Chapter 389: Never Right

“Speak.”

“You fucking Zhang Laidi, are you blind? Didn’t you see my messages?” Chengcai cursed.

“I saw them,” I replied. “Why are you sending me these things?”

“I wanted to show you what a slut you are!” Chengcai sneered. “So? Aren’t you seeing someone now? What do you think he’d say if he saw this?”

“Just get to the point,” I said bluntly.

“Zhang Laidi… don’t you dare get tough with me. I want money,” Chengcai said. “Two million and three thousand. Wire it to my account, or you’re finished.”

“Two million? That’s extortion,” I said.

“So what if it is?! Even if it’s fraud, what’s it to you?” Chengcai scoffed. “You’re not giving me the money?”

“I don’t have that much.” I glanced down at the recorder. “I can’t afford two million.”

“Ask your boyfriend for it!” Chengcai shouted. “You don’t have it, but does he?”

Hearing this, I finally let out a cold laugh. “But there’s one thing I don’t understand. Why two million and three thousand?”

“I’m being generous!” Chengcai sounded delighted. “I had your photos printed in color! Cost me three grand! These are your pictures. I’m making you famous—you should cover the expenses.”

“What—”

I froze, never expecting that answer.

“Chengcai, you—”

“Zhang Laidi, don’t worry. All three thousand copies are under my bed. Pay up, and it’s over. If you don’t… well, I’ll just plaster them all over Chengdu.”

At that, I looked out the window at the dark night, then coldly turned off my phone’s recording function and switched off the recorder.

There was no need to record what came next.

“Chengcai… this isn’t right,” I said gently. “Don’t get worked up. Give your sister some time to raise the money, okay?”

“Sure!” Chengcai laughed. “Once you’ve got it, just wire it to me.”

“No.” I shook my head. “Chengcai, transferring two million directly to your bank account will attract police attention.”

“What?”

“I’m a lawyer,” I said. “Mom and Dad don’t know what that means, but you should, right? I know the law.”

“So if two million just shows up, the cops will notice?” Chengcai asked.

“Yes.” I spoke earnestly. “Think about it—you don’t even have a job. How could you suddenly earn two million? The police will ask questions. What will you say?”

“Hiss—” Chengcai hesitated. “Then what do you suggest?”

“I’ll give you cash.”

“Cash?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “But the law also restricts large cash withdrawals. It’ll take me a few days—I’ll need to withdraw it over five days.”

“Oh?” Chengcai mulled it over, then said, “Zhang Laidi, don’t try anything. Five days from now, bring the two million home.”

“Fine. But I need to make one thing clear—if you leak those photos, the deal’s off.”

“What?!” Chengcai was stunned. “Zhang Laidi, have you lost your mind? You think two million is the end of it? That’s just a warning! If you don’t behave, who knows where those photos might end up! Got it?”

“Is that so…” My expression grew colder. The last thread of restraint in my mind snapped. “You demand two million… and it’s just a warning?”

“What’s wrong with that? I’m being reasonable. Only the family’s seen these so far, but if you don’t cooperate, who knows?”

“The family’s seen them…” I lowered my head slowly, pressing the phone tightly to my ear. “What did they say?”

“My wife didn’t care for them, but Dad loved ’em. He’s already put ’em up in his room. After you left, you wouldn’t know, but his walls were covered with that college girl’s pictures from over a decade ago. Faded to hell. Finally got some fresh ones now!”

I felt my heart drop, my hair standing on end.

Chengcai laughed as if sharing a joke. “City girls are something else—skin so fair and clean. Mom was right. Should’ve charged Old Ma another twenty grand. What a damn bargain for him, haha!”

Hahaha.

It really was hilarious.

I gritted my teeth, lips curled, tears streaming.

Did they not know why those photos were taken?

Did they not know why I’d become like this?

Old Ma the butcher was already dealt with. Only my family remained.

Why weren’t they dead yet?

It was just too funny.

“Don’t worry, Chengcai. I’ll be home in five days with all the money,” I said, still smiling.

“Haha! Just behave, and we’re good! We’re siblings—would I hurt you?”

“Right.”

I hung up, exhaling deeply.

Perfect. My suffering was about to end.

I sat in my room, not a hint of sleepiness in me.

I watched the streets bustling below, the midnight traffic. The world was so vast, yet there was no place for me.

The next day, I invited Sun Jiaqi over. It was the first time since we started dating that I’d let him into my home.

I knew I only had five days left. I didn’t want to leave him with regrets.

“Chenze…” Xiao Sun looked at me, puzzled. “Why call me over so early? Don’t you need more rest?”

“No.” I smiled. “Jiaqi, do you have any wishes?”

“Wishes?” He blinked, wary. “Why ask that all of a sudden? Did something happen?”

“Is there anything you’d want to do with me?” I asked, eyes glistening. “If the world were ending, what would you regret not doing?”

I slowly undid my buttons.

I knew I was filthy, but Jiaqi was still a man with needs.

It wasn’t fair to deny him just because I couldn’t bear it.

Tears fell as I unbuttoned my blouse. Crossing this threshold was agony.

“Chenze.” Jiaqi stopped my hands, his face sorrowful. “If the world were ending, I wouldn’t undress you. I’d put you in a wedding gown. So that in its final moments, you’d be the happiest bride in the world.”