Rapid Collapse (GL) - Chapter 27

Han Ning looked up and saw her staring at her without blinking. She tilted her head in confusion. “Why are you looking at me?”

“Nothing, let’s go.” Shen Xi shook her head with a smile, opened the car door, and got out. Han Ning followed behind her. They walked into the alley, and after less than five minutes, they arrived at Shen Fengmei’s house. Shen Xi knocked on the door.

A voice came from inside. “Who is it?”

Shen Fengmei felt a little scared, thinking it might be a debt collector coming after her.

“Mom, it’s me,” Shen Xi said.

Hearing that it was Shen Xi, Shen Fengmei’s eyes lit up. She quickly got out of bed, put on her shoes, and ran to open the door.

“Xiao Xi, you…” She saw Han Ning standing beside Shen Xi, pointed at her, and recalled, “Oh… I remember you! You’re the girl who gave me money that day, right? Are you an actress? You look familiar… Are you Xiao Xi’s friend?”

Han Ning froze for a moment and then forced a laugh. “Auntie, you have a great memory… Yes, it’s me.” Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Shen Xi and thought: Stop talking already! Why bring this up now…

“Come in, come in! Have you two eaten?” Shen Fengmei enthusiastically pulled them inside.

Shen Xi looked at Shen Fengmei, confused. But soon, she understood—this was part of her usual routine to ask for money.

Seeing through it, Shen Xi coldly said, “Mom, don’t bother. I’m only here to check on you today. I didn’t bring my phone or wallet, so I’m not here to give you money.”

Her words were too blunt, even Han Ning felt uncomfortable. She patted Shen Xi’s hand.

“What are you saying? Auntie definitely didn’t mean it that way…”

But Shen Xi knew her mother best. As expected, Shen Fengmei’s expression changed immediately—first anger, then she acted pitiful, grabbing Shen Xi’s hand.

“Xiao Xi, are you doing this on purpose? Do you not want your mother to live well?”

“I raised you with so much hardship, brought you up without letting you suffer, and gave you the best of everything. Now that you’re grown and making money, you don’t care about your mother anymore…” She sat down on the bed and started crying, her voice getting louder and louder.

Han Ning didn’t know what to do. She turned to look at Shen Xi, who remained expressionless, as if she had seen this scene too many times before.

“I told you… Now you’ve seen it for yourself.” Shen Xi looked at Han Ning. Han Ning sighed as she glanced at Shen Fengmei, realizing how naive she had been. She could only shake her head helplessly and say, “I’ll wait for you outside…”

Shen Xi nodded.

After Han Ning left, Shen Xi coldly stared at Shen Fengmei and said, “Do you have any other tricks? Doing this in front of my friend… Do you think this embarrasses me? You’re wrong. The only one embarrassing herself is you! Don’t even think about gambling again, or I’ll call the police!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Fengmei flew into a rage. Without thinking, she slapped Shen Xi across the face. The force of the slap made Shen Xi’s head tilt slightly to the side.

“Get out! From now on, you’re not my daughter, and I’m not your mother! Get out! Get out!”

Shen Fengmei screamed like a madwoman, yelling at Shen Xi to leave.

Outside, Han Ning heard the shouting and frowned. She turned to go back inside, but before she could step in, Shen Xi had already walked out, tears in her eyes.

The night was dark, so Han Ning didn’t notice Shen Xi’s expression clearly. Shen Xi walked ahead quickly, and Han Ning had no choice but to follow.

They reached the car. Shen Xi walked to the passenger seat, opened the door, and got in.

Han Ning hesitated for a second before also getting into the car. Just as she was fastening her seatbelt, she heard Shen Xi sobbing.

Han Ning turned to look at her, and her heart ached instantly.

A red handprint was clearly visible on Shen Xi’s face. The last time she had seen such a slap mark was on Kou Kou’s face.

“Your mom… She hit you?!” Han Ning was shocked. Just because Shen Xi stopped her from gambling, she hit her this hard? Han Ning couldn’t help but wonder—Is that really her mother?

Shen Xi wiped away her tears, her eyes red as she looked at Han Ning. “I don’t want to be here anymore. Take me home.”

“Okay, okay. Let’s go home.” Han Ning started the car, gave the alley one last glare, then focused on driving away.

The entire way home, Han Ning blamed herself. If I hadn’t asked Shen Xi to come here, she wouldn’t have been slapped like that.

She kept glancing at Shen Xi. She wasn’t crying anymore, just resting her face on her hand, staring quietly out the window at the street. The calmer she looked, the worse Han Ning felt. She cursed herself in her heart—Why did I meddle in someone else’s business?

When they arrived at the apartment, Shen Xi said she wanted to be alone.

Han Ning firmly shook her head. “No way. You’re not in a good mood. I’m staying here with you tonight.”

After a moment, Shen Xi understood what she meant and smiled. “You’re not worried I’ll do something stupid, are you?”

Han Ning stayed silent.

“She said it herself—she’s not my mother anymore, and I’m not her daughter. For me, this is a dream come true… I just had to pay for it with one slap.” Shen Xi sat on the couch, her tone light as if she didn’t care at all.

“No matter what, I’m not leaving tonight,” Han Ning said. She pointed at Lightning, the cat playing with Thunder, and said matter-of-factly, “The cat doesn’t want to leave.

Wherever my cat is, I am.”

Shen Xi laughed at her, but as soon as she did, her face stung. She winced and touched her cheek. “Ouch…”

“Don’t touch it! I’ll get something for the swelling.” Han Ning rummaged through her bag and pulled out a cooling patch. “I use this for puffiness before putting on makeup. It should help.” She gently placed it on Shen Xi’s face.

The cold patch felt soothing. Shen Xi smiled. “Thanks.”

Han Ning looked at her, heart aching. She frowned slightly and muttered, “What are you thanking me for? I feel so guilty…”

“This has nothing to do with you.”

“How does it not? If I hadn’t asked you to go, you wouldn’t have been slapped…” Han Ning sighed, looking genuinely regretful.

Shen Xi looked at her, a faint smile in her eyes. She said playfully, “That’s right. It’s all your fault! Does that make you feel better?”

“You…” Han Ning was speechless, but she smiled too. She sat beside Shen Xi and kept asking, “Does it still hurt?”

“It’s fine…”

After a while, she leaned in again. “Still swollen?”

Shen Xi sighed. “Yeah, not completely gone yet.”

After playing with the cat for a bit, Han Ning came over for the third time. “Does it still hurt now?”

Shen Xi was analyzing a film, but Han Ning’s repeated interruptions made her annoyed. “No! Aren’t you staying the night? Go take a shower!”

“If it doesn’t hurt, then fine. No need to be so fierce…” Han Ning pouted and went to the bedroom. She casually grabbed a set of Shen Xi’s pajamas and a new, unopened underwear set, muttering to herself as she walked to the bathroom.

Shen Xi watched her retreating figure, her eyes curving into crescent moons, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

Inside the bathroom, steam filled the air. Han Ning’s expression in the fog was no longer soft—it was dark, even ruthless. She looked like a completely different person from the one in front of Shen Xi.

That slap hadn’t just landed on Shen Xi’s face—it had hit Han Ning’s heart as well.

Her eyes flickered with thought.

She turned off the shower, dried herself, put on her clothes, adjusted her emotions, and walked out of the bathroom.