Volume One, Chapter 14: Under the Watchful Eyes of All

Zhou Xianyu looked down at the thick carpet beneath her feet; her high heels made no sound upon it. This meant that if someone suddenly appeared behind her, she wouldn’t have time to react.

Zhou Qianqian had planned to ambush her exactly like this, but this time Zhou Xianyu was already alert. She walked slowly to the corner near the staircase, stopping a few steps away and turning back.

Sure enough, she spotted Zhou Qianqian’s figure.

Zhou Qianqian hadn’t expected this at all. She hadn’t made a sound; how could Zhou Xianyu have noticed her presence?

Her face flickered with panic for a moment before she quickly composed herself and smiled, “Sister, I came up to check if you’ve finished changing. How are you? Do you need any help?”

Zhou Xianyu looked at her coldly and let out a soft laugh, “Zhou Qianqian, do I look like a fool to you? Idiot.”

Zhou Qianqian feigned ignorance, pretending not to understand what she meant. After all, she hadn’t even made a move yet. How could Zhou Xianyu know what she intended?

She came within two steps of Zhou Xianyu, her innocent-looking face hiding a maddening fury. The scene downstairs, where Gu Qichuan stood up for Zhou Xianyu, had stabbed her eyes like a thorn.

Why did Zhou Xianyu have to be so lucky?!

Why not her?

But it didn’t matter. After today, Zhou Xianyu’s reputation would be completely destroyed. Jealous of her own sister, pushing her down the stairs, but ending up falling herself—this would be a huge scandal…

Zhou Qianqian inched closer, but Zhou Xianyu just gazed at her as if she saw through all her thoughts, the look igniting Zhou Qianqian’s shame and fury.

“Why are you always so high and mighty?”

Zhou Xianyu didn’t answer but countered, “Why are you so close to me?”

Zhou Qianqian smiled darkly. Her face was once delicate and refined, but now, with a crazed expression, it was chilling.

“Sister, who do you think Mom, Dad, Brother Wenhua, and everyone else would save first if we both fell?”

Zhou Xianyu’s eyes grew cold. “Are you crazy?”

Zhou Qianqian laughed softly. “Zhou Xianyu, compared to your spoiled bad reputation, everyone would obviously believe the purer, kinder me, right?”

Zhou Qianqian was ruthless, willing to do anything to achieve her goals. She was harsh to others and even harsher on herself.

She could pretend to be gentle and caring for years just for a good reputation. She could also coldly decide to fall down the stairs with Zhou Xianyu, hoping to gain sympathy and frame her sister.

Zhou Xianyu glanced at the surveillance camera above. “There are cameras up there. Aren’t you afraid?”

Feigning nervousness, Zhou Qianqian moved aside bit by bit, though inside she was calm. She knew the cameras had long been disabled, sabotaged by herself beforehand.

But Zhou Xianyu was prepared. A miniature camera nearby was diligently recording everything.

Wasn’t Zhou Qianqian so concerned about her carefully maintained reputation? Wasn’t she so good at pretending? Then Zhou Xianyu would expose her true nature to everyone.

Let everyone know that Zhou Qianqian was nothing but a complete hypocrite and a conniving, toxic woman!

That would be the most devastating blow to her.

Zhou Qianqian didn’t know what Zhou Xianyu was thinking but felt immense satisfaction seeing the proud face she always wore now stained with panic.

Her expression shifted quickly, and she suddenly shouted, “Sister! Sister, I’m sorry! It’s my fault! Calm down!”

“Sister, don’t… don’t…”

Zhou Xianyu watched her act. Last lifetime, when they fell together, Zhou Qianqian only suffered scratches while she fractured her wrist—a large part because Zhou Qianqian’s full weight was on her back.

She bore the weight of two people. With her posture wrong, her wrist took a tremendous strain, causing the fracture.

This time, as Zhou Qianqian lunged at her, thinking she caught her off guard, Zhou Xianyu dodged to the side at the last moment. Zhou Qianqian’s nails left sharp scratches on her arm, but Zhou Xianyu shook her off fiercely.

At the moment Zhou Qianqian tumbled down the stairs, her eyes were wide with shock and panic, screams piercing the air: “Ahhhhh—”

Almost everyone heard it.

Zhou Lide and Liu Zelan watched helplessly as Zhou Qianqian fell from the second-floor stairway, then slammed into something sharp due to the momentum. Her face turned pale, blood streaming, almost choking Liu Zelan with fear.

Everyone was stunned, none anticipating such a turn of events. Coupled with Zhou Qianqian’s frantic cries upstairs moments before, the crowd quickly looked up and saw a graceful figure standing at the stair landing.

Zhou Xianyu looked down at Zhou Qianqian on the first floor. Zhou Qianqian’s eyes blurred with pain, tears flowing, but she forced a sorrowful smile at Zhou Xianyu. “Sister, why… did you push me…”

Zhou Lide exploded in fury, “Zhou Xianyu?! What are you doing? Are you insane?”

Liu Zelan knelt beside Zhou Qianqian, sobbing uncontrollably. “Qianqian! Qianqian, look at Mom! Quickly, call an ambulance!”

The surrounding people scrambled to call for help, their eyes condemning Zhou Xianyu. No one expected her to be so cruel, willing to harm her own sister.

“Has she lost her mind? Why would she push Zhou Qianqian?”

“She’s jealous. The man she likes prefers her sister. But it’s not Qianqian’s fault. Is it hers for being more charming?”

“This woman is truly ruthless… so terrifying…”

Zhou Xianyu’s expression was unreadable as she stared at Zhou Qianqian lying in a pool of blood. A deep pleasure surged through her body and soul. She felt exhilarated.

She almost laughed aloud but just curled her lips. Watching the self-righteous accusations from the crowd, she found it utterly dull.

Amid the chaos, a familiar voice reached Zhou Xianyu’s ears—Gu Qichuan. He stepped past Zhou Qianqian’s prone figure to the stair landing, looking up at Zhou Xianyu. His voice was clear and crisp, “Ayu, come down.”

Zhou Xianyu snapped back to reality. Gu Qichuan stood there, tall and imposing, blocking the light and the faces behind him. He looked at her intently.

Zhou Xianyu took slow steps toward him. Before she could speak, Gu Qichuan’s expression changed. His usually indifferent eyes turned cold as they fell on the bleeding wound on her arm.

He didn’t ask what had happened or if she was the one who pushed her sister.

Instead, with an inscrutable look, he asked coldly, “Who did this?”

Zhou Xianyu pointed toward Zhou Qianqian lying in Liu Zelan’s arms. Her long, dark lashes fluttered as her bright eyes met Gu Qichuan’s. “She scratched me…”

Zhou Lide’s face darkened. “Qianqian accidentally scratched you, and you pushed her down the stairs?! Don’t you feel any remorse? Is this how a sister behaves?”

Jiang Wenhua stared at Zhou Xianyu in disbelief. “I never thought… Xiaoyu, your heart could be so cold!”