She hadn't expected that this beautiful girl in front of her had such a powerful background.
She also had no idea that the down-on-her-luck Zhang Xiaoya would meet someone like this.
If she had known earlier, how would she have dared to offend Miss Su? Hearing the punishment meted out to Li Bao just now, she was terrified, and besides crying, she didn't know what else to do.
"You are the victim, yet you handed an innocent girl over to Li Bao?!"
Su Ding's gaze suddenly turned sharp. "Zhang Xiaoya is your classmate, how could you do such a thing!"
Zhao Chun collapsed on the ground, weeping profusely at Zhang Xiaoya. "I'm sorry, Xiaoya, I was wrong. I shouldn't have treated you like that, I'm sorry... *sob sob*... For the sake of our friendship as classmates, please plead for me. I don't want to, I don't want to be taken away, *sob sob*..."
Zhang Xiaoya stood there blankly, her eyes filled with a mix of complexity and hatred.
She raised her head and looked at Su Ding, who was also looking at her. Their eyes met.
They didn't speak, yet there was a tacit understanding between them.
Su Ding understood Zhang Xiaoya's choice, and she admired it, feeling gratified.
Her help towards Zhang Xiaoya was actually moved by her own similar experiences. In this world, there was a girl who was like her in the past.
Her mother was critically ill, she was helpless, and no one could help her.
Helping Zhang Xiaoya was also a way of saving the hurt self of the past, of reconciling with the past.
But her principle remained: repay kindness with kindness, and vengeance with vengeance. Indiscriminate forgiveness would only embolden bad people to continue their misdeeds.
If Zhang Xiaoya had spoken up for Zhao Chun, Su Ding would have looked down on her.
"Xiaoya, please speak up for me. We are classmates... What are you waiting for? Don't forget how you got that five hundred thousand... You can't be ungrateful..."
Zhao Chun, not hearing Zhang Xiaoya's words, grew anxious and tearfully rushed to hug Zhang Xiaoya's leg.
Zhang Xiaoya, however, pushed her away and said sternly, "We are classmates, yet you drugged me and sold me? Five hundred thousand, five hundred thousand is the money for my suffering. What right do you have to say these things to me! Zhao Chun, I didn't believe it when classmates used to say you tricked schoolmates into selling themselves in bars..."
"You betrayed everyone's trust, you, you ruined us!"
Zhang Xiaoya looked at her disgusting clothes, so revealing, so seductive, and suddenly she erupted!
She felt bitter about her fate!
She hated Zhao Chun for deceiving her!
She despised herself!
"How can you say that? Didn't you agree this time? What are you pretending to be so chaste for now, you bitch! It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, how would I have ended up like this!"
Zhao Chun, realizing Zhang Xiaoya was adamant, became enraged and lunged forward, trying to grab Zhang Xiaoya's hair.
"Bitch! If it weren't for you, how would I be like this!"
"You shameless slut! Stop pretending! You're not even a virgin anymore! Do you hear me!"
These piercing words struck Zhang Xiaoya like lightning bolts.
Zhang Xiaoya's face turned pale, and she stood frozen. Just as Zhao Chun was about to hit her, Su Ding had someone pull Zhao Chun away.
"Zhang Hou, investigate if she was involved in Li Bao's crimes. If she's an accomplice, hand her over to the police."
Su Ding said coldly, "I have nothing else. Take these people away."
Zhang Hou nodded at Su Ding and waved his hand.
Several men in black, grabbing Li Bao and his subordinates on the ground, retreated from the private room.
The private room returned to silence.
Zhang Xiaoya still stood there stiffly, her expression extremely grim.
Su Ding pulled her to sit down in the private room, saying nothing.
After a few minutes, Zhang Xiaoya finally started crying, sobbing, "I didn't want to either, I didn't want to..."
From their conversation earlier, Su Ding had already understood some of the story.
Zhang Xiaoya had been sold by Zhao Chun for five hundred thousand yuan to pay for her mother's medical expenses; she had lost something most precious.
She patted Zhang Xiaoya's hand and said quietly, "That matter is in the past. At least, your mother is still alive, isn't she?"
Zhang Xiaoya had her luck; her sacrifice saved her mother's life.
And Su Ding?
Enduring humiliation and torment, she returned to the hospital with a weary body, only to face her mother's death, her father's indifference, and the triumphant displays of a vile woman.
Su Ding shook her head, pushing away thoughts of the past.
Zhang Xiaoya seemed to take her words to heart and gradually calmed her emotions, saying to Su Ding, "You're right, my mom is still alive. If I had to do it again, I would still do it."
Su Ding smiled and nodded.
They had no choice, did they?