Ninghai University.
Yun Bing (Cloud Ice) had been feeling irritable these past few days. She had been watching closely, but hadn't seen Ye Mo at all. Though he rarely attended classes, he used to frequent the library—but now, not even a shadow of him could be found.
At first, she thought his disappearance would calm her down and let her focus on moving forward. But ever since Zheng Wenqiao and that senior of hers were beaten into idiots, she felt there was a connection involving her. She wanted to confront Ye Mo, but he had treated her with hostility—even talking about throwing her into the lake. That jerk saw her body, possibly even touched her—now he was brazen enough to threaten her. It made her unbearably resentful. Maybe Ninghai wasn't suitable for her anymore… it was time to return to Yanjing.
When she thought about leaving Ninghai, Yun Bing felt relieved; she should have left much earlier.
Back at her apartment, she didn't cook. She packed her things and tidied the room.
Then she found an SD card in a corner—an 8GB card. She paused in confusion—she'd never used one. But she immediately remembered the camera that had been smashed into pieces in her room. That camera's memory card must be this one, knocked out when the camera was broken. If she hadn't cleaned up today, she probably wouldn't have discovered it.
She plugged it into her laptop and opened the only video file inside.
"Qiao-shao, I've started." It was her senior's voice—the one who gave her the drugged drink.
"Go ahead. When you... go at her, make sure to film carefully. Capture all the moans—if I get this tape, she'll have to comply." Then Zheng Wenqiao's voice followed clearly.
She trembled with rage and shame as she watched herself drunk, clothing torn off forcibly—her face flushed, eyes glazed. The drug's effect was monstrous.
Just as she felt terrified, the door burst open, and a masked Ye Mo appeared.
"Friend, what do you want? If you came for money, fine—we can play around. She's a quality woman," Zheng Wenqiao said, readying for more while dressing.
"Scum," Ye Mo said, and kicked him away.
The video blurred, then showed her senior and Ye Mo fighting—quickly. It ended abruptly at a black screen.
There was no more. Yet Yun Bing pieced it together: Ye Mo had trailed them, discovered their plan—to abduct and rape her—and burst in, fought and defeated them in her room, probably kicked the door to save her. He didn't assault her afterward; she understood that clearly.
No wonder both Zheng Wenqiao and her senior ended up maimed, dumped half-naked in the public square. It was Ye Mo's doing.
She leapt up. She had misjudged him. Ye Mo had saved her life; without him, who knows what could have happened. Perhaps suicide would have been worse. Zheng Wenqiao was malicious—what had she done to offend him?
She thought: now wasn't the time to dwell on them, but to find Ye Mo. He had saved her—yet she had unjustly attacked him. She felt ashamed; if there was a black-hearted betrayer in this story, it was her. She believed in debts and karmic balance. Having wrongly accused him, she owed him her heartfelt apology.
Yet why hadn't Ye Mo explained the truth himself? She realized he didn't want to burden her with details—especially since one man was the vice mayor's son. He'd kept quiet so she wouldn't feel guilt or fear afterwards. And besides, even if he did mention it, would she have believed it? Of course not.
"Thank you, Ye Mo," she whispered. As she organized her room, her hatred of him evaporated. Now, he seemed almost handsome.
She decided she must apologize in person tomorrow. She owed him her life. Some mistakes weren't cured by death—they lingered. Even if she died, this stain would remain.
She would ask around in class for where Ye Mo lived.
The next day in English class, unexpected and shocking everyone, the usually ice-cold teacher—Yun Bing—stood at the front and asked:
"Has anyone heard from Ye Mo? He hasn't been around lately. Does anyone know where he is or how to reach him?"
Silence stretched.
Eventually, one student answered, "Ye Mo is closest with Shi Xiu, but he hasn't been seen either. But Su Mei spoke to him by the library entrance once, so she might know."
Yun Bing left, and the class buzzed: the cold teacher asking about Ye Mo? That man really had everyone enchanted.
Shi Mei was also known to Yun Bing. Hearing that Yun Bing asked, Shi Mei replied:
"Teacher Yun, Ye Mo's a bad person—you shouldn't bother with him. My cousin almost fell for him; he's good at pretending."
Yun Bing paused. She realized Shi Mei wasn't wrong—she never asked Ye for forgiveness, despite the favor he did. But she didn't argue—everyone had their opinions.
"Shi Mei," she said calmly, "I have pressing business with Ye Mo."
Shi Mei, sensing her sincerity—and recalling the confrontation one night when Yun Bing's anger flared—felt something behind the teacher's urgency. Was her body harmed too? She glanced internally and responded:
"I'm not sure, but my cousin Su Jingwen might know. You should ask her."