Chapter Sixty: Crisis

The car slowly pulled out, and since it was afternoon, the sunlight was still bright. Chu Qitong naturally pulled down the sunshade and glanced at me, suddenly letting out a soft laugh. I glared at her again, clenching my teeth and muttering, "Is it really that funny? Is it? You’re a devil, my nightmare! I beg you, please, don’t pester me anymore, alright? I’m begging you, I’m terrified of you, okay?"

She merely snorted at my words, not answering, focused on driving. After a silent moment, I sighed, "I know you came today just to see me make a fool of myself. Fine, I made a fool, you apologized. From today on, let’s pretend we don’t know each other, alright?"

Hearing me, I saw her delicate frame tremble slightly. Not understanding, I continued, "I know you can’t stand me, I know you try every way to vent your frustrations through me. The more miserable I am, the happier you get. If I died, you’d probably think it was the happiest thing in the world. But I’m a person too—I have my own life, my own dreams. I won’t be your tool for venting anger… Miss Chu, I really don’t want to fight with you anymore. Can’t you let me have a bit of peace?"

"Hmph, who’s fighting with you? It’s always you bullying me, you bastard." Chu Qitong shot me a glance, pouting. "What are you talking about? Making me sound like some sadist. Let me clarify—I don’t dislike you… well, at least not right now. As long as you’re not with Su Xin, I won’t be so harsh with you. Do you think I want to be?"

"Why don’t you want me to be with Su Xin? Does it bother you, does it offend you? It’s not like I broke up your friendship, or said anything bad about you to her. Why can’t I be with Su Xin? Is it because that Song Jie you mentioned made you his advisor and told you to break us up?" The more I thought about it, the more suspicious I became. Sure, she and I had some petty conflicts, but nothing serious enough for her to hate me being with Su Xin.

"Who knows this Song Jie? Don’t talk nonsense!" Chu Qitong suddenly sped past a nearby car, glaring at me. "I just don’t like you being with Su Xin. Su Xin… Su Xin is my good friend. I don’t want her to walk into the lion’s den!"

"Miss, aren’t you exaggerating? If I’m a lion, you’re a lioness…" I retorted helplessly, "Fine, whatever. Anyway, it’s impossible for me to separate from Su Xin in this lifetime!"

Chu Qitong glared at me, biting her lip, and fell silent. I felt a surge of anger in my chest, turned my face away, and ignored her. The mood in the car dropped lower and lower, and only the sound of the engine and her pressing the accelerator could be heard.

I didn’t know how long had passed when the car gradually left the eastern side of the city and headed west. Just as I thought she would turn onto another road, she stepped hard on the gas, going straight ahead.

"Hey, what are you thinking? You’re going the wrong way, you should turn! Hey!" I shouted anxiously.

"Xiao Qiang, is the place I picked you up this morning where you actually live? Auntie always thought you were staying at the school dormitory. Why are you renting outside and hiding it from her?" Chu Qitong ignored me, still driving forward. "You must be pretty rich now, right? My father told me about your SX software—he wanted to buy it, but last week WeiSoft released it instead. You must have made a lot of money, huh? No wonder you can rent your own place. Tsk, tsk. If I told Auntie, I bet you wouldn’t have such an easy time, haha."

Hearing her words, I rolled my eyes. Without realizing it, she’d caught me out again—angry and helpless, I said, "What does my money have to do with you? I’m warning you, mind your own business. We’re not close! Where are you taking me? If you keep driving, we’ll be in the mountains!" The outskirts of City C are surrounded by hills, especially the western suburbs—endless, deserted mountain roads. I really couldn’t figure out where this young lady wanted to take me.

"It’s rare to get out for a day, I’m not going home so early. Let’s go play in the mountains!" Chu Qitong said excitedly. "I haven’t been in City C long, but I heard the scenery on the western hills is beautiful. I’ve always wanted to explore."

"It’s just mountains, flowers, trees, grass—what’s so fun about that? Don’t be crazy. If you want to play, drop me off first, then have your fun!" I was nearly defeated by her. She was the kind who did whatever popped into her head, never caring about anyone else’s feelings. This woman was terrifying…

"Don’t kill my mood, alright? I’m in a rare good mood today and want someone to accompany me. Hmph, listen, Xiao Qiang—I’m giving you face. Normally, men would beg to keep me company, and I wouldn’t let them!" Chu Qitong’s pretty face hardened in annoyance.

I sneered and shook my head, and somehow blurted out sarcastically, "A woman like you, has men wanting to be with you? Hah, that’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard. If someone gave you to me, I wouldn’t want you. Who’d like having a lioness at their side, pacing around, ready to bite at any moment? And this is a brainless lioness, crazy and unpredictable—who knows if you’re even normal?"

"Xiao Qiang! Have you finished?" Chu Qitong’s face flushed red with anger, her eyes fixed on me as she shouted, "I can’t stand it anymore! Who do you think you are, insulting me like this!"

"So, Miss, you’re finally showing your true colors? Fine, let’s go back. No need to see these mountains—the rabbits and birds around would all be scared away by you." I rolled my eyes; this young lady was finally revealing herself.

Chu Qitong trembled with rage, her eyes ice-cold. "Xiao Qiang, do you have to see me lose my temper to be happy? I’ve never endured this from anyone, never been scolded by a man like this. Today, I tried to make peace, went to your house to apologize, what more do you want? When have I ever felt so wronged? If you dare say another word, I’ll… I’ll bite you!"

Hey, now she was making it sound like it was my fault? I hadn’t even settled the score from earlier, and she was pushing the blame onto me. My anger flared, and I shouted, "Go ahead and bite! Don’t act like some saint, so pure and untouched by the world. You’re the one who provoked me—would I have acted like this if you hadn’t? You’ve never been wronged because of your status, your background. People are afraid of you, they don’t dare scold you. But I, Xiao Qiang, am not afraid—I’ve never feared you, you she-devil!"

"Xiao Qiang… you, you…" Chu Qitong was so furious she couldn’t speak, her face darkening with rage. At that moment, she really did seem like a lioness on the verge of rampage—though she was an exceptionally beautiful one. "I hate you, I hate you to death, you villain! I’ll bite you, you bastard!"

Just as I was about to retort, Chu Qitong suddenly left the driver’s seat, her angry face darting toward my shoulder. Startled, I pressed against the car door, yelling, "You lunatic, watch the road! Ow… you’re actually biting!"

The space in the car was too cramped; my shoulder ended up between Chu Qitong’s teeth. The intense pain instantly infuriated me. Without any mercy, and not even thinking about the old adage that a man shouldn’t fight a woman, my hand flew out, smacking her soft cheek hard.

A sharp slap echoed through the car. Chu Qitong, mid-bite and watching the road, had her face whipped to the side by my blow. It was only then that it hit me—she was still driving…

A screeching, grating sound of brakes came from beneath the car. My vision barely shifted to the window, and I felt my body tossed violently, the car seeming to crash into something. Then came a fierce rolling, a flash of memory from my previous life’s car accident, before I fell into unconsciousness…

Everything finally settled into silence.