novelraw Chapter 218: No Way Out
Chapter 218: No Way Out
It was Song Chenglu, who had just escaped from the detention center.
Her clothes were filthy, and her tangled hair was plastered to her face.
She was panting heavily, ignoring the pain in her feet.
’I have to hide!’
’I have to hide, now!’
’Any later, and the police will catch up!’
Just as she was about to dash across the intersection and turn into an alley, she caught sight of a figure out of the corner of her eye.
The person was wearing a beige trench coat, standing with their back to her by the bus stop.
’It’s Yang Meiling!’
Song Chenglu froze, nearly stumbling.
Her eyes widened as she stared for several seconds, making sure.
’Maybe... she can save me?’
’If she’s willing to help, she might be able to get me out of here!’
Song Chenglu’s eyes lit up. Forgetting her appearance, she staggered toward Yang Meiling.
"Yang Meiling!"
Yang Meiling was already seething with anger.
She had just been publicly reprimanded by Song Qingya in the hospital ward for improper procedure and a lack of responsibility.
Fuming, she stormed out of the hospital. When she suddenly heard someone shout her name, she whipped her head around, her brows knitting together instantly.
She squinted, looking the woman running toward her up and down with a look of pure annoyance.
’Who is this?’
She instinctively took half a step back, tightening her arm to protect her purse.
Qi Yuanyuan, who was standing next to her looking down at her phone, snapped her head up at the shout and stared.
Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and she almost dropped her phone.
"Song... Song Chenglu?!"
’How is she here?!’
’And looking so pathetic?’
’Could it be... she escaped?’
The moment Qi Yuanyuan spoke, it dawned on Yang Meiling, and her mind went blank.
’Song Chenglu?’
’Isn’t she supposed to be doing time?’
’What is she doing here?’
Yang Meiling’s disgust skyrocketed, and a wave of nausea rose in her stomach.
She instinctively took a large step back, the revulsion on her face barely concealed.
"What are you doing? Stay away from me!"
’Getting mixed up with a fugitive is just asking for trouble!’
But then a new thought struck her. ’Song Chenglu must despise Song Qingya.’
’If I could use her as a weapon, use her to deal with Song Qingya, wouldn’t it be the perfect, untraceable crime?’
The moment the idea struck, her expression immediately shifted to one of concern.
"Chenglu? Is that really you? How did you..."
She trailed off intentionally, her lips trembling slightly, feigning a look of heartache and hesitation.
Seeing Yang Meiling’s attitude soften, Song Chenglu felt a surge of joy.
"Sister Meiling! You have to save me! I’m really at the end of my rope! They’re all after me—the police, my family, the people plotting against me... I can’t take it anymore!"
Listening from the side, Qi Yuanyuan broke out in a cold sweat, a chill running down her spine.
’Has Yang Meiling lost her mind?’
She quickly tugged on Yang Meiling’s sleeve and whispered a reminder, afraid of being overheard.
"Meiling! Are you crazy? She’s a wanted fugitive! A suspect in a major case, all over the news! Let’s go, don’t get involved!"
’If we get mixed up with someone like her and the police track her to us, we’ll never be able to explain it away! We wouldn’t be able to clear our names even if we jumped into the Yellow River!’
Song Chenglu had sharp ears. Hearing this, she immediately straightened her back.
"So what if I’m a fugitive? At least I own up to what I do!"
"That’s better than some people! Acting all glamorous on the surface, but you think I don’t know about the dirty things you do behind the scenes? You pretend to be so noble, but you’re filthier than anyone!"
Qi Yuanyuan’s face turned white with anger, her chest heaving.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Who do you think you are? How dare you stand here and make such baseless accusations!"
"An ex-con has the nerve to stand here pointing fingers? Aren’t you ashamed of making a fool of yourself?"
Just as the two were about to start arguing,
Yang Meiling quickly stepped between them, shouting to stop them.
"Alright, alright, both of you shut up! Stop shouting! Do you want everyone to hear you?"
She pulled Qi Yuanyuan back half a step and whispered rapidly, "Don’t panic. Listen to me. Song Chenglu has obviously been pushed to her limit; she’s lost control."
"But her hatred for Song Qingya is real, and we can use that."
"Let her go after Song Qingya. The bigger the scene she makes, the better. It’ll be a perfect crime—who would ever trace it back to us? She’s a wanted fugitive anyway. No matter what she does, she’ll be the prime suspect."
When Qi Yuanyuan heard this, her eyes lit up and her pupils contracted slightly as she quickly weighed the pros and cons.
’That’s right!’
’Song Chenglu is already paranoid and extreme.’
’Once she makes a move, she won’t care about the consequences.’
’And all we have to do is fan the flames from the shadows. No one will ever suspect we were behind it.’
’This way, we can get rid of that eyesore Song Qingya without getting burned ourselves.’
At this thought, half of her anger subsided. She looked at Song Chenglu again.
Although she still found her repulsive, it wasn’t quite so unbearable anymore.
Seeing Qi Yuanyuan waver, Yang Meiling knew the first part of her plan had succeeded. She immediately turned back to Song Chenglu.
"Chenglu, there are too many people here, and the walls have ears. Let’s go somewhere else to talk."
"I know things are hard for you right now, but don’t be afraid. Sister Meiling will help you."
Without waiting for Song Chenglu to nod in response, she grabbed her by the wrist.
She pulled her toward the dormitory building behind the hospital, their figures quickly disappearing into a dim corridor.
Qi Yuanyuan hesitated, digging her fingernails into her palm as she wrestled with her decision for a few seconds.
But in the end, she gritted her teeth and followed.
Once inside the room, Yang Meiling gently closed the door, which shut with a soft CLICK.
The air in the room was stuffy and hot.
"Stay here for now. Don’t make a sound, and don’t move around."
"I’ll go to the kitchen and get you something to eat, then find you some clean clothes to change into."
As she spoke, she quickly scanned the small room.
"Remember, do not leave this room. Don’t even open the door or windows!"
She stared into Song Chenglu’s eyes, her tone suddenly becoming severe.
"And you absolutely cannot let anyone see you! If you’re discovered, have you thought about the consequences?"
"Wait for me to come back!"
Her words still hanging in the air, she had already turned toward the door.
Before she left, she didn’t forget to cast one last look back.
Having said her piece, she quietly opened the door a crack and peeked out, looking left and right.
The corridor was quiet, with only the faint sound of footsteps in the distance.
She gave a quick wave, and Qi Yuanyuan immediately understood, scurrying over.
The two exchanged a few hushed words outside the door, speaking rapidly with grave expressions.
Then, one after the other, they walked away quickly.
Their figures soon vanished at the end of the dim hallway.
As the door closed, Song Chenglu was left alone in the room.
The old wooden door let out a soft CREAK.
The room instantly fell silent, the only sound being the TICK... TOCK... of an old wall clock in the corner.
Her clothes were tattered, caked with mud and dust.
Her disheveled hair clung to her face, giving off a pungent smell.
Her stomach spasmed, letting out a low RUMBLE, a silent protest from its emptiness.
She had only caught bits and pieces of their conversation just now.
But one name had wormed its way clearly into her mind.
’Song Qingya became the director?’
’How ironic fate is.’
’I’ve fallen this low, yet she’s become the hospital director.’