Chapter 786: 789, no turning back, never regret (one more)

Mo Qingyi struggled to stand up, waved the makeup artist’s hand away, and narrowed her eyes, "Who are you really? What have you done to me?" At this moment, even Mo Qingyi’s voice was weak.

By now, Mo Qingyi had realized something was off about this makeup artist, but she didn’t recognize this person at all. What exactly was their intention?

The makeup artist smiled lightly and resumed her own voice, "You are indeed clever, but... you chose the wrong time to be clever."

Mo Qingyi was indeed clever, but she had realized it too late.

Now, in this makeup room, there was no one else except for her and Mo Qingyi.

At this moment, Mo Qingyi was like a trapped animal.

Completely at the mercy of others.

Hearing this voice as gentle as water, Mo Qingyi’s brow twitched sharply as she demanded, "Are you Xi He?!"

"It seems you really do know me well." The makeup artist reached to remove the Human Skin Mask from her face, revealing delicate features.

This person was indeed Xi He.

Mo Qingyi stared intently at Xi He, leaning on the dressing table, and questioned, "Xi He, what exactly do you want to do?"

"I don’t want to do anything," Xi He’s expression appeared very calm, "I just want to be with Duanmu Zhe, that’s all. Qingyi, considering we were once friends, can you just let me have this?" Her voice was laden with pleading.

Xi He didn’t want it to be this way either, she wanted to forget Duanmu Zhe, but she just couldn’t let go.

Even if Chu Jin said she was shameless, she would accept it.

Chu Jin was right; her actions were indeed shameless.

Seeing that Mo Qingyi was about to get engaged to Duanmu Zhe, if she didn’t do something, she would certainly regret it later, so after much thought, Xi He planned to make her move during the engagement banquet.

At worst, it would end in a catastrophe for everyone involved!

She wasn’t a saint; she couldn’t just watch Duanmu Zhe being sweet and romantic with someone else.

Xi He had been lying low in this hotel for the past five days. Before, Chu Jin was always by Mo Qingyi’s side, so she had no chance to take action. Chu Jin was so astute, she would surely spot Xi He’s flaws at a glance.

Therefore, only after confirming that Chu Jin had left did Xi He decide to come in.

Indeed, while Mo Qingyi was intelligent, her vigilance was still not strong enough.

"Xi He, calm down. Love isn’t a commodity; it can’t be forced or freely given away." Mo Qingyi’s expression remained unchanged as she continued, "I know many officers who are even more outstanding than Duanmu Zhe. I can introduce you to them. You are so outstanding; you will find someone better in the future. Why hang yourself on a crooked tree like Duanmu Zhe?"

These words were meant to stabilize Xi He’s emotions, after all, Mo Qingyi was now under the control of the drugs administered by Xi He. Mo Qingyi had to stall for time until the engagement ceremony started, by which time Duanmu Zhe would come to look for her.

Mo Qingyi was also very afraid; she had no idea what Xi He might do.

"Qingyi, things have come to this point, I can’t turn back now. I hope you won’t blame me." As Xi He spoke, she walked forward.

Xi He still had a gentle smile on her face as she continued, "Since you say Duanmu Zhe is like a crooked-neck tree, then why can’t you give him to me? There are so many men in this world, why do you have to monopolize Duanmu Zhe and not let go?"

The more Xi He spoke, the more agitated she became, her facial features gradually twisting into ferocity, her eyes filled with intense hatred.

What Mo Qingyi said was too simple; she didn’t understand her at all, didn’t know her pain.

"Qingyi, you said that there are so many young and handsome officers in the military, then why don’t you go find one of them? You are so beautiful, you will surely find someone better than Duanmu Zhe, as long as you find someone else, wouldn’t you be happy to fulfill my relationship with Duanmu Zhe?" Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself; Mo Qingyi was just too selfish.

Shaking her head, Mo Qingyi declared, "It’s not possible, I love Duanmu Zhe..."

Xi He scoffed coldly, "You know about ’love’? Let me tell you, my love for him is only greater than yours! I love him so much, what right do you have to ask me to give up!? What right?"

By the time she reached the last few words, Xi He had erupted into a shout, unleashing all the resentments that had accumulated in her heart.

Why should these people treat her like this?

Her once good sister Chu Jin did not help her.

And now this Mo Qingyi was telling her to let go! Why? Why should she be the one to let go?

Mo Qingyi kept retreating backwards, "Xi He, calm down, love is mutual, Duanmu Zhe thinks of you only as a friend, he doesn’t have romantic feelings for you, a melon forcibly twisted is not sweet, why are you so stubbornly clinging to this delusion? If you keep this up, you will only harm yourself..."

Mo Qingyi did her best to persuade kindly, because she knew that in such a state, people are prone to impulsive actions.

Today was her and Duanmu Zhe’s big day, she didn’t want any accidents to happen, nor did she want to have any regrets in her life.

Mo Qingyi’s gaze flickered unintentionally toward the door, hoping that at this moment, someone would knock on it.

Xi He looked at Mo Qingyi and raised her voice, "If it weren’t for you, the one standing by Duanmu Zhe’s side right now would be me! This is all your fault! Duanmu Zhe and I have been childhood friends, we’ve known each other since we were little, why do you have to interfere!"

As she was speaking, Xi He pulled out a dagger that glinted with a cold light. Paired with that sinister smile on her face, the scene was more terrifying than a horror movie.

Retreating to in front of a sofa, Mo Qingyi stopped, her eyes filled with horror as she watched Xi He, then began to speak, "Xi He, don’t be like this, what you’re doing is against the law, and it will hurt you in the end, not to mention you won’t gain love but could even endanger yourself, you are still so young, it’s not worth it, let me go, and I’ll pretend nothing happened, we can still be good friends, how about that?"

Right now, the most important thing was to stabilize Xi He.

Xi He’s smile did not fade, she spoke softly, "Qingyi, since I have come here today, I’m not planning on leaving, don’t worry, I will take care of everything cleanly, without leaving any trace, and after that, I will always be with Duanmu Zhe."

Toward the end, Xi He’s eyes showed a longing look.

"Xi He..." Mo Qingyi looked at Xi He, wanting to say something else, but her voice grew fainter and fainter until she couldn’t produce a sound from her throat; her limbs felt so weak, she couldn’t muster any strength, and she collapsed limply onto the leather sofa behind her.

Xi He walked up to the sofa, bent down, and started to undo Mo Qingyi’s dress, her face full of apology, "Qingyi, you’re a good girl, I’m sorry, I didn’t want it to be like this, but don’t worry, after the engagement party with Duanmu, I will take good care of you."

No matter what, she owed something to Mo Qingyi.

Xi He’s conscience had not completely eroded away; she didn’t want it to be this way. But she just couldn’t get over this hurdle.

She couldn’t bear to watch Duanmu Zhe being happy with someone else.

If she did nothing this time, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

Mo Qingyi couldn’t utter a word, she could only let Xi He undress her, her bright eyes filled with panic as she already knew Xi He’s intention.

Xi He intended to replace her, to get engaged to Duanmu Zhe, and in the future, Xi He would continue to use her identity to stay with Duanmu Zhe, to marry him, bear his children...

And she herself would be forever controlled by Xi He, locked in a dark room, never seeing the light of day, until her death.

The more Mo Qingyi thought about it, the more terrified she became, her eyes quickly filling with a layer of mist. No matter how strong a person is usually, they have their moments of weakness.

And now was Mo Qingyi’s weakest moment.

"Qingyi, don’t cry." Xi He reached out to wipe the tears off Mo Qingyi’s face, "Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you, I just want to be with Duanmu Zhe properly."

Mo Qingyi didn’t even have the strength to frown, her tears uncontrollably streamed down her face.

Next, Xi He lifted Mo Qingyi’s left hand, her gaze locked tightly on the amethyst ring on her ring finger, which was flashing dazzlingly under the bright light.

"It’s really beautiful." Xi He gazed at the ring with fascination, her mouth curving into a faint smile.

Mo Qingyi watched Xi He, a foreboding feeling rising in her heart.

Sure enough, in the next second, Xi He reached for the amethyst ring, attempting to twist it off Mo Qingyi’s finger. Although the ring seemed loose on Mo Qingyi’s hand, it was surprisingly hard to remove, as if it had grown roots on her finger.

No matter how it was twisted, the ring would not budge.

But Xi He did not give up, she kept twisting the ring, frowning and muttering, "What’s going on? What’s happening?"

Mo Qingyi couldn’t resist or cry for help, she could only watch helplessly as Xi He did all this.

"That’s right!" In her panic, Xi He’s eyes suddenly brightened as if she had remembered something, "A knife! If there’s a knife, it’ll do! Where’s the knife? Is there a knife?"

Xi He stood up and started rummaging through the dressing room.

A knife?

Xi He was looking for a knife!

This crazy woman!

What happened to not harming her?

Mo Qingyi was panic-stricken, was she going to lose her left hand now?

Mo Qingyi stared intently at the door of the dressing room, desperately hoping someone would open it and take Xi He away.

One second, two seconds.

Mo Qingyi longed for it, but unfortunately no one came to open the door.

That’s when Xi He found the knife.

"Knock, knock, knock." There was a knock on the door.

Mo Qingyi was overjoyed.

Xi He put away the knife and looked towards the door, "Who is it?"

Hearing this voice, Mo Qingyi’s last sliver of hope vanished, because Xi He’s voice was exactly like her own, not a bit different.

The talent for impersonation was simply too great!

Mo Qingyi’s heart grew more and more frantic.

Was she going to spend the rest of her life buried here?

Mo Qingyi’s gaze stayed fixed on the door.

Hoping for that sliver of a miracle.

The person outside answered respectfully, "Miss Mo, the engagement ceremony is about to start. Do you need any assistance?"

Xi He put the knife in the drawer, "Alright, I know. If I need help, I’ll call you."

"Very well, Miss Mo, I’ll stand guard outside. If you need anything, just let me know."

"Okay." Xi He responded, then lifted Mo Qingyi’s chin, squinted her eyes and said, "Consider yourself lucky today."

After that, Xi He took off her own uniform to dress Mo Qingyi, and she herself put on the gown that Mo Qingyi had been wearing.

After changing, Xi He took out a blue porcelain bottle from the space, poured out a clay-like substance, and smeared it on Mo Qingyi’s face.

Soon, Mo Qingyi’s face was covered in white, obscuring her features.

**

The banquet hall.

As they hadn’t found anything outside, Chu Jin and Mo Zhixuan returned to the main hall together.

Chu Jin checked the main hall, side hall, and restrooms, but found nothing amiss. Just as Chu Jin was about to leave the restroom, she ran into Duanmu Zhe, "Sister-in-law." Duanmu Zhe greeted her proactively.

"Duanmu? What are you doing here?" Chu Jin’s eyebrows lifted slightly, "Weren’t you with Qingyi?"

Duanmu Zhe smiled, "The engagement ceremony is about to begin, and as it happens, Qingyi needed to touch up her makeup, so I came out to check if there’s anything that needs to be prepared."

Chu Jin nodded slightly, and then as if suddenly remembering something, she looked up at Duanmu Zhe, a cold light flashing in her eyes, "Are you saying Qingyi is alone in the dressing room now?"

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read