Copycat - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

◎Just for Fun◎

“Miss Mu.”

A bodyguard in a black suit blocked Mu Siyu’s path.

Mu Siyu frowned and said coldly: “Get out of my way. What right do you have to stop me?”

“I’m sorry, Miss Mu. You cannot take the third young lady of the Zhou family with you.”

Mu Siyu looked at him coldly: “I told you to move. Do I need to say it a second time?”

The bodyguard speaking with Mu Siyu and the captain standing nearby exchanged glances.

“My apologies, Miss Mu.”

The bodyguard violently pulled apart their clasped hands. Mu Siyu held onto Zhou Ziyan’s wrist tightly, but she couldn’t withstand the strength of several men.

They were forced apart. At the same time, two other men stepped forward and restrained Mu Siyu.

Mu Siyu’s frown deepened: “Are you crazy? Do you know who I am?”

“Young Master Cheng has instructed that no one can take Miss Zhou away.”

The bodyguard’s tone was cold.

Mu Siyu struggled fiercely and threatened: “If you dare to touch me, all of you will be kicked out of A City tomorrow.”

The bodyguards were unyielding. Amidst Mu Siyu’s angry roars, they directly lifted her and escorted her out of the engagement banquet’s main entrance.

Zhou Ziyan remained standing in place.

She didn’t move.

She watched the entire scene with a blank expression, her heart filled with despair.

She had experienced similar situations many times these past few days.

Some of her university classmates came from well-off families. After learning about her situation, they wanted to help, but all their efforts came to nothing.

People from big families weren’t willing to offend the Zhou and Cheng families for a person who was of no consequence to them. As for people from smaller families…

Besides offering some psychological comfort, they couldn’t provide any practical help.

Zhou Ziyan’s gaze fell on the open main entrance. The direction Mu Siyu was trying to take her was there. Someone was waiting there, and it was obvious who it was.

Zhou Ziyan’s expression was grim.

Her situation could no longer implicate anyone else.

Especially…

The banquet hall’s doors were open, and the sound of the strong wind breaking tree branches could be heard.

The night was dark, and heavy clouds obscured the moonlight.

After the bodyguards took Mu Siyu away, Zhou Ziyan remained silent for a long time until the bodyguards urged her to return to the backstage. She then came to her senses and walked straight towards the door.

“Miss Zhou.” The leading bodyguard blocked her path: “You should return to the backstage to get ready.”

“Just give me a little more time.” Zhou Ziyan stopped walking.

Her expression was calm, like a placid lake.

“I still have something to take care of. It won’t take too long.”

The bodyguard hesitated for a moment, then finally took a step back under her determined gaze.

“Then you must be quick.”

Zhou Ziyan agreed. The captain of the bodyguards moved to the side, giving her enough space to pass. Zhou Ziyan continued to walk forward in her high heels. After taking two steps, she suddenly stopped.

“Third Miss Zhou?” The bodyguard looked puzzled.

“Send someone to call Cheng Junfeng here.”

…

After her plane landed, Wen Jiao went directly to the neighborhood where Zhou Ziyan lived, but she found nothing.

Her contacts in the country told her that Zhou Ziyan’s whereabouts had been unknown for the past two months.

Although Zhou Ziyan was nowhere to be found, Wen Jiao knew that the Zhou and Cheng families’ engagement banquet would be held as scheduled at the end of the year.

That would be her only chance to see Zhou Ziyan.

Engagement banquet venue.

Wen Jiao, in her casual clothes, was stopped at the entrance of the banquet by bodyguards holding guns.

“Miss, please show your invitation.”

“I’m waiting for someone.” Wen Jiao stood at the entrance of the banquet, her gaze fixed on the people passing by.

She was waiting for Mu Siyu to bring Zhou Ziyan out.

An elegant, cheerful piano melody rang out from the inner hall of the banquet.

The piano master hired by the Cheng family had begun to play.

Wen Jiao knew this was a sign that the engagement banquet was about to begin. She couldn’t help but take a step forward, crossing the safe boundary guarded by the bodyguards.

A cold gun barrel was pressed against her chest. Wen Jiao frowned deeply. Just as she was about to speak, a familiar voice suddenly came from the entrance.

“Why are you here?”

Wen Jiao looked up and saw the face she had been thinking about day and night. Zhou Ziyan walked towards her. Wen Jiao took a step forward, her emotions a little agitated: “…Ziyan.”

Two voices spoke at the same time.

“Step back.”

“What are you doing here?”

What are you doing here?

Wen Jiao’s expression was stunned for a moment, and then she forced a smile.

“Ziyan, what are you saying?”

“Of course I have to come. You’re my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?”

Zhou Ziyan’s face showed an expression Wen Jiao had never seen before.

Disgust.

Impatience.

Wen Jiao heard a cold laugh. The sound came from the mouth of Zhou Ziyan, who was wearing a red cheongsam, her arms crossed over her chest, and her face filled with contempt.

“Wen Jiao, you’re really pathetic.”

Wen Jiao looked at her, her tone incredulous: “What?”

“I’ve been with you for so long, and I’m just now realizing what an unrealistic person you are.”

A sarcastic smile appeared on Zhou Ziyan’s lips: “What kind of situation are you in right now, and what kind of situation am I in? Don’t you have a clue?”

“Don’t really think I’d be willing to live that kind of hard life, do you?”

Wen Jiao stared into Zhou Ziyan’s eyes, trying to see a hint of avoidance or a moment of hesitation that would indicate she was lying. But there was nothing.

“I was just playing with you.”

Zhou Ziyan’s tone was sarcastic.

The commotion of the two outside the banquet hall drew the attention of many people inside. Wen Jiao’s company had once tried to go public in A City, a place full of strong competitors, and had gained some fame for a time. Many of the people invited to the engagement banquet knew Wen Jiao.

Most of these people gave her a look of surprise.

The crowd began to whisper amongst themselves.

“Isn’t that the little CEO Wen who started a tech company last year?”

“What tech company? It was just a child’s game. It went bankrupt a long time ago.”

“What’s going on? Does the third young lady of the Zhou family know her?”

“I heard the third young lady of the Zhou family had a girlfriend. They didn’t break up on good terms, and she’s been pestering her ever since. The Zhou family even gave her a lot of money.”

“That’s just shameless. She looks so clean-cut, but she does things like this? She’s still pestering her even though she’s about to get engaged.”

“…”

Wen Jiao was surrounded, and a circle formed with her and Zhou Ziyan at the center.

Behind her was the menacing bodyguard team, while standing behind Zhou Ziyan were many of the wealthy elites of A City, most of whom were successful people in suits and ties.

Countless scrutinizing gazes pierced her.

Wen Jiao bit her lower lip and stepped forward, grabbing Zhou Ziyan’s wrist.

“You’re lying to me,” Wen Jiao said in a low voice: “I know you’re not this kind of person.”

“Zhou Ziyan, come with me.”

Upon hearing these words, the people attending the engagement banquet looked at each other in confusion.

Someone whispered to their companion: “What does that mean? Is she going to run away from the marriage?”

A hint of hesitation flashed in Zhou Ziyan’s eyes. Just then, a familiar male voice suddenly came from behind her.

“Junior schoolmate Wen, what are you doing here?”

“Young Master Cheng.” The bodyguard with the gun to Wen Jiao’s back looked up and saluted the person in front.

Zhou Ziyan’s forearm suddenly tensed. Almost at the same time as Cheng Junfeng spoke, she forcefully swung her arm, shaking off Wen Jiao’s hand.

Cheng Junfeng saw this and raised an eyebrow. His gentle voice came from behind: “Ziyan, what’s going on?”

“Why don’t you invite our mutual friend in to sit down?”

Zhou Ziyan didn’t answer him, but she took a half-step back, creating distance between herself and Wen Jiao.

Cheng Junfeng’s expression was one of satisfaction. He gave the bodyguard a cold glance: “Put the gun down now.”

“This is my junior schoolmate from university, and also Ziyan’s roommate. She’s here specifically for our engagement banquet.”

The large group of bodyguards slowly lowered their guns.

Cheng Junfeng walked towards the two people, where the atmosphere was silent.

He gave Wen Jiao a gentle smile.

“Junior schoolmate Wen, why didn’t you let me know you were coming?”

“These bodyguards are a bit clueless. My apologies for their rudeness.”

Wen Jiao’s face was cold, and her voice was stiff as she replied: “I didn’t come to attend your…”

Before she could finish, Zhou Ziyan suddenly stepped forward and pushed her hard. Wen Jiao wasn’t prepared and stumbled, almost falling to the ground.

“Are you done yet?”

Zhou Ziyan’s brows furrowed in impatience. While rubbing her red and swollen wrist, she scolded: “I’ve said everything that needed to be said. Why are you still pestering me?”

“Wen Jiao, how long are you going to be stuck in your ‘savior’ script?”

A clap of thunder rang out in the sky. Dark clouds swallowed up the already thin moonlight.

Raindrops began to fall from the sky. Amidst the deafening thunder, a bodyguard held a transparent umbrella over Cheng Junfeng. The raindrops fiercely beat against the umbrella’s surface, as if they were trying to break through the fragile plastic film.

Zhou Ziyan was wearing thin clothing and moved under Cheng Junfeng’s umbrella, her back to Wen Jiao. Wen Jiao couldn’t see her expression, but she could see her slender back leaning tightly against Cheng Junfeng.

That was once her exclusive spot.

The piano music ended, and the grand engagement banquet was about to begin.

Cheng Junfeng put his arm around Zhou Ziyan’s shoulder. Before he left, he didn’t forget to take a spare invitation from his assistant and hand it to Wen Jiao, who was standing in the rain.

“Junior schoolmate Wen.” Cheng Junfeng looked back, still with that same fake, refined demeanor.

Along with the thunder, she heard Cheng Junfeng’s pretentious voice.

“Welcome to our engagement banquet, Ziyan’s and mine.”

Each word was broken up by the thunder, but Wen Jiao heard them clearly. She clenched the invitation in her hand, her face deathly pale.

The sound of the engagement banquet host came from inside the venue. The sound of the rain gradually covered the clinking of glasses and the joyous laughter of the people. Wen Jiao’s gaze was fixed on the pair of loving fiancés in the spotlight.

Cheng Junfeng had his arm around Zhou Ziyan’s slender waist.

Her former lover was smiling faintly and shyly avoiding his kiss.

The downpour drenched her completely. Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Wen Jiao’s gaze finally settled on Zhou Ziyan’s flushed face. The final, tightly-strung chord in her heart completely snapped.

She slowly opened the invitation.

And tore it to shreds.

Then she lost consciousness.

…

Mu Siyu was escorted out of the side door of the banquet hall by the bodyguards. The Cheng family sent a car to take her back to the Mu family estate. The moment the car drove into the Mu family’s property, she immediately stopped the security guards and all the idle servants who came to greet her.

Mu Siyu angrily took off the suit that had been damaged in her struggle and pointed at the bodyguards who had just restrained her, scolding them.

“I’ve been too nice to you people.”

Mu Siyu waved her hand at the security guards and servants standing behind her and gritted her teeth: “Beat them up!”

“Hard! I’ll take responsibility for whatever happens!”

These security guards were trained by the Mu family, and Mu Siyu was the most favored child in the family. The moment she gave the order, everyone swarmed in.

The one-sided beating lasted for less than a minute.

The main gate of the estate was opened, and Mu Siyu’s father, Mu Shengbin, walked out in a suit, his expression stern.

“What are you doing? Stop all of you!”

The servants who were punching and kicking the driver and bodyguards immediately stopped.

The driver and bodyguards, who were curled up on the ground with their heads in their hands, seized the moment and quickly got to their feet, running out of the estate gate at a fast pace.

Driving away.

Mu Siyu tried to close the gate, but her arm was grabbed. After seeing who had grabbed her, she bit her lower lip lightly and complained: “Father!”

“Even the Cheng family’s dogs dare to bully me. My suit is all torn up. How can you just let them go?”

“Is that so?”

Mu Shengbin, who had always been the most doting father to Mu Siyu, had a stern expression: “If the Cheng family hadn’t called me, I would have actually believed your nonsense.”

“I’ve told you before not to get involved in the affairs of the Zhou and Cheng families. Why are you, an outsider, getting involved?”

Mu Siyu looked up to argue: “But Father, Zhou Ziyan is my friend. How can the Zhou family illegally imprison…”

“Be quiet.”

Mu Siyu’s eyes widened. She couldn’t remember her father ever speaking to her in such a tone before.

“Father,” her voice softened.

“Go back inside. It’s raining hard outside.” Mu Shengbin massaged the throbbing veins on his forehead: “Uncle Li, keep an eye on her. It’s not peaceful outside lately. Siyu is not allowed to go out.”

“Miss, let’s go back inside,” Uncle Li came over and supported Mu Siyu’s arm: “It’s still raining outside. Don’t catch a cold. I’ve asked the chef to make you some ginger soup to warm you up.”

“Father!” Mu Siyu gritted her teeth and stubbornly refused to move: “You’re helping the evildoers.”

“You clearly know…”

“Enough,” Mu Shengbin’s tone was serious: “This is an adult matter.”

“Stay in the house and be good. You’re not allowed to go out without my permission.”

…

Wen Jiao had a high fever. When she woke up, the ceiling was white.

“Where am I?” She propped herself up to sit up, but a needle-like pain shot through her veins, and Wen Jiao frowned slightly. The nurse quickly came over to steady her: “Miss Wen, you’re in the hospital.”

“What time is it?” Wen Jiao asked.

“It’s January 2nd.” The nurse helped her pull up the blanket: “You had a high fever and slept for a whole day and night.”

Wen Jiao leaned against the hospital bed. The last image she saw before she fainted came to her mind. Zhou Ziyan’s shy smile.

Her hand clenched into a fist, her fingertips turning white from the force. Her whole body trembled along with her forearm.

“Hey, Miss Wen,” the nurse quickly pried her fingers open: “You’ll pull out the IV needle like that.”

A section of crimson bl00d appeared in the thin IV tube. The nurse sighed: “I’ll have to poke you again.”

The nurse pulled out the needle from the back of her hand and took some alcohol to disinfect it. The cool alcohol cotton wiped her blue veins. The nurse said in a low voice: “Miss Wen, you’re a very difficult patient. It’s a good thing this is a private hospital.”

“Otherwise, no one would notice if your needle came out of place.”

Wen Jiao lowered her head and saw the dense needle holes in the veins of her right hand. Her eyelashes fluttered. After the nurse put a new needle in for her, Wen Jiao slowly spoke: “Who brought me here?”

The nurse recalled what had happened that night: “It was a man. I don’t know him, but he was tall and thin.”

Wen Jiao lowered her eyelashes and gave a self-deprecating smile. The nurse thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped her head: “I think I wrote down that person’s name and phone number at the time. I’ll help you look for it.”

The nurse found the registration form from two days ago and handed it to Wen Jiao. Wen Jiao took the form without a care, scanning it quickly. Her gaze paused for a moment when she saw a somewhat familiar name.

【Li Xu】

…

A rainy night.

Li Xu, who had been invited to the engagement banquet, put a pocketful of business cards into his pocket with a grin and walked towards the main entrance. He was about to open his umbrella and leave early. As he went down the steps, he suddenly saw a familiar figure.

“Wen Jiao?!” Li Xu’s eyes widened.

His first reaction was surprise, and his second was hesitation. He looked around. The Cheng family’s bodyguards were standing at the entrance with umbrellas, guarding the entire entrance tightly, but…

Without exception, they all ignored the person who had fainted there.

Li Xu’s brain worked quickly. After hesitating for a while, he finally opened his umbrella and walked down the steps to the unconscious Wen Jiao.

He knelt down and carefully checked for a pulse under her nose.

A faint breath could be felt from his fingers, and Li Xu let out a sigh of relief.

She had only fainted. She was still alive.

The first problem was solved. The next was the second problem.

Li Xu looked at his ex-crush, who was on the verge of death, and then at the indifferent bodyguards.

Li Xu didn’t know about the drama that had occurred before the engagement banquet started, but he was one of the first people to know about Zhou Ziyan and Wen Jiao’s relationship, so he could more or less guess the impact this engagement had on Wen Jiao.

Furthermore, he was the one who had secretly informed the Zhou family about Zhou Ziyan’s relationship because he was afraid of retaliation.

Li Xu was in a dilemma, standing in place, unable to move forward or backward. Just then, his phone in his suit pants vibrated. He took out his phone.

Five minutes later.

A taxi pulled up to the front of the banquet hall. Li Xu took the person to the hospital.