TDU Chapter 389
Chapter 389 Forever Off Course
“Speak.”
“Damn you, Zhang Laidi, are you blind? Did you not read laozi’s messages?” Chengcai cursed.
“I saw them,” I replied calmly. “What’s the point of sending me this?”
“I just wanted to show you your slutty self!” Chengcai sneered. “Well? Aren’t you dating now? What do you think he’ll say when he sees this, huh?”
“Just state your purpose directly,” I cut straight to the point.
“Zhang Laidi… don’t you dare get fierce with laozi. Laozi wants money,” Chengcai said. “Two million and thirty thousand. Transfer it to my account, or you’re done for.”
“Two million? That’s blackmail,” I said flatly.
“So what if it’s blackmail?! So what if laozi blackmails you?” Chengcai snorted coldly. “Not paying?”
“I don’t have that much,” I lowered my gaze to the recorder in my hand. “I can’t give you two million.”
“Then get it from your boyfriend!” Chengcai roared. “You don’t have it, but he does, doesn’t he?”
At those words, I let out a cold laugh. “But there’s one thing I can’t quite understand. If you want two million, then just ask for two million—why two million and thirty thousand?”
“Laozi is doing you a favor!” Chengcai sounded ecstatic. “Laozi took your photo to get color prints made! Cost me three thousand yuan! These are your pictures! I’m making you famous—you ought to reimburse me.”
“Wha—”
I froze, never having imagined that would be the answer.
“Chengcai, you—”
“Zhang Laidi, don’t you worry. All three thousand copies are under my bed. If you pay me, that’ll be the end of it. If you don’t… Laozi will paste them all over the streets of Chengdu.”
At that, I glanced out at the pitch-black night beyond the window, my face frosted over as I shut down the phone’s recording function, then the recorder.
The words that would follow did not need to be captured.
“Ah, Chengcai… you shouldn’t be like this.” My tone was tender. “Don’t be agitated. Give your sister a moment to collect the money, all right?”
“Of course!” Chengcai laughed. “Once you’ve got it ready, just transfer it straight to me.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Chengcai, a sum this large going straight into your bank account will draw the police’s attention.”
“What?”
“I’m a lawyer,” I said. “Mom and Dad may not know what that implies, but you should, right? I understand the law.”
“If two million gets transferred at once, the police will get involved?” Chengcai asked.
“Yes.” I spoke with deliberate earnestness. “Think about it. You don’t even have a job—how could you possibly earn two million? If the police question you, what will you say?”
“Tsk—” Chengcai hesitated. “Then what do you suggest?”
“I’ll give you cash.”
“Cash?”
“Mhm.” I knowledged. “According to the law, I can’t withdraw two million all at once, so I’ll need a little more time. I’ll have to take it out over five days.”
“Is that so?” Chengcai thought it over, then threatened, “Zhang Laidi, I’m warning you, don’t play tricks. Five days from now, you bring two million to our house.”
“Alright. But let me make this clear in advance—if you leak my photos, you won’t get a cent from me.”
“What?!” Chengcai froze. “Zhang Laidi, are you insane? You think two million is the end of it? Two million is just a warning! If you don’t behave in the future, who knows where those photos might show up! Do you understand?”
“Is that so…” My gaze grew colder, as though the final taut string in my mind had snapped. “You open your mouth and demand two million, yet call it nothing more than a warning?”
“So? I’m being reasonable. Right now, only the family has seen those pictures. But if you refuse to listen in the future… well, then who knows.”
“‘The family’s already seen them?…” I slowly lowered my head, pressing the phone hard against my ear. “And what did they say?”
“My wife doesn’t care for it, but the old man does. He’s already plastered them up in his room. You wouldn’t know since you left, but for years he had those old photos of that college girl from more than a decade ago on his walls, all faded now. This time, finally, he’s got something new.”
My heart gave a sickening jolt, every hair on my body standing on end.
Chengcai went on as if he were telling some grand joke, “Women who’ve been to the city really are different. Skin so fair and smooth. Like mother said—if I’d known you were this wild, I should’ve asked for another twenty thousand. What a bargain Butcher Ma got, haha!”
Hahaha.
Yes, very funny indeed.
I bit down hard, grinning through clenched teeth, tears streaming down my face.
Did they not understand why those photos had been taken in the first place?
Did they not understand why I’ve become what I am?
Butcher Ma was already taken care of; only my family remained.
Why were they still alive?
It was laughable. Truly laughable.
“Chengcai, don’t worry. In five days I’ll come home and hand over all the money to you,” I said with a smile still on my lips.
“Haha! As long as you behave! We’re brother and sister, after all—how could I ever harm you?”
“Mhm.”
I hung up the call and let out a long, heavy breath.
At last. My days of suffering would soon be over.
I sat inside my room, not the least bit drowsy.
I gazed at the ceaseless crowds in the street, at the stream of cars coursing through the midnight city. The world was so vast, there isn’t a single haven that can shelter me.
…
The next day, I invited Sun Jiaqi to my home. Since we had confirmed our relationship, this was the first time I allowed him to come to my house.
I knew I had only five days left to live. In these last few days, I wished to leave him with no regrets.
“Chenze…” Xiao Sun looked at me in puzzlement. “Calling me over at this hour, shouldn’t you get some more rest?”
“No, I’m fine.” I smiled faintly. “Jiaqi, do you have any wishes?”
“Wishes?” He blinked, a trace of wariness in his expression. “Why? Did something happen?”
“Is there anything you’ve ever wanted to do with me?” I asked, my eyes shimmering. “If the world were about to end, would you have any unfulfilled wishes?”
Slowly, I began to loosen the buttons of my blouse.
Though I knew I was already defiled, Jiaqi was, after all, a man, with his own needs.
I couldn’t let my own aversion prevent him from even touching me—that wouldn’t be fair to him.
Tears welled up as I continued unfastening each button. Crossing this threshold felt unbearably painful.
“Chenze.” Jiaqi caught my hand, halting me, sorrow clouding his face. “If the world were truly about to end, I wouldn’t want to strip off your clothes. I’d only want to drape you in a wedding gown, so that in the final moment of this world’s collapse, you could be the happiest bride alive.”
TL Note: I teared up while translating the last line. Xiao Sun is so precious, I’m glad Lawyer Zhang has him by her side. Screw her family, they are garbage and I hope they rot in hell.
