"What!? Wait, sir, we're really sorry! We know we made a mistake, and we won't ever do such a thing again. Please, sir, we're really sorry. We'll do anything—anything at all—just please, don't do this," they cried out desperately as the guards approached, dragging them up from the ground.
"Please, sir, please, we beg you!" they continued, their voices cracking with fear and desperation.
"You're willing to do anything?" Li Cheng asked coldly.
"Yes, sir, anything! Just spare us!" they pleaded, tears streaming down their faces.
"That's nice," he replied, a cruel smirk forming on his lips. He gave the guards a nod, signaling them to proceed. The guards understood immediately, bowing slightly before escorting the trembling women out, following their master's lead.
***
Arriving at Li Cheng's house, he walked in with the guards pulling the two girls along. When they reached the living room, the guards roughly shoved them to the floor.
Xiotan, who had been in the kitchen, rushed out when she heard the commotion. Seeing people gathered in the living room, she was taken aback.
"What's all this?" she asked, her eyes narrowing at Li Cheng, who sat calmly on the couch, ignoring her question. Then, her gaze shifted to the women on the floor, and recognition struck her.
'Aren't these those girls from the mall? What are they doing here?' she wondered, moving closer to stand in front of them.
"SPEAK!" Li Cheng's voice thundered through the room as he slammed his hand onto the center table. The force was so intense that the table cracked under the impact, sending shockwaves through everyone present. Xiotan jumped at the sudden outburst, her heart pounding. The maids immediately rushed to clean up the mess, their hands trembling.
"Y-Y-Y-yes, sir! We are sorry, ma'am. We are really sorry. All the things we said back at the mall were not true. We were sent to say those things. We're really sorry. It won't ever happen again," they babbled, their voices quivering as they knelt on the floor, hands folded in submission.
Xiotan was stunned by their words. Kneeling down in front of them, she tried to reassure them, "Calm down, there's no need to be afraid. Did he threaten you to say all this? You can tell me the truth. I promise I won't let him do anything to you."
Li Cheng squinted, his face a mix of disbelief and frustration. Did she really think so little of him? Did she believe he was that low and cheap?
"No, ma'am, he didn't threaten us. We're telling the truth. We were sent by Prince Mo Yu Hao. He said he wanted to create some chaos between you two, which is why he sent us to say all those things. We're telling the truth. Your husband is innocent," they confessed, their words spilling out in a frantic rush.
"Are you telling the truth?" Xiotan asked, her eyes wide with shock.
"Yes, ma'am, we're saying nothing but the truth," they confirmed, their voices steadying now that they had come clean.
Xiotan was too shocked to speak. All she could do was look at Li Cheng, whose face was etched with sadness. The moment their eyes met, he looked away, pain clearly written in his expression.
"Li Cheng, I—" she began, but she couldn't find the words to continue. Before she could muster up an apology, Li Cheng stood up and walked out, heading straight for his car with Da Ming following closely behind.
Xiotan chased after him, grabbing his arm just as he was about to get into the car.
"Cheng'er, wait… listen to what I have to say," she pleaded, stepping in front of him while still holding onto his arm.
"Cheng'er, I'm s—"
"I don't want to hear anything from you. Your apology means nothing to me," he said coldly, removing her hand from his arm.
"Keep your apology to yourself. Do you think I'm that cheap? You even thought I threatened them to say all those things! How low of you. Please, if you don't want to see my other side, don't touch me or try to beg me. Let those words stay—let me be that cheat, liar, and disgusting being you said I am," he finished, his voice dripping with contempt. Gently pushing her aside, he opened the car door and got in. He glanced at her one last time, her lips slightly parted in shock, before shutting the door and driving off.
Xiotan could only stand there, stunned, as she watched the car disappear down the driveway.
***
A few hours later, Xiotan sat fuming on a couch in the living room. Jinxin was beside her, laughing so hard she could barely catch her breath.
"Didn't I tell you? I told you to think twice before doing something so irrational. But no, you didn't listen. You were like, 'No, he deserves all those words. He's a cheat, a liar,' and so on," she mimicked, laughing hysterically.
"Shut the fuck up! So now he thinks he can do whatever he likes? I tried to apologize, and he shunned me. Who the hell does he think he is to reject me?" Xiotan retorted, rolling her eyes in frustration.
"And who are you to reject him all those times he was begging and trying to explain himself?" Jinxin shot back, her tone turning serious.
"The situation back then was diff—"
"Nothing was different, Xiotan. You were in the wrong. You blamed and insulted him for something he didn't even do. If I were him, I wouldn't accept your apology either, no matter how sincere you were," Jinxin said, giving her honest opinion.
"That's your problem, then. If you like, accept; if you like, don't. It's none of my business," Xiotan hissed, grabbing the remote control and turning on the TV. "Please don't disturb me. I want to watch a movie. I don't have time for your nonsense."
"So, you're not going to call him?" Jinxin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Why should I? I tried to apologize, but he wouldn't listen. It's not my fault," Xiotan replied, crossing her arms.
"You don't understand anything. Do you know how he begged you and tried to tell you that he hadn't done anything wrong? But did you listen? No, you didn't. I honestly hope he never accepts your apology," Jinxin said, standing up and walking out to the garden.
Xiotan huffed, her mind racing. 'Why won't he accept my apology? It's not my fault, really. If he doesn't want to listen… well, I'm willing to use another way,' she thought, an evil smile slowly spreading across her face as she contemplated her next move.