The Real Heiress Just Wants to Be a Lazy Fish - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: The Sacrifice

“The signaling device has been destroyed. Fixed location: Haoyu Mountain.”

The struggle between the Special Affairs Bureau and the Ogres had not lasted for a day or two, but for decades—a continuous game of move and countermove. Thus, the signaling device the Director had given to Jiang Zitan was the latest model, unused by anyone except the developer. The Ogres thought destroying it was enough, but in reality, the opposite was true.

Catching minor lackeys was meaningless; the Bureau’s goal was to find the most deeply hidden Ogre—the one who had never shown its face in over 20 years yet was responsible for countless bloody crimes.

The Director had previously uncovered certain things, glimpsing the Ogre’s secrets. Simultaneously, he realized that to make the creature appear, he had to offer what it desired most—Jiang Zitan.

If Jiang Zitan didn’t appear, it would stay hidden forever like a shrinking turtle; after all, it had a long lifespan and could afford to outlast humans. But the casualties on the human side could not be allowed to expand further, and Tao Yitong’s condition didn’t allow for continued delay. No matter who the bait was, even a child he had watched grow up, he had to let her go.

“So you kept me in the dark and let her walk into danger?!” Tao Yitong sat in the exhibition hall. Ordinary people had been led away by the Bureau using special methods, and the non-humans had been dragged out by her. The pseudo-space that had previously existed above this dimension had been torn apart by her violent methods, but except for the few remaining people, everyone else had been transferred away.

Her eyes were still bloodshot. Influenced by the fierce soul of the Taotie, she was prone to outbursts of violent emotion. Usually, she was open-minded, and few things could make her fly into a rage, but today was the first time she didn’t use a respectful title for the Director.

“You’re right.” Her face was deathly pale as she clutched her chest, her body twitching slightly. “I have… I have a heart condition… You surrounding me and stimulating me like this… I can’t breathe…”

Her trembling lips and hunched body signaled extreme physical distress. Thin beads of sweat seeped from her forehead as her mouth hung open, gasping for air.

“I’m not from some Lego company,” she intentionally mispronounced the name of Gaole Entertainment. “I’m just a patient. You… which one of you grabbed me just now?”

Tao Yitong reached out slightly, making a hollow grasping motion toward the man who had pulled at her.

She was a professionally trained actress; her acting was truly excellent—the kind that would receive a perfect score from a performance teacher. So, was the reason she got out of the car in such thin clothing because she was in such a hurry to rescue herself that she didn’t have time to put on a coat?

Probably not; Jiang Zitan wouldn’t be that concerned about her, right?

Her thoughts spinning, Tao Yitong wanted to peek at the person beside her again, but her reason called a halt. She pursed her lips and kept her head turned stubbornly toward the window.

After a long while, Jiang Zitan crossed her arms and said to the driver in the front, “Old Du, no need to circle around anymore. Drive straight to the Gaole underground garage.”

“Yes, Miss.” The driver made his first sound, still not turning his head, focused on driving. Gaole Entertainment was a subsidiary of the Gaotong Group; the driver calling Jiang Zitan “Miss” meant he was likely a long-time family driver who knew his place.

The car slowly stopped in a parking space in the garage. The driver got out, leaving only Jiang Zitan and Tao Yitong in the van. Jiang Zitan remained with her arms crossed, but since she sat near the door, Tao Yitong had to pass her to get out.

“…” “Oh, and another thing. It’s perfectly justifiable for her to study hard. With major exams approaching, she should focus on her prep and not trouble irrelevant people. I suggest you read more books as well. Don’t let three older brothers spoil a sister so much that, in the end, none of the three of you have the ability to distinguish right from wrong.”

After this verbal output, the person on the other end was clearly stunned. They likely hadn’t reacted by the time Jiang Zitan hung up.

Jiang Zitan put away her phone and turned her head. Her lips brushed against the ear of the person who had been eavesdropping. That slight graze felt like an electric current, leaving both of them frozen and unable to move. The air felt dry, with invisible sparks crackling like static on a sweater taken off in winter, making both their hearts shudder.

Tao Yitong abruptly pulled back, covering her ear. Jiang Zitan was also stunned for a moment. After a while, she nodded meaningfully. “I see. Miss Tao, do I still owe you a morning kiss?”

“Um… aren’t we going down?” Tao Yitong pointed at the door and quickly retracted her finger.

Behind the dark sunglasses, Jiang Zitan’s gaze was unreadable, but Tao Yitong knew she was being watched. The two had spent an intimate night together; now, enclosed in such a quiet space, the slightest movement of an arm would brush against the other person’s. Their body temperatures exchanged through their clothes, creating an unspeakable, ambiguous atmosphere.

“Where are we going?” Jiang Zitan’s red lips parted slightly, her voice echoing in the cabin with a lingering tone.

“Sister Funan told me to come to the company. I… I want to see what she needs me for…”

Jiang Zitan interrupted, “Did Funan not remind you to avoid the front entrance?”

Tao Yitong replied softly, “Ah… she did. She told me to be careful, but I didn’t expect this situation.”

Jiang Zitan, still wearing her sunglasses, retracted her gaze and looked forward. “What did they ask you while they had you blocked?”

Tao Yitong: “They asked… asked some personal questions about you.”

“Asked about me and Fu Mozheng, right?” Jiang Zitan was blunt, her tone cold at the mention of the name. “There’s nothing to ask. I have no intention of a marriage alliance with the Fu family. That press release was put out by someone else; Funan is currently investigating who it was.”

Tao Yitong opened her mouth, almost forgetting to close it. Is she explaining herself to me? But did Jiang Zitan need to explain? Ah, right, she’s probably just saying it so I don’t go out and talk nonsense.

Tao Yitong quickly patted her chest. “Right, I understand. Rest assured, I won’t say anything reckless outside.”

“…”

This improvised performance of a patient was an instant “in-character” moment that scared everyone.

“It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!” The short, stout man was the first to raise his hands and take a step back. The entertainment reporters, who had been surrounding her like an iron barrel, suddenly dispersed. The crowd let out startled cries; no one dared to get close. Some girls even asked kindly, “Should we help call an ambulance?”

Tao Yitong stopped while she was ahead, waving them off. “No… no need. My medicine is over there, I’ll go get it…” Even though someone offered to support her, she weakly pushed them away, walking step by step toward the entrance of Gaole Entertainment.

Just as she got close to the security booth and the parking ramp was in sight, someone behind her suddenly said, “Wait a minute, why does she look so familiar!”

“Hold on, I remember now! Is her name Tao Yitong?!”

A reporter recognized her, and the crowd swarmed again. Someone grabbed her, refusing to let go. “How is she not from Gaole Entertainment? She’s clearly an artist here! My daughter used the school beauty she played as her wallpaper! Professional indeed—what great acting! She fooled us all.”

“Last night at Jiang Zitan’s award celebration party, I took a photo of you drinking red wine with her and heading to the hotel elevator. Jiang Zitan is so aloof; I’ve never seen her get along with anyone so well. You couldn’t possibly not know the inside story!”

As luck would have it, this person really had a photo of Jiang Zitan and her!

“Speak up. We won’t hold it against you for tricking us just now, but we couldn’t get more photos last night. You must know something.”

Tao Yitong’s ears felt hot. She didn’t know whether to be angry or embarrassed, still struggling to break free. “You… what are you saying?” “I don’t know, let me through.”

The crowd pressed in, and someone knocked her hat off. Her long straight chestnut hair spilled out like a disrupted waterfall. The poor white hat fell to the ground and was immediately stepped on multiple times. A slender figure looked like she was about to be “eaten” by the crowd…

Jiang Zitan was pushed into the center of the altar. Under the reflection of the eerie green firelight, those “people” revealed their states—neither human nor ghost. Their expressions were frenzied and fanatical; the sacrifice was like a pilgrimage.

Xiao Ran wanted to save her, but Jiang Zitan stopped her with a look. Before the ritual was complete, they wouldn’t kill her, but they wouldn’t necessarily spare Xiao Ran.

As souls were cast into the altar one by one, powerful flames spilled out, burning toward her in the center of the platform bit by bit. She gradually felt that “scorching” pain from the dream again. However, this was only the beginning; the pain wasn’t intense yet. But if it continued…

It was impossible not to be afraid. Jiang Zitan could feel her hands trembling slightly. She clutched the white rose bracelet on her left wrist; the slight, warm power emanating from it soothed her unease.

Soon. It would be soon…

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