Chapter 20
Cheng Sangluo, let's get married! [Wow, that's awesome!]
Cheng Sangluo hesitated for a long time before slowly accepting the baseball bat handed to her by Lin Jin.
The dim light cast shadows on her blood-smeared face, making her look eerie and sinister, and revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Only the bluish-white knuckles gripping the stick's handle betrayed her painful struggle.
Everyone's attention was focused on her, some mocking, some speculating, some questioning; those schadenfreude looks were suffocating and irritating.
It was a fleeting moment, so fast that no one could see what posture Cheng Sangluo used. The end of the stick slammed into the ground with afterimages, and cement fragments flew onto Lin Jin's trousers.
“Your teaching materials need to be changed.” Cheng Sangluo protested in a hoarse voice, turning the stick around and pressing it against Lin Jin’s chest. “Do you think these people can save you before this stick breaks your neck?”
The sudden resistance caused everyone to draw their weapons in a state of alert, but Lin Jin calmly raised his hand to stop them.
A strange light ignited in her eyes, and she bit a crescent-shaped notch into her lipstick. "My little dog has finally shown his claws?"
This calm demeanor stirred Cheng Sangluo's bewilderment. She struggled desperately, saying, "You forced me to do this. I don't want to do it, I don't want to!"
"No, you hesitated. Hesitation means you're thinking about it." Lin Jin's persuasion carried a seductive tension, and just a few words could sway someone's heart.
Cheng Sangluo bit her lip so hard that she almost broke the skin, and a faint, sweet, metallic taste seeped out.
Suddenly, she slammed the stick down hard, creating a powerful gust of wind that ruffled Lin Jin's hair.
The force was filled with the resentment of half a lifetime, so much so that the stick instantly shattered into pieces.
"ah--"
The crisp sound of bones breaking was drowned out by the screams that pierced the sky.
Cheng Xing curled up in agony, rolling on the ground a few times while hugging her knees, her whole body convulsing in pain.
His face was covered in blood and filthy mud, making him look like a despised demon. Even though he was in excruciating pain, he didn't stop slandering Cheng Sangluo.
"Cheng Sangluo... if I hadn't used the excuse of wanting a younger sister... you would have been aborted by Mom and Dad decades ago... even a dog would be better than you... you're a damn ungrateful wretch..."
The sound that pierced the eardrums was weak, but it sounded sharp and mean because of the increasingly vulgar words used in the insults.
Cheng Sangluo's mind went numb; the foul language no longer elicited any reaction from her.
How could one not feel guilty? Even if swallowed by abyssal hatred, no one can sever the bonds of blood ties in an instant.
She stared intently at Lin Jin, who was beaming with excitement, her eyes demanding, "Are you satisfied now?" She held her breath for a long time before slowly releasing an unprecedented burst of pleasure.
While bearing the burden of guilt, the family injustices that were about to crush her finally crumbled at this moment.
Cheng Sangluo felt as if her battered body was floating lightly, like a feather carried by the wind.
This feeling was both long-lost and familiar, just like more than a decade ago when she stepped into her home with a joyful gait, holding her university acceptance letter.
She ignored Cheng Xing's vile insults, casually tossed aside the broken stick, and turned to look at her parents not far away.
They struggled with all their might but could not roar, so they just glared at their daughter as if they wanted to tear her to pieces.
Lin Jin whispered a few words to his men, and then someone untied the couple.
Cheng Yongqiang scrambled to his feet and ran frantically to Cheng Xing's side to check his injuries. He then pointed at Cheng Sangluo's nose and cursed, "Bastard! You bastard! It's already a disgrace to the Cheng family to have a convict like you. Now you even dare to hit your own brother. You've wasted several years in prison!"
"He's your brother! How could you treat your brother like this!" Zuo Lan was also pushing her daughter. Although her scolding wasn't as harsh as her husband's, her soft-spoken rebuke was even more heartbreaking.
Cheng Sangluo straightened her body and accused in a low voice: "Shouldn't he be beaten? He's been fearless for decades, and he's ended up like this because you spoiled him. Since you can't bear to teach him a lesson, then I will!"
Lin Jin was disgusted by this vile family, but she didn't speak up for Cheng Sangluo. Instead, she silently waited to see how the little dog would sever this worthless family bond.
After all, no one can help the poor little dog on this path of severing ties.
Cheng Sangluo let her mother push her, keeping her lips tightly pressed together and saying nothing more.
The parents' foul language struck my ears, hurting my heart and causing much gossip from those around me.
Someone whispered, laughing, that Cheng Sangluo was definitely not this family's biological child.
Some people laughed at her for being foolish, taking on a mountain of debt for no reason, only to receive no gratitude in return.
Finally feeling exhausted, perhaps from the fatigue of her injury, Cheng Sangluo grabbed her mother's wrist and growled, "Enough! It was Cheng Xing who squandered the family fortune, what right do you have to blame me? What right do you have?!"
'Snap—'
A loud slap shattered the silence that followed.
Cheng Yongqiang practically jumped up and slapped her across the face, roaring furiously, "How dare you treat your mother like this!"
Cheng Sangluo tilted her head to the side, pressing the tip of her tongue against her cheek, her mouth instantly filled with the taste of blood.
That slap was well done; it finally shattered her illusion of parental love and the false notion of blood ties.
She rubbed the crimson blood from the corner of her lips with her fingertips, glanced at Cheng Yongqiang with her squinty eyes, and sneered: "Yes, it's not honorable for me to go to jail, but is it honorable for your eldest son to gamble? Is it honorable for you to sell your daughter for three million? Don't you find it ridiculous to expect a good-for-nothing to support you in your old age? Or do you have to carry on the family line? Whether you live or die is none of my business. I owe you nothing."
Cheng Sangluo's face turned deathly pale. A spasm surged in her stomach, and she felt a strong urge to vomit, a mixture of grievance and pain.
She recalled her fellow inmates sharing the gifts their relatives brought during visits, but she never dared to accept those kind gestures because she couldn't afford to give them any, since her family never visited her.
Everyone assumed she was an orphan, so she smiled and vaguely said that her parents had died long ago.
Yes, he died a long time ago.
Lin Jin noticed that the puppy wasn't behaving well and asked softly, "Are you feeling unwell...? Is it because I'm late..."
Cheng Sangluo felt as if her head was split open like a watermelon, the pain was so intense that it was like it was being torn apart, and the slap she received made her ears ring.
The throbbing pain, which seemed to envelop her soul, left her unable to pinpoint the exact location of the pain; she could only repeat, "It hurts...it hurts so much..."
She was somewhat exhausted, her body swaying slightly, yet she stubbornly refused to put her weight on Lin Jin.
Lin Jin's eyes suddenly turned sharp, as if she wanted to pierce through Cheng Yongqiang.
Cheng Yongqiang felt his scalp tingle under her gaze, but dared not disobey this woman with a powerful background, so he could only ask weakly, "What...what do you want to do?"
Lin Jin curled her lips into a contemptuous smile and gritted her teeth as she retorted, "Do you know that this slap will eventually land on your son?"
Cheng Yongqiang was alarmed: "What do you mean? Don't do anything reckless!"
Lin Jin ignored her, reaching out to stroke Cheng Sangluo's slightly swollen face, her eyes filled with boundless heartache and tenderness. "Does it hurt a lot? Let me see..."
The wound on Cheng Sangluo's brow bone had finally clotted, but it was reopened by her father's slap, and blood gushed out, staining her usually calm face.
The horrifying crimson shattered Lin Jin's heart. She wiped the bloodstains on her brow bone with her fingertips, her trembling masking a restrained heartache.
The blood seeped through her fingers and wouldn't stop. Touching the shocking wound brought a strong pang of sadness to her eyes.
"Please bear with it a little longer, we'll go to the hospital in a bit." Lin Jin's voice, though trying to sound calm, couldn't hide the sob that welled up inside.
Cheng Sangluo silently closed her eyes, and even took the initiative to press her hand against that soft palm.
The madwoman's cool hand covered her burning face; the touch was not only comfortable but also brought a sense of peace she had never felt before.
It was as if she was falling into an abyss from which there was no end, when suddenly someone reached out and caught her, dispelling all the fear, uncertainty, and heartache, leaving only a peaceful and secure feeling.
Lin Jin can accept all kinds of puppies—those that bare their teeth in defense, those that stand up for others, or those that growl angrily—but she can't accept a silent puppy.
She wrinkled her nose and gritted her cheeks, gathering all her rage before hysterically yelling at her subordinates, "Break Cheng Xing's other leg too! Beat him badly! Nobody's going to have a good time tonight!"
"You...you can't hit my son, you can't..."
Even at this critical moment, Cheng Yongqiang and Zuo Lan did their best to protect Cheng Xing.
It's hopeless. This family, rotten to the core, is completely beyond saving.
A group of thugs dragged them aside, and a fight broke out between them during the struggle.
Cheng Sangluo, unwilling to witness the ridiculous scene of 'filial piety and parental love' any longer, silently turned her back.
This person, who never cries, had a flushed nose but couldn't shed a tear.
She was sad, saddened by the lack of love from her family in the first half of her life and by the huge debts she had incurred in the second half.
The piercing sounds of beatings mingled with her parents' pleas, forming a sharp thorn that snapped the taut string in her head, causing a sharp, agonizing pain.
No one can completely disregard their closest blood relatives.
Cheng Sangluo was a soft-hearted goddess, so she was afraid that if she softened her heart, she would help others and do evil for herself.
She took huge strides, holding her breath and not daring to pause for even a moment, wanting only to escape this hellish place that belonged only to her as quickly as possible.
But a familiar coolness swept over her wrist, and her five fingers slowly tightened their grip with a light touch, just as she had been so careful not to hurt her back then.
Lin Jin pulled the small dog, whose body and mind were riddled with wounds, and smiled: "Running away is being soft-hearted towards the person who hurt you. No matter who the other person is, no matter how important they were in the past, the hurt has left real marks in time, so don't run away. You have to fight for yourself."
At this moment, Lin Jin was an unyielding and intimidating support.
She led Cheng Sangluo toward that disgusting family, uttering her final harsh words: "Cheng Sangluo has paid off this debt for you, which can also be considered as buying off your relationship. Anyone who dares to cause her trouble again will not only have their legs broken next time, but my people will be watching you closely."
After saying that, she grabbed Xu Songheng's tie in front of Cheng Sangluo, almost causing him to stumble.
She warned sternly, "Do you think all this you've meticulously planned can destroy Cheng Sangluo again? Xu Songheng, I'm officially informing you that she's mine, and you can't lay a finger on her."
Also, I'm not causing you any trouble today because I'm giving Lin Sheng enough face, but let me give you a piece of advice: if you're his dog, then behave yourself and don't go around biting people for no reason.
"If you dare to continue clinging to my people, even your master can't protect you."
Even after being refuted in front of his subordinates and Cheng Sangluo, Xu Songheng dared not show the slightest disobedience to Lin Jin.
His back was hunched over as his tie was pulled, and he could only lower his head and beg for mercy: "I didn't expect that Miss Cheng and you had such a close relationship. Of course I understand what you mean, and I certainly wouldn't dare to make things difficult for her anymore!"
"You'd better clean up this mess for me tonight. I don't want to see this family again. If I do, I'll hold you responsible! Understand?" Lin Jin slapped Xu Songheng's face hard, threatening, "If you want to make a living in this industry, you'd better listen to what I'm saying tonight. I'm only warning you this time."
"Don't worry, Mr. Lin, I will definitely handle these matters properly and give you an explanation." Xu Songheng said confidently, straightening his wrinkled collar, and turned to busy himself with dealing with everything he had messed up.
Cheng Sangluo watched silently as Lin Jin stood up for her, but she didn't know what to say.
It's always like this; I can't fathom this crazy woman's heart, nor can I see through the reasons behind her capricious behavior.
That night felt like a long and thrilling roller coaster ride; she was in pain and utterly exhausted.
Lin Jin had somehow managed to firmly grasp her hand, initially holding her palm, but gradually tightening their grip on each other's fingers.
She gave the puppy a knowing smile, without any pretense or affectation.
That rare, pure smile held a deep protectiveness, as if saying: Little dog, don't be afraid, from now on I will be behind you.
......
Cheng Sangluo walked into the dark and cramped alleyway. The pain from the blows made her body belatedly feel the pain, making each step extremely difficult.
She had to lean on the shipping container to catch her breath, and her back, which she had been trying to keep straight, gradually bent over, finally hunching over in a way that reflected the true state of being crushed by life.
Her face, devoid of any emotion, was too calm; her numbness made her forget to vent through tears.
She firmly believed that not crying represented not giving in, not succumbing to the hardships of life, and not yielding to the injustice of fate.
But it's so bitter.
This is not just a taste that melts on the tongue, but a cry that transcends time and permeates the very fabric of the body.
It drove her to the brink of despair, leaving her helpless.
The hug from behind was abrupt, like a fist hitting cotton, dissolving the feigned strength into soft tenderness.
Lin Jin's high heels clattered hurriedly, her breathing was disordered, and her arms around her waist tightened their grip. Every detail spoke of the deep heartache hidden beneath her contempt.
She shed all her strength and buried her face in Cheng Sangluo's back. The scorching heat she could feel even through his T-shirt made her heart tighten.
She asked in a muffled voice, "Little dog, are you alright?"
The sudden hug made Cheng Sangluo instinctively stiffen her back, but she gradually lowered her guard in response to the soft question.
She turned around, searching for that secluded spot in the dim light. "Do you still find this game fun?"
The question was weak, bringing an imperfect end to the bizarre and fantastical bet.
Realizing she had a fever again, she stepped back to create some distance, saying, "Don't get too close, I don't want to give you my cold."
Lin Jin looked bewildered and helpless. She would rather hear the dog's angry insults than hear this sudden concern.
What does this mean? Does it mean you're kind enough to highlight my wickedness?
Lin Jin raised her chin, tracing the face in the illusory image with her eyes, "I tortured you by any means to satisfy my own desires. You should call me a pervert. Why are you still thinking of me at this critical moment? Do you think kindness is great, or are you enjoying a saintly complex? Cheng Sangluo, I have painstakingly taught you lesson after lesson. Do you think I was just playing around? You still don't understand what I was doing it for."
Lin Jin's words were as sharp as ever, tinged with a hint of resentment at his son's lack of ambition.
Showing weakness, bending over, abandoning dignity, and cutting through the Gordian knot—these four vivid and engaging lessons were a carefully designed gift for Cheng Sangluo.
She hoped the puppy would understand a principle: if you want to take back everything you've lost from fate, you must first learn to endure hardship, learn to make choices, and be ruthless to yourself and others. Otherwise, how can you take revenge on your enemies step by step?
Cheng Sangluo pursed her lips and remained silent, slowly approaching with her body half-hunched over, like a wolf eyeing predatory eyes in a dark alley, her eyes gleaming with a ferocious light that seemed ready to devour someone.
In that instant, she almost let out the ruthless aura she had been suppressing all along, but she quickly restrained it, transforming herself into a terminally ill person.
She was delirious with fever, her head slumped weakly against Lin Jin's shoulder, her hands unable to wrap around his neck, her legs as weak as if they had been pulled out, and she slowly slid to her knees against Lin Jin's body.
Even the cold-hearted Lin Jin couldn't bear to see the puppy looking so pitiful.
She hurriedly hugged the little dog that was sinking, not daring to loosen her grip even slightly, as if the slightest carelessness would cause this sliver of moonlight to be extinguished in the darkness.
"Why did you let yourself get so badly injured?" Lin Jin sadly stroked her dried face, murmuring, "In this world... it's not that no one cares about you..."
At this moment, Lin Jin began to question himself like never before.
She not only questioned herself in her heart whether she had gone too far, but also blamed herself for not learning to treat the puppy gently when she knew it was heartbroken.
After a series of hurried footsteps, Sheng He quickly grabbed Cheng Sangluo's arm and pulled her behind his back. "Boss, let me do it."
Lin Jin wanted to refuse, but she couldn't handle the big dog, so she had to say in a low voice, "Be gentle, don't hurt her."
Sheng He was stunned. He rarely heard his boss scold him in such a gentle tone. "Go to the hospital?"
"Let's go to Yunxing Health and Wellness Center." Lin Jin reached out and hooked Cheng Sangluo's fingertips, gently stroking them in her palm.
Cheng Sangluo was delirious with fever, her fingers wrapped in the cool palm, the soft, bouncy touch filled with longing.
She was captivated by the genuine warmth Lin Jin brought, and simply gripped his hand tightly as if she were holding onto a piece of driftwood that had suddenly drifted into the abyss.
Once you hold hands, you can never bear to let go.
She was put into the back seat of the Land Rover and leaned weakly against the window. In her drowsy state, she felt someone put their arm around her neck and naturally tilted her head to the side.
In an instant, the fragrance of cedar filled my nostrils; that familiar scent always easily dissolves any tension.
After a night of tension, they finally found solace at this moment.
Lin Jin held the puppy in one arm to prevent it from getting too shaky from the bumpy ride, while her other hand was pressed against her forehead, repeatedly checking its temperature.
The scalding heat made her brow furrow repeatedly, prompting her to call out, "Sheng He, drive faster."
Upon hearing the cold voice, Cheng Sangluo squinted and asked vaguely, "Where are you taking me...?"
Lin Jin broke the awkward silence, teasingly saying, "I'll take you to get... um... a shot in the butt..."
"No...it hurts so much to get a shot in the butt...and I have to take my pants off..." Cheng Sangluo's cheeks were flushed, and her voice was soft and sweet as she protested, but it was also hoarse and heartbreaking.
Lin Jin gently lifted her head and pressed it against her neck, smiling indulgently: "Sit still, and I'll have the doctor give you an IV drip."
Cheng Sangluo didn't say anything more, but sat up straight.
Lin Jin rubbed the puppy's ears and laughed at how obedient it was. She even selfishly hoped that the unpredictable fever would subside a little slower.
Slow down, she's also craving Cheng Sangluo's warmth.
*
The health and wellness center was quiet in the early morning.
The medical cart gleamed like mercury under the cold light of the ward, and the crisp clinking of IV drip bottles and sterilization equipment broke the silence.
Lin Jin leaned back in the leather sofa, her face etched with exhaustion, her gaze lingering on the listless person on the hospital bed, her eyes unwilling to leave.
She lazily stroked her chin, her fine eyelashes fluttering slightly. She was so engrossed in watching that even the smile on her lips was natural and relaxed. However, that friendly expression was fleeting, quickly replaced by a familiar sense of gloom.
The nurse was currently holding Cheng Sangluo's hand and busy bandaging it with a rubber tube.
What was just a normal IV infusion procedure, in Lin Jin's eyes, had an added touch of physical contact.
She pursed her lips impatiently, annoyed by the noise of the gentle tapping on her veins. She got up and walked to the bedside, but didn't say anything, just stared straight at it.
This woman with such a strong presence inevitably creates a tense atmosphere.
Cheng Sangluo was burning up and could barely lift her eyelids, but she tried her best to find a topic to ease the atmosphere: "My veins are easy to find, right? Do you know how to use needles?"
The nurse glanced at Lin Jin, whose complexion wasn't good, and awkwardly replied, "Yes, I will."
"Then try it on my hand." Cheng Sangluo raised the back of her hand with difficulty and joked, "I heard that skilled needle throwers can't feel the pain."
"Why are you talking so much nonsense?" Lin Jin finally couldn't hold back and interrupted the conversation, urging the nurse, "Hurry up and give me the injection."
His tone was as cold as if he had just rolled in an ice cellar, carrying a hint of warning: anyone who dared to respond would face the consequences.
Cheng Sangluo didn't have the strength to play a head-on game with the crazy woman at this moment. She could only sigh deeply and slump her shoulders as the needle pierced the back of her hand.
Ignoring Lin Jin's warning, she casually said, "It really doesn't hurt."
The nurse forced a laugh as she adjusted the IV tubing, then hurriedly pushed the medical cart away from the ward.
The room fell silent instantly, the stark white paint on the walls and the dark shadows of the trees outside the window creating a deathly atmosphere that made one feel suffocated.
Cheng Sangluo lay flat on her back, glancing at the IV tubing every now and then. Feeling the drip was too slow, she sped it up.
Lin Jin didn't say a word and turned the speed back up.
The two of them were adjusting the pipe back and forth, seemingly competing with each other for no apparent reason.
That's incredibly childish!
"If you move around again, I'll change your injection in the buttocks." It was Lin Jin who broke the spell. She sat on the edge of the bed, grabbed Cheng Sangluo's fidgeting wrist, and shoved it under the covers.
When she readjusted the IV drip, her expression was as serious as if she were in a meeting. The not-so-soft light enveloped her delicate face, giving it a pinkish-white glow, making her serious demeanor somewhat endearing.
Cheng Sangluo tilted her head listlessly, staring intently at that incomparably beautiful face, unable to look away, and even let out a rare soft laugh.
She was always very reserved and had never shown such a smile in front of a crazy woman.
"What are you laughing at?" Lin Jin looked surprised for a moment. That genuine smile was a rare and beautiful sight, which she wanted to capture but it vanished in an instant.
"Cough cough... It's nothing..." Cheng Sangluo realized she had lost her composure, so she used a cough to cover up her embarrassment and hid half of her face under the covers.
What are you laughing at?
Perhaps the tyrannical gentleness of a crazy woman can easily break a person's spirit.
Lin Jin tucked the blanket around her to make sure her face was visible so he could see her clearly. "You should have acted angry, or continued to blame me. This whole drama tonight shouldn't be over so easily."
Suddenly, the conversation turned to what happened in Port 17. Lin Jin lowered her eyes and stared at Cheng Sangluo, the relaxed smile gradually disappearing from her eyes.
"How can you think I'm not angry? My dislike for you will only grow stronger every day. It's just that I'm sick right now and can't confront you directly." Cheng Sangluo closed her eyes, not wanting to talk about family matters. That would be tantamount to repeatedly tearing open her heart and self-harm. Only by avoiding it could she protect herself.
After a brief pause, she suddenly spoke: "Thank you."
Just as Lin Jin was about to reach for the bottled water on the table, this unexpected "thank you" struck her like a thud. Her hand hovered in the air for a while before slowly retracting.
She raised an eyebrow, her expression once again displaying that repulsive contempt, even her tone becoming somewhat frivolous. "Ha! What an unbelievable change of heart, you're actually thanking me?"
"Although all your actions can be described as disgusting, tonight's incident had a touch of kindness beneath the disgust. I have a strong sense of right and wrong, which is why I thanked you." Cheng Sangluo started to be stubborn again, and her rambling was all to cover up her awkwardness.
She reopened her eyes, staring at the ceiling with her pupils illuminated by shards of light, giving the illusion of being filled with glistening tears. In reality, she was not one to easily show her crying side.
Lin Jin bent down, and a strand of her hair brushed against Cheng Sangluo's nose, causing a ticklish sensation and filling the air with a familiar fragrance.
Cheng Sangluo wrinkled her nose, unable to dodge, and could only meet those unfathomable deep eyes, "Hey, I'm already this sick, and you still want to play those sweet nothings?"
"Cheng Sangluo, what exactly are you thanking me for?"
When Lin Jin doesn't wear a fake smile, she exudes an imposing aura. She was curious why this person who hated her so much would suddenly utter a strange thank you.
Why are you so fixated on just one sentence?
Cheng Sangluo blinked slightly, hesitated for a long time before responding with a burning throat: "You have stirred up my long-suppressed resentment, a resentment that is bound by the name of family, making it difficult to vent and digest."
You know what? When I hit Cheng Xing's leg with the baseball bat, the guilt only lasted for a moment. An unprecedented sense of ease and relief rushed into my body like air.
I know this world doesn't love me, so I've endured half a lifetime of hardship, but I've never cared whether life is bitter or not; I only care about fairness.
Tonight you humiliated me in your usual way, just to satisfy your perverted fetish. What I find laughable is that someone like you doesn't understand respect at all, let alone empathize with me.
The reason I thank you is because you showed me that hatred can be cathartic, and I thank you for being the only one who treated me fairly amidst all the evil.
This heartfelt and patient response left Lin Jin looking dejected.
She shook her head helplessly and asked in return, "You are not me, so how do you know I don't understand empathy?"
She suddenly threw off the covers, kicked off her high heels, and jumped into the puppy's arms, the movements so fluid and natural it seemed like she had been trained.
"Hey...hey...what are you doing?" Cheng Sangluo didn't have time to chase him away. After struggling for a few moments, she could only sigh in resignation.
Lin Jin wrapped herself around the puppy's waist like a koala, resting her chin on the puppy's burning neck, and said playfully, "Don't move, you're surrounded!"
"Isn't this enough tormenting me? I feel terrible right now." Cheng Sangluo's tone was extremely mournful. Her body was weak and powerless, and with an IV drip in her hand, she couldn't struggle anymore. She could only speak: "I just don't understand. Someone as rich and powerful as you has plenty of people outside who would want to throw themselves at you. Why do you have to keep targeting me?"
"Do you want to know why?" Lin Jin closed her eyes peacefully. She liked to hear the puppy's heartbeat and relied on the sense of security brought by the pulse of life.
Cheng Sangluo swallowed hard and nodded: "I want to."
"I'll tell you once you recharge to VIP." Lin Jin's breath brushed against Sang Luo's earlobe, a hint of seriousness hidden in her chuckle. "What a pity, the little dog can't even pay back three million now."
Cheng Sangluo was speechless and paled: "You clever liar, do you have to kill me at this moment?"
"It's okay, I don't charge interest on interest. I'll tell you when you've saved enough." Lin Jin rubbed her cheek comfortably, a wave of drowsiness washing over her. "Just rest for a few days. We have a lot of important things to discuss later, a lot..."
"Important things?" Cheng Sangluo pondered, then joked, "Aren't you afraid I'll just walk away? I owe so much money anyway, I can just pack up and leave."
Lin Jin said confidently, "You won't."
Cheng Sangluo asked in surprise, "Why are you so sure?"
Lin Jin raised her head, her fingertips slowly tracing the puppy's face. Every inch of it had been vividly depicted in countless dreams, but only at this moment was it truly real.
Her eyes crinkled with laughter as she answered with unwavering certainty, "Because you are the upright and principled Cheng Sangluo, your character is more than enough to earn me three million votes."
Cheng Sangluo opened and closed her lips, wanting to say something more, but the sentence "more than just being able to endorse three million" was like a key to pry open the lock on her heart, and also like a soft thorn stuck in her throat, scratching, aching, and causing a subtle pain.
After a moment of silence, she brought up the topic of reopening old wounds: "Lin Jin, do you know what I did to deserve being in jail?"
"Of course I know, but does it matter? It doesn't matter..." Lin Jin asked and answered himself, rubbing his nose against the puppy's neck. "You're just trying to say that you're good at fighting, you have a criminal record, you're dangerous... But in my eyes you're just a puppy. However, when a puppy plays with its owner, its tail wags more honestly than yours."
"Hey hey hey... why do you always like to compare me to a dog? Don't you know that kind of comparison is insulting?" Cheng Sangluo's protesting tone revealed helplessness, but she was unaware that her retort was incredibly easy.
She almost forgot that just two hours earlier, she and the crazy woman were in a state of emotional disconnect.
People always forget the pain once the wound heals.
"So what kind of address do you like?" Lin Jin propped her head up on her arm, her fingertips tracing the puppy's chapped lips, her gaze intense. "How about... calling me 'sister' in exchange?"
Cheng Sangluo's burning red ear tips easily betrayed her cold face as she scoffed, "Tch, crazy woman."
Lin Jin's eyes were still half-closed with sleep, but she couldn't bear to fall asleep. She just wanted to interact with the puppy a little longer, and she let out a soft, gentle murmur, "Don't be rude...you have to call me 'sister'..."
She had almost forgotten that pleasant sense of peace had been gone from home for many years, and it was only tonight that it quietly crept into her heart.
Compared to ineffective psychotropic drugs, the life-saving remedy was right in front of them, so they became obsessed and persistent.
Cheng Sangluo felt the even breathing on her neck, and the warm, tingling sensation swept through her nerves.
She was exhausted, but her eyes were wide open like copper bells. She couldn't help but nod and look at the person who was buried in her arms with his eyes closed.
Her matte, smooth hair exuded a captivating fragrance, and her delicate skin shone with a cool, white light. Perhaps she wanted to sneak a touch, but how bold could a puppy be?
Just like now, Cheng Sangluo's arm, which was hanging in mid-air, was sore from being raised, but she still didn't know where to start.
She felt that sleeping in each other's arms was too awkward, so she could only stiffly call out, "Lin Jin... is she asleep?"
"Um?"
"How about I let you sleep in my bed?" Cheng Sangluo suggested, though she didn't really mean to give it up.
"You're a patient, why should I sleep here?" Lin Jin narrowed her eyes, thinking that the puppy was quite considerate when it wasn't angry, and praised with a smile: "Not bad, it's starting to learn to care about its owner."
Tch, this guy really has an inflated sense of self-importance!
Cheng Sangluo rolled her eyes and muttered, "What I mean is, if you're not going to sleep, then get off me! You're making it hard for me to breathe!"
Lin Jin grabbed the puppy's ear and, regardless of whether it was sickly or not, started to discipline it first. "I think you've just missed a few beatings. You have quite the temper. Looks like you need some serious training!"
Sure enough, it's only right to have a little argument when you disagree. You feel uncomfortable if you don't argue, and you can't sleep soundly without arguing!
*
The summer morning light peeked through the gaps in the curtains and secretly fell on Cheng Sangluo's serene face, like a group of quiet yet lively little elves.
She slept soundly through the night, without any dreams, a rare occurrence. However, the familiar scent of cedarwood was absent from her breath; instead, she was greeted by the pungent smell of disinfectant. Coupled with the dazzling sunlight, this completely banished her sleepiness.
Perhaps it's a habit he developed while serving in the military, but this person doesn't have a bad temper when he wakes up; he wakes up quickly and easily.
She couldn't remember how she fell asleep last night or when the crazy woman left. She just felt her head was burning up, which is why she had such a blackout after drinking so much.
Being in an unfamiliar environment, Cheng Sangluo naturally became alert, and while looking around the ward, she sat up straight as if she had just sprung up.
Before I could even sit down properly, a piercing pain, as if my whole body was falling apart, struck me.
"hiss--"
Cheng Sangluo winced in pain and instinctively reached for her hospital gown to check her injuries. However, when she frowned, the pain from the injury on her brow bone intensified.
Lin Jin appeared abruptly at the ward door, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of her high heels.
She went home, changed into a black dress with red accents, and wore natural, elegant light makeup. Standing by the door, she resembled a rose in full bloom.
Her gaze fell on Cheng Sangluo's waist and she couldn't look away. She sighed inwardly that no matter how many times she looked at it, the beautiful, thin lines of her skin always made her heart flutter.
Cheng Sangluo looked toward the door at the sound and hurriedly put down her clothes.
With just a glance, she judged that the crazy woman had ulterior motives and even secretly tucked the hem of her clothes into her waistband.
Girls, you must take good care of yourselves when you're out and about!
"Awake?" Lin Jin noticed the puppy's panic, her tone and smile becoming increasingly frivolous. "Showing your master a glimpse of your pretty body won't cost you a penny, and it won't even cost you any money~"
Cheng Sangluo couldn't stand the crazy woman's constant lewd remarks, and snapped at her impatiently, "Stop your crooked thoughts, can't you be serious for once?"
Lin Jin loved watching the puppy's shy yet helpless expression, and admired it for a while before strolling over to the bedside.
She placed the insulated food container she was carrying on the bedside table, and while filling it with nutritious porridge, asked, "Are you hungry?"
"I'm not hungry." Cheng Sangluo always subconsciously expressed her refusal. She glanced at the steaming hot porridge, swallowed, and started to be stubborn again. "Hmm, I'm not hungry."
"You have to drink even if you're not hungry, that's an order." Lin Jin shoved the bowl into the puppy's arms, then teased, "You don't expect your owner to feed you by hand, do you?"
“Debts are debts, what’s with all this talk about being a master or not?” Cheng Sangluo hated this argument about the imbalance of their identities. After protesting a few times, she quietly began stirring the spoon.
Lin Jin sat upright on the sofa, staring intently at the puppy's paw. Seeing that she hadn't eaten for a long time, she lost some patience. "Are you going to keep stirring this porridge forever?"
"Please, it's so hot!" Cheng Sangluo didn't give her a friendly look and didn't notice anything wrong until her gaze fell on Lin Jin's slender white wrist, and she realized what Lin Jin was so anxious about.
The thin, long burn had a matte finish from a layer of ointment, indicating it was burned by the rim of a pot made of some kind of material.
This person, who had never lifted a finger before, suddenly started cooking, leaving Cheng Sangluo speechless for a moment.
She didn't expose the crazy woman's unspoken intentions, and silently scooped up a spoonful of porridge and put it in her mouth.
Cheng Sangluo narrowed her eyes sharply, wanting to stick out her tongue but forcibly swallowing it back.
Feelings of being moved are fleeting.
Cheng Sangluo cursed inwardly: "Oh God! This crazy woman has killed a salt merchant!"
Lin Jin propped her cheek up with one hand, her eyes filled with anticipation. She wanted to ask how it tasted, but remained aloof and silent.
Seeing the puppy gobble it down, she confidently raised her eyebrows—"Hmph, how could something I made myself not taste good?"
Just as the puppy was painfully being forced to eat nutritious porridge, she casually uttered a sentence that broke the tranquility of the ward.
"Cheng Sangluo, let's get married."
"Cough cough—cough cough cough—" Cheng Sangluo coughed desperately as a mouthful of extremely salty porridge filled her throat.
After pounding her chest and stamping her feet, she let out a scream like a shrill chicken: "Lin Jin...cough cough...are you sick in the head?!"
marry?
Ha, even dogs don't... get married!
[Author's Note]
Pre-orders: "The Detective's Lover" [Criminal Investigation], "Becoming the Scandalous Lover of a Hong Kong Film Queen" (Please add to your collection)
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