That night, Dong Enyu cried her heart out.
Zhao Han made her weep thoroughly under the influence of alcohol and violence, leaving her lying in bed for two whole days.
On the first night, Mama-san sent her to the hospital for a stomach wash because Zhao Han had forced too much hard liquor down her throat. On the second night, she could only lie in bed to recuperate, as Zhao Han had poured the alcohol into her from below rather than from her mouth. Unsurprisingly, Dong Enyu was severely traumatized both physically and mentally, and during those two days, she hadn’t spoken a single word to anyone.
She fully understood what it meant to be S and what it meant to be M.
After that night, Zhao Han demanded that Dong Enyu send her a text every day, telling her whether she missed her and how much she missed her. This made Dong Enyu have nightmares for the next two nights, but she complied, fearing that Zhao Han would be displeased and cause her trouble.
By Saturday, Dong Enyu still had a low fever, but she didn’t forget her promise to Mu Lin, so she went to meet her. Spending two days at Star Diamond had left her feeling very depressed; not only did no one care about her, but she also had to fend for herself to avoid starving to death in bed.
Dong Enyu desperately needed a normal social circle, and Mu Lin was her last hope.
That afternoon, the sky was overcast, and although it didn’t rain, the humidity in the air made Dong Enyu feel uncomfortable. She wrapped a scarf around her mouth and nose, and under the scarf, she wore a mask, covering half her face so thoroughly that Mu Lin didn’t even recognize her when she walked up beside her.
Today, Mu Lin had dressed with great care, wearing a one-piece dress made of soft beige velvet, adorned with tiny floral patterns. The knitted cardigan accentuated her gentle demeanor, and she had styled her brown hair to one side, exuding an elegant charm. Her fair face was lightly made up, and the soft pink tones added a touch of shyness to her expression when she wasn’t speaking.
“Mu Lin.” Dong Enyu called out as she stood beside her, causing Mu Lin to freeze for a moment.
She blinked in confusion, looking at Dong Enyu, and after a while, she finally recognized her: “…Dong Enyu?”
“Mm.” She nodded, a hint of a smile flickering in her eyes.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize you because you were wearing a scarf.” Mu Lin explained, her face turning red. Dong Enyu simply shook her head; her throat hurt, so she didn’t say a word, just took Mu Lin’s hand and walked into the Performance Hall.
They had already bought their tickets, and today they were watching a foreign stage play, a tragic love story.
However, Dong Enyu had no interest in the plot; she nearly dozed off in her seat and was jolted awake twice by the loud sound effects. She didn’t enjoy the play, but she found solace in being there with Mu Lin. While sitting together, Dong Enyu held onto her hand tightly; Mu Lin’s soft, warm hand felt comforting, especially since she was a bit cold.
After the stage play ended, it was only around eight in the evening. The two left the Performance Hall and went to a nearby park to rest and chat, but it was mostly Mu Lin doing the talking, while Dong Enyu just nodded or shook her head.
“You’re very quiet today.” Mu Lin noticed Dong Enyu wasn’t responding and awkwardly lowered her head.
At that moment, she pulled down her scarf and pointed to her mask.
“Are you sick?” Mu Lin then realized that Dong Enyu wasn’t silent because she disliked her, but because she was unwell. She immediately relaxed and smiled, but soon her expression fell as she said, “I’m sorry. If I had known you were sick, I wouldn’t have dragged you out to see the performance. No wonder you were so tired you fell asleep earlier.”
Dong Enyu shook her head and replied in a hoarse voice, “It’s fine.”
“Should I take you home? You’re sick and need to rest.” Mu Lin stood up to escort Dong Enyu, but Dong Enyu pulled her hand away, not wanting to go back. Seeing Dong Enyu suddenly release her hand, Mu Lin immediately sat beside her and wrapped her arm around Dong Enyu’s, bringing them very close together, their breaths clear and audible.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” Realizing her own lack of decorum, Mu Lin quickly apologized. She said this, yet didn’t let go of Dong Enyu’s arm.
Dong Enyu didn’t dislike Mu Lin; she just didn’t want her to know that she worked at Star Diamond or that she was involved in that world. Mu Lin was a good girl, like a normal woman on the street, with her own life and social circle, not like the women around the big brothers, who had dirty hands.
“Can I spend the night at your place tonight?” Dong Enyu coughed a few times, her voice very soft, making Mu Lin lean in closer to hear. She didn’t want to go back to Star Diamond, at least not tonight. She had already secretly planned that if Mu Lin didn’t agree, she would find a nearby hotel to sleep for the night.
Mu Lin looked at her in surprise, seeming a bit troubled.
Seeing this, Dong Enyu realized she had been too sudden. They were merely strangers who had met a couple of times, and here she was asking to stay over at Mu Lin’s place, so she could understand Mu Lin’s expression.
Dong Enyu gently patted her head and was about to get up.
“Sorry.” She smiled wryly as she apologized.
Just then, Mu Lin grabbed her, her fingers gripping the fabric of Dong Enyu’s coat tightly, turning pale from the force.
“Okay,” Mu Lin looked up at Dong Enyu, her round eyes fixed on her as she said, “It’s fine. If you want to come to my house tonight, you can.” She gave Dong Enyu a smile, showing no sign of reluctance, which made Dong Enyu feel a bit guilty for taking advantage of Mu Lin’s kindness to escape the pressure of being undercover.
“No,” Dong Enyu gently pinched Mu Lin’s cheek, prying her hand away with a smile, “I appreciate your kindness, and I had a great time tonight, but I’ll just find a hotel to sleep in.”
“It’s really okay. There’s no one at my place; I live alone, so I won’t disturb you.” She stood up with Dong Enyu, blocking her path as she spoke. Seeing that Mu Lin seemed eager to invite her over, Dong Enyu eventually agreed.
They took the bus to Mu Lin’s home, which was located near the outskirts in a tranquil community, with tall buildings and a very secure security system, making it a suitable place for single women to live. Mu Lin led her into the apartment building, politely greeting the security guard as they passed by. She lived on the fiftieth floor, and as soon as they entered the apartment, Dong Enyu couldn’t help but gasp in amazement.
On the outside, it looked like an ordinary apartment building, but the interior decor and spaciousness left her speechless.
The furniture was made of wood or in a beige color, and under the soft yellow indirect lighting, the entire room felt relaxing and warm, much like the feeling Mu Lin gave off. The place had three bedrooms and a living room, with an open kitchen. As she sat on the sofa, Mu Lin was in the bathroom preparing a bath for her.
“Your home is beautiful,” Dong Enyu praised Mu Lin as she took off her scarf. Mu Lin emerged from the bathroom, droplets of water on her arms. “Thank you, this house was left to me by my parents. They are now settled abroad, so I’m here alone.” Dong Enyu nodded, and Mu Lin suggested she take a shower to warm up, placing some clean clothes on the doorknob. “I’ve left the clothes outside; you can grab them after your shower.” She knocked on the door, encouraging Dong Enyu not to be shy.
Inside the bathroom, steam enveloped her as she enjoyed the warm water, nearly dozing off in the bathtub. How long had it been since she had a proper soak? At Star Diamond, she could only use the public bathroom, and that was just a shower—there was no way to lie back in a bathtub like this. She looked around; the bathroom was very tidy, with imported shower gel and shampoo, indicating that Mu Lin had a refined taste for life, evident from the daily products she used.
Dong Enyu spent nearly an hour in the bathroom before stepping out. She put on a mask and changed into the pajamas Mu Lin had given her, the soft fabric feeling incredibly comfortable, warming her body and spirit. As she dried her hair and opened the door, she was immediately greeted by a rich aroma; Mu Lin was cooking soup in the kitchen and quickly served her a bowl when she saw Dong Enyu.
“Vegetable soup. If you’re hungry, you should have some; it’s good for warming the stomach.” Mu Lin was very considerate, inviting Dong Enyu to sit at the dining table while she went to shower. The vegetable soup was delicious, and Mu Lin’s cooking skills amazed Dong Enyu once again. She was so perfect—good character, good looks, good temperament, good skills, and a nice home… Just as Dong Enyu was immersed in the pleasant atmosphere, her phone in her pocket rang.
The words “Yong Le, the rogue” flashed on the screen. She intentionally changed “kissing” to “rogue” to make it more visually appealing.
“Hello…” Dong Enyu answered the phone weakly.
“Where have you been? Han Ge and I are at Star Diamond, and Mama-san said you went out.” The background noise was quite loud, suggesting that Han Ge had brought a lot of people to drink.
“Recovering.” She lazily sipped her soup, her eyes downcast as she spoke.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?” Yong Le’s voice had a hint of amusement, almost sounding a bit schadenfreude.
“You’re not a doctor.” Dong Enyu finished her soup and returned to the living room sofa.
“Even though I’m not a doctor, I can play the role of a cute nurse and take care of you from head to toe…”
“Goodnight.” Without waiting for Yong Le to finish, Dong Enyu hung up the phone and turned it off. Hearing Yong Le say something inappropriate made her feel annoyed. At that moment, Mu Lin also came out of the bathroom, wearing the same pajamas as Dong Enyu, except hers were white while Dong Enyu’s were black.
“Come here.” Dong Enyu waved her over, and Mu Lin obediently walked over. She had Mu Lin sit beside her and took the towel from her hands to dry her hair, moving gently as if giving a light massage.
“Was that your family just now?” Mu Lin tilted her head slightly, thinking that Dong Enyu’s sudden decision to stay overnight might have prompted a call from her family.
Dong Enyu shook her head and replied lightly, “A colleague.” She interpreted her relationship with Yong Le as that of colleagues.
The two watched TV in the living room for half an hour until the clock struck twelve, at which point Mu Lin nudged Dong Enyu.
“It’s late; you should go to bed early since you’re sick. The bedroom is the one at the end of the hallway.” She pointed to the door adorned with a teddy bear, urging Dong Enyu to sleep there.
“No need, I’ll sleep in the living room.” Dong Enyu lazily leaned back on the sofa, not moving.
“You can’t sleep on the sofa when you’re sick! It’s fine; you should go to the bed.” Although Mu Lin had two other rooms, one was a storage room and the other a piano room, the only bedroom with a bed was the one she pointed to. “You don’t have to be polite; you’re the first guest to come to my home, and I need to treat you well.” She nudged Dong Enyu again, her cheeks slightly flushed.
“How about this,” she held Mu Lin’s hand, bringing them close together. With a mask on, Dong Enyu’s smile was hidden, but her voice was a bit muffled yet clear enough for Mu Lin to hear, “Shall we sleep together?”
