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The Depths of Despair

The horrific scene of the ruffians tearing at her clothes replayed in Shi Yongqian's mind. Their mocking laughter, like a demonic melody, echoed endlessly in her ears. They had ravaged her body with such impunity, brutally tormenting her for what felt like endless hours, all in broad daylight, in a secluded alleyway. She'd lost count of how many had abused her; by the end, her body was completely numb.

With red-rimmed eyes, Shi Yongqian pounded her hands against the ground, her gaze, filled with hollow hatred, slowly rising. Under the flickering light of a lantern, she saw the characters for "Qin Residence." Tears welled up in her eyes, and like an insect, she crawled up the tall steps, pounding twice on the vermilion gate. The street was silent; it was deep into the night, and no one else was in sight. Only Shi Yongqian, like a madwoman, desperately hammered on the Qin Residence gate. But she was utterly exhausted, and even with all her might, the sound of her knocking was a mere, almost inaudible "thump-thump." The gatekeepers were long asleep, so they couldn't possibly hear her.

Tears streamed down Shi Yongqian's face. She longed to ask the Second Young Master if he had passed by the Shi family's entrance earlier. Had he simply watched her suffer? Or had her eyes deceived her? No, it couldn't be. Shi Yongqian tried to comfort herself, slumping down at the Qin Residence's entrance, shaking her head repeatedly. If Axin had seen her expelled by her family, he wouldn't have stood idly by. If Axin had passed by the Shi family, he couldn't have missed the ruffians harassing her and then simply walked away, completely disregarding her fate. Shi Yongqian's tears fell, one by one, hitting the ground. Her eyes, brimming with tears, blurred the night scene before her.

A Fleeting Hope and Crushing Reality

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared before her. Shi Yongqian looked up in astonishment, and when she recognized the person, a wild joy erupted in her eyes. "Huang... Huang Yong?" It was Huang Yong, the Second Young Master's personal guard.

When Huang Yong lifted her, Shi Yongqian immediately panicked, looking down at her barely clothed body. She quickly wrapped her arms around herself, trying desperately to conceal the sordid marks on her skin. But alas, she was practically naked, and no matter how tightly she hugged herself, she couldn't hide the lingering imprints of her ordeal. "No, don't take me to see the Second Young Master, I... I'm so dirty now, I... I won't see the Second Young Master!" Shi Yongqian cried, shaking her head repeatedly and silently "speaking" a string of words.

Huang Yong, of course, couldn't hear her voice. He carried her towards the Crane Release Garden, where the Second Young Master resided. Shi Yongqian felt that this was the darkest day of her life. In such a disheveled, filthy state, she was forced to appear in the Crane Release Garden. She saw the Second Young Master Qin, seated in the elegant pavilion, playing chess with a captivatingly beautiful woman in red. Just sitting there, without uttering a word, his exquisite features radiated a faint chill, appearing as handsome and perfectly sculpted as jade under the moonlight. The sight of such a beautiful Second Young Master filled Shi Yongqian with an inexplicable feeling of shame.