Finally, Tong Yao released her grip, looking at the person who had already lost consciousness with rolled-back eyes. She wearily closed her eyes for a moment, and the image of Bai Song and Lu Xuanxuan holding hands and planning to elope immediately flashed through her mind.
Overwhelming rage and endless jealousy surged in her heart.
Tong Yao had always known that Bai Song liked to attract attention, but she prided herself on her own merits, believing few could rival her. From beginning to end, the only one she truly minded was Lu Xuanxuan.
Bai Song liked her to be lively, cheerful, outgoing, and positive. She couldn’t be as willful and spoiled as Lu Xuanxuan, throwing tantrums or acting jealous without reason.
In the past, whenever she saw Lu Xuanxuan clinging to Bai Song like a big dog, she could only pretend to be magnanimous, brushing it off with a simple “I trust you.”
God knew how much she envied Lu Xuanxuan, how she could act like a child, unrestrained and carefree, or sprawl beside Bai Song like a pampered cat, exposing her soft belly for affection.
But in the end, she was neither the sunflower Bai Song adored nor the parasitic dodder she envied. Instead, she was a carnivorous flower, a tyrant bloom, always ready to devour her prey whole.
Even though she had already confined Bai Song, Tong Yao still wasn’t satisfied. She even wanted to disinfect Bai Song completely, body and soul, erasing every trace Lu Xuanxuan had left on her both physically and mentally.
She knew full well it was wrong, that she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t control herself. Especially when she recalled the blinding moment Bai Song had actually smiled upon seeing Lu Xuanxuan that thought sprouted like weeds, growing wildly in the wind.
Listening to Bai Song’s steady breathing, Tong Yao’s dull eyes flickered. It took her a long moment to regain her senses before she pressed a hand to her slightly throbbing, swollen temple, her brows tightly furrowed.
Tong Yao thought, This can’t go on any longer.
She had to do something, to change the way they interacted.
Otherwise, one day, she would inevitably hurt Bai Song beyond control.
Even after seeing her with Lu Xuanxuan, she still didn’t want to truly harm her.
Perhaps that was why love still outweighed hatred by far.
Just then, her phone rang abruptly. Tong Yao fished it out from the crevice of the bedside table.
Pausing at the caller ID, she finally answered. Her mother’s voice, tinged with worry, came through: “Yao Yao, are you free this weekend? Come home for a meal?”
Hearing the caution in her mother’s tone, Tong Yao guessed she must have heard about the commotion at the hospital.
A self-mocking smile flickered in Tong Yao’s eyes as she cut straight to the point: “Mom, I’m tired. I’ve realized I still can’t let her go. I’ve lost. I don’t want the Tong family anymore, I only want her. Even if I have to die, I’ll die with her. If she still refuses, I’ll kill her first, then myself!”
Silence stretched on the other end of the line, broken only by the sound of labored breathing, like a broken bellows transmitted through the static.
Tong’s mother was terrified. She realized her daughter was sick gravely so, with a mental illness that could spiral out of control at any moment.
For nearly ten minutes, she hesitated. Both remained silent, yet neither hung up, as if bound by an unspoken understanding.
Finally, Tong’s mother could no longer hold back her quiet sobs. Even as she tried to suppress them, her voice cracked with tears: “Child, you’re my child. How could I bear to watch you fall into the abyss? But even more, I can’t let you.I can’t let you die.”
Tong Yao’s lips curled into a smile, her eyes shimmering with amusement. “Mom, thank you,” she said.
After hanging up the phone, Tong Yao leaned back, tilting her head to plant a kiss on Bai Song’s lips before wrapping her arms around her and drifting off to sleep.
It was the first time since their fallout that she had truly let go of her resentment, embracing Bai Song peacefully. The feeling was surprisingly nice.
Her sleep was deep and undisturbed.
She even had a beautiful dream.
In it, she and Bai Song grew old together, even adopting two children, a boy and a girl both lovely and harmonious, holding hands as they passed away side by side in their old age.
Bai Song had grown accustomed to late nights and late mornings, especially after overexerting herself the night before. She slept until the sun was high in the sky, and when she woke, Tong Yao was nowhere to be seen.
Pulling back the covers, she was stunned to find herself completely naked.
“!” Bai Song clutched the blanket to herself. “What the hell happened?”
The system sounded listless. “Host privacy settings. All I see is a blur of pixels.”
Bai Song imagined the scene her body from the neck down obscured by a pixelated mess and felt a twinge of embarrassment.
She grabbed a bedsheet, wrapping it loosely around herself, and wandered around the room until she spotted a table set with her favorite dishes.
She sat gingerly on the edge of a chair, afraid to settle fully lest her backside protest in pain.
Her stomach churned uncomfortably, as if gripped by an invisible hand twisting and squeezing. Waves of pain left her pale and sweating, beads of cold perspiration threatening to roll down her forehead.
The agony only intensified. Bai Song braced herself against the table, her voice weak. “System, I can’t take it. It hurts so much. What’s happening?”
The system replied, “It’s the lingering effects of the buff. Though it’s only mid-stage stomach cancer, it’s not the ordinary kind. The illness is aggressive. You don’t have much time left.”
Bai Song: “!” Damn it.
The pain was unbearable, clouding her thoughts. She could barely stay upright, her body sliding helplessly from the chair.
“Crash!” Bai Song tried to stand, but her strength failed her. She collapsed onto the table, sending dishes and food scattering across the floor.
She lay sprawled atop shattered plates and bowls, thin cuts marring her palms and body. Crimson blood welled up instantly, blooming like vivid red flowers against the pristine white sheet.
Overwhelmed by the searing pain, Bai Song blacked out.
When she came to, she was still sprawled on the cold floor. The pain had subsided, but a deep chill lingered.
Bai Song dragged herself up and headed for the shower, sniffling as she complained to the system. “What kind of mission is this? I quit. Let someone else do it. I want out, I’m filing for workplace injury!”
The system sympathized but was powerless, lacking the authority to intervene. It could only offer hollow comfort. “I’ve already submitted your case. Applied for a hefty mental distress compensation. It’ll be processed once we leave this world.”
Tears streaked Bai Song’s face, snot dangling from her nose. She sniffled, “Show me the signed approval form from management.”
“Alright, alright. The deputy director already approved it. Just waiting on the department head’s signature. Here, look.” The system pulled up the request in her mind. Seeing the date next to the deputy director’s name gave Bai Song a sliver of solace.
“Fine,” she grumbled, stepping out of the shower. Exhausted from crying and weak from hunger, her head spun dizzily. She crawled back into bed and fell asleep again.
When Tong Yao returned, she was greeted by the sight of all the dishes on the table smashed onto the floor and Bai Song lying on the bed in silent refusal.
Originally intending to ease the tension between them, Tong Yao was instantly consumed by anger. She rushed forward, grabbed Bai Song’s wrist, and yanked her up forcefully. “Bai Song, what the hell do you want?!”
Bai Song, still half-asleep, had no idea what she was being asked.
Blinking her dazed, wide eyes, she stared blankly at Tong Yao.
To Tong Yao, this was yet another silent act of defiance.
She had been busy all day fighting to legitimize their relationship, persuading the conservative board members to accept that the head of the Tong Group was a lesbian. Exhausted, she had hoped to come home to warmth, only to be met with rejection and disgust. Her emotions instantly shattered.
She stared at Bai Song for a long moment before suddenly releasing her wrist and storming out.
Bai Song was flung back onto the bed. Struggling to sit up, she rubbed her bleary eyes and finally woke up. “What’s wrong with her? Why is she suddenly acting crazy?”
Tong Yao soon returned, carrying a tray.
The rich aroma of chicken soup immediately filled the room.
But the moment Bai Song caught a whiff of the greasy scent, her face paled.
Tong Yao’s expression darkened. Without even using a spoon, she pressed the bowl to Bai Song’s lips. “Drink it.”
The overpowering smell hit her nose. Bai Song turned her head away and vomited violently.
She hadn’t eaten much after retching up a few mouthfuls of bile, she was left dry-heaving.
Tong Yao was startled. The soup spilled all over the bed as she grabbed Bai Song’s shoulders, forcing her to look up.
Her eyes were filled with pain. “Do you hate me this much? To the point of vomiting?”