Tong Yao held her hand under the shower, catching a palmful of water.
Bai Song’s face instantly paled as she stumbled backward.
She pushed against Tong Yao with all her might, but the drunken woman seemed to possess inhuman strength there was no breaking free.
Bai Song’s voice was hoarse as she sobbed, “Yao Yao, I was wrong, let me go, I was wrong, I really won’t dare again.”
Her fair skin flushed red under the scalding water, steam rising from her body in wisps.
It took a long time for her to recover. Her lake-blue eyes, hazy with heat, flickered open, revealing a dazed expression filled with pain and fear.
The water had sobered Tong Yao up. She stood over Bai Song, tilting her head, a faint smile playing on her lips as she admired the sight before her with satisfaction.
Leaning down, she gently patted Bai Song’s cheek.
Tong Yao laughed.
Her lashes lowered as she let out a cold chuckle. “Song Song, you’re so beautiful.”
Bai Song struggled to lift her eyelids, staring at Tong Yao’s ghostly pale smile and crimson lips under the fluorescent light. Her lips parted slightly as she whispered, “You’re a demon.”
Tong Yao burst into laughter, pinching Bai Song’s face. “You were the one who stopped liking angels first. So I had no choice but to fall into darkness. Even if I can’t make you love me, a demon can still keep you, can’t I?”
By the time Bai Song woke up, she was already in bed, her body sore and weak though by now, she was used to it.
Bai Song slowly opened her eyes. The curtains were still drawn, leaving the room dim. She blinked several times before adjusting to the darkness.
Unexpectedly, the first thing she saw was Tong Yao’s face, magnified and inches away.
Startled, Bai Song shifted slightly, a tiny movement, but enough to rouse Tong Yao.
Tong Yao’s eyes snapped open, sharp and alert, fixed unblinkingly on Bai Song. There was no trace of sleepiness in them.
Perhaps she hadn’t slept at all.
One look at that face, and the memories of last night in the bathroom came flooding back. Humiliated and furious, Bai Song immediately turned away.
Tong Yao grabbed her shoulders her hands like iron clamps, crushing Bai Song’s shoulder blades.
She forced Bai Song to turn back and face her.
Humiliation burned in Bai Song’s eyes as she bit her lower lip, glaring fiercely.
Tong Yao smirked. “What, still not satisfied?”
Fear flashed through Bai Song, and she instinctively shrank back.
Tong Yao’s grin turned wicked. She rustled under the covers before pulling out a piece of white lace fabric, slipping her hand beneath Bai Song’s blanket.
Within moments, Bai Song’s eyes glazed over with tears. She immediately grabbed Tong Yao’s wrist, pleading in agony, “P-please, stop.”
Tong Yao’s gaze was full of mocking amusement as she took in Bai Song’s pale face and trembling lips. “Song Song, stop wasting your breath. You know I won’t stop. Since you can still make noise, why not scream a little more? I like hearing it. Maybe if you do, I’ll go easier on you.”
Tears shimmered in Bai Song’s sorrowful eyes. Her voice was broken. “Does treating me like this make you happy?”
Tong Yao’s expression faltered for a moment. Her lashes lowered, avoiding Bai Song’s gaze before she finally laughed softly. “Happy? I don’t know. But it feels good especially…”
Bai Song let out a sharp cry, her body arching like a shrimp.
Listening to her sweet voice, which she was desperately trying to suppress but couldn’t, Tong Yao’s amusement grew more evident in her tone: “Seeing your agonized expression and hearing your pleading voice brings me immense satisfaction!”
Bai Song understood her shame, her struggles, only excited Tong Yao further and brought harsher treatment upon herself.
So, she simply lay still, completely unmoving.
If Tong Yao had any interest in a corpse, then so be it.
Bai Song closed her eyes, relaxing her body as much as possible, trying to detach her soul from her physical form.
And in reality, she did detach.
Bai Song’s soul hid in an empty, intangible room, crying uncontrollably.
Between sobs, she complained, “I can’t do this task anymore. Whoever wants it can take it, I’m done.”
She truly was at her limit. Bai Song cried so hard she started hiccuping, each hiccup making her gasp for breath, her tearful voice carrying an unintended coquettishness: “My kidneys hurt, they really do.”
System: “…” What can I do? Get you a pair of indestructible kidneys?
After finishing her morning exercise, Tong Yao took a moment to admire Bai Song’s face before suddenly kissing the corner of her lips.
Startled, Bai Song opened her eyes, full of wariness, afraid Tong Yao might come up with some new torment.
Tong Yao raised an eyebrow, her voice light: “Song Song, you’re so beautiful. Even with a dead expression, you’re still the prettiest corpse.”
Bai Song: “…” I really, really, really wish I could just be a corpse.
Tong Yao suddenly laughed, as if struck by a thought.
To Bai Song, that laughter sounded like a sinister threat.
Sure enough, once Tong Yao finished laughing, she said slowly, “But if you really were to die, Song Song, I wouldn’t spare anyone around you. Not even that cashier girl you flirted with a few times, do you even remember her? It’s fine if you don’t. I’ll help you remember. I’ll make sure every single one of them pays an equal price for having been flirted with by you.”
Bai Song’s eyes widened in shock.
Tong Yao patted her cheek, picked up her clothes, casually slipped them on, gave her a fleeting glance, and left.
Bai Song was stunned: “Is she insane? It can’t be that extreme, right?”
The system thought for a moment, then said very tactfully, “She really loves you very much.”
Bai Song: “I’d love to love you the same way. Want to try it?”
After that day, Bai Song behaved obediently for a while. She left her room daily, even strolled in the garden, but never approached the fence or the gate.
As if she was afraid.
She didn’t even dare go near the courtyard walls, lest Tong Yao misunderstand.
But it was because of these walks that Bai Song discovered the villa wasn’t just home to her and Tong Yao.
Strangely, though, she never saw a third person face-to-face.
They all avoided her. From a distance, they’d catch sight of her and freeze like mice spotting a cat, as if they wished they could burrow straight into the ground.
Once, a plump cleaning lady in gray overalls, head bowed, didn’t notice her until she was too close.
The moment she saw Bai Song, her face paled in terror, as if she’d encountered a demon, and she turned and fled.
As she ran, the bag of vegetables she’d been carrying spilled its contents along the path.
Bai Song bent down, picking up a tomato that had rolled to her feet, then limped slowly like a snail toward the fountain.
She rinsed the tomato in her hand under the water, wiped it dry with the hem of her shirt, and sat on the edge of the fountain, her gaze wandering aimlessly.
With the first bite, sweet juice spread across her tongue, and Bai Song narrowed her eyes slightly.
Suddenly, her wrist was grasped. Bai Song opened her eyes to meet Tong Yao’s amused, half-smiling gaze.
Holding Bai Song’s hand, Tong Yao leaned in and took a bite of the tomato.
Juice trickled down Bai Song’s fingers.
She frowned slightly.
Still gripping Bai Song’s hand, Tong Yao devoured the tomato in a few quick bites.
But she didn’t stop there. She kept hold of Bai Song’s hand, watching her as she meticulously cleaned each finger.
Tong Yao licked a stray drop of juice from the corner of her lips, looking thoroughly satisfied.
Bai Song: “…” She really wanted to shove the tomato stem into Tong Yao’s mouth.
With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it aside and yanked her hand back, vigorously wiping her damp fingers in clear disgust.
Tong Yao didn’t seem bothered. She loosened the tie around her neck and, disregarding the five-figure suit and skirt she was wearing, settled down right next to Bai Song, their shoulders touching.
Bai Song narrowed her eyes.
Tong Yao turned her head and smiled at her.
No hidden meanings, no malice, no mockery just a simple, peaceful smile.
The soft sunlight spilled over them, warming their bodies, and Bai Song suddenly felt as if she were dreaming.
It must be a dream. If it weren’t, why would Tong Yao be so not gentle, but quiet today?
Unsure what scheme Tong Yao was plotting this time, Bai Song pressed her lips together and sat in silence, statue-still, afraid that the slightest movement might set her off like a rabid dog again.
As the sun set, the two were bathed in a warm orange glow, their long shadows stretching across the ground. Bai Song’s body had grown stiff from sitting motionless for hours.
After all, staying completely still for so long her kidneys had already suffered, and now her lumbar spine was protesting too.
Her stomach growled with hunger, and just as dizziness began to cloud her vision, the figure beside her shifted.
Tong Yao suddenly stood up.