Chapter 70: Game 2—Why Dead for Seven Days…

Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier stared blankly at the young woman who had barged into their home.

As soon as she rushed in, the woman ran toward Zhou Sier, not only clutching her tightly but also crying out in panic, “Sier, save me…”

Perhaps due to exhaustion or fear, her entire body began to slump toward the ground.

Zhou Sier, dragged down by the woman, also started to fall.

Reacting quickly, Bai Yuanzhi stepped forward and kicked the woman hard!

In pain, the woman released Zhou Sier.

Bai Yuanzhi hurriedly helped her elder sister up and fled toward the door. Passing by the entrance, she grabbed the baseball bat hidden behind the back door—used as a self-defense weapon—and aimed it at the woman, saying to her sister, “Elder Sister, go find Sister Cai quickly!”

Zhou Si’er responded and was about to run to Sister Cai’s place when—

The young woman finally shouted, “Sier! You… you… don’t go! I’m Jiaojiao!”

At these words—

Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier were both stunned.

This woman in front of them was Luo Jiaojiao?!

Impossible!

Luo Jiaojiao had a thin, plain figure and a rather unremarkable appearance.

The woman before them wore heavy makeup that was smeared and messy…

As for her figure…

She was bundled up in too many layers of disheveled clothing, making it impossible to tell whether she was thin or plump.

Most importantly, the woman’s voice was hoarse, bearing no resemblance at all to Luo Jiaojiao’s original voice!

The woman sobbed, “Sier, I’m Jiaojiao, I really am Luo Jiaojiao!”

“Don’t you remember? When we lived in the tenement house, Auntie Juan accused me of stealing a hundred dollars from her and demanded I repay ten times the amount. You argued with her on my behalf and even got slapped by her.

In the end, you concluded that it was Auntie Juan’s son, Xiao Wu, who stole the money, but he wouldn’t admit it either.

So, based on what Auntie Juan said about when she lost the money, you went around asking about Xiao Wu’s spending and actually pieced together exactly how he had used that hundred dollars!

Xiao Wu had no choice but to tell the truth—he was the one who took it. Only then did Auntie Juan stop bothering me…

But you refused to let the matter be downplayed or swept under the rug.

You insisted that Auntie Juan publicly apologize to me. Even when she privately offered me five dollars to settle the matter, you firmly disagreed.

Sier, you told me that integrity is the most important thing a person has. We could endure poverty and hunger, but we must never lose our honor and principles.

If we could bend for five dollars today, then in the future, we might abandon the most important things for other gains…

In the end, Auntie Juan had no choice but to ask someone to write an apology letter and post it on the tenement’s bulletin board, and she made Xiao Wu stand there to explain to everyone.

I was worried Auntie Juan and Xiao Wu would seek revenge, but instead, Xiao Wu turned over a new leaf. Seeing you and me working three jobs a day while also attending night school for tutoring, Xiao Wu and Auntie Juan also started going to night school to learn English… Now, because she knows English, Auntie Juan runs a vegetable shop in the affluent district, and her business is thriving. Xiao Wu, also because he knows English, works at an insurance company in Central and earns a fortune…

Sier, don’t you remember?” As she spoke, the young woman covered her face with her hands and sobbed.

Bai Yuanzhi looked at the young woman, then glanced at her sister.

—Zhou Sier was also staring blankly at the young woman.

But no matter what, Zhou Sier had already lowered her defensive stance.

In other words, that disheveled young woman was indeed Luo Jiaojiao.

Bai Yuanzhi felt relieved.

She first closed the door, then directed Luo Jiaojiao, “Go wash your face in the bathroom first.”

Perhaps because she had gained the recognition of the Bai and Zhou sisters,

Luo Jiaojiao let out a sigh of relief, no longer as frightened, anxious, and urgent as before.

Staggering, she followed the direction Bai Yuanzhi pointed and entered the bathroom.

Soon, the sound of rushing water echoed from the bathroom.

Zhou Sier, expressionless, turned and walked to the open kitchen, turned on the gas, and boiled water to cook noodles.

—The sisters had originally planned to have breakfast.

Breakfast had just been delivered by Sister Cai. According to Bai Yuanzhi’s dietary preferences, the liquid dish was a light but delicious grouper porridge, accompanied by dried shrimp chili sauce and crispy, savory, and fragrant pickled radish. The solid dish was soft, sweet red date and walnut rice cakes, along with boiled eggs and steaming hot, sweet milk.

Zhou Sier herself was only able to enjoy such a delicious and nutritious ready-made breakfast without lifting a finger because of her sister.

Of course, she couldn’t share her own breakfast with Luo Jiaojiao.

So, she quickly cooked a bowl of noodles for Luo Jiaojiao.

Out of habit,

Zhou Sie took out some leafy greens, washed them, tossed them into the small pot, and cracked an egg inside.

After a moment’s thought, she also prepared a cup of hot milk using powdered milk, intending to give it to Luo Jiaojiao to drink.

Just as Zhou Sier finished making Luo Jiaojiao’s breakfast,

her sister called her over to eat.

The sisters had just finished eating

when the bathroom door opened, and the pale-faced young woman stood weakly at the entrance.

This time, both Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier recognized her—this young woman, with her face washed and clothes neatly arranged, was indeed Luo Jiaojiao!

Luo Jiaojiao stood at the bathroom door, glanced at Zhou Sier, then lowered her head in shame and embarrassment.

“What are you standing there for?” Bai Yuanzhi said. “Come over here!”

Luo Jiaojiao mumbled a thank you and slowly walked over.

As soon as she reached the sofa, tears once again covered Luo Jiaojiao’s face.

“My sister made noodles for you. Hurry up and eat!” Bai Yuanzhi added.

Luo Jiaojiao saw the bowl of noodles with greens and a poached egg on the table

and smelled the fragrance of sesame oil.

With tear-filled eyes, she looked at Zhou Sier, remembering the many years in the past when she and Zhou Sier had relied on each other for survival.

Luo Jiaojiao choked up, unable to speak.

But soon,

Luo Jiaojiao noticed the cup of hot milk placed beside the noodle bowl.

She suddenly froze.

—Next to that cup of hot milk was another cup of prepared probiotic powder.

Recently, Bai Yuanzhi had been under immense academic pressure and often stayed up late solving problems, which disrupted her digestive system.

So, Sister Cai would prepare an extra cup of probiotic powder for her every morning.

Bai Yuanzhi had already finished drinking it earlier,

but in the transparent mini glass, a tiny amount of whey-colored, semi-translucent, and milky liquid remained.

Luo Jiaojiao stared blankly at the mini glass, her expression suddenly changing!

Covering her mouth, she turned around, stumbled, and rushed into the bathroom…

Soon, the sound of violent retching echoed from the bathroom.

Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier exchanged a glance.

After a long while, Luo Jiaojiao finally emerged, her limbs weak and trembling.

“Sorry, I—”

Her voice was even hoarser and more unpleasant than before.

Zhou Sier waved her hand and asked, “Can you still eat?”

Luo Jiaojiao glanced at the dining table again.

—The leftover food from the Bai and Zhou sisters had already been completely cleared away?!

Feeling grateful, Luo Jiaojiao’s tears began to fall uncontrollably again. “Eat, eat… sob, thank you! Sier, thank you! Ah Zhi, thank you…”

Then she sat down and began devouring the vegetable and egg noodles ravenously.

In less than a minute, she had polished off a full, hearty bowl of homemade noodles, not even leaving a single drop of the broth!

Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier exchanged another glance.

The sisters couldn’t help but recall the times they had been in a similar state themselves.

But that was the kind of behavior that came from being starved for too long.

So…

Zhou Sier couldn’t help but ask, “Have you… not eaten in a long time?”

That couldn’t be, could it?!

Hong Kong University was already on winter break.

Logically, Luo Jiaojiao should have had more time to take on holiday jobs, so how could she be starving like this?

Luo Jiaojiao felt a bit embarrassed, nodded, and explained, “I haven’t had a proper meal in a week.”

Zhou Sier’s eyes widened.

Bai Yuanzhi also found it hard to believe.

After all—

Just as Aunt Jiang had said when Bai Yuanzhi first arrived in Hong Kong City: In Hong Kong City, as long as you’re willing to work, you’ll never starve to death.

So???

What had happened to Luo Jiaojiao?!

Moreover,

Earlier, Luo Jiaojiao had rushed in, clung to Zhou Sier, and desperately cried for help…

Bai Yuanzhi glanced at Zhou Sier,

and Zhou Sier also realized something, asking Luo Jiaojiao, “What’s wrong? What happened? Why haven’t you eaten properly in a week, and why did you come here crying for help?”

Bai Yuanzhi also asked Luo Jiaojiao, “Yeah, what happened to you? Why do you need my sister to save your life? Should we call the police for you?”

Actually, by saying this,

Bai Yuanzhi didn’t want Zhou Sier to get involved in Luo Jiaojiao’s affairs.

Luo Jiaojiao was an ungrateful and disloyal person,

and Bai Yuanzhi didn’t want her sister to help her.

Unexpectedly—

Luo Jiaojiao sobbed, “I’ve already called the police! But…”

Hearing this, Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier both widened their eyes in shock.

What on earth was going on?!

Luo Jiaojiao took a moment to compose herself and began recounting her experiences in a disjointed, incoherent manner.

But the more she spoke,

the wider Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier’s eyes grew.

By the time Luo Jiaojiao finished,

Bai Yuanzhi couldn’t help but say, “Impossible! That’s absolutely impossible!”

Zhou Sier also exclaimed in shock, “You… you, have you taken too much medication?”

It turned out—

Before Hong Kong University had even announced the winter break, Luo Jiaojiao had boarded a luxury cruise ship with Song Junshu.

Once on board, the ship sailed into international waters,

and Luo Jiaojiao realized it was actually… a mind-shattering, debauched orgy!

She spent seven excruciating days on that ship,

barely surviving until the early hours of last night when the ship finally docked.

Trembling on unsteady legs, she disembarked and saw someone selling fried pancakes at the pier.

Starving and on the verge of collapse, Luo Jiaojiao quickly bought a few.

Then,

Luo Jiaojiao noticed the old newspaper the vendor used to wrap the fried pancakes.

The front-page headline read:

【Shipping Magnate’s Eldest Son Passed Away Yesterday, Grieving Father and Young Son Heartbroken Today】

Luo Jiaojiao was stunned for a few seconds, her first reaction being… sheer terror!

Because…

Because during her time on the ship, the person she had served the most was the shipping magnate’s only son, Ming Zhixuan!

Tell me, across all of Hong Kong City, who else could be called the “shipping magnate” besides Ming Jingxing?

Ming Jingxing had only one son, and his name was Ming Zhixuan!

So???

How did Ming Zhixuan suddenly die?

Luo Jiaojiao’s second thought was, could it be that Ming Zhixuan, being older and having played around with too many women, had… died from a sudden stroke?!

That… couldn’t be possible!

Just moments ago,

Just one minute before Luo Jiaojiao disembarked, Ming Zhixuan had been holding her, even leeringly saying he would invite her back on the ship next time…

Luo Jiaojiao’s third reaction was to throw away those fried pancakes, then pick up the newspaper and read it carefully.

She wondered, could it be that during her seven days away from Hong Kong, a new shipping magnate had emerged from somewhere? Or perhaps the shipping magnate reported in the news was from one of the other Asian Tigers—the Japanese shipping magnate, the South Korean shipping magnate, or the Taiwanese shipping magnate?

But what Luo Jiaojiao saw was that the newspaper, in black and white, stated that the deceased was none other than—Ming Zhixuan!

It even included a black-and-white photo of Ming Zhixuan!!!

At that moment, Luo Jiaojiao let out a horrified scream and fainted.

When she woke up,

she found Song Junshu by her side.

Song Junshu had also seen the newspaper, and his expression was grim.

Luo Jiaojiao, deeply shaken, wanted to go to the police—

—she couldn’t accept that she had been… with a dead male ghost!

But when she tried to go,

Song Junshu stubbornly stopped her.

Luo Jiaojiao could only pretend to agree not to report it, then, taking advantage of Song Junshu’s inattention, she secretly ran to the police station and recounted everything that had happened to her.

But!!!

What filled Luo Jiaojiao with despair was

that the police told her to wait…

And what she waited for was Song Junshu!

The venom and coldness in Song Junshu’s eyes as he looked at her sent shivers down Luo Jiaojiao’s spine.

So Luo Jiaojiao resorted to her old trick—first, she obediently followed Song Junshu out of the police station, then meekly accompanied him to his place.

No matter what Song Junshu did to her,

she silently complied.

Only when Song Junshu was exhausted, drowsy, and fell asleep

did Luo Jiaojiao finally escape from his place…

Yet, with the vast world before her,

Luo Jiaojiao realized she had nowhere to go, so she ran to find Zhou Sier.

Hearing this,

both Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier wore expressions of speechless disbelief.

Zhou Sier couldn’t help but ask Luo Jiaojiao, “So you, you… when did you and Song Junshu…”

Luo Jiaojiao was overwhelmed with shame. “A long time ago.”

“How long is ‘a long time’?” Zhou Sier pressed.

Luo Jiaojiao covered her face with her hands. “Since freshman year…”

Zhou Sier was utterly shocked. “Since freshman year?!” That would be four years ago!

Luo Jiaojiao began to sob. “Sier, don’t blame me… You’re beautiful and smart, and everyone’s attention is always on you. No one ever cared about someone like me, with an ordinary appearance and an ordinary mind.”

“So when Song Junshu pursued me, I couldn’t resist! I really couldn’t… He was so handsome, so gentle and considerate. I couldn’t refuse him!”

“No man had ever treated me that well before…”

Zhou Sier still found it hard to believe. “So, you were already Song Junshu’s girlfriend four years ago… and yet you were the one leading the teasing, urging him to confess to me?”

Luo Jiaojiao burst into tears. “I didn’t want to either…”

“That time four years ago… I was actually the one who initiated it. Afterward, he kept telling me we were just friends, that he would never blame me. I… I felt guilty toward him, so… no matter what he wanted, I wanted to help him. I wanted him to succeed, to get what he wished for.”

“A year ago, when he wanted to confess to you, I was heartbroken. But he told me he was doing it for me. He said everyone thought he liked you, Sier, but that wasn’t true. He said after three years of careful consideration, he was certain that the person he loved… was me.”

“But he couldn’t shake off the label of being ‘Zhou Sier’s secret admirer.’ So he begged me to help create an opportunity for him to confess to you.”

“He swore that you would definitely reject him. As long as you rejected him, he could rightfully remove the label of being ‘Zhou Sier’s secret admirer,’ and from then on, he could openly be with me.”

“So—”

Luo Jiaojiao continued through her sobs:

“He specifically told me that when he knelt on one knee in front of everyone, holding roses to confess to you, I had to be the one to lead the teasing…”

“He said only this way could clear my reputation.”

“Otherwise, after we got together, people would gossip, saying I had no morals, that I seduced my best friend’s pursuer.”

“At the time… I must have been out of my mind, thinking what he said made perfect sense.”

“So I agreed… and I did exactly that.”

“Sier, I’ve disappointed you, haven’t I?” Luo Jiaojiao cried, gasping for breath.

Zhou Sier stared at Luo Jiaojiao in shock, her mouth agape.

But what Bai Yuanzhi was thinking was:

—Wasn’t it obvious that Song Junshu was manipulating Luo Jiaojiao?

A plain-looking girl was overshadowed by her beautiful, dazzling, kind-hearted, and hardworking best friend.

But her best friend had indeed helped her a lot, even going to great lengths to pull her out of the mud…

The ordinary girl didn’t even have the right to envy or resent her best friend.

Then, the handsome and talented Song Junshu appeared.

Under his calculated advances, a girl like Luo Jiaojiao, who had lacked love since childhood, easily fell for him.

It was clearly Song Junshu who seduced Luo Jiaojiao,

Yet he had conditioned her to feel guilty…

Wasn’t this typical manipulation?!

Thinking this, Bai Yuanzhi began to speculate about another possibility:

—Was this the reason her sister Zhou Sier fell from the Bilanting Hotel?

From the way Song Junshu urged Luo Jiaojiao to help with “his confession to Zhou Sier,” it was clear he was a deeply scheming person.

It was likely that after the “confession incident,” Zhou Sier’s accidental entry into the Bilanting Hotel was also arranged by Song Junshu!

The man who appeared in the guest room was most likely a client Song Junshu had found…

It might even have been the shipping magnate’s son, Ming Zhixuan!

The more Bai Yuanzhi thought about it, the more she felt… her speculation fit Song Junshu perfectly.

—So, was this why Bai Yuanzhi felt both unfamiliar and familiar with Luo Jiaojiao?

In her previous life, when Bai Yuanzhi arrived in Hong Kong City, her elder sister had already passed away many years earlier.

She stayed in Hong Kong City under the identity of Zhou Pan’er, the younger sister of Zhou Sier, struggling to make a living. Song Junshu inexplicably appeared and inexplicably helped her a great deal.

Upon careful reflection, Bai Yuanzhi could empathize with Luo Jiaojiao.

After all, what Luo Jiaojiao had just recounted was also what Zhou Pan’er had experienced in her previous life.

So, could it be understood as:

The type of woman Ming Zhixuan likes is Zhou Sier… that kind?

After all, Zhou Sier doesn’t even know Ming Zhixuan!

But Song Junshu, who deliberately studied the ways of the world, was very familiar with this.

That’s why Song Junshu tried every means to send Zhou Sier to Ming Zhixuan’s bed,

but in her previous life, Zhou Sier met her demise,

so Song Junshu then transformed Luo Jiaojiao into the image of Zhou Sier… which is why, some time ago, Zhou Sier told Bai Yuanzhi that Luo Jiaojiao was imitating her in everything from hairstyle to clothing?

Perhaps in her previous life, Luo Jiaojiao later… was played to death, or was kept by Ming Zhixuan or that wealthy man who “likes women of Zhou Sier’s type,”

In any case, Song Junshu could no longer benefit from Luo Jiaojiao,

so he turned his attention to Zhou Pan’er, hoping to also transform her into the image of Zhou Sier, and then seize the opportunity to offer her up in exchange for benefits?

Unfortunately, although Zhou Pan’er in her previous life also clung to and depended on Song Junshu, she was far from being as devoted to him as Luo Jiaojiao was. Moreover, after accidentally discovering the secret that “Song Junshu was Zhou Sier’s boyfriend,” she argued with him and was ultimately pushed down the stairs by him to her death…

Thus, Zhou Pan’er died, and Bai Yuanzhi was reborn!

As for why Bai Yuanzhi found Luo Jiaojiao familiar,

it was probably because Song Junshu had been dedicated to transforming both her and Luo Jiaojiao into the image of Zhou Sier!

Thinking this through, Bai Yuanzhi gasped in shock.

She couldn’t help but continue to let her thoughts wander.

—So, was Song Junshu’s success in his previous life due to sacrificing Zhou Sier and Luo Jiaojiao to climb up to Ming Zhixuan, the only son of the shipping magnate?

Luo Jiaojiao’s soft, continuous sobs filled the air, making Bai Yuanzhi feel heavy-hearted and short of breath.

Outside the window, the sun was shining brightly,

and the warm, radiant sunlight streamed into the room from outside, making this tidy and bright little home glow.

Yet Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier still felt a bone-chilling cold.

Luo Jiaojiao murmured, “Why? Why! If Ming Zhixuan had already died seven days ago… then who was that person on the boat?”

The two sisters exchanged another glance, both thinking:

Yes, why could Ming Zhixuan, after dying, still drive a luxury yacht to international waters for an orgy?

Just why?!

At that moment—

“Ding-dong! Ding-dong!”

The doorbell rang urgently once again.

Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier didn’t move.

After all, the last time, both sisters had thought the person ringing the doorbell was Sister Cai,

but when they opened the door,

it turned out to be Luo Jiaojiao!

So this time, the Bai and Zhou sisters let the visitor keep pressing the doorbell.

After a moment, Bai Yuanzhi whispered, “I’ll go check.”

Zhou Sier also whispered to her sister, “First see who it is, don’t open the door easily.”

Bai Yuanzhi nodded, picked up the baseball bat lying nearby, and tiptoed toward the door.

Zhou Sier lowered her voice and asked Luo Jiaojiao, “Jiaojiao, how did you know I live here?”

 

—Her younger sister Bai Yuanzhi was unwilling to reveal her address, fearing that Zhou Xiangmei would come to harass her. Therefore, apart from a few of her sister’s friends, no one knew where her sister lived.

And Zhou Sier’s newly purchased apartment was also in this building. The place had been renovated, and she hadn’t moved in yet.

Apart from Qiao Yusen, no one knew she was staying at her sister’s place.

Zhou Sier herself was also unwilling to tell others her sister’s address—after all, this was her sister’s home, not hers.

Zhou Sier also didn’t believe Qiao Yusen would tell Luo Jiaojiao.

So, how did Luo Jiaojiao know that Zhou Sier was staying at Bai Yuanzhi’s place, and how did she know Bai Yuanzhi’s address?

Luo Jiaojiao answered Zhou Sier’s question, “It was Xiao Jiang sr who told me!”

Zhou Sier froze.

At that moment, Bai Yuanzhi, who had gone to check the peephole, returned carrying a baseball bat.

Zhou Sier quickly asked her sister, “Who is it?”

Bai Yuanzhi shook her head firmly, “They blocked the peephole. I don’t know who it is.”

Zhou Sier turned pale, looking at Luo Jiaojiao in disbelief.

Luo Jiaojiao was also terrified, shaking her head frantically, “It wasn’t me! I don’t know! I don’t know anything… I didn’t tell anyone I was coming here! After all, after all, I’m here to escape danger too!”

After a pause, Luo Jiaojiao added in a trembling voice, “Could it be… Ming Zhixuan’s ghost has come after us?”

Bai Yuanzhi had already walked over to the phone.

Of course, she knew that in such a critical moment, the quickest and most convenient way to call for help was to phone Sister Cai next door and ask her to check who was knocking. That would resolve the crisis.

But as if possessed, Bai Yuanzhi left a call for A Yao, marked with the code 999.

Only then did she dial Sister Cai’s number.

Unfortunately—

No one answered Sister Cai’s phone. It was unclear whether she had gone out to buy groceries.

“BANG!!!”

A loud noise erupted—

Perhaps the person outside, seeing no response for so long, grew impatient.

So, using something unknown, they began smashing the door!

In an instant, Bai Yuanzhi, Zhou Sier, and Luo Jiaojiao stared at each other, their faces all turning deathly pale!!!