Chapter 21

A good way to torment Cheng Sangluo [Revised]

The relaxed atmosphere was ruined by Lin Jin's sudden marriage proposal. Fortunately, a gentle breeze rustled the curtains by the window, creating some noise in the otherwise quiet hospital room.

Cheng Sangluo held the warm bowl of porridge in both hands, her sharp eyes wide open, as if she hadn't yet recovered from the awkward atmosphere.

Those few words converged like a falling boulder, crashing violently into my heart, creating ripples that lingered for a long time.

She remained silent, unable to figure out what trick the crazy woman was up to this time. She simply scooped up a spoonful of porridge and put it in her mouth, mechanically eating one mouthful after another, almost forgetting that it was hard to swallow.

This is an act of escaping reality by letting one's mind wander, allowing one's burning passion to extinguish that momentary wavering that one refuses to acknowledge.

Cheng Sangluo was wary of the slight tremor that broke through the soil, and even laughed at herself in her heart, wondering if she had been fighting with the crazy woman for too long and had developed some terrible Stockholm syndrome.

Haven't you been abused enough? Don't you know shame?

Lin Jin casually draped her arms over the back of the sofa, her legs elegantly crossed, her fingertips tapping occasionally on her knees, and the tips of her crocodile leather high heels swaying rhythmically up and down.

At first glance, this sitting posture may seem nonchalant, but upon closer inspection, one can discover the unquestionable dominance of someone in a high position beneath the facade.

Seeing the puppy's bewildered and surprised expression, she couldn't help but smile with an air of certainty. "This isn't an invitation, it's a notification about the marriage."

"Notification?" Cheng Sangluo's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately refused: "Why do you always act on a whim? Of all the games you can play, why do you have to play this ridiculous marriage game? I'm not playing along."

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Lin Jin's smile faded, and her aura, which brooked no argument, intensified. "From a debt perspective, you can't refuse me, because every request I make comes with a debt settlement value."

As expected, when it comes to negotiation rules, the cunning CEO Lin is truly a master.

Such rhetoric makes it clear that she has carefully considered how to effectively handle the puppy.

So, the puppy's fur stood on end again.

"Please! It's only been eight days since we first met, and all you've said is that you want me, and all you talk about is marriage. You're so desperate, you can't just throw anything at me like that!" Cheng Sangluo protested, raising her voice, then muttered to herself, "Huh? To pay off a debt?"

"Don't you always ask me why I do this, why I do that?" Lin Jin planted a small hook in the conversation, since this trick of luring the puppy always worked, and then kept him in suspense: "I will answer every question you have at the right time, provided that you listen to me obediently, so now..."

Cheng Sangluo held her breath, her eyes wide as she waited for what would happen next.

Nothing came of it.

She was so fed up with being teased that she slammed the bowl down on the bedside table in anger. "Can't you just say what you mean at once? Does keeping people in suspense satisfy your perverse tastes?"

"Yeah, I love seeing you all puffed up and jumping around in a huff." Lin Jin was very pleased with the puppy's snarling expression, and then commanded, "Drink up the nutritious porridge, or we'll be stuck here all day."

"Huh?" Cheng Sangluo suppressed the nausea rising in her stomach when she heard that she had to drink all the porridge in the thermos. "I'm full."

Seeing the resistance on her face, Lin Jin's expression darkened, and even her tone became icy, "What, you don't like it?"

"I don't have much of an appetite," Cheng Sangluo politely declined, secretly wishing she could shove the salty porridge into the madwoman's mouth and let her experience what torture was like.

In a moment of quick thinking, she threw off the covers and got out of bed. Unable to withstand the excruciating pain all over her body, she staggered and leaned against the bedside table for a long time before finally dragging her feet to the madwoman.

Lin Jin knew that the puppy had been badly beaten last night. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she moved her lips as if to stop him, but then awkwardly swallowed her concern.

She wanted to see what this bastard was up to.

Cheng Sangluo grabbed the slender, white arm, deliberately avoiding the scalded area, and examined it for a long time before asking in a soft tone, "So...you made the porridge?"

The bright red scars stood out starkly against the pale skin, and after a while, they reminded one of the twisted fleshy scars on the shoulder blades.

She could have taken the opportunity to make a good joke, but the words that came out were different: "If you can't do it, then don't do it."

Lin Jin looked at the puppy's complaining yet concerned expression, her bright eyes gleaming, but she said insincerely, "You really know how to flatter yourself. How could someone like me possibly go into the kitchen?"

She slightly raised her chin, feigning arrogance, and feeling that her reason was not sufficient, she shook her wrist to emphasize, "It was burned by the coffee."

"Oh, it's from the coffee." Cheng Sangluo chuckled inwardly at the crazy woman's awkwardness and quirky way of speaking, but didn't expose her ridiculous stubbornness any further.

When she stood up straight, she hissed in pain again, clutching her back and rubbing it incessantly, wondering how the X-ray taken last night could cause her so much pain that she couldn't straighten up.

Suddenly, a warm palm covered the back of my hand, bringing a gentle massage that quietly relieved the soreness in my lower back.

"Go lie face down on the bed." Lin Jin stood behind Cheng Sangluo, her tone softening her usual forcefulness, though it was an order. "Let me see."

"Um... let's just forget about it, it's not a big deal..." Cheng Sangluo was most afraid of the sudden gentleness of crazy women, always feeling that there was a hidden weapon that could cut people to the bone hidden in that hypocrisy.

"I don't like repeating myself." Lin Jin said defiantly, raising her hand to push her, but the force was so light it felt more like a poke. "Hurry up."

Cheng Sangluo was extremely unwilling, but she didn't want to keep dragging this on, so she had no choice but to obediently lie down on the hospital bed with a livid face.

Lin Jin sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at the puppy tucked into his pants, finding it all quite amusing.

Is this to protect against her? What a lame method!

Lin Jin suddenly felt playful and deliberately traced the puppy's waist with her fingertips, refusing to pull the clothes off.

Cheng Sangluo turned halfway to the side, staring at that slyly smiling face, and slapped away the mischievous hand in annoyance, "Hey, hey, if you're going to check, then check properly, don't start touching me as soon as you come in."

As she spoke, she picked up the hem of her dress, a hint of embarrassment in her expression, and quietly pulled it back a little, urging urgently, "Look, look, look quickly."

Lin Jin was eagerly anticipating the beautiful spring scenery. She admired the puppy's beautiful figure and, having finally found an opportunity to take advantage of it, naturally wanted to enjoy it thoroughly.

But this evil thought was quickly nipped in the bud.

The bruises, large and small, came into view, easily masking Lin Jin's malicious smile.

Cheng Sangluo's back was covered with old scars from his time in the army, now covered in a purplish-black bruise, a horrifying and hideous sight that would make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Lin Jin bit her lower lip tightly, unconsciously holding her breath. She wanted to gently touch the bruises, but her trembling fingertips hesitated to fall.

What does it feel like to feel sorry for someone?

Those wounds all fell on my body, seeping into my bones like needles in the cracks. Breathing them was excruciatingly painful, and holding my breath brought a deep sorrow.

Lin Jin felt a lump in her throat and tried her best to hold back her sobs: "I said you're tough, and you really are tough. How could it not hurt when those sticks hit you? You have to resort to violence when you can solve things with your brain."

Cheng Sangluo rested her chin on her arm and, hearing the crazy woman's muttered complaints, calmly closed her eyes. "Tsk, now you blame me for all the fighting and killing, but don't you even think about who brought all this trouble upon themselves?"

Cheng Sangluo was unaware that she was smiling; the corners of her lips turned up naturally, and the ease in her response outweighed any complaints.

Lin Jin ignored the complaints and continued making arrangements: "When we get home tonight, I'll get you some ice to apply. You're the one who taught me how to reduce swelling and bruising."

Cheng Sangluo's pupils dilated, and she hurriedly asked, "What do you mean, 'go home'?"

“You don’t need to be hospitalized, so of course you should come home with me.” Lin Jin knew exactly what the little dog was afraid of, and patted her bottom. “Get up and get ready. Do you want to stay at the nursing home forever?”

Despite her aching body, Cheng Sangluo quickly sat up, instinctively resisting, "I have my own place to live, I can't go to your house."

"What, are you afraid I'll drug you again?" Lin Jin tried to reach out and poke the dog's head, but the stubborn person turned its head away. Lin Jin's hand hovered for a while before slowly tightening its fingertips.

Her expression turned sinister, and her smile vanished. "You must move into my house. I've said it before, we have a lot of important things to deal with. Don't forget who you are now, and how you should treat me."

Lin Jin's tone was firm and authoritative, carrying an air of command.

Her arrogance was ingrained in her bones, and she was used to others' subservience. Cheng Sangluo was like a hard thorn stuck in her throat, impossible to pull out or swallow.

Such troublemakers often need to be tamed with special methods. Just like now, she had to bring up the matter of debt to suppress that stubborn person who refused to give in.

Cheng Sangluo was disgusted by Lin Jin's arrogance. His disdainful gaze, his unyielding tone, and his repulsive fake smile—everything about him made her feel nauseous.

She stiffened her neck and retorted in a deep voice, "What kind of attitude do you think I should have? Should I be servile or subservient? Just because I owe you a debt doesn't mean I have to listen to everything you say. I acknowledge this debt and will do my best to repay it, understand?"

Hearing these self-righteous remarks, Lin Jin tried her best to suppress her anger, her fingertips gripping the bed sheet, revealing her innocence.

She paused for a moment, then grinned and let out a mocking laugh: "You're so proud and arrogant that you're the least likely to back down. What can I do with you? But there's one thing: even if I trust your character, what can you guarantee you won't run away? After all, you can't even come up with anything decent to mortgage."

Lin Jin is adept at sophisticated slander. This is undoubtedly like using a needle to slowly prick Cheng Sangluo's wounds, not stopping until she is riddled with holes.

But what could I do? What she said was harsh, but it was full of reason.

“If you don’t trust me, you can write an IOU right now, and I’ll sign and put my fingerprint on it immediately. If legal procedures or notarization are needed, I won’t delay.” Cheng Sangluo offered a solution and even seemed quite cooperative.

She never considered escaping her debts, even when she was so poor she couldn't afford to eat, and even when her life was stained with an indelible mark, she didn't want to become a shameful piece of mud.

"Okay, I'll write it now." Lin Jin sighed, took out his phone to contact the legal department to draft the debt agreement, and after hanging up, he added, "Take me to see your place. I need to know that you're not some homeless dog, so that I don't have trouble finding you later."

Lin Jin wasn't really concerned about the three million, nor did he intend to let Cheng Sangluo go.

She was cunning; she knew that taking a step back would open up a whole new world. If she turned the conversation into a dead end, it wouldn't do her any good, so she might as well appear magnanimous.

*

The atmosphere inside the Land Rover's cabin froze solid.

The two stubborn individuals sat at opposite ends, neither willing to back down.

The car remained silent until Sheng He parked it on the side of the street in the old city redevelopment area. "Boss, the car can only be parked here. The roads inside are too narrow; I'm afraid we can't drive in."

"Just stop here, you don't need to follow me." Lin Jin lazily opened her eyes and glanced at the little dog that was leaving. Seeing the person reflected in her eyes brought a sense of relief, but it was quickly replaced by displeasure.

Cheng Sangluo ignored the leisurely person and walked straight into the alley, but stopped after taking only a few steps.

She turned to look at the unhurried, crazy woman and clicked her tongue: "Can you hurry up?"

It's just a short alleyway away, there's no need to rush. It's just that the people living here are a mixed bag, and Lin Jin is like an outsider who's not on the same level. If she walks alone in the alley, she's likely to encounter some harassment.

Cheng Sangluo felt awkward and unwilling to admit her concern. Unable to find an excuse to stop and wait, she simply pretended to urge him on, which made everything seem reasonable.

But she forgot that the madwoman was such a cunning person, how could she not see that pure kindness was hidden beneath the disguise?

"Are you worried about my safety, or are you worried about my safety?" Lin Jin asked jokingly, glancing around at the cramped walls on both sides, a strong sense of unease welling up in his eyes.

The uneven stone path was covered with damp moss, and the air was filled with a lingering musty smell, which made her raise her hand to shield her nose.

Cheng Sangluo always felt that Lin Jin shouldn't be in such a place, not because she was unworthy of him.

In her mind, the madwoman's underlying color was dazzling gold, with a crystal-clear quality, so a magnificent rose suddenly appearing in a desolate place was more than just out of place.

When we arrived at the door of the rented room, the landlord, as always, was fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.

Seeing Cheng Sangluo return, he greeted her cheerfully, "Little Cheng, you're back."

He glanced around and spotted Lin Jin following behind. He quickly covered his mouth with his fan and asked gossipingly, "Who is it?"

Cheng Sangluo didn't know how to explain the complicated relationship. She couldn't just say she was a creditor, could she? How would people view her then?

She could only make something up: "A friend of mine."

After saying that, she turned around and pulled Lin Jin into the narrow stairwell.

Lin Jin hadn't yet adjusted to her surroundings when she was suddenly pulled into the dusty stairwell, making it hard to breathe.

She kept covering her nose, her brow furrowed with deep wrinkles, and her tone was incredibly disdainful: "You live in a place like this?"

“Otherwise what? Look, that’s my room upstairs.” Cheng Sangluo pointed her finger upwards to the attic. “However, you can’t go up to visit it. It’s inconvenient to climb the ladder while wearing high heels.”

Lin Jin already thought this place was like a rat's den in a sewer, and when he saw the attic where the dog lived, his eyes went black. "Is this a place for people to live?"

"How is it not a place for people to live? The rent is only ten or twenty yuan a day, and it includes water, electricity and gas. It's already pretty good." Cheng Sangluo was busy setting up the ladder and explained with a smug look on her face, as if she had found some rare and wonderful place.

Lin Jin climbed several steps before she could barely make out the layout of the attic. Her expression immediately changed from disdain to indescribable tenderness.

How could her dog live in a place like this? There wasn't even a decent air conditioner, and the door was so flimsy it looked like it could be broken.

She couldn't even imagine what it would feel like to lie on that hard mat, let alone the fact that it was just a small box in the aisle with no soundproofing and no privacy whatsoever.

Lin Jinru felt a lump in her throat and suddenly called out, "Cheng Sangluo."

"Hmm?" Cheng Sangluo heard the noise downstairs and suddenly poked half her head out, looking rather adorably silly with her sneaky expression. "What is it?"

"I just suddenly felt like calling you." Lin Jin tilted her head, pretending to tease a puppy, but couldn't suppress the tender smile on her lips: "You could have a decent doghouse, with your favorite daisies and a soft, fluffy bed. Why do you insist on living in this dark, gloomy place?"

Cheng Sangluo, leaning against the rickety wooden door, stared blankly at her beautiful face, which was filled with tenderness yet also resentment.

She couldn't understand what kind of feeling this was. The crazy woman's words were clearly three parts disdain and seven parts harshness, but why did a warm feeling flow through her heart, spreading along her entire body and giving her a comfortable feeling that permeated her soul?

Being cared for is a kind of happiness, but since this care comes from Lin Jin, she can't accept it no matter what.

Cheng Sangluo tried to suppress her involuntary smile and teased, "Yeah, there are still annoying crazy women there, I don't want to suffer there."

"Your prejudice against me is truly deep-rooted." Lin Jin disliked this superficial assessment, her smile fading as she said in a deep voice, "Hurry up and find your ID card. The legal department needs to keep a copy. I'll wait for you outside."

After saying that, she turned and walked out of the oppressive stairwell. She had originally wanted to get some fresh air, but the dim alley made the sky look like a line.

The landlord, who was standing guard at the entrance of the grocery store, smiled and nodded at Lin Jin, then pointed to the freshly cut watermelon next to him while fanning himself with a palm leaf fan. "It's very hot today. Have a slice of watermelon to cool off. Have one."

Lin Jin did not accept this friendly gesture from a stranger.

She looked toward the simple fruit platter, her eyes filled with disdain and contempt, then shook her head indifferently, not even bothering to offer a polite thank you.

Fortunately, the cheerful old man didn't mind. He praised Cheng Sangluo for her good character, saying that he rarely saw such a kind-hearted person among the tenants. Sometimes she would help him watch the shop and would even take the initiative to replace the motion sensor light at the stairwell. He refused to accept her payment and even refused to accept her offer to offset the rent.

Lin Jin originally didn't want to engage in conversation with strangers, but the topic concerned Cheng Sangluo, so she became more interested.

She listened quietly, occasionally letting out a few soft "hmm" sounds, thinking that the puppy wasn't just stubborn towards her; that all living beings are equal.

Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her, and a sly smile appeared on her lips, as if she had been inspired by the old man's conversation.

Lin Jinmeng came up with a new way to control Cheng Sangluo, a method that would be impossible for the man to refuse, yet extremely torturous.

—A side note—

Since many readers don't read author's notes, I can only explain it here.

Chapters 21-34 have been completely revised, but I don't want to finish writing them all at once and then upload them.

Therefore, we choose to upload one chapter at a time after completing the revisions. The revised chapter title will include "[Revised]".

Therefore, there may be instances where the story doesn't continue. Please consider this as catching up on chapters 21-34 again.

These 14 chapters will undergo major revisions, with drastic changes to the content (additions and deletions, but the word count will remain the same, equivalent to reading entirely new content).

So please be patient and understand.