27.Apology

"… What is going on here?" Xiao Wan rubbed her aching forehead and asked, "I've seen the announcement and video, what more do you want?"

The brown-haired girl trembled as she walked forward, tears streaming down her face, and sincerely said in front of the onlookers, "I must apologize to you in person, Lin Xiao Wan. I know I was wrong. It was an impulsive act, and I've always been jealous of you, which led me to do something foolish. I know I can't fix the harp, but I've already given the school the 200,000 USD in compensation, and they will soon transfer it to your account. I hope you can see my sincere apology and forgive me."

To be honest, Xiao Wan couldn't forgive the person who had ruined her precious harp in such a short time. But seeing this privileged girl now crying so bitterly, abandoning her pride and dignity, apologizing in front of everyone, Xiao Wan couldn't bring herself to make the situation worse for her.

With a helpless shrug, Xiao Wan said, "Fine, fine, I forgive you."

The girl's eyes immediately brightened. "Really? You forgive me?"

"Yes." Xiao Wan replied irritably, "But if you ever try something like this again, I swear, I'll make your life worse than my harp."

The girl shivered. For a moment, she was sure she saw the same dark, cold look in Xiao Wan's eyes as in Leng Qing's — that deep, icy darkness. She quickly said, "I won't do it again. I promise, I won't dare!" Then she turned and ran away.

"This is so weird…" Xiao Wan muttered as she watched the girl's retreating figure. "How could this proud young lady suddenly lower herself to apologize to me? Unless…"

"Unless what?" Chen Xin asked.

Xiao Wan's eyes widened as a thought struck her. She turned to Chen Xin and said, "Xiao Guai, go ahead and play the harp in the classroom for me. I've got something to take care of. I'll be right there once I'm done."

Chen Xin couldn't help but laugh and cry. "I can't play the harp!"

"Come on, you're my boyfriend. Just sit there and strum it a bit. Everyone will think you're me," Xiao Wan pushed him. "Hurry up! Or you'll be late!"

"Shouldn't I be the one telling you that?" Chen Xin said helplessly, but eventually resigned himself and went to class on her behalf.

After he left, Xiao Wan turned and walked in the other direction. She made her way to a large sculpture in a secluded corner of the school, and sure enough, she found the brown-haired girl standing there. Trembling, the girl begged the person behind the sculpture, "I apologized to her. She forgave me. Many people can vouch for it. Can you please spare me and my family now? My father is already in the hospital because of the people you sent. I really know I was wrong. Please, I beg you to let us go."

After a long pause, Xiao Wan finally heard Leng Qing's cold voice from behind the sculpture, "Mm, do what you must."

"I understand. I will never try to hurt Lin Xiao Wan again!" The girl hurriedly said, breathing a sigh of relief, and then, like escaping from a demon, she ran away.

Once the brown-haired girl was far enough, Xiao Wan raised the bag in her hand and walked around the sculpture without a word, smashing it onto Leng Qing's head. At first, he tried to block it, but when he saw it was her, he obediently lowered his hand.

"Are you crazy?! It's one thing to have her apologize, but did you have to make such a big deal out of it? She cried like that, and people who don't know might think I was going to kill her entire family! And you even went to scare her dad! What the hell are you trying to do?!" Xiao Wan shouted as she punched and kicked Leng Qing, who just stood there and let her.

After venting, Xiao Wan finally calmed down a little. Hands on her hips, she glared at Leng Qing. "Don't ever do something this stupid because of me again, got it?"

Leng Qing nodded.

Xiao Wan couldn't help but slap him again, fuming, "You always promise so easily, but you never follow through! Are you trying to piss me off and inherit my harp or something?"

"No," he said.

"Then why? Tell me, how did you scare her this time? You didn't hit her, did you?"

Leng Qing shook his head. "No, I just smashed her car window."

"'Just' smashed her car window? Oh, judging by your tone, you seem quite generous?" Xiao Wan kicked him. "Don't do that again. What if that brother of yours in the country makes a fuss about it? Then everything you have—"

"I don't care." Leng Qing interrupted calmly. "I've never wanted those shares or properties anyway."

"But I care." Xiao Wan said urgently. "I want you to live a good life, wearing a suit and working on Wall Street every day, not like this."

"You know that's not what I want." Leng Qing raised his eyes and looked at her firmly. "You also know that what I've always wanted is just you."

A hint of helplessness flashed in Xiao Wan's eyes. "Silly little Yi, you're only in your early twenties. In a few years, when you look back on this time, you'll realize how childish you were. Forget what you want; you can't have it."

"Why?" Leng Qing asked. "Have you really fallen in love with Chen Xin?"

"It has nothing to do with him." Xiao Wan scratched her head and chuckled lightly. "Do you know what wish I made last Christmas? I wished I could die before I turn 25. There are only a few years left, so you must forget about me before that."

After saying that, she did what they used to do when they were eighteen, reaching out to ruffle Leng Qing's hair before turning and waving as she walked away.

·

When Xiao Wan arrived at the harp classroom door, she heard Professor Tom scolding someone with his deep voice. "No, no! Your feet should be here! Your posture is wrong too, it's not graceful at all! Are you trying to play the harp, or are you going to commit suicide with it?"

Strange, Professor Tom had been teaching them for nearly three years, so no one should still be making such basic mistakes. Curious, Xiao Wan pushed the door open slightly, only to realize what she had just done.

Chen Xin was sitting next to her harp, sweating as he tried to adjust his posture according to Professor Tom's instructions. But no matter how hard he tried, the professor seemed to be constantly dissatisfied.

Xiao Wan couldn't help but chuckle and peek through the door. One of the students noticed her and she quickly put her finger to her lips, signaling for quiet, then snickered while watching Chen Xin being scolded.

"Don't pluck the strings so hard, you think you're Wolverine?"

Chen Xin quickly softened his touch, but to his surprise, Professor Tom was still unhappy. "So light, are you playing for the mosquitoes in the air? Honestly, didn't you say you had a musical background? I think you're lying!"

Chen Xin helplessly said, "I didn't lie. I told you I only know how to play the guitar. I also told you I'm not Xiao Wan. Please, can you let me go?"

"No!" Professor Tom huffed. "Xiao Wan will definitely become the best harp artist in the world. And you're her boyfriend. You don't even know the basics of the harp. Do you want me to make her break up with you?"

Chen Xin had no choice but to continue with the lessons, looking pitiful and slightly aggrieved. Xiao Wan, watching from the door, couldn't help but clutch her chest. Oh, she really liked seeing him being bullied! If he could cry pitifully, that would be even better. It would definitely make her feel extremely satisfied!

But she didn't wait for him to cry. Instead, she accidentally made the door creak, and all the students turned to look at her. She quickly wiped the excited expression off her face, becoming serious and walking in. "I'm here for class, sorry I'm late."

Professor Tom immediately pointed at Chen Xin and said, "The boyfriend you found is terrible. He has no talent for the harp at all. You'd better break up with him before you have kids. They won't inherit your talent. The loss is just too big!"

"Ugh, old man, stop worrying about other people's love lives." Xiao Wan waved her hand and walked over to pull Chen Xin up, patting his head. "Poor little Yi, you've suffered. I feel so sorry for you! Go sit over there and wait for me."

Chen Xin looked at the mischievous woman in front of him, with an expression that couldn't hide her gloating. It was clear she didn't feel sorry for him. Did she think he didn't notice her laughing outside the door just now?

He gave her a helpless and tolerant glance before walking to the chair designated for him as her boyfriend and sitting down.

The class quickly ended. As the students left, Professor Tom stopped Xiao Wan and asked, "Have you thought about the matter I mentioned before?"

Xiao Wan pursed her lips. "Not interested."

"You're such a child. I know you have talent, but if you don't work hard to showcase it, it will eventually fade away."

"Blah blah blah, I don't want to hear it!" Xiao Wan plugged her ears, pulling Chen Xin out of the classroom. "Little Yi, let's go eat."

Behind them, Professor Tom called out reluctantly. Chen Xin, curious, asked, "What did your teacher say to you?"

Xiao Wan replied indifferently, "He wants me to compose music. But I don't want to do something so meaningless."

"How can composing be meaningless? The beautiful, timeless songs are written by people like you," Chen Xin quickly persuaded. "Maybe you should give it a try."

"I don't want to, I have no inspiration," Xiao Wan pouted. "I only have inspiration for one thing. Do you know what it is?"

Chen Xin was unprepared and asked, "What is it?"

Xiao Wan suddenly tiptoed and gently bit his earlobe, saying in a husky voice, "Sex."

Before Chen Xin could react, she laughed playfully and ran off.

Chen Xin stood frozen, touching his burning ears, helplessly chasing after her.

After having lunch at school, Xiao Wan insisted on going home. Chen Xin had no choice but to agree. Just as they reached the school gate, a black-haired white woman with a large belly suddenly stepped out of an inconspicuous car.

Xiao Wan glanced at her and froze, secretly cursing in anger: What kind of day is this? Why are all these annoying people showing up one after another?

As the white woman walked briskly towards her, Xiao Wan turned to leave. But in the next moment, the woman suddenly stood with her belly out and knelt in front of Xiao Wan.

Chen Xin immediately stepped in front of Xiao Wan, furrowing his brows and looking at the woman. "Ma'am, what are you doing? Whatever it is, please stand up first."

"No, I can't stand up. Please, help me stop Miss Lin. I have a lot to say to her, please!"

She's here for Xiao Wan? Chen Xin quickly turned to ask Xiao Wan, "Do you know her?"

"Of course," Xiao Wan replied, looking down and playing with her nails, speaking coldly, "She's the one who made me and Hayden break up and tried to force a marriage with a child to climb the social ladder. I think her name is Elsa, right? What are you doing here, not preparing for your wedding? You think I'll give you a wedding gift just because you think I was cheated on?"

Elsa, with tearful eyes, said, "Miss Lin, I know I made many mistakes to be with Hayden. But now, I must beg you to help me. Even if you don't help me, please help my baby. Because Hayden's team manager… he wants to kill me!"

Xiao Wan froze for a moment, then sneered and clapped her hands, saying, "Really? That's quite a delightful piece of news! You know, in China, we have a custom of celebrating good news with firecrackers. If only you weren't in this backwater place where they're not sold, I would set off 180 strings of them!"

Elsa looked at her pitifully, tears streaming down her face. "You say that, but I know you don't really mean it. Back when I watched Hayden train at the team, he always spoke so kindly of you. I believe everything he said about you. I also know I've wronged you. You can do whatever you want to me, as long as… as long as you help my baby!"

Xiao Wan replied coldly, "If you want to save the baby, go find the father. Do I look like the father to you?"

"Hayden refuses to see me! Ever since he found out that we had that night together because I drugged his drink, he won't even look at me. That's why I'm here begging you. Please, just pass a message to Hayden, for the baby's sake, to stop the manager from chasing after me!" Elsa cried. "Strange people have been showing up around my house recently. I'm living in constant fear, and I can't take it anymore! I really know I was wrong. If you just tell Hayden, I'll promise to leave him! Right now, I just want to raise the baby inside me well."

Xiao Wan sneered, "Wow, you really paint yourself as a hero! So, you drugged his drink just to raise this child, and not because you were eyeing his family's company and his $12 million annual salary?"

Here is the translation of your text:

Aisha lowered her head in shame. "I admit my motives were not pure. You… you must understand, I'm already quite old for a cheerleader, I have to find someone to rely on, otherwise, what will I do after I retire? Many of the girls in the team do the same. I just wanted some money, but I didn't expect to cause such serious harm to your relationship with Hayden. And now that I'm pregnant, you wouldn't understand, but when you know there's a little life inside you, your thoughts change. Now, all I want is to raise this child—"

"Don't talk to me about how I've never been a mother," Xiao Wan interrupted through gritted teeth. "Even if I never have children in this life, I'm still more qualified to be a mother than you! A woman like you, full of scheming, what kind of good person could you raise? And now, you dare come to me, the victim of your betrayal, asking me to help you reconcile with Hayden. Do you think I'm that cheap?"

Aisha choked up and looked at Xiao Wan in despair. Knowing there was no hope, she slowly stood up and walked away. "Sorry, Miss Lin, I'm really sorry."

Xiao Wan watched as Aisha carefully protected her belly while walking down the stairs. She closed her eyes in disgust, both at Aisha and herself, and then spoke, "Stop."

Aisha turned around with hope in her eyes. "Miss Lin?"

Xiao Wan walked towards her and stood in front of her, placing a hand on her shoulder. With a cold look in her eyes, she said, "I can't help you find Hayden. But I have another proposal that could let you live a happy life in the future. Do you want to hear it?"

Aisha nodded in confusion.

"The proposal is simple. I'll give you $20 million—believe me, I can get that much money. Once you have it, you'll never have to rely on a man again, but I need you to give something up, like the child in your belly." Xiao Wan stared at her coldly. "I could push you down these stairs right now, and you'd get the $20 million. How does that sound? A child for $20 million. A good deal, right?"

Aisha looked at her in shock and immediately shook her head, cautiously stepping aside. "Sorry, Miss Lin, I can't do that. I really have feelings for this child."

Xiao Wan coldly scrutinized her expression, studying how she was holding her belly. After confirming that this woman wasn't just acting, she let out a bitter laugh.

Sighing, she softly said, "Go, I'll talk to Hayden."

Aisha's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? I… I can't believe it. Thank you so much, Miss Lin! I promise I won't bother Hayden again!"

"That's none of my business," Xiao Wan said seriously. "I just hope you raise this child well. Let him go to college, get a decent job, and be an upright person, not like you—scheming and taking shortcuts."

Aisha nodded vigorously, tears in her eyes. "I will, I will. I knew you were a kind person, Miss Lin."

Xiao Wan's heart was pierced by that word, and she couldn't help but curse angrily, "Kind? F*ck kindness! If being kind means being betrayed by someone like you, then all kind people should just die! Get out of here and stop acting like you're a saint!"

Aisha quickly got into her car and left, while Xiao Wan stood there, her chest heaving with anger. Chen Xin, who had been standing by silently, walked over and gently embraced her.

In his arms, Xiao Wan's voice trembled with a sob. "I hate myself so much right now! I feel so disgusting! She's the one who made me break up with Hayden, and I still helped her! Do you think I'm just born to be a doormat?"

"You're not," Chen Xin said softly. "That woman chose to do bad things to achieve her own goals, but you chose to do the right thing."

Xiao Wan twisted his arm in frustration. "But I don't want to do the right thing! Do you know how badly I wanted to actually push her down just now?"

"I understand, anyone would have such thoughts. But having those thoughts doesn't mean we'll act on them." Chen Xin gently cupped her face. "I know you don't like hearing this, but I love the kindness and warmth you hide beneath your sharp exterior."

Xiao Wan angrily hit him, and Chen Xin let her vent her frustration and sadness on him. After a while, she calmed down, and Chen Xin leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Not angry anymore? Let's go home, I'll cook for you."

"Mm," Xiao Wan sniffled as they got into the car. On the way, she couldn't help but ask, "So… I really have to see Hayden?"

"Yes, you two should clear things up." Chen Xin said gently and naturally, "I fully support you going."

"Do you want to come with me?" Xiao Wan asked.

Chen Xin smiled and shook his head. "Although I really want to fight that guy, the things you need to talk about are important, so I won't interfere. Xiao Wan, remember my words, I will always believe in you, so don't worry about me overthinking just because you're going to meet your ex-boyfriend."

Xiao Wan nodded, touched, and hugged him tightly, kissing him on the cheek.

The meeting with Hayden was set for three days later, at a high-end members-only restaurant in N City, a place Xiao Wan and he used to visit often when they were still together.

Xiao Wan originally didn't want to go there, as it might bring back old emotions. However, Hayden insisted on meeting there. Xiao Wan also couldn't treat the matter lightly, as she had something important to ask him. She thought that the restaurant would be private and quiet enough for them to talk without journalists following them, so she agreed.

That evening, she drove to the restaurant and walked in with the help of the waiter. Looking at the familiar surroundings, she couldn't help but feel nostalgic. Hayden was sitting in their usual spot by the window, dressed in a very formal suit. His medium-length hair was styled with wax, neatly combed back, making him look like a groom preparing for a wedding.

But his face had bruises and his lips had a scab, and his right hand was wrapped in a bandage.

Xiao Wan closed her eyes for a moment, then walked steadily to him. "Hayden."

Seeing her, the man, who looked dejected, suddenly had a spark in his dull eyes. He hurriedly stood up, pulled out a chair for Xiao Wan, and said, "Why didn't you tell me you had arrived? I would have come down to greet you."

"Why bother? We're already separated." Xiao Wan said calmly.

Her words immediately pierced Hayden's heart. He was a sentimental person, and his eyes instantly turned red. He reached out to grab Xiao Wan's hand, but halfway through, he withdrew it, his gaze filled with pleading. "Xiao Wan, I know you might not believe what I'm about to say, but… but the reason I slept with that woman is because she spiked my drink—"

"I know. She spiked your drink. I knew already." Xiao Wan looked him in the eye.

Hayden stared at her in disbelief. "Then… why… why won't you forgive me?"

"I haven't not forgiven you." Xiao Wan tightened her fist. "But by the time I found out, that cheerleader was already pregnant. What good would it do for me to forgive you? You're going to be a father soon."

"But… but it was all part of her scheme! You and I are both victims! Since you already forgave me, is it because of the child that you're not willing to come back to me?" Hayden asked urgently.

Xiao Wan shook her head. "No, Hayden. It's because I don't love you anymore."

These words hit Hayden like a ton of bricks, crushing all his hope. He collapsed back into the chair, unable to move.

Xiao Wan rubbed her eyes and stared out at the night view. "We've been apart for too long. I don't want to ruin the relationship between you and the child in the future, so I've chosen to let go."

"If it's only about the child, I can send him far away, and you never have to see him again. Wouldn't that be fine?"

"Of course not. Why should you do that to him? He hasn't done anything wrong!" Xiao Wan said seriously. "You should know that I grew up in a family where I wasn't loved. You were someone I once loved. Even though I dislike children, I don't want your child to start life unhappy. That would make me feel guilty."

Hayden, filled with despair, covered his eyes. "Why is this happening? Fate just played a small joke on us, and now you're giving up everything?"

"Sorry, I'm just that cold-hearted bitch. You should have known by now." Xiao Wan forced herself to speak coldly. "Now, let's stop dwelling on the past. It's meaningless. I came here today to ask you one thing. Did you send your team manager to threaten Aisha, to kill her?"