Chapter 9: The Fig Leaf of Self-Esteem

I saw the fruit knife in his other hand and my face turned deathly pale. I knew the knife I had brought had been confiscated; my only source of confidence was gone.

"What, you brought a knife to stab me? Take a look at your pathetic face, you think you can stab me? You idiot!" Wang Li spat a glob of phlegm at me and cursed.

I sat limply on the ground, thinking, *It’s over. They took the knife, so I basically came here to die. Not only did I fail to save Su Xueyan, but I’ve also dragged myself into this.*

"Please, let him go! I’ll agree to any condition you set!" Su Xueyan begged, crying.

Su Xueyan’s once beautiful face was now filthy, her hair disheveled like a female ghost. This girl, whom I had scolded into tears just a few days ago, was still speaking up to protect me. My heart ached even more, so I hardened my resolve and shouted at Wang Li: "I’m the one who bit you, it has nothing to do with her! If you have a problem, come at me!"

"Screw your mother!" Wang Li slapped me across the face again. "Still calling yourself 'Laozi' in front of me? Do you think I’ve given you too much face? Get on your knees right now!"

I ignored Wang Li. Are you kidding? Kneel? Impossible. I kneel only to heaven, earth, and my parents; kneeling to someone like Wang Li would be more painful than death.

Seeing that I wouldn't follow his orders, Wang Li held the fruit knife against Su Xueyan’s throat and said, "You won't kneel, huh? Are you going to kneel or not?"

Seeing this, I felt a massive internal struggle—a struggle between dignity and emotion. I gritted my teeth and cursed, "What kind of ability is it to threaten a woman? If you’ve got the guts, kill me!"

Su Xueyan was terrified by the knife next to her and was momentarily stunned. Wang Li didn't fall for my provocation. He smiled, looked at me, and said, "I’ll count to three. If you don't kneel, I’ll have my men gang-rape her!"

Hearing this, I panicked even more, my internal struggle intensifying. When I came here, I had thought that even in the worst-case scenario, I would just die. I hadn't expected to be humiliated and have my dignity trampled upon. Although Wang Li had often bullied me in the past, at least I had kept some self-respect. But now, it felt as if the last fig leaf covering me had been ripped away.

"Run! Don't worry about me, you fool, run!" Su Xueyan ignored the knife and screamed with all her might.

Wang Li was even more enraged by Su Xueyan’s words and raised the knife to strike her.

At that moment, I didn't hesitate. With a thud, I knelt on the ground and shouted, "Don't! I’ll kneel!"

When I knelt and said those words, it felt as if I had suddenly lost my life; my heart was filled with infinite pain and despair.

Su Xueyan’s voice was hoarse from crying. She struggled to shout at me, "Why are you so stupid? Why are you so stupid? I’m begging you, stop worrying about me!"

Sanmao and the others laughed heartily at the sight of me kneeling like a dead dog. Wang Li looked at me viciously; his eyes held not only anger but also a trace of disdain. He gave a look to Sanmao and the other man.

Sanmao and his companion understood and began to punch and kick me. I didn't resist; I knew resistance was useless. Besides, with Su Xueyan still in their hands, I dared not fight back. I could only pray that once Wang Li had vented his anger, he would let Su Xueyan go. Even if I died, it would be worth it. After all, for a useless person like me, being able to save a woman before dying could be considered a life with value.

Seeing me being beaten, Su Xueyan struggled violently and screamed, but since she was tied up, she couldn't move. Annoyed by the noise, Wang Li grabbed a piece of cloth from somewhere and stuffed it into her mouth.

Eventually, I was beaten until I lay on the ground like a dead dog. Sanmao and the others stopped only when they saw I had reached my limit. I forced my blood-covered face up and pleaded, "Is this enough? Let Su Xueyan go, I beg you, let her go. I’ll do anything else you want!"

At this moment, I had completely lost my dignity. I begged him bitterly, hoping only that he would spare Su Xueyan.

Wang Li grinned, a hint of pleasure in his eyes. He threw the knife in front of me and said, "Do it yourself. I don't want to dirty my hands."

Then, Wang Li pointed to his own thigh, to the scar where I had bitten him, and said, "Aim for this spot!"

I looked at the fruit knife on the ground and then at the struggling, pained Su Xueyan. I gritted my teeth and said, "Let her go first, and I’ll do whatever you say!"

Wang Li snorted, walked over to Su Xueyan, grabbed her hair, and shouted at me, "You aren't in a position to negotiate with me right now. If you don't do it? Hmph!"

After speaking, he used his disgusting tongue to lick Su Xueyan’s face. Sanmao and the others nearby watched Su Xueyan with excitement; after all, they had been coveting her for a long time.

I knew that if I didn't follow his orders, they would definitely commit those beastly acts. I dragged my heavy body and picked up the fruit knife with trembling hands. I knew I couldn't escape and would likely die here today, but no matter what, I had to get Su Xueyan out.

I slowly braced myself, crawled up, and with a shaking hand, held the fruit knife against my thigh. I asked weakly, "If I do it, will you really let Su Xueyan go?"

Su Xueyan struggled in agony, shaking the very chair she was tied to. She looked like she had gone mad, trying to rush toward me. Wang Li slapped her across the face again and cursed, "Screw your mother, you slut! Why aren't you like this with me?"

But this slap didn't silence Su Xueyan; instead, it acted like a catalyst, making her struggle even more violently. Furious, Wang Li grabbed her hair and tore the white clothes off her body in one go. Su Xueyan’s undergarments were immediately exposed to them. The eyes of Sanmao and his companion went wide.

My heart ached so much I could barely breathe. Only then did I realize how incredibly important Su Xueyan was to me. Wang Li continued, "I’ll count to three. If you don't do it, I don't mind if my two brothers and I take turns!"

I instantly grabbed the fruit knife, looked at my thigh, gritted my teeth, and plunged it in with force. The pain from my thigh almost made me faint, and I collapsed limply onto the ground.

Seeing this, Su Xueyan was so terrified that she fainted on the spot.

Wang Li looked at this scene, his expression becoming even more smug. He smiled and looked at me, saying, "I heard that when your sister left, she left you a sum of money, right? A decent amount, too?"

Wang Li’s sudden words shocked me to my core. How did Wang Li know about the money Sister Shuang gave me? Only Sister Shuang, Su Xueyan, and I knew about this. Could Su Xueyan have leaked it? But that made no sense.