Lu Zhengsi followed Miao Jing into her room.
The door closed gently, unlocked, leaving a narrow crack through which faint sounds could be heard. Tu Li watched with smiling eyes, then nestled seductively against Chen Yi, twirling the ends of her hair to tease his expressionless face. The deeper his frown grew, the more motionless he remained, eyes downcast as he took deep, heavy drags from his cigarette.
"Why aren’t you saying anything?" Tu Li pouted her red lips, batting her alluring eyes as she whispered by his ear, "Should I go take a shower first?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly, exhaling a cloud of smoke, his lips curling coldly in lieu of a response.
Tu Li cheerfully entered the bathroom, having borrowed makeup remover and face cream from Miao Jing. When she entered Chen Yi’s room, she found him lazily propping up his legs against the headboard, smoking. She giggled, her long hair brushing against his shoulder. "Tonight’s been quite interesting. Miao Jing carried two cups and a box of milk into her room and even asked if I wanted some. Who drinks milk at a time like this?"
She draped her arms over Chen Yi’s shoulders, planting soft, lingering kisses on him, her voice bewitching: "Aren’t you going to wash up? The bathroom might get crowded later."
Chen Yi’s expression remained rigid as he flicked his lighter to light another cigarette, his voice hoarse and flippant: "What’s the rush? Let them go first."
Tu Li, brimming with playful desire, pinched his firm chest muscles and suddenly let out a curious "Huh?" Her eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Is that noise from next door?"
It was an old building—two rooms side by side, doors adjacent, with thin walls.
"What is that sound? Why is there moaning?" Tu Li covered her mouth with a giggle. "Who would’ve thought Miao Jing, who looks so delicate and reserved, could be so uninhibited. Should you two men have a competition? See who’s better? Otherwise, just listening like this is so... awkward."
A dark, fierce gloom settled on his face, though he strained to appear composed. A vein throbbed at his temple, his eyes gloomy and tinged with red. Stiffening his neck, he smoked with increasing urgency and disarray until a surge of ferocity erupted in his brow. He hauled Tu Li up. "Get dressed."
"What’s wrong?" Tu Li asked, puzzled.
His long legs swung off the bed with a murderous air as he strode to knock on the neighboring door—thump, thump, thump. The sounds inside ceased, and Miao Jing cracked the door open slightly, her clear, dark eyes fixed on him.
He gritted his teeth. "Come out."
"Let me change first."
Her voice was lazy and husky, her eyes weary and languid, as she closed the door.
A needle-like pain spread up his spine.
Miao Jing, clad only in a thin short nightgown, threw on a long wool coat and hugged herself as she stepped out. Chen Yi was waiting for her on the balcony.
His eyes blazed with an intense, frightening ferocity. He lowered his head, then coldly lifted his gaze, staring fixedly as she approached step by step.
The wind tousled her long hair, like dense underwater weeds. Her beautiful eyes were soft and tranquil as Miao Jing stood on the balcony, casually closing the door behind her. "What’s wrong?" she asked softly.
He clenched his jaw, again and again, as if on the verge of grinding his molars to dust. His words were cold, hard, and low, each syllable pinning her in place: "I don’t give a damn why you came back, where you live, or what you do. But I never agreed to you bringing men back to sleep here. You either get the hell out or go book a hotel room."
Miao Jing fell silent for a long moment before finally lowering her gaze faintly and parting her lips. "And what about you? There’s someone in your room too.""I feel the same way," he said bitterly. "No bringing women home overnight."
"Fine." She thought for a moment. "But what if you're not home?"
"No!!"
"No problem." She smiled at him—a sly, mischievous smile.
Seeing that expression on her face, his features tightened, cold and hard as stone. He wanted nothing more than to clamp his teeth around her throat and make her obedient enough to wipe that smile off her face.
Miao Jing returned to her room and opened the door in front of him—Lu Zhengsi had already left at some point, leaving the room empty. She took out her laptop and watched an episode of a variety show.
"Goodnight, I'm going to sleep."
Chen Yi's mind buzzed violently, a chilling wind seeming to freeze him stiff on the spot.
Tu Li, fuming with rage, was sent home by a livid Chen Yi.
Chapter 16: Two Stray Puppies, Wandering On
Chen Yi knew this place like the back of his hand. He stripped a coil of copper wire from some cables and ordered Miao Jing over to help. There were roller bearings and iron balls in the discarded machinery—she could take as many as she could carry.
Miao Jing went from terrified to utterly bewildered. After her brain rebooted from its shutdown, she watched Chen Yi squat with his back to her, his movements practiced and nimble, his expression calm and focused. Slowly, she edged closer, touching the machinery coated in black grease and grime, prying off any components that could be taken away and sold for money.
Finally, the two emerged filthy. Chen Yi's jacket was wrapped around a large bundle of items, which he carried over his shoulder as he led Miao Jing through the abandoned factory. Holding up her two oil-blackened hands, she followed him in a daze. Once outside, they got on his motorcycle, and he took her to a scrap yard where they sold the items for 130 yuan.
Chen Yi took the crumpled bills and grinned at Miao Jing, his dark eyes triumphant and wild. "Let's go."
He took her to eat.
After all that exertion, Miao Jing was starving, her stomach clinging to her backbone, spots dancing before her eyes. She followed Chen Yi into a small roadside restaurant where he spent forty yuan on two meat dishes—Stir-fried pork and Braised chicken—and a large bucket of rice. The aroma was overwhelming, a scent that made Miao Jing's eyes sting.
Chen Yi gave her the remaining few dozen yuan. Covered in grime, he lounged bonelessly in his seat, watching Miao Jing, who kept her lips tightly pressed together. Then he took a phone call, told her he had something to attend to, and left her to eat alone.
That meal became unforgettable for Miao Jing. No matter how many delicacies she would later taste, none would ever surpass the flavor of that flyspeck diner.
Her hair was disheveled, her face smudged with dirt, but her eyes were unusually calm and clear. She walked for a long time, feeling the weight in her stomach, before finally making her way home.
The lights were on at home, the TV screen glowing. Chen Yi had already showered and was sprawled across his bed, fast asleep. The old air conditioner hummed noisily, and an electric fan blew directly on him. Miao Jing quietly went to take a shower, noticing his dirty clothes still lying nearby. She washed both their clothes clean. Passing by the refrigerator, she heard the peculiar sound of electricity restarting inside. When she opened it, she found it stuffed full of eggs and milk.
OpenNovel