Waterbound Love - Chapter 28

“I think what you keep saying you want to repay is not your child’s life but the luxurious life you once had,” Du Bai said, pointing lightly at the money and then placing her index finger on her lips, making a “shush” gesture as Lin Xiaoyu stood up to argue. Watching Lin Xiaoyu quiet down, Du Bai’s face was filled with disdain.

“A child is just a tool for you to secure a long-term meal ticket, isn’t it? If you really had to cast yourself in the role of a loving mother, that child wouldn’t have died so soon. And her death, you see it as a relief from a burden, don’t you? Because you all think she wasn’t Ji Feiling’s child.” Du Bai watched Lin Xiaoyu’s eyes fill with rage, feeling very calm herself. She wasn’t ready to let this go, “But I know the truth, she was Ji Feiling’s child. Yet, she was also a child whose birth brought misfortune to everyone involved, including you and Ji Feiling.”

“No-” Lin Xiaoyu screamed despairingly, “It was you, you killed my child, you took everything from me, you drove Feiling away from me, it was all you, you demon!” As she lunged towards Du Bai, Shen Yan stepped in and caught her, her hands flailing helplessly in the air.

Instead of stepping back, Du Bai moved forward, signaling Shen Yan to let go. Shen Yan frowned but released her grip. The moment Lin Xiaoyu reached Du Bai, Du Bai grabbed her hand and pushed her other hand towards Lin Xiaoyu’s shoulder, causing a “snap” sound, followed by Lin Xiaoyu’s cries. Du Bai let go, and Lin Xiaoyu’s arm drooped down, dislocated.

“Stop howling; it’s just a dislocation, you’re not going to die,” Du Bai said indifferently, ignoring Lin Xiaoyu’s sobbing. “I am indeed malicious, and I’ve never hidden that. You should be aware that it wasn’t just me who caused the death of your child. I just gave a little nudge. If you truly loved that child, no matter whose he was, you would have treasured him. His premature death in your care just proves everything,” she continued, looking at the quiet Lin Xiaoyu with a smile.

“You say you’ve lost everything? What you’ve lost is just a man who was never yours. What you’ve just said confirms my belief that you are nothing but a kept woman, completely dependent on others,” Du Bai concluded, glancing at Lin Xiaoyu. “If you had been decent, would you ever have doubted the child? It was your doubt that gave me an opportunity, making you end up in such a disgraceful state.”

After hearing all this, Lin Xiaoyu didn’t cry or make a scene. Instead, she glared at Du Bai with resentment. “I will never forgive you.”

Du Bai couldn’t help but sneer. “You’re mistaken. I never came here wanting anyone’s forgiveness, because I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Why would you do this? Did that wretch ask you to? She’s just lucky and well-born. What gives her the right to enjoy everything, to trample me after getting all the happiness, to rob me? I will curse her, curse her to never find happiness.”

Shen Yan saw Du Bai’s tense shoulders and knew she was truly angry.

Du Bai clenched her fists and let out a devilish smile, “I think I’ll take your curse as a blessing. Knowing you are helpless and full of resentment but can do nothing about it just fills me with indescribable joy.”

“By the way, I forgot to mention, I am extremely protective of my friends and I can’t stand anyone insulting them.” She then looked towards the two stacks of money on the couch. “Shen Yan, would you mind burning it?” she said with unwavering conviction. After that, she walked straight out of that filthy space, ignoring the entanglement behind her.

Ji Feiling, I’ve told you, if you dare harm Tinna, I will go to great lengths to destroy everything you love and cherish right before your eyes. Whether Lin Xiaoyu’s suffering ends now depends on what you decide to do after learning about this.

This game isn’t over, is it?

Wednesday’s classes ended quickly, and on the way back, Du Bai noticed a conspicuous figure by the roadside. She sent Shen Yan ahead and wondered if Wednesday was her unluckiest day.

Ji Feiling approached Du Bai quickly. “Is what Lin Xiaoyu said true?” His eyes flared as he stared at her.

She was quite direct. “I don’t know what Lin Xiaoyu told you, but if you are referring to the DNA matter, yes, I did it.”

Ji Feiling was taken aback by Du Bai’s straightforward admission.

“However, if Lin Xiaoyu is trying to drag Tinna into this, she’s making things up. It was all me, from start to finish.” Seeing Ji Feiling relax momentarily, Du Bai knew that woman had indeed tried to drag Tinna down with her, revealing a glimpse of a sinister light in her eyes.

They stared at each other for a long time. “Let’s find a place and talk this through,” he said, then grabbed Du Bai’s hand and walked towards his car. Du Bai felt a surge of disgust at the sudden touch and casually shook off Ji Feiling’s hand, heading towards his car. Ji Feiling didn’t persist, his eyes shimmering with a strange light.

The car stopped at Shadow, and Du Bai sneered internally. How thoughtful! If only it were room 611 we were entering next, that would be even more interesting. With this thought, she requested room 611 from the staff. Ji Feiling’s face turned ashen, but he held his tongue, thinking to himself that it wasn’t certain who would have the last laugh.

Du Bai sat leisurely on the sofa, sipping beer and occasionally watching the music videos playing on the large screen, thoroughly entertained. Ji Feiling ran his fingers through his hair and walked over to the jukebox to turn off the music, “I didn’t bring you here to play.”

Du Bai glanced at Ji Feiling, picked up her beer, and continued to drink leisurely, poised as if to say, “Feel free to continue, I’m all ears.”

Ji Feiling was visibly furious, but considering what was to come, he had to suppress the urge to lash out.

“Why would you do this? What benefit is it to you?”

Du Bai looked at Ji Feiling as if he were a joke, the standoff lasting a long while until it was broken by her laughter. Observing the veins bulging on Ji Feiling’s forehead, Du Bai suppressed her amusement, “I warned you long ago, if you dared to harm Tinna, I would seek double the retribution for her, didn’t I? Tsk, tsk, are you already unable to bear such a small price?”

“Small? That child, that child was my first, a delightful surprise when I first became a father. You ruthlessly took a child’s life and call it a small price? How cruel can you be?” Ji Feiling choked up, nearly in tears. Du Bai was unmoved; the more he suffered, the deeper the hurt inflicted on Tinna.

Laughing bitterly, Du Bai responded, “I have always been cruel, you should know that. That child was yours, a precious life to you. To me, she was a tool for revenge for your betrayal. The more miserable they are, the more it pains you, why should I be kind and gentle for the sake of hypocrisy?” After pausing to look at Ji Feiling, she continued, “I think if you can sacrifice love, you can sacrifice your child too. For someone like you, emotions are just a burden. After all, you should thank me, I’ve removed a stumbling block on your path to wealth.”

“You-” Being confronted with his flaws, a proud man could hardly accept it. But to argue further would only bring more humiliation, especially since his relationship with Tinna was initially for wealth and the benefits it brought to her family. Even though he had fallen in love with her, the initial reasons still stood. “It seems that these matters are none of your concern, and what right do you have to intervene?”

Hearing this, Du Bai realized that Ji Feiling must have investigated her background, finding nothing concrete. Today, when he went to the school and encountered the director whom she had knocked down, he must have pieced together some rumors and believed them, thinking she was being kept by a man. It’s incredible how foolish a man can be when devoid of reason, not even considering what kind of person Tinna really is. Would she allow such a thing if it were true?

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, and immediately after, the door was pushed open. Tinna stood at the entrance, her face pale, clearly having overheard the conversation. Her eyes shifted between Du Bai and Ji Feiling, filled with confusion and pain.

Tinna looked at Du Bai, then at Ji Feiling, and ran off covering her face, while Ji Feiling made a gesture to follow her.

“This is the effect you wanted by coming here, isn’t it? Quite a drama,” Du Bai muttered, standing still.

Ji Feiling paused as he was leaving, “This is to let you know that Ji Feiling is not someone you can manipulate freely; and also to tell you that carefully plotting for others only ends up in misunderstandings and distrust, which is a kind of sweet revenge.”

“So, you’re that sure Tinna won’t believe me?” There was no anger or panic, Du Bai asked calmly.

“I think you’ve never truly been in love. A woman in love is completely dominated by jealousy. Plus, with your past, nothing you say will be persuasive,” he said, looking triumphantly at Du Bai. Child, I will make this person suffer. But at the same time, why does it also pain my own heart?

Du Bai thought about it; according to Ji Feiling’s logic, if she were the mistress, Tinna would certainly know. All he would need to do is tell Tinna that she seduced him while he was drunk to clear him name, and she would be indefensible. A good plan, but its only flaw was not completely knowing the other.

“Some things aren’t as simple and easy as you think. I hope you won’t regret it later,” Du Bai paused, “What I want to tell you is that I won’t regret anything I do, and I believe the affection between Tinna and me is not something your petty schemes can break. Also, this is your last chance, if you dare to hurt Tinna again, I will make you understand that this fee is insignificant. I will make you watch as everything you care about disappears in front of you, and you will be powerless to stop it.”

Ji Feiling was stunned by Du Bai’s imposing demeanor, but then his face showed disdain, “Are you relying on your charm to win favors? You think too highly of yourself.” After saying this, he walked out, presumably to chase after Tinna.

Du Bai sat on the sofa, expressionless. Ji Feiling, the game has just begun. It’s not just me you’re playing with. I will demand double the retribution today. My background will be the best weapon. I long to see you filled with regret now.