Chapter 106 From Now On, Wesre Even (1/2)
Ying Qingcang was once again at the brink of utter devastation. The last time he felt this way was during Xin Qing's abduction. At the auction just now, he could not believe his eyes that he would be seeing Xin Qing in a place like that. She was locked up in a cage, looking at him with tearful and helpless eyes. What he hated the most about the whole situation was the fact that he was unable to go rescue her. Ah Che had gone to the auction on his orders, but William had beaten him to it.
The door opened. William stood in the doorway, blocking his path.
”Out of my way!” Ying Qingcang did not spare the man another glance.
”It's not that I won't let you in.” William said in a helpless tone. ”It's just that Xin Qing refuses to see you.”
Ying Qingcang scowled. ”I'm going to see her.”
”Don't come in!” Xin Qing's voice sounded from inside the room. Even though it was not loud, the sound of her voice still made him feel as if someone had stabbed his heart with a sharp knife. It pained him so much that he wanted to die. ”Let me in, please. I'll leave after I see you.” He said. The pain in his heart had brought a tremor to his voice.
”I'm fine and dandy. Even if I'm not, it's got nothing to do with you.” Whenever she recalled the way Ying Qingcang had turned his back on her at the underground auction, she would feel a chill right down to her bones. She did not want to see Ying Qingcang again for the rest of her life.
William tilted his body to the side to block Ying Qingcang's attempted entry. ”Mr. Ying, you already know what she'd gone through tonight. Just let her rest. Anything you want to discuss can wait until tomorrow.”
”I want to know how she ended up in a place like that,” Ying Qingcang said, taking a step back. He stood outside the door, staring at William with a probing look in his eyes.
A small crease formed on William's brows. ”She and her companion got separated on the streets. She ran into the people responsible for the auction. They knocked her out and brought her there.”
”Out of so many people, why only her?” Ying Qingcang stared at William.
”Are you suspecting me, Mr. Ying?” William said, his lips still had a trace of a smile. ”I'm not entirely sure of the specifics. If you can find something out, then that would be best.”
”I will.” Ying Qingcang said, turning to leave. Then he paused in his steps and angled his head to look at William. ”I hope it has nothing to do with you.”
Xin Qing looked at William who was walking back in. After a while, she peered at the space behind him. William laughed. ”What are you looking at? He left already.”
”He left? Good, then.” Xin Qing stated coldly. She turned to her sides and went back to sleep.
Last night's ordeal had rattled Xin Qing greatly. The second day, she pulled herself together nonetheless and was fully intended on making an appearance at the competition. She got dressed in a pink cheongsam but realized that the color would bring out the paleness in her face. After some thought, she decided to do something she had never done before in her life. She put on heavy makeup; she rouged her cheeks, applied heavy eyeshadow, and had even used a bright pink lipstick.
”Very pretty!” William praised when he saw her. ”Are you sure you're able to last until the end of the competition?”
Xin Qing pulled in a breath and puffed out her chest. ”That goes without saying. I'm here to claim first place!”
The competition's venue was at the hotel's top floor. Dianne had arrived there early and was already waiting for Xin Qing. When she noticed Xin Qing, she rushed over and stared at Xin Qing's face. After a long while, Dianne asked, ”Are you okay?”
”I'm fine,” Xin Qing said, shaking her head. ”Thank you for calling the police.”
Dianne heaved a sigh of relief, and then stepped forward to give Xin Qing a hug. ”Thank goodness. Or else I'll live with that guilt for the rest of my life. I was the one who had brought you out, and yet I lost you.” Dianne said. Then she nodded at William. ”Mr. William, thank you so much for rescuing Xin Qing!”
”Xin Qing and I are friends. It's the least I can do.” William said with a smile. Then he turned to Xin Qing. ”Hey, I have to go sit with the judges now. I wish you the best!”
”I will, thanks!”
The designs of all participants were placed onstage during the first round. The judges were supposed to pick out ten designs to qualify for the next round. The designers of the ten selected designs would then be asked to present their design concept to everyone. Xin Qing breezed through the first round with ease. When she got down from the stage, she saw Ying Qingcang. Molly was once again standing beside him. Ah Che stood behind them with a dejected look on his face. Noticing Xin Qing, Ah Che hurried over.
”Young Miss, are you alright?”
Xin Qing shook her head. ”I'm fine.”
”Ah Che.” Xin Qing went on, ”Please don't address me as 'Young Miss' anymore. I no longer related to your Young Master.”
”No, Young Miss. Please, let me explain.” Ah Che was so agitated that his face had changed. ”Young Master gave me the order to save you last night. But when I got there, William was already there. I was one step too late, so he beat me to it. If you want to blame someone, please blame me. It isn't Young Master's fault. He would never just sit by and watch you be sold off to others.”
Xin Qing had kept quiet and had allowed Ah Che to say his piece. When Ah Che was done, she drawled, ”You mean to say that he has his reasons? That he was in a tight spot at the time?”
”Yes! Yes! That's right!” Ah Che nodded vigorously.
”So he turned a blind eye just because he was in a tight spot. Because he was in a tight spot, he decided to crush all the hope I had in that moment...” Xin Qing sighed. ”Ah Che, you'll never be able to understand what I was feeling back then.”