Chapter 28
I drugged myself. [Repair]
The elevator in the upscale residential building constantly resonated with the melodious tunes of a saxophone.
In the spacious room, Cheng Sangluo deliberately kept a distance from Lin Jin.
She was somewhat dazed, wondering why she had believed the crazy woman's nonsense again. She could transfer money via mobile phone if she didn't have cash, but then her phone died.
Knowing full well that this woman is a master of lies and has fallen for them countless times, he still repeats the same mistakes.
Perhaps it's not just Lin Jin who should be hated, but also the evil of money, and oneself who has to be so calculating about money.
Cheng Sangluo huddled in the corner, taking a deep breath, but immediately held it.
Everything around her made her feel uncomfortable; those unbearable memories even made the fragrance in the air feel nauseous.
But upon returning to this place where every inch of land is precious, her state of mind underwent a subtle change. In just under a month, she felt as if she had been in another world.
She suddenly remembered the torrential rain on the day she was released from prison, and how she huddled in a corner, soaked to the bone, like a hedgehog with its quills raised, wary of everything around her.
In my memory, there is still the dark-colored antique cheongsam, a strand of hair falling by the temple, and the scent of cedar in the air, as clear as if it happened right now.
The only thing I can't quite remember is Lin Jin's delicate face. It's blurry, with only her well-defined profile remaining, her silence filled with mystery.
Lost in thought, Cheng Sangluo stepped out of the elevator and followed Lin Jin silently.
It wasn't until she heard the clear sound of the electronic lock that she realized she was already in the stairwell. She involuntarily shivered and even swallowed hard.
Perhaps she had developed a psychological aversion to this luxurious penthouse, so she didn't plan to go inside, as if she would be absolutely safe as long as she didn't move an inch.
Cheng Sangluo stood there dumbfounded at the door, like a motionless door god.
Compared to her pretentious and hypocritical performance last time, Lin Jin's reaction today was more genuine.
She didn't urge her, but instead took out a brand new pair of cotton slippers from the shoe cabinet.
The slippers were khaki-colored and dog-shaped, echoing the wheat-colored skin of the person in front of her.
She waved the slippers in front of Cheng Sangluo and teased, "Your signature slippers, don't they look just like you?"
Cheng Sangluo was disgusted and refused to accept this kind offer.
Lin Jin then came up with a new deceptive excuse: "Since you're already here, why don't you come in and have a cup of tea? We can talk about Xu Songheng."
She used a subtle, persuasive tactic, seemingly using money as bait while simultaneously bringing up topics that Cheng Sangluo cared about most, gradually leading her into a trap.
This method is more sophisticated than the previous coercion; its natural and opportunistic approach is full of details that are hard to fathom.
Cheng Sangluo hesitated, wanting to say no, but her body was more honest than her thoughts, and she accepted the slippers that were offered as a gesture of goodwill.
"Tch, how is that like me?" she said, expressing her dissatisfaction, but her fingertips were quietly caressing the soles of her shoes, creating a barely perceptible sense of cherishing.
Cheng Sangluo tilted her head in thought, wondering why she felt such a strange sense of cherishing.
This is probably an illusion created by poverty. She doesn't have many decent personal belongings, so when she suddenly has something that belongs exclusively to her, it seems extremely precious.
Cheng Sangluo lowered her eyes and stared at the slippers, feeling both amused and exasperated.
The crazy woman may have handed over more than just a pair of shoes; compared to the cold room key, this thing seemed more like a door knocker.
At least it's warm and cozy, at least it's not harsh.
"I picked this out of the blue, you have to like it." Lin Jin was as assertive as ever.
After changing into her own slippers, she placed her slender feet next to Cheng Sangluo's.
The shoes were designed in the style of a little black cat, which perfectly matched the dog. They had a strong sense of everyday life, masking her aloofness and subtly revealing how much she longed to live under the same roof with the person she loved but could not have.
Lin Jin tiptoed, wanting to hear Cheng Sangluo say some nice things, but suddenly realized that this person's size was much larger than hers, and frowned again.
Cheng Sangluo seemed to sense her unease, so she put on her new slippers and wiggled her toes, saying, "Just right."
"As long as it's suitable." Lin Jin pretended to be indifferent and walked straight into the living room.
Cheng Sangluo stood awkwardly in the foyer, just like the first time he came, looking around the spacious house again and again, before finally having to bite the bullet and walk to the sofa.
Lin Jin was craving alcohol and was standing in front of the liquor cabinet carefully selecting a bottle, fiddling with it for a while.
She held two wine glasses in one hand and a bottle of red wine in the other. Seeing that Cheng Sangluo hadn't sat down yet, she laughed and said, "It's not like it's your first time here. Why are you so shy?"
"I just want to settle things with money and get out of here."
"Then help me decan the red wine. I'll go get the money. When you're done, come find me in the study. We need to talk business in a more formal setting."
After saying that, Lin Jin turned and went back to her bedroom.
She changed into a sexy little nightgown and stood in front of the mirror, striking alluring poses. But then she realized the puppy wasn't buying it, and complained bitterly, "That stubborn little green bean, as determined as if it were joining the Party!"
She looked at herself in the mirror again, her eyes filled with a lustful red, which easily aroused wicked thoughts.
Lin Jin squinted his smiling eyes. Since the person had already been tricked, why not have some fun during this long night? It would be such a waste otherwise.
But what other good methods could be used to bewitch that wary person?
Sure enough, this woman had no good intentions; all she wanted was to win over that stubborn man.
Perhaps it was his deep-seated obsession with sleeping puppies that led to a flood of malicious schemes entering his mind.
Lin Jin didn't hesitate for long before coming up with a brilliant plan to play with the puppy tonight.
Excitedly, she hummed an unknown tune and swayed as she walked to the study.
The study is spacious, and when the curtains are drawn back, you can enjoy the neon-lit night view of the upscale neighborhood.
To create an ambiguous atmosphere, Lin Jin only turned on the small table lamp and also lit a calming and soothing aromatherapy diffuser.
She took out a wad of cash from the drawer, an amount far exceeding the so-called chauffeur fee, swallowed an unknown pill, and finally stroked the chair that held a hidden secret.
The dim, warm lighting, accompanied by a faint, alluring fragrance, foreshadowed the chaos of the night.
The living room is separated by a wall.
Cheng Sangluo sat on the sofa fiddling with a wine bottle.
She doesn't drink alcohol, so she had never touched this stuff before, and she looked quite clumsy when she tried to open the cork with the bottle opener.
After all that, she collapsed onto the soft sofa, exhausted, letting out a long, weary sigh.
This day could hardly be described as fulfilling. Not to mention the aches and pains all over her body, just the torment she endured at the hands of that crazy woman was enough to make her drink several bottles of bitter wine.
She stared at the ceiling, hugging a fluffy cushion, the comfort she felt was so surreal, like a dream.
She raised her hand to shield her forehead, and the shards of light from the crystal chandelier pierced her eyes through her fingers, causing a stinging pain.
The comfortable environment fostered a strong sense of drowsiness, and as my consciousness grew increasingly hazy, a soft call came from the study, dispelling the drowsiness that had just begun to rise.
Cheng Sangluo carried the red wine to the study, her steps as light as a cat in the dark.
When she reached the door, she didn't go in immediately, but instead peeked into the study through the crack in the door.
Lin Jin sat behind her desk and saw a shadow moving in the doorway. She smiled and said, "Come in, don't sneak around."
Cheng Sangluo pushed open the door and entered, then immediately stood frozen in place, looking at Lin Jin's attire, her heart inexplicably tightening.
The camellia-patterned bathrobe was etched deep in her memory; even a glance at it made her feel suffocated. Paired with the red wine in her arms, everything took on a different flavor.
Lin Jin was well aware of her alertness, so he picked up the money and waved it: "Come and take it."
Cheng Sangluo felt that this attitude contained an element of humiliation, but why shouldn't she take what she had earned through her labor?
As she approached, Lin Jin suddenly stood up and made room for her. "Sit down."
Cheng Sangluo thought to herself, why does this tone sound like she's directing a pet dog?
She should have remained vigilant, but the relaxed atmosphere inside the room subtly dispelled her tension.
Thinking that she hadn't drunk what the crazy woman had offered this time, she simply sat down in the soft executive chair and rested her hands naturally on the armrests.
Taking advantage of the moment when she relaxed, Lin Jin quickly sat on her lap and softly commanded, "Don't move."
"You're doing this again? Aren't you tired of it?" Cheng Sangluo instinctively struggled, and just as she was about to raise her arm from the armrest, a sharp pain suddenly struck her.
She looked at her arm in astonishment and found it was secured by some kind of transparent, rebounding device.
The device was similar to a cable tie; the more you struggled, the tighter it became, binding your arms so tightly that you couldn't move them at all.
Lin Jin placed her hands on her shoulders, tilted her head, and looked her over with a smile. "I don't get tired of it. I'll never get tired of it."
"Lin Jin!" The quiet study was suddenly filled with Cheng Sangluo's roar: "Why do you still do this, refusing to let me go again and again?"
Lin Jin knew the puppy would be furious, but he didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed the wine bottle and took two big gulps.
Dark red wine spilled from the corner of her mouth, releasing a rich aroma that also stirred up an eerie and alluring feeling.
"Don't worry, I told you, I won't use the same trick twice." She touched Cheng Sangluo's chin with her fingertips and abruptly changed the subject: "Would you like to marry me?"
Cheng Sangluo was furious. "What time is it? Are you still indulging in wishful thinking?"
Lin Jin threatened softly, "If you don't agree, we won't have anything to talk about next~"
Cheng Sangluo realized she couldn't get out of this predicament anytime soon, and quickly regained her composure. "Even if I agree to marry you, so what?"
“And then I’ll be your wife~” Lin Jin replied with the word “wife”, swaying her waist with pleasure and saying arrogantly, “Isn’t that enough to satisfy me? Me, Lin Jin, so many people want to pursue me but can’t get me.”
Cheng Sangluo thought to herself, "I don't care anyway," and mimicked her tone, "You, Boss Lin, so many people want to pursue you but can't, and you're throwing yourself at a convict like me?"
"I won't allow you to talk about yourself like that." Lin Jin placed his fingertips on her lips and said seriously, "Since I founded Senyao Capital, every investment I've made has been incredibly profitable. Do you know what that means?"
"So what if it means you're rich?" Cheng Sangluo replied dismissively, inwardly cursing the crazy woman for being so mysterious.
"Superficial." Lin Jin sneered, cupping her face in his hands so that their eyes could meet. "I want to tell you that my eye is discerning and sharp, which is why I saw you."
Cheng Sangluo met those deep and earnest eyes and was momentarily lost in thought.
She didn't know whether she was captivated by Lin Jin's eyes or by the investor's approval.
Lin Jin's eyes grew even more alluring, adorned with a rosy luster, and even her breath became scorching.
She buried her face in Cheng Sangluo's neck, inhaling deeply, and extended a sincere invitation: "Cheng Sangluo, let's get married... You know Xu Songheng is afraid of me... I can even help you find the real culprit, provided that I am your wife... Otherwise, you won't be able to avenge this..."
Cheng Sangluo breathed her hot, moist breath on her neck, and in that instant, she realized that something was wrong with Lin Jin.
His voice was not only broken and intermittent, but his breathing was rapid and hot, accompanied by a trembling all over his body.
"What...what's wrong?" Cheng Sangluo asked, her tone revealing a hint of concern.
"Can't you tell... what's wrong with me...?" Lin Jin couldn't hold back any longer and started biting at her neck. "This time... I drugged myself... let me experience... the kind of torture you went through..."
"What medicine did you take? Untie me right now, let me go, I'm taking you to get your stomach pumped!" Cheng Sangluo's pupils trembled. She knew this woman was crazy enough, but she never expected her to be so utterly irrational.
"You're worried about me... right..." Lin Jin's thin back trembled slightly as she hugged the puppy's head and showered it with a passionate kiss. "It's too late... this medicine is different... if I don't release it... it will be very uncomfortable..."
Feeling Lin Jin's burning skin, Cheng Sangluo struggled desperately: "Love and affection are a matter of mutual consent. Why do you torture yourself and me?"
The warm light cast their close silhouettes against the backdrop of overlapping mountains, creating a scene reminiscent of an ink painting, making the night seem even more intense.
Lin Jin pressed his forehead against the tip of her nose, murmuring uncontrollably, "Yes...of course I won't just torture myself...soon...you'll experience the torment of wanting something but not being able to have it..."
As she spoke, she reached into the drawer and pulled out two long lace straps, her gaze falling on the dog's neck. "You didn't like the collar last time, was it because it was too stiff? I've changed it to this style; it'll be much more comfortable to wear~"
"Sweetie, wear it for me to see."
[Author's Note]
1. Ji Nanxing and Gu Shinian's story "Crime Scene 2.0" has been unbanned and restarted. The title has been confirmed as "The Crime-Detective Lover" [Criminal Investigation]. I would be very grateful if someone would give me a special collection!
2. Amitabha... Amitabha... Amitabha... Those who know, know...
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