Chapter 52: Xiaoxue Falls into the Trap

Chu Luoxi walked briskly back toward the dormitory, her mood apparently quite good, even humming an unfamiliar little tune under her breath. Her mind was occupied with thoughts of tomorrow’s audition, when, passing by the entrance of a narrow alley, she was suddenly collided with by someone rushing out. The impact sent Chu Luoxi stumbling several steps backward before she managed to steady herself, and she looked, torn between annoyance and concern, at the person now clinging to her.

“Hey, are you alright?” Chu Luoxi nudged the woman, sighing inwardly—did life really have to be this melodramatic? Indeed, reality often outdid art in its twists and turns.

“Lo… Luoxi…” The woman’s tongue was thick, her words slurred but still recognizable.

“Huh?” Hearing her own name, Chu Luoxi looked more closely—and was startled. “Xue? How could it be you? What happened?”

She would never have guessed she’d run into Zhu Xueshuang here; from the way Zhu Xueshuang had burst out of the alley and crashed into her, it clearly wasn’t by chance.

“I… I feel terrible…” Zhu Xueshuang’s whole body was limp as she draped herself over Chu Luoxi, her lips parted, cheeks flushed, and breathing ragged—a state that was obviously far from normal.

Having spent twenty years in the entertainment industry in her previous life, what hadn’t Chu Luoxi seen? She frowned slightly and made a quick deduction, but this was hardly the time for questions. She could only hold Zhu Xueshuang firmly to keep her upright.

Given her current state, it would be unwise to take her back to the dormitory, especially since the distance from the campus gate was not insignificant. After a moment’s thought, Chu Luoxi led her into the nearest hotel and booked a room.

Hotels and inns were commonplace near the university gate, especially at the Film Academy. Every year during the art student recruitment period, even the most humble basements were packed, and the more legitimate lodgings made a killing.

Once inside the room, Chu Luoxi guided Zhu Xueshuang straight into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and drenched her in cold water until she was thoroughly chilled.

The sudden cold shock sobered Zhu Xueshuang considerably. She opened her gentle, bloodshot eyes and, seeing Chu Luoxi before her, breathed a genuine sigh of relief. So the figure she’d glimpsed in her daze hadn’t been a hallucination after all…

Chu Luoxi leaned against the bathroom door, her brows furrowed as she looked at Zhu Xueshuang’s disheveled appearance. Though her complexion had improved, strands of hair clung to her damp face, giving her a kind of desolate beauty that was nonetheless heart-wrenching. “What happened? You look like you’ve been drugged with an aphrodisiac!”

At this thought, a chill ran through Chu Luoxi. Could it be that Xue still hadn’t escaped her predetermined fate? But when she’d found her, aside from her odd state, her clothes had been perfectly in order—so perhaps nothing had happened yet.

Zhu Xueshuang took a few heavy breaths, angrily letting the cold water cascade over her head. The abrupt change in temperature made her gasp for air, and only after steadying herself did she speak. “Last National Day, didn’t we go to a photo studio together? If it hadn’t been for you that time, both Jiajia and I would have been in trouble.”

“You mean… it’s that Tang guy again?” Chu Luoxi narrowed her eyes, puzzled. Wasn’t that Tang fellow just a nouveau riche? He had money; why would he lack for women? Even if he had a thing for aspiring starlets, there were plenty to choose from—why fixate on Zhu Xueshuang?

“It’s him.” Zhu Xueshuang bit her lip, leaving a pale mark amidst the flush. “I ran into him after dinner tonight. He was with a bunch of people. I couldn’t refuse and was forced to drink a glass of wine. Fortunately, I sensed something was wrong and managed to escape. Passing the alley, I vaguely saw you…”

There was no need to finish—the rest was obvious to Chu Luoxi. Both felt fortunate to have met; otherwise, trouble would almost certainly have followed, and there was no telling whether Xue could have gotten away on her own.

Seeing how exhausted she was, Chu Luoxi spoke gently, “Don’t stay under the cold water too long. If you feel better, get some sleep. In a few days you’ll be joining the cast, and you can’t afford to fall ill now.”

Knowing Xue was safe, Chu Luoxi felt genuine relief. After all this time, that Tang still dared stir up trouble—did he really think money made him untouchable? Had anything happened to Xue, all her efforts to change things would have been nothing but a cruel joke.

“Luoxi, thank you. If not for you, I’d have been doomed again.” Zhu Xueshuang felt her eyes sting with tears, unsure how to express her gratitude. It was always Chu Luoxi looking after them, even saving her from danger twice—wasn’t that kindness enough?

She wasn’t a fool; she knew perfectly well what would have happened had she fallen into Tang’s hands. Her future would have been over—her whole life destroyed.

“We’re sisters—no need for thanks.” Chu Luoxi smiled, then grew stern. “Xue, you need to hurry up and find someone trustworthy. What if this happens again? And that Tang—get someone to investigate him. He’s seriously suspicious.”

Zhu Xueshuang was just a newcomer, not stunningly beautiful or dazzling beyond compare. There was no reason she should attract such relentless attention. The sequence of events made no sense; it could only mean that first encounter had been a setup from the start.

“I know, I’ll move quickly. This is too frightening.” Zhu Xueshuang’s face went pale as she realized the same thing. Her family might value education—her father a teacher, her mother in the musical instrument business—but that didn’t mean they lacked connections. Ever since Chu Luoxi had mentioned safety, her family had been making arrangements. She just hadn’t expected trouble to arise in the meantime.

Watching Zhu Xueshuang’s lingering fear, Chu Luoxi mused aloud, “Xue, did you see anyone else tonight? Anyone out of the ordinary?” For Tang to know Zhu Xueshuang’s whereabouts so precisely was unnatural.

Still soaking in the cold water, Zhu Xueshuang thought hard, her head aching, before finally shaking it in defeat. “The dorm isn’t exactly a secret base. If someone really wanted to watch, it wouldn’t be hard, and it’d be easy to avoid my notice.”

“That’s true. Alright, you rest for now. I’ll go back and get you a change of clothes—don’t stay in the bath too long. Don’t worry, I’ll stay here with you tonight.” Chu Luoxi nodded, understanding Zhu Xueshuang’s need for security.

Hearing this, Zhu Xueshuang’s eyes filled with gratitude and she nodded vigorously. Honestly, if Chu Luoxi wasn’t here, she wouldn’t be able to sleep at all. That sense of unease—no matter how exhausted—wouldn’t let her rest.

When Chu Luoxi returned from the dorm with clothes, she found Zhu Xueshuang wide-eyed and sleepless, her anxiety and caution so apparent it made Chu Luoxi’s heart ache. “Still awake? Then have something to eat—I’m not leaving.” She’d brought takeout for Zhu Xueshuang to fill her stomach.

“Oh, okay!” Zhu Xueshuang sat up; she seemed fine now, though her limbs were still weak, but at least she could move.

Perhaps with Chu Luoxi present, Zhu Xueshuang had found her anchor. At first she tried to stay awake, but after a few bites, her eyelids grew heavy, her head nodding with sleep.

In the end, Chu Luoxi couldn’t bear it and finally shooed her off to bed.