Domineering CEO His Obsessive Love

Chapter 4: I Didn't Spread It

The women were frozen for a few seconds before they recovered their senses, all rushing to say, "Yes, yes, of course. That's good, that's good then."

Su Nuan was clearly frightened by what these women had said, staring at Miao Rui with her mouth agape.

Miao Rui only smiled. She knew the truth of it -- once something like this got out, combined with this town's women and their gift for embellishment, the rumor mill would inevitably churn out exactly this. She had been reckless in the heat of the moment, never stopping to consider how serious the consequences would be.

The dying sunlight stretched long shadows across the flagstone path.

In that moment, Miao Rui's heart was a blank slate -- neither excessive rage nor deep regret.

She told Su Nuan she wasn't feeling well today and wouldn't be going to her house after all.

This time, Su Nuan didn't force her. But before leaving, she asked several times, over and over, whether Miao Rui had truly been r***d. Miao Rui only told her not to worry and said she hadn't.

Watching Su Nuan's retreating figure, Miao Rui steadied herself and rubbed her temples.

So tired. This feeling was even more exhausting than listening to Li Yuzhen curse her.

She turned and caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette. She looked closer and confirmed it.

Three boys. Three boys straddling bicycles with cigarettes dangling from their lips.

Miao Rui had not expected them to meet again so soon.

The boy in front noticed Miao Rui's eyes on him. He dropped his cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his right heel with practiced ease. Then he strode toward her with long steps.

Half a month apart, and somehow his swaggering arrogance had only grown, not diminished. Even more insufferable, Miao Rui thought.

Xie Heng's bronze skin gave him an uncommon maturity. His burning gaze held a trace of urgency. "I wasn't the one who spread it."

She never imagined this would be his opening line.

"Mr. Xie, you do realize that sounds an awful lot like a confession, don't you?" She tilted her head, and the strands of hair lifted by the breeze half-concealed the slight curve at the corner of her lips.

"Miao Xiaorui, however worthless I, Xie Heng, might be, I am still a man. As low as I've sunk, I'd never stoop to something that vile."

This woman was completely immune to reason. Whatever she decided to believe, no amount of argument could shake her conviction. He really couldn't understand why he was such a damn fool -- the moment he heard people talking about this, his first thought was to come here and clear his name.

"Oh, so you do know you're worthless? You know how low you've sunk?" Truth be told, ever since Xie Heng's first sentence, her mood had actually lifted somewhat.

Xie Heng was so choked by her retort that he couldn't speak. All he could do was glare, then turn and leave in frustration. In this world, probably only Miao Rui could handle Xie Heng like this.

He hadn't gone more than a few steps before he turned back, eyes blazing. "Miao Xiaorui, go screw your mother."

Miao Rui was not angry. She took a step toward him, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered in his ear, "Interesting tastes you've got there. Want me to give you the address?"

It was clear -- this meeting ended in mutual displeasure.

"Hey, Hengzi, why the hell are you coming back with your tail between your legs?" Fuzi stuck out his round, prosperous belly and grinned slyly. From a distance, he had seen the goddess leaning in so close -- he'd thought there might be a follow-up. Judging by Hengzi's state now, he'd probably been doused with ice water.

Xie Heng shot him a death glare and ignored him.

Cui Fengmo adjusted his black-framed glasses. "Xie Heng, she didn't believe what you said?"

Xie Heng still ignored him. Seeing this, the two of them could pretty much piece together what had happened. Though they couldn't help feeling a little sorry for Xie Heng, watching him get taken down a peg was still highly entertaining.

Fuzi burst out laughing. Even Cui Fengmo's lips curved upward.

"My goddess is so damn awesome! Even Young Master Xie's face gets trampled like a doormat, hahaha!" Fuzi laughed so hard he nearly choked.

Xie Heng snapped back to his senses and swatted Fuzi on the head. "You little s**t, using me for your amusement now?"

Fuzi dodged, still laughing. "We always thought our Hengzi was some immortal descended to earth, immune to our goddess's beauty. Who knew it'd be hard for even a hero to pass the beauty test -- mortal desires stirring and all."

Cui Fengmo smiled without a word, watching the two wrestle and laugh. He adjusted his glasses again. In the glow of the setting sun, the three of them formed a perfect picture.

Ever since the rumor of Miao Rui's violation had spread, her life itself hadn't changed -- but everything around her had.

Maybe she was just being oversensitive. She felt that people looked at her with pity and sympathy. The neighbors who used to ask her to tutor their children no longer troubled her. At school, she occasionally overheard girls gossiping about it with barely concealed glee. Even the young men in town could only look on with regret -- none of them spoke anymore of wanting to marry her.

But the biggest change was Xie Heng. Every day after school, that handsome young master would be standing at the school gate, silently watching her go home before he could leave in peace.

As for why Xie Heng did this, Miao Rui couldn't be bothered to ask. And Xie Heng himself didn't really know the answer.

"Ow! Who's the blind i***t? That hurts!" Moli rubbed her shoulder, frowning. By the look on her face, she really had been hit pretty hard.

Miao Rui had to admit, it did hurt quite a bit. She'd also like to know which blind i***t had managed to crash into her from behind.

Moli looked up and immediately sneered. "Hah. Look who it is. If it isn't Mercy Town's very own innocent white lotus, classmate Miao Rui. What's the matter -- now that you're damaged goods, your eyes have stopped working too?"

People talking behind her back was one thing, but saying it to her face -- this was a first.

Though Moli had never been able to stand her, relying on the fact that her father was a factory manager in the Xie family's business, she strutted around school all day like she owned the place. And now, with this chance to kick someone when they were down, there was no way she'd pass it up.

"Damaged goods? What exactly does 'damaged goods' mean? I wonder if classmate Moli could explain it." Miao Rui clenched her fists, but her expression was one of pure, wounded innocence.

Moli folded her arms and raised her chin with supreme arrogance. "It means a woman who's been ruined by a man -- a secondhand item. In other words, exactly what you are now: someone everyone wants to avoid. Get it now?"

"Oh? Sounds like your mother's taught you quite a lot. You even know words like that. Hmm... Auntie must be speaking from personal experience." Miao Rui maintained her calm expression. Whatever happened, she would not lose in sheer presence.

Those words pushed Moli over the edge. She lunged forward and grabbed Miao Rui's arm. "Miao Rui, say that one more time. I dare you."

"Once isn't nearly enough. If you want to hear it, I'll say it a hundred times for you." Miao Rui smiled.

"You filthy--" The words stopped halfway. The rest never came.

Miao Rui hadn't even figured out what was happening before Moli released her arm and ran off -- with tears in her voice, no less.

"Waaah... Brother Xie Heng, Miao Rui bullied me!" That voice was sweet enough to melt into your very bones. Miao Rui turned around. So she'd found herself a backer.

"Hands off." Xie Heng frowned in disgust and spoke coldly.

Moli recoiled under his fierce glare and reluctantly let go, glaring at Miao Rui with even more venom.

Xie Heng paid her no further attention and instead moved toward Miao Rui, speaking like an old friend he'd known for years. "Miao Xiaorui, what's taking you so long? I've been waiting forever."