Chapter 53: Come Quickly and Listen to Her Slander Me

The piano music came to an abrupt halt. A group of women appeared on stage, holding enormous posters filled with insults aimed at Zhou Yao.

"How could a woman with such corrupted morals be chosen as a student representative?" they shouted indignantly, pulling out rotten eggs they had prepared in advance and hurling them at Zhou Yao. "Shameless little whore, barely grown and already learning to be someone’s mistress. Is someone else’s husband really that tempting?"

Zhou Yao was bombarded, her delicate features distorted with shock as she screamed and scrambled to evade the assault.

"Who are you? I don’t know you. Don’t treat me like this," Zhou Yao protested loudly. "I haven’t done anything!"

"Stop!" Li Mingye stood up and barked a command. The principal hurried forward with security guards to intervene, and Zhang Xiluo rose as well.

Li Mingye reached Zhou Yao first, taking off his suit jacket to wrap it around her. Security arrived in time, blocking the women from further attack.

Li Mingye shielded Zhou Yao as they left the stage. She was trembling in terror, clinging tightly to him.

Zhang Xiluo followed behind, observing their expressions closely. Zhou Yao’s reliance and trust in Li Mingye gradually calmed Zhang Xiluo.

Sensing Zhang Xiluo’s gaze, Zhou Yao turned to look at her. She said nothing, but it was as if a thousand words had been spoken.

Zhou Yao was silently flaunting, letting Zhang Xiluo know that in Li Mingye’s eyes, only Zhou Yao mattered.

Bringing Zhou Yao backstage, Li Mingye let go of her.

"Mr. Li, Sister Zhang, thank you both," Zhou Yao whispered, her eyes full of apology. "I’ve caused trouble for you again. I’m nothing but a troublemaker."

Li Mingye glanced at Zhang Xiluo, not wanting to see her face, his brows furrowing tightly as his expression turned grim.

"Don’t look at me. Think about how to deal with this," Zhang Xiluo said impassively, nodding behind Li Mingye. The group of women were pushing past security and coming in.

"Take her out," Li Mingye gently moved Zhou Yao toward Zhang Xiluo.

Zhang Xiluo suddenly laughed, incredulous. Was Li Mingye out of his mind, grasping at straws?

"I’m not going," Zhang Xiluo refused flatly. "I have no reason to help her."

Li Mingye sneered, "What reason do you want?"

"You know the answer," Zhang Xiluo leaned closer, lowering her voice. "If you don’t agree, I’ll kick her when she’s down."

Li Mingye’s dark eyes lingered on her, a cold smile touching his lips. "Fine."

"You said that last time, too," Zhang Xiluo didn’t trust him. For the sake of her child, she couldn’t take his word lightly.

Li Mingye was angry now. "I meant you can! You’ve learned to take advantage of the situation."

"Learned it from you," Zhang Xiluo shot back, reminding him that he himself used his family to threaten her.

"Don’t go too far," Li Mingye’s face was furious. The others had entered, but intimidated by his presence, they dared not act out.

Someone pulled out a phone to take pictures. Li Mingye stepped in front of Zhang Xiluo, Zhou Yao covered her face and turned away.

"Li Mingye, make up your mind. Will you let your precious flower’s reputation die, or give me my freedom?" Zhang Xiluo was prepared, raising her phone. "I can join them anytime."

Li Mingye’s face darkened further; he had nothing to say.

"No answer means you agree," Zhang Xiluo put away her phone and pulled Zhou Yao away.

They exited through the auditorium’s back door. Zhang Xiluo took Li Mingye’s car and drove Zhou Yao out.

As soon as they left the school grounds, Zhou Yao spoke up, "Sister, you can drop me off at the roadside."

"What are you planning? We’re too close to the school," Zhang Xiluo was puzzled.

"If we go too far, I won’t be able to return."

"You’re going back?" Zhang Xiluo was stunned, slowing the car and looking at her.

Zhou Yao smiled slightly, "Of course I’m going back. Otherwise, how can the play continue?"

A chill ran down Zhang Xiluo’s spine. This was all orchestrated by Zhou Yao herself... Her aim was to make Li Mingye publicly protect her, to declare their relationship openly.

"You two refuse to divorce, so I’ll help you out," Zhou Yao’s innocent, harmless expression belied her intentions. "I’ve heard everything about you and Mr. Li. Clinging to him won’t help; he’s mine."

"Let me tell you a fact. The one refusing to divorce is Li Mingye. You don’t need to try so hard with me—I’m not a threat to you," Zhang Xiluo was irritated. Zhou Yao’s act was too convincing.

Zhou Yao looked at Zhang Xiluo, clearly disbelieving. "Sister, stop the car. I don’t want to hurt you."

"Fine," Zhang Xiluo stopped, unlocked the doors. "You can go now."

Zhou Yao gave her a sly look, unbuckled her seatbelt, and tumbled out of the passenger side, hitting her forehead on the roadside barrier, leaving a gash.

At that moment, several people rushed over from the roadside; Zhuo Tongtong was among them, and they captured the scene on camera.

Zhuo Tongtong screamed anxiously from behind the barrier, trying to climb over.

"You old witch, you’re a murderer!" Zhuo Tongtong shouted at Zhang Xiluo, "You ruined Yao Yao’s performance and now you’re trying to kill her. You’re inhuman!"

With help, Zhuo Tongtong scrambled over the barrier and hugged Zhou Yao on the ground. She pressed a handkerchief to Zhou Yao’s wound, grabbed Zhou Yao’s phone, and dialed Li Mingye.

Li Mingye didn’t answer, so she called again.

Throughout, Zhou Yao remained silent.

One had to admit Zhou Yao was formidable—these petty tricks, she played them masterfully.

Seeing Zhuo Tongtong’s calls fail, Zhang Xiluo took out her phone and tried Li Mingye’s number. Unexpectedly, he picked up right away.

"What is it?" Li Mingye’s cool, detached voice always made her feel despised.

"Your precious flower jumped out of the car, right outside the north gate," Zhang Xiluo said calmly. "Looks like she’s dying. If you don’t come, you won’t hear her accusing me anymore."

With that, Zhang Xiluo hung up.

Zhou Yao’s gaze flickered, meeting Zhang Xiluo’s steady eyes, and for a moment she seemed intimidated.

Zhang Xiluo smiled, closed the car door, started the engine to leave.

Zhuo Tongtong quickly had someone block the car. "You can’t leave! You have to take responsibility for Yao Yao!"

"Shouldn’t Mr. Li be responsible for her? Move, I have a shaky foot..." Zhang Xiluo pressed the accelerator, inching forward, and the blockers retreated in fear.

She maneuvered around them and sped off.

"Luo Luo, what happened? I haven’t even arrived and the school is in chaos," Jiang Xueting called to complain.

"Zhou Yao couldn’t sit still. She wrote and directed her own drama. Just proceed to the next step."

"Luo Luo, are you sure?" Jiang Xueting wanted to persuade her. "If you do this, there’s no turning back."

"I’m ready. I won’t regret it." Her tone was resolute. For herself and the child she carried, she could only gamble everything.