Yun Bing hadn't gone to school for some time. She only remembered that night after leaving school, she had planned to stop by the supermarket, but on the way ran into an old senior from her school. The senior seemed to have bought two bottles of drink and offered one to her. Though she didn't want to talk much, she couldn't refuse the kindness, and he even helped her open it.
After taking a few sips and exchanging a few words, she wanted to leave, but her head started feeling dizzy. Yun Bing wasn't naive; having lived independently for many years, she immediately suspected something was wrong with the drink.
She tried to shout but found her head growing heavier and heavier until she couldn't even call out. After that, she remembered nothing else. When she woke up that night and saw Ye Mo, she wondered if he and that senior were working together.
Her first thought was to report Ye Mo to the police and have him arrested. But after checking, she found she hadn't been sexually assaulted and nothing was stolen—only the door had been kicked in.
Thinking Ye Mo was still young, Yun Bing sighed and decided to let him go, though her hatred for him had reached its peak. She just couldn't understand how Ye Mo knew her senior.
When Yun Bing later checked her room, she found signs of a struggle and a smashed digital camera. Could it be they had fought over who got to her first? The thought made her even more ashamed and angry.
She planned to ask Ye Mo about it at school the next day. But the news the following day stopped her cold.
The news reported two men, stripped naked, beaten until mentally impaired, abandoned in a car at Century Square. Though their faces were blurred, Yun Bing clearly recognized one as Zheng Wenqiao and the other as the senior who had drugged her.
Immediately, she suspected Ye Mo was behind this. No matter what, the senior had been beaten senseless—her grievance had been avenged. Whether or not Ye Mo did it, she wouldn't expose him. But Ye Mo trying to take advantage of her left a bitter hatred in her heart.
As for why Ye Mo never had relations with her that night, Yun Bing knew it was simply because he wasn't capable. But how did Ye Mo end up in her room? How was her senior beaten into a vegetable? She couldn't understand and decided not to think about it anymore.
Thus, Yun Bing took leave that day and rested for half a month before returning to school. But the first person she met upon returning was Ye Mo.
Ye Mo had just finished cultivating and was about to find Shi Xiu when he saw Yun Bing entering the school. Seeing her, he involuntarily recalled her nearly naked figure that night and her firm, large chest.
Yun Bing's anger flared upon seeing Ye Mo staring at her so openly. The thought of him having seen her body without reservation infuriated her.
"Ye Mo, come here." Yun Bing's tone was calm, but beneath the calm was a fire barely contained.
Ye Mo didn't know she had figured him out that night. Calmly, he walked over: "Teacher Yun, what's the matter?"
Yun Bing didn't answer but led him to a secluded spot on campus. Ye Mo followed, growing uneasy—could she have realized it was him? Impossible; she was unconscious, and he wore a mask.
When no one was around, Yun Bing's face turned grim: "Pretty, huh?"
"What? Pretty? The scenery here is nothing special," Ye Mo said, feeling uncomfortable and trying to distract.
Suddenly, without warning, Yun Bing slapped Ye Mo's face. Ye Mo was already alert and guarded, but even if he weren't, her slap wouldn't have landed.
He caught her wrist and coldly said, "Teacher Yun, if there's nothing else, I'll leave. If you dare lay a hand on me again, don't blame me for being ruthless—I'll turn Ning University's Ning Lake into your bathing place." Saying that, he turned and walked away.
"Ye Mo, you rogue, shameless scoundrel!" Yun Bing shouted after him, her usual cold composure completely gone.
Ye Mo ignored her and disappeared. Though called "Heartless Ice," Yun Bing couldn't help crying after seeing how Ye Mo treated her. After a long time, she rubbed her reddened eyes and left alone.
After Yun Bing left, a girl appeared nearby. Looking at Yun Bing's retreating figure, she murmured in disbelief, "I never thought Ye Mo would bully even Teacher Yun. This guy is bad to the bone."
Ye Mo, annoyed, had no mood to look for Shi Xiu in class and left school immediately. He regretted helping her—saving her only to be treated like this.
Just as Ye Mo entered the courtyard, Ning Qingxue came over, clinging to his arm like a little bird.
Ye Mo glanced behind Ning Qingxue and saw a tall woman of about the same age, with long hair and bright, expressive eyes that seemed to speak as they roamed over him. She looked worldly and sharp.
"Ye Mo, let me introduce you—this is my classmate Zhou Lei, who specially came to Ninghai to visit me. Zhou Lei, this is my husband Ye Mo," Ning Qingxue said warmly.
Only Ning Qingxue knew she wanted everyone to recognize she was Ye Mo's wife quickly. Otherwise, she wouldn't mingle much. Zhou Lei was a reporter; Ning Qingxue knew she had come to investigate.
"Oh, hello, Miss Zhou," Ye Mo smiled and shook her hand.
"Hello, Mr. Ye. You can just call me Zhou Lei, no need for formalities. I'll call you Ye Mo," Zhou Lei said with a professional smile.
Zhou Lei was a bit puzzled. She had heard of Ye Mo and, like others, guessed Ning Qingxue's marriage was just to escape the Song family. After seeing Ning Qingxue's humble residence, she was even more convinced. But seeing Ye Mo's calm, unshaken demeanor, she began to doubt her judgment for the first time.
"Qingxue, you really should've called me when your classmate came. Oh, Zhou Lei hasn't eaten yet, right? Let's go fill our stomachs. Sorry about the simple place—we're roughing it a bit now, but it's temporary. I promise Qingxue won't suffer like this forever." Ye Mo was in a bad mood and wanted to finish the meal quickly and send this probing woman away.