She Lives without Regret in This Life

"Get out, don't embarrass us."

"Die! Just die..."

There was nowhere for Bai Oulan to hide. Her face and body were covered in smashed leaves of cabbage. Her carefully combed hair was now disheveled, and her clothes were stained, a state of disarray she had never experienced before. She tried to crawl on the ground to find a hiding spot, but people surrounded her on all sides, leaving her no escape. She had always been accustomed to acting like a high and mighty Princess, too proud to beg for mercy.

"Stop it, have you all gone mad?" she said. "Daring to treat me like this, the Meng Family won't let you off."

"Beat her to death, beat her to death..."

"Whore, you're shameless. Do you think the Meng Family will help you at this time?"

Suddenly, Bai Oulan lifted her head, looking towards the friend she had always gotten along with well, "What do you mean by that?"

"You're either really unaware or pretending to be. Have you ever thought about what would happen if the bad deeds you've done were found out one day?"

Bai Oulan finally understood—could it be that her affair with Shen Yu had been discovered? Impossible, absolutely impossible... She had been so secretive. Or could it be that time at the Provincial Command Center?

Cold sweat streamed down Bai Oulan's cheeks incessantly, and she shrank into a ball, shivering violently. The terrifying truth was worse than death.

"What are you doing? Stop it!" The Deputy Chief's furious voice rang out, startling everyone into freezing in place. "Do you even resemble comrades at all? This is utter nonsense. Everyone, write a self-criticism."

"Yes, Deputy Chief."

"Bai Oulan, come with me." The Deputy Chief turned and stormed off without waiting to see if Bai Oulan could keep up, finally stopping in a less crowded area.

"Deputy Chief, you have to believe me, I'm innocent. I truly haven't done anything to betray Meng Fan," Bai Oulan pleaded in panic, devoid of any of the pride of the White Swan.

"Don't speak to me about Meng Fan; you're unworthy," the Deputy Chief interrupted. "The troupe has decided to halt all your training and activities. From today on, you're no longer a member of the Qianjin Dance Troupe. As for what the organization department will decide, you'll be informed."

"You..." Bai Oulan grabbed the Deputy Chief, "Deputy Chief, I'm truly innocent; you cannot simply believe rumors."

"Rumors?" The Deputy Chief couldn't help but scoff, "You really think quite highly of yourself, still considering yourself the White Swan?" With a swing of their hand, they flung off Bai Oulan's grip and walked away.

****

Heaven and hell are indeed only a hair's breadth apart. Bai Oulan stumbled out of the troupe headquarters, out of the district, facing countless hateful stares along the way.

She didn't carry any luggage; everything from her dormitory had been thrown out. There were broken items everywhere, including the skin cream her friend had brought her from Shanghai and the silk scarf Shen Yu had given her.

She walked with her head low, not daring to look at anyone. The entire sky was dark for her; she didn't dare to go home, nor did she dare to seek out Su Yun. Now the only person who could help her was Shen Yu.

****

Meng Ping's move was truly ruthless; his understanding and control of public opinion had already reached the standard of twenty years later. Many noble families had received the news at the first instance.

Normally, a mere White Swan wouldn't be worth their attention. But the man behind the White Swan was someone they couldn't ignore. None were fools to have reached the positions they held today.

The man associated with the White Swan undoubtedly belonged to a noble family. As for who it was, now that the White Swan had nowhere to turn and sought someone out, it would be a self-admission.