But no sooner had the Scumbag Man left than Gu Sang arrived, stepping out of her car.
Ever since that phone call with Chen Yun, Gu Sang had felt uneasy, sensing that Chen Yun was hiding something. She quickly made her way up to the top floor to find Chen Yun.
Seeing the door ajar and hearing Chen Yun's despairing sobs from inside, Gu Sang rushed in: "Yun!"
"I knew you weren't at work. You've been so troubled these past few days."
"Why are you crying? What happened?"
Gu Sang crouched down next to Chen Yun, putting them at eye level, and patted her shoulder reassuringly.
Chen Yun suddenly looked up, her face a mess of tears and snot, and cried out to Gu Sang: "Sang Sang, you need to leave! Go away!"
"Don't come looking for me, don't come here."
Gu Sang reached for the tissue box on the table and began wiping the tears from Chen Yun's face: "Did that bastard come to bully you again? What did he say to you this time?"
"Come on, I'll help you set things right."
"Yun, you can tell me anything. No matter what happens, I'll help you find a solution."
"Do you remember Lin Lin? You told me then how much you wanted to save her, but Lin Lin still went off to find her own freedom..."
"Now you're keeping everything bottled up inside, and I have no idea what's going on. Just tell me, I really want to help you. Won't you give me a chance to pull you up?"
Chen Yun's voice faltered, and she burst into loud sobs.
After crying for several minutes, Chen Yun finally managed to compose herself. She pulled out a few tissues and roughly wiped away the tears and mucus from her face.
With reddened eyes, Chen Yun looked at Gu Sang, seeking an answer: "Sang, why are you going to such lengths to help me?"
Gu Sang replied without hesitation: "Because we're friends!"
Because they were friends!
And so, when one friend encounters difficulties, the other will spare no effort to help, weathering the storm together.
