The light rain pattered against the window frame, and the warm air conditioning inside made the woman on the bed sleep comfortably.
Last night, after Dong Enyu left the Police Station, she checked into a nearby business hotel.
She was so exhausted that she fell into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, still wearing her clothes that reeked of smoke.
It was rare for her not to dream, and she rested quietly for several hours.
She curled up in bed, the quilt tightly wrapped around her body, until her phone rang for the umpteenth time.
Dong Enyu groggily picked up the phone, answered it without thinking, and put it to her ear, but she didn’t speak.
After a long while, she finally responded with a soft “hmm,” her voice light and indifferent.
The caller was Yong Le, inviting her to a restaurant for a meal.
After hanging up, Dong Enyu got up, took a quick shower, and then put on the clothes from last night.
She took a taxi to meet Yong Le at the restaurant.
Upon arriving at the designated restaurant, Dong Enyu saw a familiar face approaching from across the street.
She felt nothing in her heart.
The bold, bright red hair was dampened by the drizzle, and the fiery red eyes carried a faint smile, the curve of her lips still exuding confidence.
After a week apart, Dong Enyu felt a long distance had grown between her and Yong Le, and the sense of estrangement no longer stirred her heart.
The two exchanged glances without speaking and walked into the restaurant.
It was a modestly priced Western-style eatery.
They calmly ordered their meals, appearing to outsiders as friends meeting for a meal.
They smiled at each other and poured tea for one another, but only they knew the subtle changes between them.
While Dong Enyu was lost in thought, Yong Le’s phone rang.
Her first words were “baby,” which made Dong Enyu laugh out loud.
Baby…
it made her want to vomit.
“Did you hear about last night?”
Dong Enyu casually asked, picking up her cup as if it was an offhand question.
“I know,” Yong Le put away her phone, ruffling her long hair.
“I was next to Han Ge when you called yesterday.
He told me it was probably Lord Hong’s guys who did it.”
She spoke lightly, as if it had nothing to do with her.
From start to finish, she showed no concern for Dong Enyu, more distant than a stranger.
Dong Enyu lowered her gaze, pursing her lips without speaking.
It wasn’t until the waiter brought the appetizer salad that they moved again.
“Han Ge said they won’t pursue compensation for the losses.
He was planning to sell that bar soon anyway, so since Lord Hong vented his anger by burning it down, it’s fine.
So you don’t need to blame yourself; it’s not your fault.”
Yong Le speared a piece of lettuce, “comforting” Dong Enyu with good intentions, but her words lacked sincerity, leaving Dong Enyu feeling no warmth.
Yong Le focused on eating her salad, not even glancing at her.
Dong Enyu recalled the heat of the flames when the bar burned last night, making her shiver.
It wasn’t disgust for gang fights, nor regret for the bar being burned, but the fact that no one above had shown any concern.
If she had perished in the fire today, would Yong Le have collected her body?
As Dong Enyu thought of this, she immediately stopped such thoughts.
“And what else?”
She raised her dark eyes, staring straight at Yong Le.
Hearing her sudden question, Yong Le looked back.
The two fell silent, and gradually, Dong Enyu saw a smile appear in Yong Le’s eyes, the fiery red even more flamboyant.
“What else do you want me to say?”
Her voice was clear, as if expecting something.
…What else to say?
Dong Enyu swallowed.
There were so many things she wanted to say to Yong Le, but when the words reached her lips, she couldn’t ask.
At this moment, the waiter came to clear the empty plates and replaced them with the main course, the interlude cleverly masking Dong Enyu’s unease.
“I haven’t been back for so many days, don’t you want to say something to me?”
She rested her chin on her interlaced hands, completely ignoring the actions of those around her, as if Dong Enyu and she were already in their own space, just the two of them at the table, confronting each other, playing a psychological game.
Yong Le was pressuring her, and Dong Enyu strongly felt the force she exerted.
“If you want to say something, just say it openly.”
Her red lips parted, guiding Dong Enyu’s inner thoughts.
Dong Enyu’s eyelashes trembled lightly.
She understood Yong Le’s hint…
“Let’s break up,” Dong Enyu said.
Break up.
“Alright,” Yong Le responded, smiling brightly.
When Dong Enyu heard her straightforward reply, she almost choked on her own saliva.
That’s right, Yong Le was waiting for this sentence, waiting for Dong Enyu to say it herself.
“You’ve been beating around the bush for so long, just waiting for me to say it?”
Dong Enyu didn’t feel sad, just a brief sting in her heart, a bit painful, but she quickly recovered.
She lowered her head and started on the main course, picking up the knife and fork, calmly cutting the steak, not at all like someone who just got dumped.
She suppressed her emotions, trying to appear composed.
If she lost control in front of Yong Le now, she would really lose miserably.
“Yes, because I’ve never been dumped before, so I wanted to know what it feels like,” Yong Le said with a cheeky grin, eating her fish fillet.
Her words were almost unbearable for Dong Enyu to hear.
Yong Le was like that.
Call her ruthless?
She was indeed ruthless, but she was like an ignorant child, breaking a butterfly’s wings out of curiosity, not realizing how cruel it was.
Besides, Dong Enyu wasn’t some noble butterfly either…
Dong Enyu held back her anger.
Just because she had never been dumped, she used this method to make herself dump her?
Crazy!
“I’ll return the keys to you in a few days,” Dong Enyu said, biting into the beef forcefully, calming her dissatisfaction.
“No rush,” Yong Le shook her fork, chuckling, “After all, I’m not living there now.
You can stay as long as you want.
Besides, you lost your job at the Bar, and without income, renting another place would be troublesome, right?”
She had several places to stay, even if she didn’t return to that shabby house, she had many beloved homes to go to.
“Do you need me to write a recommendation letter for you to return to Star Diamond?”
Yong Le’s smile was a bit sly as she said this.
Dong Enyu was momentarily blinded by her colorful earrings and immediately turned her head away.
“No need.”
Her voice was heavy, suppressing anger and sadness.
What qualifications did she have to go back now?
Yong Le never considered her one of her own from the start.
After playing enough, she wanted to kick her back to Star Diamond like a ball?
Didn’t she see how Mama-san was yelling when she left?
Moreover, when she returned to Star Diamond last time, Mama-san was very hostile towards her.
Dong Enyu wasn’t stupid; she knew there was no way back.
This love game, she lost.
But she still wanted to know…
“Can you tell me the reason for the breakup?”
Dong Enyu finished the last bite of steak and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
Yong Le put down her knife and fork, smiling as she gazed at Dong Enyu.
“I really can’t get used to dating older women.”
That was her reason.
Not used to it, not suitable…
“How should I put it?
Because you’re too easy to conquer, always going along with my wishes, knowing my preferences too well, so good that I have nothing to criticize.
Even when I throw a tantrum, you don’t get angry.
You’re different from the women I’ve dated before, you don’t cry or make a fuss,” Yong Le seemed to be thinking seriously, but her words were hard for Dong Enyu to accept, until she said, “Rather than being my girlfriend, you’re more like my old mother.”
Old mother…
Dong Enyu’s face turned pale.
Because in the relationship, she always went along with Yong Le’s temper, always accommodating her, did that become a burden?
No, it made Yong Le lose the fun of a challenge.
She wanted a love that was intense and clashing, not a slow and steady one.
Yong Le was like a flame, and Dong Enyu was like water.
The two couldn’t create a spark, only see who was stronger, the flame evaporating the water, or the water extinguishing the flame.
So that’s how it was.
“I understand.”
Dong Enyu lowered her shoulders, her expression a bit tired, “Let’s leave it at that.”
If it works, stay; if not, leave.
Dong Enyu didn’t have dessert because she didn’t feel like staying with Yong Le any longer.
She left the restaurant, immediately called a taxi, and returned to Yong Le’s house.
She quickly packed her clothes and all her belongings, then threw away everything she thought had sentimental value.
Only then did she leave the keys on the kitchen table, lock the door, and leave.
As she walked downstairs, she heard a few cat meows.
She turned around and saw the cats eating in front of the Iron Factory on the first floor, with an old man standing with his hands behind his back, watching them eat.
That was Yong Le’s landlord.
When Yong Le wasn’t home, the landlord would feed these cats.
No, it should be said…
Yong Le would “occasionally” come home and take the time to feed these cats.
Even that bit of kindness was a lie…
She nodded to the landlord and turned to leave.
Dong Enyu returned to the hotel she was staying at, paying for five days in advance.
She needed to clear her mind and start over.
Now she couldn’t return to Star Diamond, nor could she follow Han Ge or Yong Le.
The only Bar was burned down, and she severed all ties with the underworld, which made Dong Enyu very troubled.
She stayed in the hotel for several days, hardly leaving her room, having meals delivered by room service.
Even though Dong Enyu wanted to pull herself together, she was worn down by a strong sense of helplessness, leading to a very decadent lifestyle.
For five whole days, she was caught between heartbreak and regret.
What should she do?
What on earth should she do?
In the past, during overseas missions, the Police Station would secretly provide support.
They would offer information, financial aid, and sometimes connections, so she didn’t have to worry too much.
But this time, the underworld infiltrated the Police Station, so Chen Zheng couldn’t make any moves, lest those moles find out.
So Dong Enyu was completely on her own.
Moreover, she had to infiltrate Tong Tang…
Dong Enyu pulled at her long hair, muttering, “It’s too hard.”
On the sixth day, she decided to go out for some fresh air.
After packing her clothes, Dong Enyu walked out of the hotel door.
As soon as she stepped out of the automatic door, her eyes were momentarily dazzled by a flash.
Dong Enyu turned her head to look at the road, only to see a car speeding towards her.
The pitch-black body of the car gave off an ominous feeling, creating an eerie atmosphere under the sunlight.
She couldn’t see the driver through the windshield.
Just as Dong Enyu was about to turn back to the hotel, the car screeched to a halt right beside her.
The window rolled down, and the driver said, “Get in.”
