Falling After Marriage - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Cheng Sangluo, Let’s Get Married

 

Cheng Sangluo hesitated for a long time before slowly taking the baseball bat Lin Jin offered.

 

The dim, yellow light cast a shadow on her blood-smeared face, making her look eerie and dark, yet revealing no emotion.

 

Only the knuckles gripping the handle turned white, secretly betraying her painful struggle.

 

Everyone’s attention was fixed on her—their mocking, speculative, and judgmental gazes were suffocating and annoying.

 

It was an extremely brief moment, so fast that no one clearly saw how Cheng Sangluo moved. The end of the bat, trailing a phantom shadow, slammed hard onto the ground. Cement debris splashed onto Lin Jin’s trousers.

 

“Your teaching curriculum needs a new textbook,” Cheng Sangluo resisted hoarsely. She reversed the bat and pressed the tip against Lin Jin’s heart: “Do you think these people can save you before this bat breaks your neck?”

 

The sudden resistance caused everyone to quickly draw their weapons in alert, but Lin Jin calmly raised her hand to stop them.

 

A strange light ignited in her eyes. She had bitten a crescent-shaped nick out of her own lipstick. “My puppy has finally shown her claws?”

 

This composure made Cheng Sangluo waver. She struggled bitterly: “You forced me! I don’t want to use force, I don’t!”

 

“No, you hesitated. Hesitation means you want to,” Lin Jin’s persuasion was laced with seductive power, capable of shaking the resolve of others with just a few words.

 

Cheng Sangluo bit down hard on her lip, almost breaking the skin, drawing a thread of sweetness.

 

She suddenly swung the bat in her hand downwards, creating a powerful gust of wind that brushed past Lin Jin’s ear.

 

The force was saturated with the resentment of her entire life, causing the bat to instantly splinter into pieces.

 

“Ah—”

 

The crisp sound of bone breaking was drowned out by a piercing, drawn-out shriek.

 

Cheng Xing curled up in agony, rolling on the ground clutching his knees, convulsing with pain.

 

The blood on his face was mixed with dirty soil, making him look like a detested demon. Even in his exhausted agony, he didn’t stop slandering Cheng Sangluo.

 

“Cheng Sangluo… if it weren’t for me using the excuse that I wanted a sister… Mom and Dad would have aborted you decades ago… raising a dog would be better than you… you’re a heartless, ungrateful bastard…”

 

The voice that pierced her eardrums was weak, but the increasingly foul words made it sound sharp and mean.

 

Cheng Sangluo’s mind went numb. The vile language failed to elicit any reaction from her.

 

How could there be no guilt? Even when swallowed by the abyss of hatred, no one can instantly sever the ties of blood.

 

She stared straight at the excited Lin Jin, her eyes questioning, ‘Are you satisfied?’ After holding her breath for a long time, she slowly exhaled a feeling of release she had never experienced before.

 

While bearing the sin, the familial injustice that was about to crush her finally disintegrated at this moment.

 

Cheng Sangluo actually felt her scarred body become light, like a feather lifted by the wind.

 

This feeling was long-lost and familiar, like the lightheartedness she felt a decade ago when she skipped home with her university acceptance letter.

 

She ignored Cheng Xing’s awful insults, casually tossed aside the broken bat, and turned to look at her parents not far away.

 

They struggled with all their might but couldn’t shout, merely glaring at their daughter as if they wanted to tear her apart.

 

Lin Jin whispered a few words to her subordinate, and the couple was untied.

 

Cheng Yongqiang scrambled to his feet, running frantically to Cheng Xing to check his injuries, then pointed at Cheng Sangluo’s nose and hurled abuse: “Vermin! You vermin! It’s already shameful enough for my Cheng family to have a convict like you. Now you dare to hit your own brother! Those years in prison were wasted!”

 

“He’s your brother! How could you treat your brother like that!” Zuo Lan also shoved her daughter. Though her words weren’t as harsh as her husband’s, her soft-spoken accusations were even more heartbreaking.

 

Cheng Sangluo stood rigidly straight, accusing in a low voice: “Shouldn’t he be hit? He’s been reckless for decades. Ending up like this is because of your indulgence! Since you refuse to discipline him, then I will!”

 

Lin Jin was disgusted by this foul family, but she didn’t speak up for Cheng Sangluo. Instead, she silently waited to see how the puppy would sever this insignificant bond.

 

After all, no one could help the poor puppy with this path of definitive rupture.

 

Cheng Sangluo allowed her mother to push her, her lips tightly pressed together. She said nothing more.

 

Her parents’ foul language crashed against her eardrums, hurting her heart and drawing surrounding whispers.

 

Some whispered, laughing that Cheng Sangluo must not be their biological child.

 

Others laughed at her stupidity for taking on a massive debt for nothing, only to receive no gratitude.

 

Finally feeling exhausted, perhaps due to the compounding fatigue from her injuries, Cheng Sangluo seized her mother’s wrist and roared: “Enough! Cheng Xing is the one who wasted the family fortune! On what grounds do you blame me? On what grounds?!”

 

‘Slap—’

 

A loud slap instantly silenced the area.

 

Cheng Yongqiang virtually leaped up to deliver the slap, screaming furiously: “How dare you treat your mother like that!”

 

Cheng Sangluo turned her head, pressing her tongue against the inside of her cheek. A bloody taste instantly filled her mouth.

 

This slap was well-timed. It finally shattered her fantasy of parental affection and the illusion of blood being thicker than water.

 

She used her fingertip to wipe away the crimson oozing from the corner of her lips, gazing at Cheng Yongqiang with cynical eyes: “Yes, my time in prison was shameful. But is your ‘good’ son’s gambling shameful? Is selling your daughter for three million shameful? Isn’t it ridiculous to rely on a good-for-nothing for old age? Or is it all just about carrying on the family name? From now on, whether you live or die has nothing to do with me. I no longer owe you anything.”

 

Cheng Sangluo’s face was deathly pale. A spasm hit her stomach. The feeling of being wronged and the painful urge to vomit were overwhelming.

 

She remembered her cellmates sharing things brought during family visits. She never dared accept such kindness because she had no gifts to give in return, and her family never visited.

 

Everyone assumed she was an orphan, so she just smiled and vaguely said her parents had died long ago.

 

Yes, they died long ago.

 

Lin Jin noticed the puppy’s poor condition and murmured a concern: “Are you very uncomfortable… I came too late…”

 

Cheng Sangluo felt like her head was splitting open like a watermelon. The pain was excruciating, and the slap made her ears ring.

 

The agony in her body and soul made it impossible to pinpoint where the pain was, so she could only repeat: “It hurts… it hurts…”

 

She was becoming physically weak, her body swaying subtly, yet she stubbornly refused to lean her weight onto Lin Jin.

 

Lin Jin’s eyes instantly turned sharp, as if wanting to pierce Cheng Yongqiang.

 

Cheng Yongqiang felt his scalp tingle under her stare. He didn’t dare defy this woman with a powerful background, only asking weakly: “You… what are you trying to do?”

 

Lin Jin curled a contemptuous smile, snapping back: “Do you realize that slap will ultimately land on your son?”

 

Cheng Yongqiang panicked: “What do you mean? Don’t mess around!”

 

Lin Jin ignored him, reaching out to gently touch Cheng Sangluo’s slightly swollen face. Her eyes were filled with unreserved tenderness and distress: “Does it hurt a lot? Let me see…”

 

The wound on Cheng Sangluo’s brow bone had barely clotted but was reopened by her father’s slap. Blood surged out, staining her otherwise calm cheek.

 

That startling crimson broke Lin Jin’s heart. She used her fingertip to wipe the bloodstain on the brow bone, her trembling touch wrapped in restrained heartbreak.

 

The blood soaked through her fingers, impossible to stop. Stroking the shocking wound brought on a wave of intense emotion.

 

“Bear with it a little longer, okay? We’ll go to the hospital soon.” Lin Jin’s voice, though feigning composure, couldn’t hide a strained, choked sound.

 

Cheng Sangluo silently closed her eyes, even actively leaning her face into the soft palm.

 

The crazy woman’s slightly cool hand on her burning face was not just comforting; it brought a sense of stability she had never felt.

 

It was like falling into a bottomless abyss, and suddenly someone reached out to support her, driving away all the fear, uncertainty, and sadness, leaving only peaceful calm.

 

Lin Jin could accept all kinds of ‘puppies’—the guarded, the indignant, or the furiously roaring ones—but she could not accept the silently suffering puppy.

 

She wrinkled her nose and clenched her jaw. After gathering all her fury, she screamed hysterically at her subordinate: “Break Cheng Xing’s other leg too! Hit him hard! No one is getting off easy tonight!”

 

“You… you can’t hit my son, you can’t…”

 

Even at this moment, Cheng Yongqiang and Zuo Lan were desperately shielding Cheng Xing.

 

They were beyond saving. This family, rotten to the core, was completely hopeless.

 

A group of thugs dragged them away. The scuffle inevitably involved more punches and kicks.

 

Cheng Sangluo didn’t want to see the ridiculous scene of ‘filial piety’ anymore and quietly turned her back.

 

This person who never cried had a red-tinged nose, yet couldn’t shed a tear.

 

She was sad, sad for herself: for a first half of life without family love, and a second half burdened by massive debt.

 

The chilling sounds of the beating mixed with her parents’ pleas, forming a sharp thorn that snapped the taut string in her mind, causing excruciating pain.

 

No one can completely ignore their own flesh and blood.

 

Cheng Sangluo was fundamentally a kind soul, so she was afraid—afraid that softening her heart would benefit others while destroying herself.

 

She took large strides, holding her breath without pausing, wanting only to escape this personal purgatory quickly.

 

But a familiar coolness brushed her wrist. The grip that slowly closed around her five fingers was light, just as light as when she was reluctant to hurt Lin Jin.

 

Lin Jin held the puppy, who was ravaged in body and soul, and smiled: “Fleeing is being soft on the people who hurt you. No matter who they are, no matter how important they once were, the harm leaves real marks in time. So don’t run. You must stand up for yourself.”

 

In this moment, Lin Jin was the unyielding and formidable pillar of support.

 

She led Cheng Sangluo toward the disgusting family and delivered her final ultimatum: “Cheng Sangluo has paid off this debt for you, and it severs your relationship. If anyone dares to trouble her again, it won’t be as simple as a broken leg next time. My people will be watching you.”

 

With that, she grabbed Xu Songheng’s tie in front of Cheng Sangluo, making him nearly stumble.

 

She warned him sharply: “Did you think this elaborate plan of yours could destroy Cheng Sangluo again? Xu Songheng, I am officially informing you that she is my person. You can’t touch a single hair on her head.

 

Also, I am sparing you trouble today out of respect for Lin Sheng, but I advise you: if you are his dog, behave like a dog. Don’t go around biting people unnecessarily.

 

If you dare to continue pursuing my person, even your master won’t be able to save you.”

 

Despite having his authority publicly challenged in front of his subordinates and Cheng Sangluo, Xu Songheng didn’t dare show any insubordination to Lin Jin.

 

With his tie yanked and his back hunched, he could only beg for mercy submissively: “I didn’t realize Miss Cheng had such a relationship with you. Of course, I understand your meaning and wouldn’t dare trouble her again!”

 

“You better clean up this mess tonight. I don’t want to see this family again. If I see them even once, I will hold you responsible! Understand?” Lin Jin harshly slapped Xu Songheng’s face, threatening: “If you want to keep making a living in this circle, you had better listen to what I said tonight. This is your only warning.”

 

“Director Lin, please be assured. I will handle these matters properly. I will definitely give you an account.” Xu Songheng vowed, tidying his wrinkled collar, and turned to busy himself with fixing the mess he had made.

 

Cheng Sangluo quietly watched Lin Jin avenge her, yet didn’t know what to say.

 

It was always like this—unable to guess the crazy woman’s heart, unable to understand the reasons for her capriciousness.

 

This night felt like a long and terrifying rollercoaster ride. She was in pain all over and utterly exhausted.

 

Lin Jin had somehow firmly taken her hand. At first, she held her palm, gradually interlocking their fingers.

 

She offered the puppy a knowing smile, without pretense or affectation.

 

That rare, pure smile was filled with protectiveness, as if saying: Don’t be afraid, puppy. From now on, I will be behind you.

 

Cheng Sangluo walked through the dark, narrow alleyway. The delayed, piercing pain from the beating made every step incredibly difficult.

 

She had to lean on a container to catch her breath. The spine she had held so rigidly finally curved, slumping into the true posture of someone broken by life.

 

Her dead-pale face was too placid. Her numb state made her forget to seek release through tears.

 

She had always firmly believed that not crying meant not yielding—not yielding to life’s hardships, not yielding to fate’s unfairness.

 

But it was so bitter.

 

A bitterness that wasn’t just a taste on the tongue, but one that permeated the dimension of time, soaking into her muscles and bones.

 

It drove her to despair, leaving her helpless.

 

The embrace that came from behind was sudden, like a fist hitting cotton, dissolving her facade of strength in soft tenderness.

 

Lin Jin’s high heels clicked quickly. Her breathing was ragged, and the arms wrapped around Cheng Sangluo’s waist tightened with growing force. Every detail suggested that beneath the surface contempt lay boundless heartache.

 

She shed all her assertiveness, burying her face into Cheng Sangluo’s back. The searing heat, palpable even through the T-shirt, tightened her heart.

 

She asked muffledly: “Puppy, are you okay?”

 

The sudden hug instinctively made Cheng Sangluo’s back stiffen, but she slowly lowered her guard at the soft inquiry.

 

She turned around, searching for the deep, dark eyes in the dim light: “Do you still find this game fun?”

 

The question was weak, drawing an imperfect conclusion to the bizarre gamble.

 

Likely realizing her fever was returning, she backed away to create distance: “Don’t get too close. I don’t want to infect you with my cold.”

 

Lin Jin’s expression became frantic and helpless. She would rather hear the puppy curse her in anger than hear this sudden consideration.

 

What does this mean? That you’re kind enough to reflect my maliciousness?

 

Lin Jin lifted her chin, her gaze sketching the face in the dim light: “I used every means to torment you to satisfy my selfish desires. You should be calling me a pervert. Why, at this moment, are you still considering my well-being? Do you think kindness is noble, or are you indulging a savior complex? Cheng Sangluo, I spent so much effort teaching you lesson after lesson. Did you think I was playing around? You still haven’t understood what I’m truly after.”

 

Lin Jin’s words were, as always, sharp, mixed with a hint of frustrated resentment.

 

Submission, obedience, abandoning dignity, and clean cuts—these four vivid lessons were the elaborate gift she designed for Cheng Sangluo.

 

She hoped the puppy would understand a principle: to reclaim everything lost from the hands of fate, one must first learn to endure humiliation, learn to make sacrifices, and learn to be ruthless towards oneself and others. Otherwise, how could she slowly exact revenge on her enemies?

 

Cheng Sangluo pressed her lips shut, slowly leaning closer with a slightly hunched posture, like a wolf glaring menacingly in a dark alley, her eyes gathering a predatory glint.

 

For a moment, she almost unleashed the suppressed fierceness, but quickly reined it in, appearing instead utterly exhausted by illness.

 

Fever blurred her mind. Her head slumped weakly onto Lin Jin’s shoulder. Her hands didn’t make it to Lin Jin’s neck. Her legs turned soft as if the tendons were cut, and she slowly slid to the ground, kneeling against Lin Jin’s body.

 

No matter how cold and heartless Lin Jin was, she couldn’t withstand the puppy looking so pitiful.

 

She quickly hugged the descending puppy, her arms tightly locked, as if a momentary lapse would allow this sliver of moonlight to vanish into the darkness.

 

“Why did you let yourself get so battered?” Lin Jin sorrowfully stroked the face where the blood had dried, whispering: “You’re not unloved in this world…”

 

In this moment, Lin Jin questioned herself like never before.

 

She mentally asked if she had gone too far, even blaming herself for not learning to be gentle with the puppy, despite knowing her heart was breaking.

 

Following a flurry of hurried footsteps, Sheng He rushed to support Cheng Sangluo’s arm, lifting her onto his back: “Boss, let me.”

 

Lin Jin initially wanted to refuse, but she couldn’t physically carry the tall puppy. She reluctantly commanded: “Be gentle. Don’t hurt her.”

 

Sheng He was taken aback. He rarely heard his boss use such a soft tone of reproach: “To the hospital?”

 

“To Yunxing Convalescence Center.” Lin Jin reached out, hooking Cheng Sangluo’s fingers, rubbing them meticulously in her palm.

 

Cheng Sangluo’s mind was hazy from the fever. Her fingers were wrapped in the slightly cool palm, the soft touch filling her with attachment.

 

She was obsessed with the real warmth Lin Jin provided and firmly clasped back, holding on tight like clutching floating driftwood in an abyss.

 

Once grasped, she couldn’t bear to let go.

 

Settled into the back seat of the Land Rover, she leaned weakly against the window. Vaguely feeling an arm loop around her neck, she naturally rested her head.

 

Instantly, the scent of cedar and pine filled her nostrils. That familiar scent could easily dissolve all tension.

 

The night of intense confrontation finally found solace in this moment.

 

Lin Jin held the puppy with one arm to prevent her from swaying during the bumpy ride, while the other hand repeatedly checked her temperature against her forehead.

 

The scorching heat made her furrow her brow, prompting her to instruct: “Sheng He, drive faster.”

 

Hearing the cool voice, Cheng Sangluo half-opened her eyes and mumbled: “Where are you taking me…”

 

Lin Jin eased the heavy atmosphere, teasing: “Taking you for a shot… hmm… a butt shot…”

 

“No… butt shots hurt… and I have to take off my pants…” Cheng Sangluo’s cheeks were flushed. Her protest was soft and cute, but also hoarse enough to make one ache for her.

 

Lin Jin casually cradled her head against her neck, smiling indulgently: “Be good and sit properly, and I’ll let the doctor give you an IV drip instead.”

 

Cheng Sangluo said nothing more, but sat obediently.

 

Lin Jin rubbed the puppy’s ear, smiling at how incredibly obedient she was when compliant. She selfishly wished that this erratic fever would subside a little slower.

 

A little slower, because she was also greedy for Cheng Sangluo’s warmth.

 

The Convalescence Center was quiet in the early morning.

 

Medical trolleys glistened like mercury under the cold hospital lights. The crisp clinking of IV bottles and sterile equipment broke the silence.

 

Lin Jin leaned against the leather sofa, her face marked by exhaustion. Her gaze clung to the weak figure in the hospital bed, unwilling to shift away.

 

She lazily stroked her chin, her thick lashes blinking slightly. She was so engrossed that the smile on her lips unfolded naturally, a fleeting expression of closeness, quickly replaced by a familiar dark intensity.

 

The nurse was currently holding Cheng Sangluo’s arm, busy tying the rubber tourniquet.

 

A normal IV procedure, yet in Lin Jin’s eyes, it sparked a trace of possessive sourness over the physical contact.

 

She impatiently pursed her lips, annoyed by the slight sound of the nurse tapping the vein. She got up and walked to the bedside. Without saying a word, she simply stared intently.

 

The woman’s powerful aura inevitably stirred a tense atmosphere.

 

Cheng Sangluo was too feverish to fully open her eyes, but she tried to find a topic to ease the tension: “My veins are easy to find, right? Are you good at quick insertion?”

 

The nurse glanced surreptitiously at the stern-faced Lin Jin, responding awkwardly: “Yes, I am.”

 

“Then try my hand,” Cheng Sangluo managed to raise the back of her hand, joking: “I heard that with good technique, you don’t feel any pain.”

 

“Why are you talking so much nonsense?” Lin Jin finally couldn’t hold back and interrupted the conversation, urging the nurse: “Hurry up and stick the needle.”

 

Her tone was cold, as if it had been rolled in an ice cellar, carrying a warning: anyone who dared to continue the conversation would bear the consequences.

 

Cheng Sangluo had no energy to play the opposition with the crazy woman now. She could only let out a long sigh. When she slumped her shoulder, the needle was already inserted into the back of her hand.

 

Ignoring Lin Jin’s warning, she said easily: “It really doesn’t hurt.”

 

The nurse dryly laughed, adjusted the IV tube, and quickly wheeled the medical cart out of the room.

 

Silence instantly filled the room. Against the stark white walls and the black shadows of trees outside the window, the suffocating stillness was stifling.

 

Cheng Sangluo squirmed to lie flat. She occasionally checked the IV tube, felt the drip was too slow, and sped it up slightly.

 

Lin Jin, without a word, adjusted the speed back down.

 

The two continued to playfully adjust the tube back and forth. What were they even competing over?

 

It was quite childish!

 

“Mess with it again, and I’ll have them give you a butt shot.” Lin Jin was the first to break, sitting on the bed and pressing down on Cheng Sangluo’s restless wrist, firmly tucking her into the blankets.

 

When she readjusted the IV, her expression was as serious as if she were in a meeting. The soft light enveloped her delicate face, creating a pinkish-white halo that made her earnestness seem a little cute.

 

Cheng Sangluo, feeling weak from the illness, tilted her head, unable to look away from the incomparable face. She let out a rare, soft laugh.

 

She was usually tightly restrained and had never shown this kind of smile in front of the crazy woman.

 

“What are you laughing at?” Lin Jin was momentarily surprised. That genuine smile was a rare beautiful sight. She tried to capture it, but it vanished quickly.

 

“Cough, cough… nothing…” Cheng Sangluo, aware of her lapse, covered her embarrassment with a cough, hiding half her face under the blanket.

 

What was she laughing at?

 

Perhaps she was laughing at the crazy woman’s tyrannical tenderness, which easily made people crumble.

 

Lin Jin tucked the blanket around her again, letting her face show, so she could see her clearly: “You should be showing anger, or continuing to blame me. The dramatic events tonight shouldn’t be so easily dismissed.”

 

Suddenly talking about what happened at Seventeen Port, Lin Jin lowered her gaze to Cheng Sangluo, the relaxed smile slowly slipping away from her eyes.

 

“Why do you assume I’m not angry? My dislike for you only grows daily. I’m just sick now and can’t go head-to-head with you.” Cheng Sangluo closed her eyes. She didn’t want to discuss family matters; that was no different from repeatedly tearing open her wound—she had to escape to protect herself.

 

After a moment of silence, she abruptly spoke: “Thank you.”

 

Lin Jin was reaching for the mineral water on the table. This sudden “thank you” struck her world with a dull thud. Her hand hovered in the air for a long moment before slowly retracting.

 

She raised the corner of her eye, back to that annoying, contemptuous expression, her tone a bit frivolous: “Hah! What an incredible moment of conscience! You’re actually thanking me?”

 

“While all your actions could be described as disgusting, tonight’s event had a touch of kindness beneath the disgust. I distinguish clearly between love and hate, so I thank you,” Cheng Sangluo’s stubbornness was flaring up again. Her lengthy explanation was purely to mask her awkwardness.

 

She opened her eyes again. Her gaze, fixed on the ceiling, reflected fractured light, creating the illusion of tears, though in reality, she was not one to cry easily.

 

Lin Jin leaned over, her loose hair brushing Cheng Sangluo’s nose, causing a tickle and the familiar scent to fill the air.

 

Cheng Sangluo wrinkled her nose. She couldn’t dodge, so she faced the deep eyes she could never decipher: “Hey, I’m this sick. Do you still want to play that intimate game?”

 

“Cheng Sangluo, what exactly are you thanking me for?”

 

When Lin Jin dropped her feigned smile, she had an imposing presence that commanded respect. She was curious why this person, who hated her deeply, would reluctantly utter a nonsensical thank you.

 

Why? Why hold on to one phrase?

 

Cheng Sangluo fluttered her eyelids slightly. After a long hesitation, she responded through her feverish throat: “You ignited the deep resentment I’ve suppressed for years. That hatred was bound under the guise of family, difficult to vent, and difficult to process.

 

Do you know? When I smashed the baseball bat onto Cheng Xing’s leg, the guilt only lasted for a moment. A feeling of lightness and release, one I’d never experienced, rushed into my body like air.

 

I know this world doesn’t love me, so I endured half a lifetime of hardship. But I never cared about the hardship; I only cared about fairness.

 

Tonight, you humiliated me in your usual way, likely just to satisfy your sick pleasure. What I find amusing is that someone like you fundamentally doesn’t understand respect and certainly can’t empathize with me.

 

The reason I thank you is because you showed me that hate can feel liberating, and I thank you for being the only person in this scene of evil who gave me fairness.”

 

This heartfelt, serious, and patient response caused Lin Jin’s expression to become forlorn.

 

She shook her head helplessly, retorting: “You are not me, so how do you know I don’t understand empathy?”

 

She suddenly threw back the blanket, kicked off her heels, and slipped into the puppy’s embrace. The movement was practiced and fluid.

 

“Hey… hey… what are you doing?” Cheng Sangluo didn’t have time to push her away. After a few struggles, she ultimately surrendered with a sigh of resignation.

 

Lin Jin clung to the puppy’s waist like a koala bear, resting her chin on her hot neck, playfully saying: “Don’t move. You are surrounded!”

 

“Haven’t you tormented me enough? I’m very uncomfortable right now,” Cheng Sangluo complained bitterly. Her body was weak, and her hand was attached to an IV drip. Struggling was impossible, so she could only use words: “I just don’t get it. A person with money and power like you, there are countless people outside who would throw themselves at you. Why do you have to cling to me and refuse to let go?”

 

“Do you want to know why?” Lin Jin closed her eyes contentedly. She loved listening to the puppy’s heartbeat, relying on the rhythm of life for a sense of security.

 

Cheng Sangluo swallowed with difficulty, nodding: “Yes.”

 

“I’ll tell you if you upgrade to VIP,” Lin Jin’s breath swept past Cheng Sangluo’s earlobe. Her light chuckle hid a fraction of seriousness: “Too bad, puppy, you can’t even afford three million right now.”

 

Cheng Sangluo’s face lost color: “Copycat! Do you have to kick me while I’m down right now?”

 

“It’s okay. I won’t charge interest. I’ll tell you when you’ve saved enough money.” Lin Jin rubbed her cheek comfortably, feeling a wave of drowsiness: “Rest well for a few days. We have many important things to plan next, many, many things…”

 

“Important things?” Cheng Sangluo mused, then joked: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll just walk away? After all, I owe so much money, I could just take off.”

 

Lin Jin said with certainty: “You won’t.”

 

Cheng Sangluo was surprised: “Why are you so sure?”

 

Lin Jin lifted her head, her fingertips slowly tracing the puppy’s face. Every inch had come alive in countless dreams, but this moment was the most real.

 

She smiled, her eyes curved, still answering with the same certainty: “Because you are the upright, principled Cheng Sangluo. To me, your character is worth far more than three million.”

 

Cheng Sangluo parted her lips, intending to say something more, but the phrase ‘worth far more than three million’ was like a key turning a lock in her heart, or a soft thorn stuck in her throat—ticklish, sour, and subtly painful.

 

After a moment of silence, she brought up the topic that exposed her wounds: “Lin Jin, do you know what crime I went to prison for?”

 

“Of course I know, but does it matter? It doesn’t matter…” Lin Jin answered her own question, rubbing her nose into the puppy’s neck: “All you want to say is that you’re tough, you can fight, you have a criminal record, you’re dangerous… But in my eyes, you’re just a puppy. But when puppies play with their owners, their tails wag much more honestly than you.”

 

“Hey, hey, hey… why do you always compare me to a dog? Don’t you know that’s insulting?” Cheng Sangluo’s protest carried a sense of resignation she was unaware of, but her counter-question sounded incredibly relaxed.

 

She almost forgot that just two hours ago, she and the crazy woman were in a state of emotional conflict.

 

Humans always forget the pain once the wound heals.

 

“Then what kind of title do you prefer?” Lin Jin propped her head up with her arm, her fingertips tracing the puppy’s chapped lips, her gaze burning: “How about… trading it for calling me Jiejie (Older Sister)?”

 

Cheng Sangluo’s flushed ears easily betrayed her cold expression. She scoffed: “Tch, crazy woman.”

 

Lin Jin’s eyes were drowsy, but she couldn’t bring herself to sleep. She just wanted to interact with the puppy a little longer, emitting a soft, drowsy hum: “Don’t be rude… you should call me Jiejie…”

 

She had almost forgotten that the feeling of blissful peace had been absent for years, only quietly stealing into her heart tonight.

 

Compared to ineffective psychiatric medication, the lifeline was right in front of her. Thus, her obsession, her determination.

 

Cheng Sangluo felt the even breaths puffing against her neck. The moist, warm tickle swept over her nerves.

 

She was tired and weary, yet her eyes were wide open like brass bells. She couldn’t help but gaze at the person nestled in her arms with closed eyes.

 

The matte, soft hair carried a mesmerizing fragrance. The delicate skin was illuminated by a cool, white light. Perhaps she wanted to secretly stroke it, but how bold could the puppy really be?

 

Just like now, Cheng Sangluo’s arm, suspended in mid-air, was aching, yet she still didn’t reach out.

 

She found the sleeping embrace too awkward and rigidly called out: “Lin Jin… are you asleep?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“How about I let you sleep in the bed?” Cheng Sangluo suggested, though she didn’t genuinely mean to give up the bed.

 

“You’re the patient. Why would you let me sleep?” Lin Jin squinted her eyes. She thought the puppy was surprisingly considerate when she wasn’t erupting in anger and praised with a smile: “Not bad. You’re starting to feel sorry for your owner.”

 

Tch, this person really thinks highly of herself!

 

Cheng Sangluo rolled her eyes and cursed under her breath: “What I meant was, if you’re not sleeping, get off me immediately! You’re crushing me!”

 

Lin Jin reached up and pinched the puppy’s ear, not caring if she was a sick patient right now. She would teach her a lesson first: “It seems you didn’t get enough of a beating. You have quite the temper. Looks like you need a lot more refinement!”

 

Sure enough, it felt right to squabble when things went awry. Without an argument, her heart felt uncomfortable; without a fight, she couldn’t sleep soundly!

 

The summer morning light slipped through the curtain gap, quietly landing on Cheng Sangluo’s tranquil face, like a group of silent, cheerful little sprites.

 

She slept soundly through the night, a rare occurrence until broad daylight. But her breath no longer carried the familiar cedar scent, replaced by the pungent smell of disinfectant. Combined with the dazzling sunlight, her sleepiness vanished entirely.

 

Perhaps it was a habit from her military days. She didn’t suffer from morning grumpiness and woke up quickly.

 

She couldn’t recall how she finally fell asleep last night, or when the crazy woman left. She only felt her head was foggy, which explained the effect of memory loss.

 

Finding herself in an unfamiliar environment, Cheng Sangluo naturally slipped into an alert state, surveying the room as she sat bolt upright in bed.

 

But before she could sit steady, a wrenching, bone-deep pain shot through her entire body.

 

“Hiss—”

 

Cheng Sangluo cried out in pain, instinctively lifting her hospital gown to check her injuries. The act of frowning tugged at the wound on her brow bone, making it hurt too.

 

Lin Jin’s rhythmic high heels sounded abruptly at the doorway.

 

She had returned home for a change of clothes, now wearing a black dress accented with red, paired with natural, sophisticated light makeup. Standing by the door, she was like a blooming rose in full glory.

 

Her gaze fell on Cheng Sangluo’s waist and wouldn’t shift. She sighed inwardly, realizing that no matter how many times she saw it, those beautiful, lean abdominal lines always made her heart flutter.

 

Cheng Sangluo looked toward the doorway and quickly pulled down her shirt.

 

With just one look, she determined that the crazy woman had impure thoughts and secretly tucked her shirt hem into her trousers.

 

A girl must protect herself when out!

 

“Awake?” Lin Jin noticed the puppy’s panic, her tone and smile growing increasingly frivolous: “Letting your owner look at a nice figure won’t make you lose any flesh, and it won’t even cost you money~”

 

Cheng Sangluo couldn’t stand the crazy woman’s endless flirtatious remarks and snapped back irritably: “Stop your dirty thoughts! Can you be serious?”

 

Lin Jin enjoyed seeing the puppy blush and be helpless against her. After admiring her for a while, she walked to the bedside.

 

She placed the thermal container she was carrying on the bedside table and asked while scooping rice porridge: “Are you hungry?”

 

“No.” Cheng Sangluo always subconsciously refused. She then watched the steaming, nutritious porridge and swallowed, immediately hardening her stance again: “Mmm, I’m not hungry.”

 

“You have to eat even if you’re not hungry. That’s an order,” Lin Jin shoved the bowl into the puppy’s arms, then teased: “You don’t want your owner to feed you by hand, do you?”

 

“Debt is debt, but what’s this ‘owner’ business?” Cheng Sangluo hated this imbalanced power dynamic. After protesting a few times, she quietly began stirring the spoon in the bowl.

 

Lin Jin sat on the sofa, staring intently at the puppy’s hand. After seeing her fail to eat for a long time, she lost a bit of patience: “Are you going to stir that porridge forever?”

 

“Please, it’s hot!” Cheng Sangluo didn’t give her a pleasant look and didn’t realize anything was amiss until her gaze fell on Lin Jin’s fair, slender wrist. Only then did she understand what Lin Jin was so anxious about.

 

A long scald mark, coated with a dull layer of salve, looked like it was caused by the edge of a pot.

 

This person, who never lifted a finger in the kitchen, had suddenly cooked for her, leaving Cheng Sangluo momentarily speechless.

 

She didn’t expose the crazy woman’s unspoken intention, silently scooping a spoonful of porridge and putting it in her mouth.

 

Cheng Sangluo grimaced intensely, wanting to stick out her tongue but forcing herself to endure it.

 

The feeling of being moved was fleeting.

 

Cheng Sangluo inwardly grumbled furiously: Good heavens! The crazy woman must have murdered a salt vendor!

 

Lin Jin propped her face up with one hand, her eyes carrying a hint of expectation, about to ask how it tasted, but haughtily held back.

 

Seeing the puppy gulping down the food, she confidently raised her eyebrows: Hmph, since I made it myself, how could it not taste good?

 

Just as the puppy was miserably forcing down the nutritious porridge, Lin Jin casually uttered a sentence that broke the silence of the hospital room.

 

“Cheng Sangluo, let’s get married.”

 

“Cough, cough—cough, cough, cough—” Cheng Sangluo choked on a mouthful of excessively salty porridge, coughing desperately.

 

After pounding her chest, she shrieked like a startled chicken: “Lin Jin… cough, cough… are you sick?!”

 

Get married?

 

Heh, even dogs wouldn’t… Get married, that is what they’d be doing!