Redemption from the Abyss: The School Beauty Insists on Pulling Me Out of the Mire

That feeling of being watched, like a thorn in his back, was like a cold snake's tongue licking Xie Wang's nape.

But he didn't turn back. In the world of cyber warfare, Xie Wang's first lesson was: never let your opponent know that you have discovered that he is watching you.

He followed the crowd into the subway transfer passage. Amidst the noisy announcements and conversations of passersby, Xie Wang casually looked down and fiddled with his phone.

He used the reflections from the GG brand glass on both sides of the passage to quickly capture every shadow behind him.

The other party was an experienced player who knew how to use the crowd as cover, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.

"Want to play? Then I'll play with you."

Xie Wang's lips curled into a barely perceptible sneer.

He followed the flow of people onto the platform and walked toward a subway train that was about to arrive.

The subway arrives at the station, the doors open, and the crowd surges forward.

Xie Wang mingled in the crowd, making a gesture as if he was about to get on the bus.

"Beep—du—"

Just two seconds before the alarm sounded and the car doors were about to close.

Xie Wang leaned forward abruptly, as if about to rush in, but just as his toes were about to cross the yellow line, he abruptly stopped, took a step back, and stood still against the platform screen door.

"Bang!"

The heavy train door slammed shut right in front of his nose, and the train roared away, bringing with it a sharp gust of wind.

The previously crowded platform was instantly emptied by more than half.

Xie Wang quickly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the remaining people around him like a hawk's.

Several students looking down at their phones, a couple arguing, and an elderly man carrying a shopping basket.

There was no gaze fixed on him.

That sticky, lingering gaze abruptly ended as the train departed.

Either the other person had already gotten into the car, or they had sensed his probing and quickly disappeared.

"You're lucky you ran fast."

……

[3:00 PM · Genting Music Room 1602]

As I pushed open the door, a strong smell of fried chicken mixed with the cold air rushed towards me.

A pair of extremely flashy limited-edition sneakers appeared in the entryway; you didn't even need to look to know whose they were.

In the living room, an intense game was playing on the television screen.

"Aaaaaah! Help! Don't hit my face! Shen Hao, you jerk, heal me!"

Lu Wenzheng sprawled undignifiedly on the sofa, his feet propped up on the coffee table, gripping the door handle tightly in his hand. Hearing the door open, he called out without turning his head:

"Wangzi, you're back? Quick, quick! Come save the day! This boss is insane, I've been stuck for three days!"

Xie Wang raised an eyebrow in surprise: "What brings you here?"

"Just bored." Lu Wen stared at the screen, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "Shen Hao went to the library with his girlfriend, and Lin Lu was dragged to tutoring class by her mom. I'm all alone, so I had to bother you. I also brought you half a fried chicken, although I ate most of it..."

After saying that, Lu Wen took a quick look back during the brief moment when the character was resurrected.

Upon seeing this, he froze completely.

Their gazes were fixed on the exquisite paper bag in Xie Wang's hand, which was printed with a high-end menswear logo. Then, their eyes moved up the paper bag and they saw Xie Wang's neat hairstyle, which was obviously freshly done and showed his forehead.

"Holy crap?"

Lu Wen threw down the controller, sprang up from the sofa like a startled monkey, circled Xie Wang three times, and looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"This brand...! Xie Wang, did you rob a bank? Or are you being kept by a sugar daddy? This isn't right. Where did you hide that Xie Wang who wore twenty-yuan T-shirts everywhere?"

Xie Wang pushed him away with disdain, walked to the coat rack, carefully hung up the suit, and said in a detached tone:

"Get lost."

"We're going to Su Qinghe's house for dinner tomorrow."

The air was silent for a full five seconds.

Immediately following, a scream loud enough to blow the roof off erupted.

"Meet...meet the parents?!"

Lu Wen's voice was so loud it almost shook the chandelier down. He grabbed Xie Wang's shoulders and shook him violently.

"The Su family?! Su Chengyun and Lin Wanyi?! Brother Wang, you're a warrior! A true hero! Are you guys moving at eight times the speed? This isn't going to dinner, it's like venturing into a dragon's den!"

He pulled a heavy car key from his pocket and twirled it in his hand:

"No! I'll take you tomorrow!"

"I drove my dad's Cullinan out."

Xie Wang felt a warm current surge through his heart as he looked into Lu Wen's earnest eyes.

He didn't refuse, smiled, and patted his brother on the shoulder:

"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Driver Lu."

……

[The following day, Sunday, 5:00 PM, Su Family Villa]

Meanwhile, in the Yujingwan villa area.

The atmosphere inside the Su family's white European-style villa was subtle and tense.

In the living room on the first floor, a crystal chandelier casts a soft light.

Su Chengyun, Su's father, was sitting on a leather sofa drinking tea, his hand holding a financial newspaper he hadn't turned a page in ten minutes. His gaze kept drifting towards the door, making him appear somewhat restless.

Su's mother, Lin Wanyi, sat in front of a flower arrangement table not far away, holding a sharp pair of scissors and trimming a hydrangea.

"Wanyi." Su Chengyun finally couldn't hold back any longer. He put down his teacup, adjusted his glasses, and said, "When they arrive, tone down your aura. Don't scare the child. After all, it's Qinghe's first time bringing a friend home."

"Click."

Lin Wanyi deftly cut off an extra flower branch, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority:

"I know what I'm doing. I just want to see what kind of person Qinghe can get her to like. If he's just a bookworm who knows how to study, or a scheming man trying to climb the social ladder, I won't even let him in the door."

Second floor stairwell.

Su Qinghe was wearing a simple home dress, her hand tightly gripping her phone, her palms sweaty.

She checked the time every two minutes and couldn't help but look out the door through the French windows.

……

A black Rolls-Royce Cullinan, like a steady black beast, slowly drove into Yujing Bay and finally came to a smooth stop in front of the Su family's imposing, ornate iron gate.

The car door opened.

Xie Wang got down.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on him, giving him a golden edge.

He wore a well-tailored dark blue suit with a crisp white wrinkle-free shirt underneath, and his tie was perfectly tied. His hair was combed back, revealing his sharp and handsome features.

He was carrying two exquisite gift boxes.

In his left hand was a box of aged Pu'er tea cakes, a gift for Su's father, symbolizing stability and gravitas.

In his right hand was a rare, classic vinyl record, a gift for Su's mother.

At this moment, he had shed his youthful naiveté and arrogance, exuding a composure and nobility beyond his years.

"Whoa—!"

Lu Wen, in the driver's seat, rolled down the window, looked at Xie Wang's retreating figure, and genuinely whistled:

"Brother Wang, you're amazing! You look incredible right now, I'd believe you if you said you were the young CEO of some listed company! Su Qinghe's parents definitely couldn't find any fault with you!"

"I'll wait for you outside." Lu Wen patted the steering wheel and gave Xie Wang a reassuring look.

Xie Wang nodded, straightened his cuffs, and turned to face the door.

Almost the instant he got out of the car, the villa gate opened.

Uncle Zhong, dressed in a well-tailored tuxedo, had been waiting for some time. He first glanced at the imposing Cullinan, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Xie are already waiting for you inside."

"Hello, Uncle Chung."

Xie Wang nodded slightly, polite yet neither humble nor arrogant, his voice steady and powerful.

Xie Wang carried the gifts and stepped up the stairs.

Inside, the lights were on.