Feeding Roses Chapter 1
byChapter 1 001
The narrow alleyway was dim and cramped.
A few loitering thugs had intercepted a lone student with premeditated intent.
Having taken someone’s money, they naturally had to vent that person’s frustrations.
“A good student, huh? Winning awards?” The lead thug whistled, rummaging through the stolen backpack.
He found nothing of value, only a merit certificate.
He complained disdainfully, “How do you not have a single cent on you?”
He carelessly tore the certificate to pieces, but the girl opposite him showed no reaction.
It seemed she was already used to it.
The thug clicked his tongue. If he didn’t provoke and humiliate her as the employer requested, the job wouldn’t be considered truly finished.
…Besides, it was all being recorded; there was no faking it.
Speaking of which, the middle school this girl attended was quite famous, filled with students from wealthy or influential families…
She was the only outlier, so destitute and shabby.
One plan failed, so another was hatched.
Hao Lei’s mind raced, and his hands began to move inappropriately. “Your school uniform looks pretty clean. Why don’t you take it off and let me wear it for a few days?”
Before he could touch her, he was caught off guard by a punch.
Hao Lei saw stars, and liquid immediately began to flow from his nostrils.
He wiped it casually, only to find his hand covered in red.
The thugs around him were startled and hurriedly called out in concern, “…Boss?”
“Damn it! Beat her to death!” Hao Lei was used to being overbearing; this was the first time he had been injured like this, and he flew into a rage.
Before taking the job, he had already looked into her background…
She had no power or influence. Even if they beat her to death, no one would stand up for her.
There wasn’t a trace of fear in Lian Qi’s eyes. She quickly picked up a scattered brick from the ground for defense.
She dared to strike, and she dared to strike to kill. There was no formal technique to her offense or defense.
Relying on that sheer ruthlessness, she managed to drive back several people who tried to approach.
But in the end, the opposition had the advantage of numbers, and she couldn’t hold her ground for long.
Lian Qi fell to the ground, curling her body as much as possible to protect her head.
Amidst the flurry of kicks and punches from the thugs, she even found herself wondering: Would she die like this?
But she didn’t want to die, and she couldn’t die.
“Move aside! Let me do it!”
Hao Lei found the brick that had hit him and picked it up.
He then ordered everyone back, wanting to take his revenge.
He cursed under his breath, “You motherless brat, how dare you hit me.”
Lian Qi knew his intention and forced herself to stand up.
At the same time, she reached out secretly, trying to pull out the small dagger she always carried.
Tonight, that brick…
Must not land on her head, no matter what.
Hao Lei raised his hand high, but before it could fall, his eyes were stung by a sudden flash of light.
A car horn blared, and three sturdy bodyguards in black suits stepped out of the vehicle.
First came a sharp reprimand, followed by a few swift punches that knocked down the thugs who were still trying to act tough.
In moments, all the thugs in front of Lian Qi were scared off.
When they did these things out of public sight, they felt no pressure, but they definitely didn’t want to get caught.
That would also cause trouble for their employer.
Lian Qi withdrew her gaze from the back of the thug leader and lowered her eyes slightly.
Hao Lei would probably never know…
That just now was actually the moment he was closest to death.
The car window rolled down, revealing a somewhat familiar face.
Lian Qi happened to know her.
Although they were in the same school and class, they had no interaction and lived completely different lives.
…Their paths should never have crossed.
But right now, she had indeed saved her.
Lian Qi coughed painfully, feeling a sharp ache all over her body.
But she acted as if nothing was wrong, forcing herself to pick up her backpack and the scattered books from the ground.
One of the bodyguards nearby couldn’t bear to watch and helped her gather her things before handing them over.
Since the Eldest Miss had stepped in to help, she would naturally see it through to the end.
Although he couldn’t figure out why Jiang Ruoxi was doing this—
The person he was ordered to protect was never one to meddle in others’ business.
The wealthy Eldest Miss of the Jiang Family hadn’t stepped out of the car once.
It seemed she was just passing by, encountered something filthy, and casually lent a hand.
One of the black-clad bodyguards returned to the car to report, waiting for the Eldest Miss’s next instruction.
“Call the police,” Jiang Ruoxi said coldly, her gaze shifting to the blood-stained Lian Qi. “Bring her in.”
Ten minutes later, the group left that filthy place.
The car drove smoothly, playing soothing music.
Jiang Ruoxi looked out the window, her expression remaining cold.
Lian Qi leaned close to the car door, looking ready to jump out at any moment. She didn’t understand why this Eldest Miss had suddenly appeared and saved her.
It was hard not to suspect her motives.
She even began to think conspiratorially: Maybe those people were sent by her?
Destroying her first, then appearing as a savior to satisfy some sick amusement…
Lian Qi couldn’t help but speculate with the utmost malice.
Unfortunately, aside from instructing the driver to head to a Private Hospital, Jiang Ruoxi didn’t say a word the entire time.
Nothing special happened on the way, and the car arrived quietly and smoothly at a hospital.
Then everyone got out, registered, and sought a doctor.
For the first time, Lian Qi’s wounds were properly treated.
She happened to look up toward the high-born girl. At that moment, Jiang Ruoxi was scrolling through something on her phone.
Her slender fingers were so pale they were almost translucent, showing the faint blue of her veins.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, the girl turned her head and asked softly, “…Where is your home?”
Lian Qi didn’t answer.
Jiang Ruoxi didn’t have any particular reaction; she just lowered her head again and sent a text.
Within two or three minutes, information about Lian Qi was sent to her phone.
It was a very concise summary.
But it wasn’t hard to see that this person lived a very hard life.
No father or mother, living with her uncle’s family. However, her aunt was extremely unwilling and wished she could kick her out of the house every single day.
In short, things were not going well.
Jiang Ruoxi thought for a moment, looking at the bandaged girl. “Are you willing to come with me?”
It was somewhat abrupt.
But looking into those cold eyes, Lian Qi nodded as if possessed.
She had nothing anyway; what was there left to covet?
As long as she could escape that place…
Anywhere would be better than hell.
–
A momentary, inexplicable thought had led Lian Qi to stand in a completely strange place.
Different from what she had imagined, Jiang Ruoxi’s home wasn’t excessively luxurious. Aside from being larger, it was no different from an ordinary household.
Of course, this comparison didn’t include the kennel-like place where Lian Qi lived.
Jiang Ruoxi was lost in thought. When she snapped out of it, she found Lian Qi still standing blankly in place. “…Aren’t you going to sleep?”
Jiang Ruoxi lived alone, and there were no extra beds for Lian Qi.
Lian Qi already felt it was absurd enough that she was here tonight; any place to rest for the night would do.
But Jiang Ruoxi simply gestured for her to wash up first and then go to sleep.
To share a bed with her.
In the bathroom, the girl looked at the clean toiletries, not even daring to touch them easily.
After a long time, the sound of water began.
After all, she would likely have to sleep with that noble Eldest Miss tonight…
The other girl was too clean; she couldn’t let her feel that she was dirty.
Silent and wordless.
She endured the faint pain radiating from her body, wiping herself clean over and over again.
Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she put on the pajamas the other girl had prepared for her.
Lian Qi stared quietly at herself in the mirror. After a long while, she hid the darkness in her eyes and walked out.
Jiang Ruoxi was sitting at the dining table. Seeing her come out, she asked softly, “…Do you want something to eat?”
The warm invitation of food.
It was a bowl of frozen wontons.
Lian Qi couldn’t help but be moved. It had been a long time since she had been able to have a proper hot meal.
Her “dear” aunt…
Never allowed her to finish a meal in peace.
Starving or eating cold leftovers was her usual state.
When she bit into one, it was filled with plump shrimp.
Jiang Ruoxi was eating listlessly when she noticed the girl’s shoulders trembling slightly, followed by suppressed sobs.
As if she were harboring immense pain.
The usually cold Jiang Ruoxi seemed flustered by this. “You… don’t cry…”
She couldn’t stand to see girls cry.
Jiang Ruoxi couldn’t stop Lian Qi’s heavy sorrow, so she could only say somewhat helplessly, “Don’t cry. How about I give you a piece of candy?” She sounded like she was coaxing a child.
A milk candy appeared in her palm.
She even gave her a light, tentative hug, which wasn’t rejected.
She even received a response.
Jiang Ruoxi was clearly uncomfortable with physical intimacy, but she didn’t push her away.
She just lowered her eyes slightly, thinking casually: Just consider it comforting her.
Lian Qi ate the milk candy, then sat back down quietly to finish the bowl of still-steaming wontons.
The other girl asked nothing, yet it was as if she knew everything.
The two of them shared a tacit silence.
Jiang Ruoxi ate very little; it seemed she was only sitting at the table to keep the other person company.
Afterward, she stood up, took a cup of hot milk to the balcony, and looked down.
Gazing at the lights of ten thousand homes in the distance, she let out a faint, inscrutable smile.
A breeze brushed past. It wasn’t cold, but it still made her cough twice.
Jiang Ruoxi was not someone who didn’t cherish her health.
So she finished the rest of the milk and walked back inside.
The girl at the dining table had just finished her simple dinner.
Naturally, it was time to go to the bedroom to sleep.
Before falling asleep, Jiang Ruoxi asked the person who had joined her by the bed a single question in a calm voice:
“…Do you want to change?”
–
In the darkness, Lian Qi silently looked at the girl beside her.
A faint milky fragrance seemed to linger in her mouth.
Slightly sweet.
In the pitch black, she could only tell the other person was there by the sound of her light breathing.
Relying on sight was futile.
So Lian Qi slowly closed her eyes.
This person…