Chapter 36: Strength in Numbers

Shen Rou and Zhang Biting did not stay inside for long. On their way back, they stopped by the restroom. Xia Rusheng watched their retreating figures for a long moment before quietly following them.

"Look at her—"

As soon as Zhang Biting spotted Xia Rusheng in the mirror, she tugged on Shen Rou’s sleeve. Shen Rou, who had been touching up her makeup, saw Xia Rusheng and her expression shifted instantly. She signaled for Zhang Biting to lock the door.

At this hour, aside from patients, there was no one else in the hospital. This was the VIP floor, where patients had their own private restrooms, so there was truly no one else around but the three of them.

Xia Rusheng had seen Zhang Biting lock the door, but she smiled indifferently and pretended to be there to touch up her makeup as well. However, before she could even reach the mirror, Shen Rou blocked her path.

Two against one—was this an attempt to bully her with numbers?

"Miss, I don’t believe we’ve met. Why are you blocking my way?" Xia Rusheng asked with a smile, feigning ignorance. She did not miss the malicious glint in Shen Rou’s eyes; she knew exactly what she was walking into.

"Whether you know me or not is irrelevant; it’s enough that I know you," Shen Rou said. She hadn’t dared to be too brazen alone, but once Zhang Biting had locked the door and joined her, she continued, "Locking you in here today is to teach you a lesson. A mistress’s daughter daring to shamelessly harm others everywhere—the fact that no one has exposed you yet doesn't mean you're easy to bully! Today, I’m going to let you taste what it feels like to be bullied!"

Xia Rusheng knew Shen Rou was trying to stand up for Xia Yu, but this was far too reckless. Although there was no one here, the patient wards were not far away, and the Xia family and Lin Yichen were just outside. If they made too much noise, they would certainly hear it.

Shen Rou was not entirely brainless. After turning on all the faucets at the vanity, she exchanged a glance with Zhang Biting. The two began to corner Xia Rusheng. Xia Rusheng stepped back as they wished, but as she retreated, she turned and headed toward the mirror, cornering herself against the vanity where there was nowhere left to go.

"Now that I’ve nowhere to hide, tell me, how do you intend to bully me?" Xia Rusheng’s expression remained calm, even tinged with disdain. In a spot hidden from Shen Rou and Zhang Biting’s view, her hand behind her back successfully felt for a handbag—the one Shen Rou had left on the vanity.

Quickly swiping Shen Rou’s phone, she powered it off and tucked it into her own bag, all while continuing to act as if nothing had happened.

"No wonder you dare to harm people time and time again; you certainly have guts. Don't think I'm just trying to scare you today. Biting, go find a rope. We’ll tie her up and settle the score properly! To think she’d dare to bully Little Yu like this—we’re going to collect some interest from her today!"

Zhang Biting looked around and spotted some rope and cleaning supplies in a small utility closet, along with a wooden pole used for a support stand. Xia Rusheng saw it too, and her brow furrowed slightly. As Zhang Biting moved quickly toward the target, Shen Rou grabbed Xia Rusheng’s clothes, terrified that she might seize the chance to run.

*Smack!*

At that exact moment, Xia Rusheng suddenly lashed out and delivered a resounding slap to Shen Rou’s face, leaving her stunned. In the split second of Shen Rou’s daze, she broke free from her grip, bolted toward Zhang Biting, and reached the wooden pole first. She gripped it tightly and pointed it at Zhang Biting.

"Y-you, what are you doing? D-don’t come any closer!" Zhang Biting, who hadn't even reached the rope yet, was terrified by the sight of the wooden pole in Xia Rusheng’s hand. Xia Rusheng’s expression was so cold and ruthless, her presence so imposing, that Zhang Biting was scared into backing away uncontrollably.

Shen Rou, having finally regained her senses, let out a shriek, but the sound was swallowed by the rushing water. Seeing the thick pole in Xia Rusheng’s hand, she also felt a jolt of fear. Scrambling toward the door, she shouted, "Don’t come any closer! This could kill someone! If you hurt me, my parents won't let you off, and your father won't let you off either, believe me!"

"Is that so? Don't forget, I'm someone who has spent plenty of time hanging around with 'shady' men." Xia Rusheng finished her sentence, suddenly changed direction, and reached the door before them. She swung her arm and brought the pole down hard against Shen Rou’s leg.

Shen Rou screamed again, tears of pain instantly springing to her eyes as she collapsed to the floor, unable to straighten up.

Zhang Biting, a pampered young lady, had never witnessed such brutality. Like Shen Rou, she hadn't expected Xia Rusheng to actually dare to strike, and she began to sob in terror. "W-what do you even want—"

Xia Rusheng had no intention of actually taking a life, but she wouldn't let them off easily either. She glanced behind Zhang Biting, pointed to a bucket, and said, "Go, fill it with water."

Zhang Biting, now too terrified to disobey or even cry out, tremblingly filled the bucket halfway.

"Pour it on her!" Xia Rusheng ordered with an icy gaze, weighing the pole in her hand. The sheer display of force was enough to make both their legs turn to jelly.

Zhang Biting gritted her teeth and poured the bucket over Shen Rou. Under normal circumstances, she would never have dared to bully Shen Rou, but seeing the ferocity with which Xia Rusheng had struck earlier, she didn't want to suffer the same fate. Even as Shen Rou glared at her, she had no choice but to comply.

"Zhang Biting, you—"

"Get more water, keep pouring!"

Xia Rusheng sneered, cutting Shen Rou off. Zhang Biting trembled as she filled and poured several more buckets, drenching Shen Rou until she was a drowned rat. After five buckets, Zhang Biting herself was soaked, shivering on the floor from the cold.

"Well? How does it feel to be bullied?" Xia Rusheng looked down at the two of them. She was not the Xia Rusheng of her past life, nor was she the Xia Xia of before. If they wanted to treat her like a soft persimmon, they would have to see if they had the capability!

Shen Rou and Zhang Biting were shivering too hard to speak, and, intimidated by Xia Rusheng’s fierce presence, they completely forgot to call for help. Even if they had, who could hear them over the sound of the running water?

"This is a warning. Stay out of my business with Xia Yu from now on, or the next time won't be like this." Xia Rusheng looked at them with a mocking smile, her warning carrying a chilling, domineering authority.

"I know, I know! I promise we won't interfere again!" Shen Rou and Zhang Biting quickly pledged. All they wanted now was to get out; once they were out, they would report this, and they would make sure Xia Rusheng suffered for it!

Xia Rusheng knew they were only feigning compliance. She had already formulated a plan. She had bullied the daughter of the Shen family, and it would be difficult to shirk responsibility, so she had decided on a course of action the moment she struck that first blow. She calmly filled one last bucket of water and poured it over herself, making herself look even more disheveled and pitiful than the two of them!

Shen Rou watched, a sudden, ominous premonition rising in her heart.

"To ensure you truly understand what I’ve said, I’ve decided to make a selfless sacrifice." Before the two could react, Xia Rusheng suddenly swung the pole with all her might, smashing it into the massive mirror.