The night was dark.
The room was silent.
Chu Yazhi's heart, however, was beating faster than ever before.
Her knees and elbows, numb and aching from supporting her weight on the desk for so long.
The green ghostly fire, drifting slowly back and forth horizontally, had already become mechanical.
But she dared not pause for even a moment.
The words Li Qianfan had told her on the phone that morning kept replaying in her mind.
"First of all, I want to apologize."
"In a way, you are considered one of mine, yet I cannot save you when you are in danger."
"Because the more I try to stop it, the more I care about you, the more my mother will believe I've been bewitched by an old woman and will definitely get rid of you!"
"All I can do is pretend not to care about your life or death. That way, my mother's killing intent towards you will be negligible, and you will have a chance to survive."
"Remember!"
"If my mother looks for you during the day, it means she wants to see if you have the value to follow me. You must appear neither subservient nor arrogant."
"If she looks for you at night, it means she wants to kill you regardless of your value."
"There is only one way to impress her and make her spare you."
"Humility!"
"Even though this will affect your self-esteem, it is the only way to save you."
"As for how to do it, you need to think carefully."
"As long as you can get through this trial, even if I never look for you again in my life, she will protect you and not allow anyone to trouble you."
Chu Yazhi had thought about these words from Li Qianfan repeatedly throughout the day.
The mental pressure she experienced was beyond words.
She had spent the entire day hoping the legendary woman would suddenly appear before her.
But she was disappointed.
No!
It was despair!!
Especially when the sun set, Chu Yazhi unexpectedly burst into tears from fear.
But she also knew that tears, most of the time, could only temporarily dilute fear and were useless.
What she had to do was grit her teeth and follow Li Qianfan's instructions.
To make a final effort for her survival!
Shortly after dark, she knelt on the desk.
Letting the ghostly fire, formed by the four words "Qiānfān's Exclusive," "burn" resplendently in the darkness.
She thanked Jing Ran more than ever before.
Thanking Jing Ran for leaving these words on her.
Before the midnight bell struck, Chu Yazhi prayed devoutly.
Praying that Li Qianfan's judgment was wrong, and Li Wujiang would not appear tonight.
However—
The sound of the door opening was so light, but to Chu Yazhi, it was like a thunderclap.
All her muscles and nerves tensed up.
She didn't dare to look back.
Nor could she hear footsteps approaching.
But she could feel it distinctly!
Someone was standing not far behind her, their cold eyes looking at her indifferently.
Flicker.
Time ticked by, minute by minute.
A full hour had passed since the midnight chime.
During this hour, neither the person on the desk nor the person on the ground spoke.
Drip.
Another drop of cold sweat slid down Chu Yazhi's chin and onto the desk.
From behind.
Li Wujiang's voice finally came, "It's one in the morning. How long have you been like this?"
Chu Yazhi replied tremblingly, "Four hours and twenty-seven minutes."
Li Wujiang's voice carried a clear impatience, "You don't want to die?"
Chu Yazhi quickly replied, "No."
Li Wujiang asked coldly, "How much longer can you last?"
Chu Yazhi gritted her teeth, "Until sunrise."
Li Wujiang chuckled lightly.
There was no emotion in his laughter as he asked, "During this time, have you thought about your husband and son?"
"No!"
Chu Yazhi blurted out, "I was only thinking about my master."
A hand landed on her back.
Chu Yazhi shivered immediately.
"I need to inspect you thoroughly, inside and out."
Li Wujiang said indifferently, "You can refuse. And whether you refuse or agree will not affect my final decision."
Chu Yazhi quickly said, "I will not refuse. Even if you think I am not worthy of living in this world."
"You're not without a bit of cleverness."
Li Wujiang said, withdrawing his hand.
Chu Yazhi dared not speak but pricked up her ears.
Li Wujiang continued, "I will find a specialist doctor to give you a thorough examination. If you are ill."
He didn't finish his sentence.
But Chu Yazhi could understand the unspoken meaning!
She said tremblingly, "My body is very healthy, I have no illnesses. Especially gynecological diseases. Because many years ago, Lan Ximing indulged in drinking and women outside, so he rarely touched me."
"Him not touching you doesn't mean you've been honest."
Li Wujiang said casually and walked out quickly.
Chu Yazhi didn't dare to look back, maintaining her posture like a prisoner awaiting judgment.
Finally.
Footsteps sounded again.
The lights turned on.
Chu Yazhi instinctively closed her eyes.
Outside the corridor, footsteps sounded again.
"Doctor He."
Li Wujiang's voice came, "Please help me thoroughly examine this woman. You are an expert in this field, and I trust your judgment."
"Yes, I will perform my duties diligently."
A gentle female voice sounded from behind Chu Yazhi.
Soon.
Doctor He placed a black blindfold on Chu Yazhi.
She couldn't see anything but could hear Doctor He's voice.
She did whatever Doctor He told her to do, without any resistance.
Chu Yazhi felt like a medical mannequin, for an intern to observe and explore.
Doctor He examined her carefully while reporting to Li Wujiang.
"Teeth, neat and aligned, no defects, no dentures, wear level indicates around 30 years old. This is cultivated from a life of comfort and luxury since childhood."
"Tongue coating, healthy pink, moderate thickness. However, liver fire is slightly strong, caused by anger and a bad temper."
"Skin is delicate, no obvious scars, high collagen content, fingernails have healthy lunulae."
"Feet are size 37, delicate shape, rounded heels, soles slightly red, caused by strong liver fire. Toes are like silkworms, not deformed by wearing high heels."
"Shape is like a pomelo, very good, with a level four rating influenced by gravity."
"Melanin deposition is not obvious, which can be determined to indicate a very clean private life."
Doctor He's voice was very gentle, and her conclusions were even more professional.
After a full forty minutes.
Doctor He gave her final summary: "Younger and healthier than her actual age, very clean, capable of bearing offspring."
She paused.
Then Doctor He added four words: "Rare and valuable."
Standing at the doorway, looking into the corridor, Li Wujiang gave a hum, "Thank you, Doctor He."
"You are too kind."
Doctor He hurried out, "I'll be going now. I can't walk by the window anymore, I'm afraid of heights."
Li Wujiang smiled and thanked her again.
The lights went out.
Li Wujiang's voice came from the doorway, "Remember your positioning. Never try to change it. I won't give you a chance to start over. Because on the night Lan Yunhai got married, your person already died."
Chu Yazhi's person had already died on the night Lan Yunhai got married.
Then in what way was she living in this world now?
A pet.
She nodded forcefully.
The door also made a light click.
The sense of imminent death, which could be extinguished at any moment, finally disappeared with that click.
Chu Yazhi immediately felt weak.
She reached up and took off the blindfold, letting her tears flow freely.
After escaping death once again, she further realized how carefree her family of three had lived before.
How deserving of death they were!!
Daybreak arrived.
When the morning rush began, Chu Yazhi, who had stayed awake all night by the window, opened her phone.
She quickly typed out a message.
Ding.
When Li Qianfan's phone received the message, he had just driven into the company.
"Master, good morning!"
Four words, plus a crying emoji.
Hoo.
Seeing this message, Li Qianfan, who had also worried she wouldn't make it to this morning, breathed a sigh of relief.
He remained silent for a moment before typing back, "Live well."
Chu Yazhi replied with a photo.
On it were four dark green characters, looking exceptionally alluring.
Li Qianfan smiled and replied, "I like it."
Chu Yazhi kissed her phone screen and, wisely, did not reply further.
She stood by the window, her eyes sparkling with the glow of rebirth, and quietly gazed out again.
After an unknown amount of time.
She turned and walked quickly to her desk, opening her computer.
An hour later, she picked up the phone and made a call.
A few minutes later.
A woman in her thirties, wearing a large earring on her left ear and with an unconventional style, knocked and entered.
This woman, surnamed Wang, was the club's chief tattoo artist.
She specialized in designing tattoos that enhanced the charm of high-end members.
"Designer Wang."
Chu Yazhi got straight to the point, "I want to have a painting tattooed on my back."
Designer Wang was slightly taken aback, then politely asked, "Ms. Chu, what painting would you like?"
"Come and see."
Chu Yazhi picked up the mouse and clicked.
Designer Wang walked over and bent down to look at the computer screen.
A colorful hanged ghost!
Chu Yazhi said nothing further, stood up, and placed her knitted shawl on the nearby sofa.
Soon.
Her fair white back entered Designer Wang's sight.
Designer Wang looked at the painting, then at the back that allowed her to fully utilize her talent, her eyes growing brighter.
She closed her eyes.
The visual effect of the colorful hanged ghost attached to Chu Yazhi's back flashed in her mind.
When she slowly opened her eyes, Chu Yazhi asked softly, "How is it?"
Designer Wang swallowed with difficulty and said, "It can give you an indescribable evil sexiness."
Chu Yazhi asked again, "Can men resist it?"
"No!"
Designer Wang answered decisively.
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