Falling After Marriage - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: You Really, Really Know How to Torture Me

The evening sea breeze hadn’t yet dissipated the day’s scorching heat. It hit Cheng Sangluo’s flushed face, stinging her skin.

But for some reason, her heart was also faintly aching.

That prophecy of ‘destined to please’ had brutally reverted their slightly improved relationship back to square one.

Cheng Sangluo pressed her tongue against her cheek to hide her inexpressible disappointment.

She was disappointed in herself—why did she always hold a shred of expectation for the crazy woman? Even after having her trust drained countless times, she still hadn’t learned how to respond wisely.

She stood silent for a long time before responding in a hoarse voice: “You’re always like this—constantly feigning goodwill to approach me, then constantly throwing out choices that humiliate me. Yet, you’ve never gotten the answer you want, have you?”

Gazing at the puppy’s shadowed eyes, the smile hooked on Lin Jin’s lips became slightly stiff.

She brushed back the scattered hair that the wind had tousled on her forehead, her expression heartbreakingly fragile: “I’m not greedy. All I want is you, but it’s just so hard to get you.”

Even though she revealed her true feelings, the obsessed woman still didn’t back down: “It’s fine. You have all night to consider. Let the bullet fly a little longer.”

Receiving this response, Cheng Sangluo straightened her back as she had done before: “I won’t be humiliated by the same room key twice. You won’t get me. Never. I’m leaving.”

Cheng Sangluo just wanted to escape immediately. Just as she was about to turn, the thought was interrupted by a hand suddenly placed on her shoulder.

“What a coincidence, we meet again.”

Ji Nanxing appeared abruptly, a rare relaxed smile on her face.

She was still wearing her sharp police uniform, with a casual outfit draped over her arm, indicating she had rushed here and only had time to change later.

Cheng Sangluo was startled for a moment, then politely greeted her: “Yes, we meet again.”

“Do you have a moment to talk?” Ji Nanxing adjusted her clothes: “You should know that not changing out of my uniform means I’m speaking to you as a police officer.”

“Alright, let’s talk somewhere else.” Cheng Sangluo agreed, following Ji Nanxing towards the cruise ship.

Her intention was obvious: she deliberately left Lin Jin hanging, deliberately remained silent, and coldly refused to even glance back.

Lin Jin maintained an arrogant posture until she was the only one left, standing isolated, before her rigidly straight shoulders finally slumped.

She glared coldly at the receding figures, forcing a sneer: “Hmph, playing games with me?”

Ji Nanxing chose the top deck of the cruise ship, where it was deserted, suitable for an uninterrupted conversation.

Once on the deck, she didn’t speak immediately. Instead, while Cheng Sangluo was lost in thought, she suddenly grabbed her arm, attempting a heavy hip throw.

Cheng Sangluo’s long legs drew a beautiful arc in the air, but she didn’t land in the trajectory Ji Nanxing expected.

The moment she was airborne, she unleashed powerful core strength. Using the momentum as her feet landed steadily, she counter-threw Ji Nanxing, sending her sprawling flat on her back.

This move, harnessing the opponent’s force to strike back, was done in one fluid motion, instantly reversing the roles of attacker and defender.

It was hard to believe this person was still running a high fever.

She pinned Ji Nanxing’s arm, capable of dislocating it with a simple wrench. She glanced down at the tightly locked legs and smiled: “You won’t get the figure-four lock. Your arm will be destroyed first.”

Ji Nanxing patted the deck to concede: “As expected of a soldier. Your reaction is faster than I thought, and your aggression is strong.”

“You flatter me. It’s not that I’m skilled, it’s that you only used less than one-tenth of your effort.” Cheng Sangluo reached out to pull Ji Nanxing up: “I assume you didn’t just want to test my skills, did you?”

Compared to their tense confrontation on the yacht, today there was an unspoken camaraderie, forged from their brief struggle.

Ji Nanxing brushed the dust off her uniform and went straight to the point: “I’ve reviewed your case file. The evidence presented to the prosecutor’s office is comprehensive, showing no obvious issues. If you still insist on appealing against the police verdict, you need to provide a completely new chain of evidence. That’s going to be a time-consuming and arduous process.”

“You only called me here to say this?” Cheng Sangluo was disappointed, then mocked: “Right, the police, prosecution, and courts are unified. I’ve already been released. Everyone finds it troublesome to dig up old grudges.”

“You shouldn’t say that. I wasn’t the officer handling your case, so many things need to be planned in the long term. I know you’re resourceful in tracking down clues, but I still need to warn you, don’t take any reckless action.”

“So? Did you test my skills because you’re afraid I’ll become a destabilizing factor in society?” Cheng Sangluo’s voice was firm with the question, but disappointment was visible in her expression: “Don’t worry. I’ve had enough of prison food. I know how to behave myself.”

Ji Nanxing truly believed that a person like Cheng Sangluo shouldn’t be a prisoner. The sense of righteous integrity in her demeanor couldn’t be faked.

She patted Cheng Sangluo’s shoulder: “I understand your anxiety. After all, the longer it takes, the harder it is to appeal the case, but you must keep your cool. This kind of thing can’t be rushed.”

Ending their brief conversation, Cheng Sangluo followed Ji Nanxing to the VIP private room. Pushing the door open revealed a scene of glamorous clothes and shadows.

The two women shared a similar temperament: they both found extravagant socializing distasteful.

“Make yourself comfortable. I have another case to deal with. Please excuse me.” Ji Nanxing didn’t even bother to step into the room, casually inventing an excuse to leave.

After all, as a civil servant, avoidance was better than participation.

In terms of conduct, Cheng Sangluo admired Ji Nanxing. Prioritizing one’s principles was inherently charming.

Just as she was about to take her leave as well, a voice accompanied by a smile came from behind her.

“Miss Cheng, you’re here.”

Shu Wan’s stiletto heels made no sound on the carpet as she approached, like a silent cat.

She held a glass of champagne and a glass of orange juice, asking with a smile: “Which would you like to drink?”

This was a gentle, subtle approach, blending respect into the choice, capable of instantly narrowing the distance between them.

“The orange juice, thank you.” Cheng Sangluo naturally took the glass, thanked her politely, but then didn’t know what to say, only sipping the drink in small sips.

Shu Wan’s impression on her was limited but extremely good. Compared to that bizarre crazy woman, she was more than just gentle, elegant, and sensible.

It was the kind of illusion that made people lower their guard. Her tone was light but carried a pleasant warmth, and her smile was sincere and kind, just like her name suggested—gentle and refined.

Shu Wan sipped her champagne and asked softly: “Not used to this kind of setting?”

“A bit. I’m not good at socializing.” Cheng Sangluo answered honestly, the way she held the cup with both hands showing her stiffness.

Shu Wan’s willowy brows curved when she smiled, her eyes sparkling: “It’s alright. If you don’t like it, don’t force yourself to fit in. Just focus on eating the delicious food. After you’re full, go outside and enjoy the view. That’s quite pleasant too.”

Cheng Sangluo gazed at Shu Wan’s elegant demeanor, sighing that whoever compared women to water must have been talking about this kind of vibrant personification.

But the image of that cold, hypocritical face suddenly flashed in her mind, making her feel suffocated just thinking about it.

Cheng Sangluo rubbed the rim of her cup, quietly grumbling: Lin Jin, you are truly overshadowed!

Just don’t think about her, or she’ll appear.

Lin Jin had no interest in lingering in the social crowd. She only wanted to quickly find the puppy. She made her way through the room until she was right behind the two women.

She didn’t approach immediately, leaning against a table, sipping red wine and watching quietly.

Even though the interaction between the two was unremarkable, in her eyes, it was an unforgivable offense.

The puppy actually smiles gently, responds to other women with soft murmurs that can’t be heard, and every frame of their cheerful conversation stings her eyes.

She downed the entire glass of red wine. Besides the initial sourness on her tongue, an icy bitterness spread, building a deep-seated resentment of longing that couldn’t be fulfilled.

Cheng Sangluo’s perception was keen. She felt a prickle on her spine from being stared at and instinctively turned around.

Meeting those eyes tinged with pale red resentment, her breath hitched. She actually had the misconception that she had been caught red-handed.

She shook her head gently. I didn’t do anything unsavory. What’s with the ‘caught red-handed’ feeling?

Whether intentional or not, Shu Wan shifted a small step while looking at Lin Jin.

Leaning close to Cheng Sangluo, feigning intimacy, she murmured: “Director Lin seems very interested in you.”

Cheng Sangluo stiffened, the question ‘Interested?‘ caught in her throat and swallowed.

“I smell something sour.” Shu Wan teased, gently pushing her: “Go and smooth things over.”

Cheng Sangluo stumbled two steps. When she looked back, Shu Wan was already chatting with other guests.

She turned her attention back to Lin Jin. The crazy woman was holding a newly opened bottle of red wine, still leaning softly against the table.

Lin Jin’s cold, sharp eyes stared intently at the puppy, then she took a big gulp of red wine to vent her anger.

Cheng Sangluo desperately wanted to turn and leave, but after a moment of hesitation, she strode over to Lin Jin.

Driven by an impulse she couldn’t explain, she reached out, trying to take the bottle away: “Drink less.”

“Does my drinking bother you?” Lin Jin’s tone was slow and deliberate, soft yet laced with thorns, making it uncomfortable to listen to.

“You’re right, I’m meddling.” Cheng Sangluo scoffed, picking up a small plate of cake and eating it herself.

The silence lasted only a moment before Lin Jin was the first to break.

She slammed the wine bottle heavily onto the table, turned, and grabbed Cheng Sangluo’s collar.

“Do you smile sweetly at everyone?” Lin Jin’s eyes were faintly red, her tone full of resentment: “Am I the only one who gets the cold shoulder when I try to be warm?”

Cheng Sangluo wanted to swat away the hand holding her collar, but she also had to protect the cake that was about to tip over, only able to hiss: “What kind of drunken fit is this?”

“Of course, only I get nothing good from you.” Lin Jin slapped the bothersome plate away: “Yes, I’m having a drunken fit. Let’s see who dares to stop me?”

This sudden outburst caused the people around to glance over. Seeing it was Director Lin, they all looked unsurprised.

“Let go of me!” Cheng Sangluo’s neck was pulled down. She subconsciously reached to pry open the fair wrist, but the thought that crossed her mind was: Don’t hurt her.

Lin Jin, with a desperate stubbornness, dragged Cheng Sangluo through the crowd, like leading a dog through the market, until she burst into the private room’s lounge, slamming the door shut with her heel.

That short walk, for the rich people outside, was merely watching a patron ‘taming’ her company, but for Cheng Sangluo, it was a humiliating, dark, and cruel stripping bare.

Lin Jin pushed and shoved her into the sofa, pinning her between her legs with her knee. Her palm gripped Cheng Sangluo’s chin, squeezing hard, her coral-colored nails digging deep into the flesh.

How could Cheng Sangluo not have the strength to resist? She could overturn and suppress the out-of-control person in front of her effortlessly.

She was angry, grinding her molars loudly, but she was also calm, like a cold stone, remaining expressionless and silent.

She had finally learned to be smart. She had finally learned to fight back.

It turned out that torturing Lin Jin was simple: all it took was cold silence to shatter that overbearing arrogance.

“Speak! Why aren’t you speaking!” Lin Jin’s hair was messy, the redness blooming around her eyes becoming wetter. Her voice was full of deep resentment: “How can you be so gentle to other women? You really… really… know how to torture me…”

She was hysterical, practically straddling Cheng Sangluo’s lap. Her hand forcefully squeezed the tightly pressed lips, shoving the red wine bottle violently towards her mouth.

The glass rim pressed against Cheng Sangluo’s teeth. The red wine, mixed with a metallic taste, flooded her tongue, strikingly similar to the taste of rust from memory.

The scarlet liquid choked her burning throat, spilling uncontrollably from the corner of her lips, staining her new clothes and crushing her heart.

“Cough, cough—cough, cough—” Cheng Sangluo coughed violently and wretchedly, as if trying to cough out her lungs.

She braced her hands on the sofa, her hair sticking to her face, obscuring that pitiful, tragic expression.

“Heh… ha….” Cheng Sangluo let out a desolate laugh, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

The physical and emotional pain converged into stubborn silence, and that ‘no resistance’ laugh was like a bullet, harshly fired into Lin Jin’s heart.

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