Chapter 10 The Price of Jealousy

"Sister Tang Xin, hello!"

Chu Anqing smiled sweetly, taking Tang Xin's hand. "I never imagined you'd be Senior Lin Xian's high school classmate. What a coincidence!"

Tang Xin smiled back, looking at Chu Anqing. "So, you're the ballerina everyone was talking about during rehearsal this afternoon. You really are as beautiful and lovely as they say!"

"Hehe, you're too kind, Sister."

Just then, a staff member approached, gesturing for Lin Xian to leave the backstage area. "Sir, we need to start preparations here. Please return to your seat in the audience."

Lin Xian nodded, bidding the two farewell.

Tang Xin and Chu Anqing, both connected to Lin Xian, found themselves chatting happily.

Although their relationships with Lin Xian were only fleeting, they had him as a common topic, and the conversation flowed easily.

"Speaking of which... Sister Tang Xin, there's something I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Oh, it's a bit embarrassing. I'm almost too shy to ask, but I'm really curious."

"There's no need to be shy." Tang Xin liked this cheerful girl and smiled, "Just ask whatever you want."

Chu Anqing nodded, as if gathering her courage. "Actually... I wanted to ask about your high school classmates."

She gathered her hair behind her head with her right hand, revealing her fair neck.

Then, mimicking the expression in the sketch, she smiled, faintly revealing two adorable dimples as she looked at Tang Xin. "Sister Tang Xin, did you have a girl in your high school class who looked a lot like me?"

"Huh?"

Tang Xin never expected Chu Anqing to ask such a question...

After a half-second of stunned silence, she re-evaluated the cheerful girl before her.

Honestly, her face was truly blessed, more adorable than any young woman she'd ever met.

And she had an indescribable aura, giving people a clean, pure, and comfortable feeling, like a gentle spring breeze.

Looking at that pretty face, Tang Xin searched her memories of the few days she'd known her high school classmates, then compared them to the women at the class reunion...

"I don't think so."

"N-No?"

Chu Anqing's face flushed red, her heart racing slightly. "Really? There wasn't a single girl who looked like me?"

"Not that I recall."

Tang Xin smiled at Chu Anqing. "If there was a girl as beautiful as you in our class, I'd definitely remember her. I wouldn't forget."

"But, it's been so long, and I transferred after only a few days of school, so I can't be completely sure. By the way... why are you asking such a strange question?"

"It's... nothing! I just heard Senior Lin Xian mention it casually!" Chu Anqing waved goodbye to Tang Xin. "Well, Sister Tang Xin, I'll go now. I need to get ready for makeup and hair too!"

"Okay, bye-bye."

Tang Xin waved goodbye to the cheerful girl.

She smiled, not taking the matter to heart.

...

Lin Xian returned to his premium seat, sat down, and gradually the surrounding seats began to fill.

Soon, Zhao Yingjun arrived with her handbag, sitting in the seat next to Lin Xian. "Lin Xian, you're here so early."

"Ah, I came to say hello to my high school classmate. She has a performance today."

"Which performance?"

"The symphony orchestra. She's a violinist."

Zhao Yingjun nodded, looking at the program in her hand. "The ninth performance, right before Anqing's ballet."

"Yes..."

For a moment, Lin Xian didn't know what to say.

He felt like anything he said would be suspicious, so it was better to say nothing and focus on the show. Everything was understood without words.

Soon after, the musical performance officially began.

It had to be said, this was an official concert, and the quality of each performance was very high.

Even Lin Xian, who wasn't particularly interested in classical music, could feel the immersive beauty.

The symphony orchestra Tang Xin was in performed many pieces, in various styles.

Because there were so many people, even though Tang Xin was the principal violinist, she wasn't particularly conspicuous, and Lin Xian didn't notice anything particularly special.

In contrast...

Chu Anqing's solo ballet performance filled the stage.

The entire stage, lit only by the spotlight on her and a piano in the corner, was Chu Anqing's world.

This time, without Lin Xian as a cumbersome partner, Chu Anqing went all out, showcasing her true dance skills.

Professional, graceful, and beautiful.

She garnered thunderous applause from the entire audience.

Lin Xian also applauded Chu Anqing's perfect performance generously...

As he thought, Chu Anqing hadn't gotten "to the top" by pulling strings; she really had talent.

He imagined that somewhere in the premium seats, Chu Shanhe was also excitedly clapping his hands red.

It was a given that Chu Shanhe would be present wherever Chu Anqing was.

However, the premium seating area was too large and crowded, and Lin Xian couldn't find the burly figure.

The subsequent performances were also good, and Lin Xian was able to watch them.

Meanwhile, backstage...

Chu Anqing went to the symphony orchestra's lounge after her performance to chat with Tang Xin. Perhaps because of their similar personalities, the two quickly became friends.

Chu Anqing was very interested in Lin Xian's high school days, and Tang Xin was curious about his current situation... Because of Lin Xian, a strange bond, the two chatted happily.

Finally,

The musical performance ended successfully.

The performers bowed and began to return backstage to pack up, remove makeup, and change clothes. Chu Anqing and Tang Xin, who had chatted for half the evening, naturally stayed together, chattering away.

In the audience, people began to leave in an orderly fashion.

Lin Xian stretched in his seat—

The concert had been too long, three and a half hours. His back was sore from sitting.

"Well, Lin Xian, I'll go first."

Zhao Yingjun said goodbye to Lin Xian at the theater entrance and walked toward the parking lot across the street.

Lin Xian had told Zhao Yingjun that he was going to have a small gathering with his classmates after the performance, so he wouldn't take Zhao Yingjun's car home.

Gradually, the crowd left the theater, crossed the road to the parking lot, got into their cars, and drove away.

Gao Yang also said goodbye to Lin Xian with his colleagues before leaving.

Lin Xian stood at the theater entrance, watching the slowly thinning crowd, waiting for Tang Xin to come out after changing her clothes.

He didn't know what Tang Xin wanted to give him.

But he thought...

Tang Xin's expression of affection was extremely direct, and Lin Xian could roughly guess what it was.

After waiting another ten minutes, Tang Xin walked out of the theater wearing a coat, jogging toward Lin Xian. "Sorry to keep you waiting!"

"No, it wasn't too long."

"Hehe, how was my performance? My violin skills are good, right?" Tang Xin seemed very satisfied with today's performance.

"It was great." Lin Xian said with a smile. "By the way... what are you going to give me?"

Tang Xin looked down at her watch. "Oh, why hasn't it arrived yet? Zhou Duanyun is so slow!"

"Zhou Duanyun?"

Lin Xian was surprised to hear the name.

Had those two planned this together?

Beep beep!

Across the street, there was a burst of rapid car horns.

It was late, and everyone had already left. There was hardly any traffic or people on the road, so the two horn blasts were very clear.

The two looked up, and a Rolls-Royce Phantom was parked close to the sidewalk across the street.

Zhou Duanyun opened the car door, got out, and waved with a smile.

"Hehe, speaking of the devil, he's here."

Tang Xin turned back to Lin Xian, her eyes filled with joy and excitement. "Well, Lin Xian, wait here for me. I'll go get it!"

"Ah..."

Lin Xian was a little confused, not knowing what the two of them were up to, or when their relationship had become so good.

But they were both classmates, and they had eaten together, so it wasn't that strange.

Tang Xin trotted towards the road.

Behind him, there was the sound of small footsteps.

Lin Xian turned his head and saw that it was Chu Anqing, who had changed her clothes, running over, holding a red phone in her hand.

Lin Xian had seen that phone case; it seemed to be Tang Xin's phone.

"Senior Lin Xian, where's Sister Tang Xin?"

Chu Anqing went straight to Lin Xian. "She got a phone call just now and rushed out. She forgot her phone on the dressing table."

"She's over there." Lin Xian pointed to Tang Xin, who had just stepped onto the road.

"Sister Tang Xin!" Chu Anqing shouted as she jogged over.

Suddenly—

Lin Xian spotted a taxi speeding towards them at the end of the road!

The taxi continued to accelerate!

It didn't even have its lights on!

He suddenly realized something!

"Come back!!"

But it was too late!

As Lin Xian shouted, Tang Xin had already reached the middle of the road, stopped there, and turned to look at Chu Anqing running towards her—

Boom!!!!!!!!!

Lin Xian used all his strength, leaped forward, and yanked Chu Anqing on the crosswalk backwards!

But amidst his helpless shouts, Tang Xin's bewildered gaze instantly transformed into two shooting stars streaking across the night sky! She was violently sent flying into the air by the speeding taxi!

"Tang Xin!!"

Lin Xian and Chu Anqing were thrown directly onto the sidewalk by the force, and blood splattered on their faces and clothes.

Chu Anqing looked at the shocking bloodstain on her white clothes, her eyes rolled back and she fainted...

Lin Xian felt as if the whole world was muted.

Until—

Thud.

Tang Xin, who had been sent flying dozens of meters, crashed heavily onto the concrete road like Xu Yun on that New Year's Eve. The blood flowing out formed a small river, spreading down the slope of the road towards the sidewalk.

"Tang Xin!!!"

Lin Xian scrambled to his feet and ran towards Tang Xin in the distance.

His heart ached uncontrollably, and he ran frantically, picking up Tang Xin, whose limbs were twisted!

Boom...

The hit-and-run taxi didn't stop for a moment, disappearing around the corner at the end of the road.

"Tang Xin..."

Lin Xian felt as if Tang Xin in his arms was falling apart. He couldn't find any point to support her. He looked into Tang Xin's pupils with the last vestige of hope...

Just like Xu Yun on that New Year's Eve, Tang Xin's black pupils visibly relaxed and diffused, turning black.

Slowly.

Tang Xin's severed left hand, supporting her askew palm, trembled and lifted.

It brushed across Lin Xian's face...

...

Thump.

Her arm fell limply, no longer moving at all.

Leaving behind only...

Two streaks on the side of Lin Xian's face...

...

Bloody fingerprints.