The Tragic Heroine Fell in Love with Me - Chapter 72

The so-called training was the Haelger family’s regimen for its members, which included some blood relatives of the Haelger family, as well as some adopted orphans and hired employees.

Of course, the content of the training varied for each group.

Zheng Qi belonged to the orphan category.

“I thought you’d be in the class for Haelger family blood relatives,” they affectionately referred to the training as studying and categorized people into classes. Li Ailun participated in the training as an instructor. Although he was hired, it was clearly not for basic tasks but to train these orphans.

The Haelger family adopted many orphans every year, some of whom didn’t even have identities. If they could endure the training, they would become capable subordinates of the Haelger family. If they failed well, they failed.

Zheng Qi watched these people coldly, there were children in their teens and adults in their twenties. Compared to Zheng Qi, they all seemed more frantic. Some had been brought in from hunger and cold, others from moments of despair. These people might not have much loyalty to the Haelger family, but they absolutely wanted to survive.

“What, are you regretting it now?” Zheng Qi said mockingly.

“Why would I regret it? If you die during the training, I’ll just pick another boss. If you survive, I haven’t lost anything,” Li Ailun said flippantly.

Zheng Qi remained calm, seemingly devoid of joy or sorrow.

“Haven’t you thought about escaping?” Li Ailun asked curiously.

Zheng Qi glanced up at Li Ailun. “You really didn’t look into my background, did you? If you had, you’d know I wouldn’t run away.”

“Ah?” Li Ailun scratched his head in confusion. “Ah, indeed, people from big families are all scheming. They promised to share resources, but it turns out they kept important things from me?”

Zheng Qi increasingly felt that Li Ailun had no sense of propriety, making it impossible to fear him like others did.

Because she wasn’t afraid, even when Li Ailun displayed ten times the terror, Zheng Qi could calmly observe him without flinching, making it easier to spot his flaws.

The days that followed were filled with endless training, training, and more training.

Weight-bearing, diving, learning various kinds of knowledge, she was like a massive sponge, constantly absorbing everything around her.

She slept very little, only one or two hours a day. Compared to the frantic efforts of others, she seemed more like she was trying to exhaust herself to death.

It was as if she was striving to live, but even more so, striving to seek death.

Many were eliminated some disappeared, others were taken away. Because Zheng Qi worked excessively hard, she completed the three-year training in just over a year.

“You seem insane. I thought you’d run away, but not only did you not run, you actually made it through,” Li Ailun couldn’t help but shake his head in admiration. He suddenly felt he had chosen the right boss.

Zheng Qi didn’t even glance at Li Allen. Though Li Allen spoke with casual indifference, the reality was that Zheng Qi was currently hanging upside down from a tree, repeatedly being dunked headfirst into the river. The water was teeming with crocodiles, and a single misstep could mean Zheng Qi losing her head to one of them.

Meanwhile, Li Allen, who was chatting with Zheng Qi, held the rope controlling her descent.

If he loosened his grip, Zheng Qi would plunge into the river, forced to rely on her core strength to evade the crocodiles’ “kisses.”

If he pulled tight, Zheng Qi would be yanked upward with such force that it felt as though she might be torn in two.

Yet, under these circumstances, Li Allen chatted idly with her, showing no awareness of his role as a terrifying instructor.

Zheng Qi narrowed her eyes, this was the only way to quickly assess her surroundings once submerged. Clutching a dagger, she waited for the right moment to slice at the rope twisted around her ankle.

Many others were in similar predicaments, screaming and wailing in terror.

“Aren’t you scared at all?” Li Allen asked.

Zheng Qi replied, “You won’t let me die.”

Her voice faltered as she jolted up and down.

Li Allen understood her anyway.

“Not necessarily. You know, the Helge family has many influential connections. Just yesterday, someone offered me ten million to kill you,” Li Allen said with a laugh.

A large crocodile had locked onto Zheng Qi, swiftly swimming toward her. At a glance, it resembled a piece of driftwood floating with the current.

Li Allen feigned alarm. “Oh no, look here it comes. If I let go now.” He pretended to panic, muttering, “Oops, how careless of me. After all, this is real training. A few mistakes are unavoidable, right?”

Zheng Qi retorted, “It’d be best if you let go. I’m sure Corey Helge would thank you properly.”

“Thank me?” Li Allen had thought she was mocking him, but seeing the seriousness on her face, he realized her words were more likely aimed at mocking Count Corey. “You’re Count Corey’s heir. He’d surely have me killed.”

“Don’t worry, he won’t kill you.” As she spoke, Zheng Qi severed the rope. Gripping it tightly, she jerked downward and stomped hard on the crocodile’s head.

The crocodile had been ready to strike but hadn’t expected Zheng Qi to move so swiftly. Before it could open its jaws, her foot slammed onto its skull, leaving it dizzy and fleeing in panic.

In an instant, Zheng Qi swung on the rope and landed right in front of Li Allen.

“He can’t kill you.”

Zheng Qi leaped from the tree trunk to the riverbank, where attendants rushed over with towels and hot water.

Her steps wavered briefly, but she quickly steadied herself.

Look at this such excellent treatment. Why had Corey Helge fled back then? And so far away, forcing the Helge family to trek through mountains and rivers to find that remote village.

She suppressed the frantic beating of her heart. Day after day of enduring these life-threatening drills had gradually hardened her, yet the mere mention of Corey Helge sent her heart trembling with unease.

Even though he always wanted to look down on Corey Helge for his fear of undergoing “training,” when she was sent here, she was indeed terrified so terrified that she became numb, mechanically following the “training.” So terrified that even the thought of Corey Helge being behind it all would still evoke fear in her.

After Zheng Qi successfully graduated, Corey Helge met with her once more.

This was their second meeting since she had arrived in Country F.

Zheng Qi observed the increasingly frail but still clinging to life Corey Helge.

“Can I leave this place now?”

“Yes.”

Zheng Qi let out a scornful laugh. “I didn’t expect you to be so rule-abiding.”

Anyone who participated in the training and graduated at the top of their class could choose to leave the Helge family. Of course, this departure didn’t mean cutting ties with the family but rather becoming a specially monitored entity within the Helge family, a status that granted slightly more freedom compared to others.

Zheng Qi disliked being confined. No matter how luxurious the clothes, how sumptuous the feasts, or how many servants were at her disposal, it couldn’t conceal the fact that this was a kidnapping.

“I’ve always wanted to find you,” Corey Helge seemed to be defending himself.

“I understand. After all, Auntie asked you to take care of me. But you’re too cowardly. I get it you’ve always been a coward.” Zheng Qi stared directly into Corey Helge’s eyes. “You were afraid of the training, so you ran away from here and met Auntie. Because you were afraid of being captured, you left without a word, and as a result, I ended up being seized by the Helge family.”

“I’ve already taken revenge,” Corey Helge raised his hand. “Those people are dead.”

He laughed hysterically, then broke into a fit of violent coughing. His face grew even paler, as if he might die at any moment.

But he didn’t die. Instead, he lifted his hand, nearly grabbing Zheng Qi’s arm. “I’ve taken revenge. Those people,the ones who killed Xiao Yu are all dead.”

“But the biggest culprit is still alive.”

“Culprit?”

“You don’t actually think you’re not partly responsible for Auntie’s death, do you?” Zheng Qi burst into laughter, her gaze full of mockery as she looked at Corey Helge. “But it’s better that you stay alive. Auntie wouldn’t want you to die. She’d want you to live, to live well, to live and suffer.”

Zheng Qi glared fiercely at Corey Helge. “But I’m sure you’re not suffering, are you? With so many servants, so much money, and oh your Madeline. She looks so much like Auntie. You really like her, don’t you?”

Zheng Qi stepped aside, coldly watching Corey Helge’s expression turn ashen.

She knew exactly what Corey Helge wanted to hear. Didn’t he just want her to say that Auntie would have forgiven him before she died? Such a coward even in wanting to die, he needed a reasonable excuse.

She gritted her teeth, the roots trembling uncontrollably. She forced herself to maintain a mocking expression so she wouldn’t show any trace of cowardice in front of Corey Helge.

The memory faded, and reality returned: Corey Helge was still alive, right in front of her.

“What wind has blown Count Corey here? I thought you were going to spend the rest of your life in your castle in France.” Zheng Qi crossed his arms, his cold gaze fixed on Corey Helge, who sat emaciated in a wheelchair, looking as though he were on the verge of death.

Corey Helge suffered from severe anorexia and insomnia.

With the Helge family’s wealth, he could have avoided such a pitiful state, but Corey Helge seemed intent on tormenting himself, which was why he appeared so wretched.

Still, Corey Helge wouldn’t die, at least not for the next ten years.

Even if he did, Zheng Qi wouldn’t truly worry about him.

“You’re engaged to Shen Lin, so of course I had to come,” Corey Helge said.

“What, after imprisoning me for two years, now you want to meddle in my marriage too?”

“He stayed by your side and helped you through a difficult time. I’m grateful to him,” Corey Helge replied.

Zheng Qi sneered, “So what? So, I should marry him because of your gratitude?”

“A Qi, don’t give up your happiness just to spite me. You’re free to marry whomever you love, but I don’t want you to abandon the one you love because you’re angry with me.”

“Oh, so it’s about spite, is it?” Zheng Qi laughed. “Aren’t you afraid he might betray me? After all, he has a history.”

“Don’t worry, he wouldn’t dare again,” Count Corey replied with a cold smile.

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