Too pathetic?
Xia Nai’s eyelashes trembled slightly. Her shifting gaze directly collided with the pale amber pupils right in front of her.
Through the reverse-lit lenses, Xia Nai clearly saw a flustered version of herself reflected in the depths of Lin Yuran’s eyes.
Teach you?
In her daze, Xia Nai spoke without thinking, blurting out instinctively, Teach me what?
The moment the words fell, the hand on her shoulder moved again. The slender fingertips shifted down an inch, landing on the knot beneath her collarbone, and gave it a slight tug.
To play this, find me.
Following the blunt words, Xia Nai heard an absurd piece of self-praise,
I’m professional.
Professional Hearing this word, the corner of Xia Nai’s eye twitched violently.
She looked down at Lin Yuran’s hand pressing against her body through her trench coat. Beneath that coat was the rope she had tied around herself!
She said she was professional!
When it came to shibari, she was professional!
I’m doomed, completely doomed. I’ve run into a pervert! Realizing what Lin Yuran meant, Xia Nai immediately pushed open the door she had been leaning against!
With a soft click of the latch disengaging, Xia Nai bolted out the door.
Mom, dear mom, don’t leave me!
I’ve brought a wolf into the house!
Xia Nai frantically slapped the elevator buttons while keeping a wary eye on the doorway, afraid the person inside would chase after her.
The elevator was dragging its feet on the first floor and wouldn’t come up. Xia Nai turned to look at the stairwell, wondering if sprinting down would save her life.
No way, I’m still tied up with rope. Running down these stairs would kill me!
She wanted to make a phone call to summon someone back, but her phone wasn’t on her. It was utterly infuriating. Xia Nai glared resentfully at the person inside the doorway, who had been silently watching her the whole time.
The corners of Lin Yuran’s lips still carried that calm, half-smiling curve she had worn while speaking to her. It was as if everything was completely under her control, and Xia Nai was just a mouse being toyed with by a cat,
And she was that flustered little mouse!
But this is wrong! Xia Nai looked at the paintings behind Lin Yuran. That was her artwork this was her home, why was she running away?!
Besides, what Lin Yuran had said was to find her if she wanted to play this, not that she was going to tie her up right this second
Probably not, Xia Nai thought, her heart full of uncertainty. She didn’t know this person well enough to gauge her exact level of perversion.
You’ve got it wrong, I don’t play this!
Xia Nai hardened her expression, glaring fiercely at the person in what she hoped was an intimidating manner. And get out of my house! I do not agree to rent this place to you!
She couldn’t possibly live with someone who casually claimed to be a professional at tying people up!
Lin Yuran looked at the doorway: Xia Nai’s face was flushed red, her eyes widened in anger, looking just like an irritated, puffed-up little cat. The fingertips of the hand braced against the doorframe tapped lightly twice against the wood.
Auntie Xia told me to treat this place as my own home.
Her unhurried tone was as light as a breeze, making it clear the speaker was in a rather good mood.
But the listener’s mood was absolute garbage.
Lin Yuran’s words sounded as if she were claiming this was her home too!
How infuriating. Xia Nai really wanted to drag her dear mother back here to see the utterly arrogant posture of the person she had praised to the skies!
After briefly evaluating their relative strengths, Xia Nai concluded that trying to use physical force was a dead end. After all, Lin Yuran was 176 centimeters tall while she was 167, and the muscles visible beneath Lin Yuran’s rolled-up shirtsleeves clearly showed signs of regular training.
Xia Nai’s daily routine consisted of eating and sleeping. Aside from lying down and getting up, which barely counted as a full sit-up, she did virtually zero physical exercise.
Since she couldn’t fight her way out, her only remaining option was to grovel!
That’s right, she was flexible enough to bend when necessary!
Xia Nai squeezed out a smile. You saw it yourself, didn’t you? The second bedroom is piled high with clutter; how could that possibly be suitable for living? Plus, this place is so small and the decor is ancient. Look, it doesn’t match your sophisticated vibe at all! The worst part is, there are cockroaches and mice, and they bite! You definitely won’t get used to living here. How about this, there’s a really nice hotel right around the neighborhood, you should go stay there instead. If you need me to, I can hail a cab for you.
When Xia Nai finished speaking, she looked at Lin Yuran, hoping the woman would reply with a simple okay. Instead, she heard a definitive True.
Lin Yuran looked around, scanning the surroundings as if appraising the property.
The decoration is a bit old. Do you want to redecorate? Lin Yuran withdrew her gaze and looked back at Xia Nai. I can introduce a designer to you.
Xia Nai:
She did want to redecorate, but unfortunately, she had no money. However, that wasn’t the point right now! How on earth did this person extract such a bizarre key point from her entire speech?
She must have done it on purpose. She refused to believe a corporate executive couldn’t understand plain human speech!
Xia Nai dropped the smile from her face. Why do you insist on living in my house?
Lin Yuran looked at her, her pale amber pupils narrowing slightly. Then what about you? Why do you insist on chasing me away?
Answering a question with a question always carried emotional undertones. Sensitive as she was, Xia Nai picked up on the emotional fluctuations hidden beneath that counter-question,
The woman seemed somewhat displeased.
Even though the corners of Lin Yuran’s lips remained curved, Xia Nai had a vague, inexplicable feeling that the smile looked a bit forced, though she couldn’t be entirely sure if she was just imagining things
Truth be told, she didn’t harbor any deep grievances against the woman. Until today, she had completely forgotten such a person even existed.
Naturally, the woman’s perverted behavior earlier had disgusted her a bit, but it was most likely a misunderstanding. Xia Nai figured the other party must have assumed she was also into this hobby and thus let her professional side slip out, attempting to invite her to play together
She definitely couldn’t share hobbies with someone like this, but that didn’t mean she had to harbor a permanent prejudice or anything.
I’m just not used to it. I live alone quite comfortably, and I really can’t get used to sharing a living space with someone else.
Setting aside her personal emotions, Xia Nai confessed the most fundamental reason to the woman, figuring that after laying it all out, the person wouldn’t possibly still insist on staying here.
She looked at Lin Yuran, waiting for a reply.
Lin Yuran was looking right back at her, as if contemplating the matter.
Xia Nai noticed the hand resting on the doorframe again. She had already observed earlier that whenever Lin Yuran was deep in thought, she had a habit of tapping her fingertips rhythmically.
One, two, three Xia Nai counted silently. On the fifth tap, she heard the woman speak.
As for getting used to things,
Lin Yuran paused slightly, waiting for Xia Nai to shift her gaze back to her.
Hearing the voice, Xia Nai dragged her eyes away from those slender fingers, raised them to Lin Yuran’s face, and locked eyes with those pale, oddly hypnotic eyes half-hidden in the shadows.
Habit is second nature, once you get used to it, you’re used to it.
Eye to eye, the corners of Lin Yuran’s lips twitched upward, forming a smile that struck Xia Nai as somewhat unfathomable.
That remark was completely nonsensical!
What does ‘once you get used to it, you’re used to it’ even mean? Why should she have to get used to it? She didn’t want to get used to it!
Xia Nai realized for certain that communication with this person was impossible, and she didn’t want to try communicating anymore either.
Glancing at the elevator, which was still lingering God-knows-where on the first floor, she ignored the stinging friction and strode back toward her apartment.
She needed to call her dear mother immediately! If her mom got too far away, things were going to get truly troublesome!
The person blocking the doorway seemed completely oblivious, refusing to budge even as Xia Nai walked right up to her.
Excuse me. Xia Nai looked up at the road-blocker with an expression of pure irritation.
Looking down at Xia Nai’s puffed-up, angry face, Lin Yuran’s hand, which was braced against the doorframe, instinctively flicked the wooden panel, and she shifted her body half an inch to the side.
Her attitude was cooperative, but the gap she left open wasn’t particularly wide, forcing Xia Nai to practically brush against her as she squeezed inside.
Once inside, Xia Nai didn’t care about the discomfort. She briskly retreated to her master bedroom and slammed the door shut.
The door latch was broken and couldn’t be locked, so Xia Nai dragged the chair from behind her desk and wedged it tightly against the door handle.
It wouldn’t hold up against a determined forced entry, but it served as a nice psychological comfort.
Xia Nai hadn’t bothered taking her phone with her when she rushed out earlier; it was still plugged into the bedside outlet. Stepping forward, she unplugged the charging cable and immediately placed a voice call to her dear mother.
It rang only once before the other end picked up.
Before the person on the other side could even acknowledge the connection, Xia Nai roared into the phone, frantic and panicked:
Mom! Dear mom, hurry back! What kind of roommate did you find for me? I’ve welcomed a wolf into the house! Get back here right now, tell Lin Yuran the lease is off, and make her leave immediately, this very second!
What’s wrong?
Hearing her mother’s unhurried, composed voice float through the phone, Xia Nai felt her temper flare: What’s wrong? You’re asking me what’s wrong?! That Lin Yuran is a total pervert!
Oh? How is she perverted?
The tone in the phone didn’t shift in the slightest, it remained completely devoid of tension, carrying that casual, mocking vibe of ‘let’s see what nonsense you’re making up.’
Xia Nai:
She suspected she was acting like the boy who cried wolf, that her credibility had tanked from telling too many tall tales. But clearly, that wasn’t the case! Though she frequently caused trouble growing up, she was fiercely honest; if she messed up, she owned it, and at worst took a beating for it.
Evidently, the wolf’s reputation was simply too stellar for anyone to believe Xia Nai when she claimed the person was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Xia Nai had no choice but to tear off the woman’s disguise.
She’s a professional, she plays,
Right at the tip of her tongue, Xia Nai choked. This topic was slightly awkward to articulate. If she stated that Lin Yuran was a professional in shibari and suspected of running in fringe subculture circles, her mother would inevitably demand to know how she knew about such things
Xia Nai lowered her gaze to look at the rope still tied around her under her trench coat. If her mother ever found out about this Hiss, Xia Nai sucked in a sharp breath of air; if that happened, she’d genuinely have no face left to show the world.
Unable to speak bluntly, Xia Nai compromised with a vague euphemism: She’s been corrupted abroad, and now she plays really wild, really hard! She’s even trying to corrupt me!
The moment she finished that final sentence, Xia Nai heard a burst of amused laughter coming through the phone.
She could play wilder than you? You’re the one notorious for ‘clearing the jungle’ in video games, just make sure you don’t corrupt her, instead of worrying about her corrupting you.
If Xia Nai were on a video call right now, she’d be able to witness her dear mother rolling her eyes.
I was talking about playing games, but she plays for real,
Before she could finish, the impatient voice on the other end cut her off.
Alright, enough of this nonsense, and don’t even think I’ll cancel the lease on this apartment. Unless Xiao Ran herself says she doesn’t want to live there anymore, she can stay as long as she pleases.
Xia Xiaolian had already made this stance clear. She had no idea what kind of wrong medicine Xia Nai had taken today to harbor such sudden, intense hostility toward Lin Yuran. As she recalled, Xia Nai had actually been quite fond of tagging along behind Lin Yuran when they were kids.
Of course, when it came to her Xia Nai, as long as playing was involved, she was compatible with literally anyone.
Xiao Ran is here for work, so be mindful of your manners. Don’t go dragging her into your games and messing up her schedule.
Xia Nai was on the verge of laughing out of pure rage: Right now, she’s the one who wants to play with me!
Then go play with her for a bit. Xia Xiaolian spotted her summoned taxi approaching and waved at the driver while replying without a second thought.
Xia Nai’s heart ached with grief and indignation: Do you even know what she wants to play?
Xia Xiaolian neither knew nor cared. As the car pulled up to the curb and she verified the license plate digits with the driver, she slid into the back seat: Whatever she wants to play, just humor her and be enthusiastic. After all, you two grew up together, and since she hasn’t been back in all these years, acting as her tour guide and driver is the least you can do.
Xia Nai:
What a wonderful philosophy, ‘humor her no matter what she wants to play’
She wants to play with me, literally! Xia Nai screamed internally!
Unfortunately, the person on the other end of the line was completely deaf to her plight.
Oh, right, skip cooking dinner tonight. Take Xiao Ran out to eat somewhere nice to welcome her back to the city, Mom will cover the bill.
Xia Nai:
It’s not about the money!
And remember to start cooking proper meals for her starting tomorrow. Oh, by the way, Xiao Ran has a weak stomach; I remember Lin Qing mentioning before that she gets stomach cramps if she misses a meal, so she needs to eat on time. She seems to prefer eating rather early, before six o’clock. Coordinate the specifics with Xiao Ran and adapt to her routine. Make sure you take good care of her.
Xia Nai: …!
This dynamic felt seriously, deeply wrong!
Mom, it sounds like you didn’t find me a roommate, you found me a master!
Knowing that Lin Yuran was professional, using the word master carried a rather loaded, double-layered meaning!
Sadly, Xia Xiaolian remained entirely oblivious to the subtext.
Then be a good little slave.
Xia Nai laughed out of exasperation: Mom, you really are my biological mother. Just you wait, don’t come crying to me with regrets.
I gave birth to you and never regretted it once, so there’s nothing left in this world that could make me regret anything.
As a mother utterly immune to Xia Nai’s pressure tactics, Xia Xiaolian was completely impervious to threats: I’m hanging up now. Take good care of Lin Yuran, and take good care of yourself.
Tasking Xia Nai with managing Lin Yuran’s three daily meals was ultimately born of a desire to force Xia Nai into a healthier, more regular lifestyle.
After hanging up the phone, Xia Xiaolian looked out the car window at the passing streetscape flashing by in a blur of light and shadow. Time truly flew, in the blink of an eye, she was already retired.
She couldn’t possibly accompany Xia Nai forever. Xia Xiaolian did carry some lingering regrets regarding how overly indulgent she had been with Xia Nai during her childhood, which had ultimately left the girl drifting aimlessly without a solid career path.
Money matters aside, they had saved enough over a lifetime to ensure she’d never starve, but Xia Nai’s daily habits urgently needed correction. She couldn’t keep pulling all-nighters and eating at completely erratic hours, or trouble would catch up to her sooner or later.
Remembering Xia Nai’s recent health checkup report, Xia Xiaolian forwarded a voice message to Lin Yuran.
Noticing a new notification, Lin Yuran exited her original chat window and tapped into the conversation box labeled with the contact name Auntie Xia.
Seeing a sixty-second voice clip, the corner of Lin Yuran’s eye twitched slightly. Hesitating for a moment, she put on her headphones and hit play.
Before she could finish listening, another new message popped up.
Another sixty seconds
Soon, a neat column of red-dotted sixty-second voice clips filled the screen
Lin Yuran bent her knuckle and pushed up her glasses and decisively opted for the feature.
Glancing hastily through the wall of text, a flicker of amusement crossed Lin Yuran’s eyes. Her slender fingers tapped rapidly across the screen to send a reply:
Don’t worry, Auntie Xia, I will take good care of Xia Nai.
No sooner had the message gone out than the other party shot back a default smartphone smiling emoji, radiant, kind, and grandfatherly.
Lin Yuran responded with three blooming red roses, mature, seasoned, and steady.
Waiting to see if the other party had any follow-up messages, a call request suddenly flashed across her screen.
Recognizing the caller ID, Lin Yuran picked up.
Why’d you stop replying to my messages? What’s going on? Why were you asking about those things earlier? Since when did you develop this kind of hobby?
The person on the other end of the line was clearly bursting with curiosity, firing questions off one after another.
Lin Yuran checked her wristwatch before answering the final question posed by her friend:
Fifty-two minutes ago.
From the moment she met Xia Nai at the station until now, fifty-two minutes had elapsed.
Once the caller on the other end processed Lin Yuran’s answer, her shock only deepened: Is it really that sudden?
Mhmm. Lin Yuran let out a soft laugh as she recalled the sight of Xia Nai earlier; it certainly had been sudden.
She had mentally rehearsed a thousand potential reunion scenarios, yet not a single one resembled reality. It had completely defied her expectations and even caught her slightly off-guard.
Fortunately, she was a seasoned expert at handling unexpected developments.
You’re acting a bit strange. Is your work stress getting to you lately?
Jiang黎 (Jiang Li) couldn’t help worrying about her friend, who had never shown the slightest interest in such fringe topics yet had suddenly grown curious out of nowhere.
It’s fine to want to play these things, but you have to be careful and find someone reliable. Otherwise just think about it, right? Being tied up if you realize something’s wrong, trying to run away is basically impossible.
Jiang Li wasn’t just spouting nonsense; she was repeating warnings from friends in her social circle. Plenty of impressionable, worldly-naive young women developed a passing interest in the scene, only to end up terribly scammed in the end.
And Lin Yuran wasn’t listening casually, either.
A reliable person Though she had no clue who had tied Xia Nai up, that mysterious individual certainly didn’t deserve to be described as reliable.
She could tell that Xia Nai had been suffering
By the way, do you prefer being tied up, or being the one doing the tying?
The question pulled Lin Yuran out of her thoughts.
Hearing that inquiry, her gaze drifted past the bedroom door, landing on the other tightly closed door across the hall.
She had no idea what the person inside was up to, but it had grown awfully quiet for quite a while now.
Lin Yuran looked down beside her hand at the gift she had already unboxed,
A handcrafted pure silver delicate chain, wound tightly around a beaver plush toy she had grabbed locally as a makeshift prop.
Gazing at the stuffed animal’s tilted head and an air of stubborn indignance that bore an uncanny resemblance to Xia Nai, Lin Yuran reached out to tap its head lightly before delivering her answer:
The one doing the tying.
Achoo!
Inside the master bedroom, Xia Nai unleashed a massive sneeze.
She was starting to feel chilly, a coldness accompanied by mounting irritability.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror, tightly bound up in rope, Xia Nai’s pre-departure appreciation for the aesthetic was entirely gone.
This is cursed. How on earth is this knot supposed to come undone?!