Falling After Marriage - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Lin Jin, Hot and Cold

Lin Jin lay comfortably on her back, tilting her head to raise the corners of her eyes and smiling at the puppy.

The smile was filled with allure and immense anticipation, hoping that the person in front of her, who was trying to hold back but was on the verge of collapsing, would quickly shed that false pretense of reserve.

“No… I won’t beg…”

Cheng Sangluo’s voice trembled as she vehemently refused. Her face was more than just the color of sunset clouds; beads of sweat the size of soybeans trickled down her nose.

Even with the surging hot blood beneath her skin, boiling hot from the damn drug, she remained stubborn as a mule.

Seeing that the madwoman was still unmoved, she grabbed the slender, white arm, pulling it continuously towards her own neck, growling softly: “What exactly do you want… what exactly do you want…”

Lin Jin was also enduring immense discomfort, but training a dog required taking it one step at a time. Thus, she refused to cooperate with the puppy’s urgent request for an embrace, deliberately letting the arm draped over her neck slip away, playing hard to get.

“Lin Jin!” Cheng Sangluo became increasingly irrational, placing her hands on either side of Lin Jin’s head, leaning over and hissing through clenched teeth: “You were the one shouting that you wanted it… and now you’re playing hard-to-get with me… You just want to torment me… just want to torment me…”

“Clearly you are the stupid one, who doesn’t know how to please me.” Seeing the puppy getting anxious, Lin Jin grabbed her collar and yanked her forcefully closer. Her tone, which had been gently lecturing, turned dark: “If you want tenderness, be genuinely tender… if you want to be rough… then be rough all the way… Be bold… I’ve always enjoyed your violence…”

Cheng Sangluo, driven by inertia, bowed her neck, almost kissing the moist, red lips, but the madwoman quickly turned her head, avoiding it.

The sudden closeness mixed their scorching breaths, creating an uncontainable ambiguity.

Cheng Sangluo met those soft, shimmering eyes. Her guard and arrogance instantly crumbled, leaving only an uncontrollable, restless heat.

She was not good at verbal confrontation, so she chose to stop speaking. Instead, she straightened her back, knelt on the soft bed, stretching out a pair of superior leg lines.

Lin Jin couldn’t clearly see the puppy’s face hidden in the shadows, and asked with a smile: “Next… how do you plan… to devour me…”

Cheng Sangluo didn’t respond, instead encircling that graspable waist with her arms.

Lin Jin’s slender frame was like a lightweight piece of paper; without force, she easily fitted into her embrace.

Cheng Sangluo didn’t leave her other arm idle.

It caught the slender, pale foot.

And wrapped it around her waist.

Lin Jin felt a sudden weightlessness and naturally clung to the puppy’s neck, letting out a cheerful sigh.

Cheng Sangluo leaned forward for leverage, allowing the playful madwoman to sit steadily on her lap. “See… you still embraced me voluntarily…”

“Not bad, you can even play a little trick.” Lin Jin wrapped her arms around the puppy’s head, straightening her body and commanding: “Taste it well, taste it seriously…”

Cheng Sangluo was obedient like never before, actually arching her neck, seemingly bowing in subservience.

This ambiguous embrace forced Lin Jin to lean back slightly. The arm supporting her back was especially strong, bearing almost all her weight.

She held the puppy’s head tightly with one hand, tilting her head back to admire the scene in the ceiling mirror. Her shining eyes were more dynamic than the moon tonight.

The dark silhouette in the mirror, amidst the embrace and entanglement, voluntarily removed its T-shirt.

The exposed back line was drawn over distinct muscles, like an unsculpted carving.

The toned physique, spread across her wheat-colored skin, was full of healthy beauty, yet also had a firm, rough texture, like plaster.

While enjoying the visual feast, Lin Jin ran her hands over the puppy’s back, experiencing the physical touch.

The numerous old scars and dark purple bruises on the back greatly diminished the dual sensory pleasure, evoking a faint heartache in her.

She narrowed her eyes, suppressing the sudden tingling sensation from the peak of the peach, and whispered: “Does it hurt?”

Cheng Sangluo was lost in the moment, unable to spare the attention to answer the question, only shaking her head silently.

In the unrestrained night, time lost its meaning.

Cheng Sangluo did not know the exact moment when Lin Jin’s mocking prophecy of being “out of control” came true.

She couldn’t distinguish whether everything she was doing now was due to the side effects of the capsule or the deep-seated loneliness in her soul.

Lin Jin’s originally pale, thin back was scribbled upon as if with random graffiti, covered with deep and shallow marks everywhere. It was unclear whether they were bites or pinches from the puppy.

Cheng Sangluo minded the mirrored room filled with the madwoman’s predilections, but she was no longer satisfied with the soft bed.

Bright mirrors everywhere created an infinitely expanding space, gradually magnifying the ambition and desire she dared not face directly.

At this moment, she had completely lost all sense of reason. The lock on years of patience and restraint was suddenly broken, and she became wilder than a runaway mustang.

She grabbed the back of Lin Jin’s neck and violently slammed her towards the mirror in front of her, shattering it into pieces.

Lin Jin’s face was pressed against the broken glass, making her hiss in pain, but she quickly let out an extremely satisfying laugh, shaking her shoulders.

The broken glass carved out more space, reflecting their intertwined figures, which were then blurred by the mist of their heavy breaths.

Cheng Sangluo was a deer running through the forest, using her antlers to pick the sweetest fruit of the woods, and also like a fish swimming in a secret pool, flicking her tail to raise wave after wave.

Lin Jin bit the puppy’s shoulder, her lips stained with crimson blood. “I will help you trample those hateful people under your feet. The only condition is—give yourself to me… You are mine, inside and out, all mine.”

Even though Cheng Sangluo was in pain, she didn’t utter a single cry of distress.

In her heart, she resisted desperately: I will never be yours.

Lin Jin’s joyous laughter died down. The laughter was wrapped in satisfied micro-tremors, but also the loneliness of unrequited love.

She suddenly pinched Cheng Sangluo’s jaw, forcing her to look clearly at the scene in the mirror, issuing a fatal taunt: “You clearly resist this… so why did you want me… want me so blatantly?”

The next day, morning.

This was probably the most peaceful sleep Cheng Sangluo had since her release from prison.

When she opened her eyes, the sunlight outside the window was soft, and the bedroom was quiet, with only the faint sound of the air conditioning, creating the illusion of being forgotten by time.

She stared blankly at the ceiling, gathering her thoughts for a long while before reaching out to touch the space next to her.

The large, soft bed was empty; Lin Jin was nowhere to be seen.

The moment she thought of the madwoman, Cheng Sangluo’s mind instantly cleared.

She sat up in a panic, pulling back the comfortable quilt, which brought a chill to her heart.

When she looked down and saw her completely naked body covered in scratches, she covered herself tightly with the quilt in fear.

Everything that happened last night poured into her mind like liquid cement, desperately filling it until it solidified into an indelible mass, every frame of which made her cringe.

She angrily slapped her forehead, letting out a hoarse sigh. She hated herself for foolishly taking that drug, and even more, she hated Lin Jin for taking advantage of her weakness.

Screech, the guest room door was suddenly pushed open.

Cheng Sangluo nervously looked at the slender figure, quickly wrapping herself in the quilt and hiding.

She was like an ostrich afraid to face reality, somewhat cute in her self-deception.

Lin Jin was wearing a loose bathrobe, her wet long hair naturally cascading over her shoulder, with drops of water about to fall. She looked like she had just taken a shower.

She stood leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed, observing the puppy curled up in a ball. Her expression was not as doting as before, but strangely calm, and her voice was an unfamiliar cold: “Get up. When you’re ready, come find me in the study.”

Lin Jin simply called out and then turned to leave, leaving behind a room of desolation.

Cheng Sangluo perked up her ears and listened for a while. Only after the sound of footsteps faded did she cautiously poke half her head out to check the doorway.

Ensuring that the madwoman had completely left, she quickly jumped off the bed and rushed into the bathroom like a maniac, closing and bolting the door. Only then did she feel that the world was safe.

She leaned her hands on the sink. Even after a night’s sleep, her reflection in the mirror looked extremely tired, even broken.

The teeth marks on her shoulder were the most severe, having bled and formed a scab. The countless scratches, each one seemed to say that last night’s events were indescribably intense.

Cheng Sangluo, who usually held her back straight, rarely showed such a defeated posture. She couldn’t understand how she could expose such an unbearable side of herself in front of the madwoman.

The puppy covered her face with both hands, letting out a strange sigh: “I’ve disgraced myself completely!”

On the other side.

Lin Jin leaned against the wine bar, skillfully opening a bottle of red wine.

She could skip food, but missing a single sip of wine would make her incredibly anxious.

Even the wait for the wine to breathe was unbearable.

She twirled the wine glass non-stop, naturally recalling the night she first tasted pleasure with the puppy, but her face showed no satisfied smile, only increasing coldness.

Is it because I got what I wanted, so it feels flat and meaningless now?

No, that’s not it.

Lin Jin shook her head. She had waited for this night for too many years; she should be celebrating.

In fact, the puppy satisfied her greatly, being more skillful than she imagined, even having a natural, self-taught talent in that area.

So what is she unhappy about?

Perhaps it was the greed for the heart of Cheng Sangluo that she couldn’t obtain.

Lin Jin had never shown such an expression before. Her face held not just disappointment, but more of a sense of helplessness, of powerlessness.

She was so proud and confident. In the deceitful business world, she could always make the winning move, yet she had this particular weakness.

She rubbed her aching forehead, deciding to quickly drink all the wine, attempting to use it to drown her sorrows.

But how could wine fill that empty heart?

Cheng Sangluo took a hot shower distractedly, not even bothering to dry her hair before rushing out of the guest room.

As she was about to reach the study door, she quickly stopped, leaning against the wall to consider how to face the madwoman next.

Cheng Sangluo suddenly realized that while she couldn’t figure out Lin Jin, she also couldn’t figure herself out anymore.

Just like now, she was clearly most afraid of seeing Lin Jin, so why was she rushing to embarrass herself?

She became awkward again, pacing back and forth for a long time, unable to muster the courage to walk into the study.

Until a cool, faint voice urged from inside the room: “How long are you going to dilly-dally at the door? I don’t like waiting too long.”

Cheng Sangluo shivered upon hearing that emotionless voice, suddenly noticing a new problem.

Something was wrong, very wrong.

From the moment Lin Jin appeared at the guest room door, her icy attitude was a world apart from last night’s.

Cheng Sangluo was inwardly shocked: Could it be that she used me and now doesn’t want to admit it?

She leaned against the wall and took a deep breath, holding it in her chest. Only when she was psychologically prepared did she slowly walk into the study.

She held her hands stiffly by her sides, clenching the belt of her bathrobe, then awkwardly moved them behind her back. No matter how she changed her posture, she felt uncomfortable.

Lin Jin’s sitting posture was always one of detached laziness, looking down at the fidgety puppy, her eyes cold, as if wrapped in a layer of extreme ice.

She took in Cheng Sangluo’s embarrassment, yet still spoke harshly: “It was just a game for adults. There’s no need to be so cautious, is there?”

Cheng Sangluo had been somewhat distracted, but upon hearing the madwoman’s indifferent opening line, her back stiffened.

She raised an eyebrow in disbelief, wondering how someone could say something so understated after a whole night of frenzied lustful release.

However, she quickly suppressed the shock in her eyes and accepted the madwoman’s volatile attitude.

People of this privileged class were the most cold-blooded and ruthless. Besides making money, wasn’t everything else just a game?

But this was fine too. Not getting emotionally involved would avoid ruining important matters. A game was just a game.

Cheng Sangluo consoled herself silently, trying to dispel the discomfort rising in her heart.

She regained her usual emotionless demeanor, standing still and asking: “What do you want to discuss?”

Lin Jin picked up the wine glass and tasted the red wine, then unhurriedly pulled out a document from the drawer and tossed it to the other end of the table.

“I said we have important matters to deal with next.” She slightly raised an eyebrow, signaling: “This is a non-disclosure agreement. Take a look. If you think it’s fine, sign it, and then we’ll discuss the rest.”

Cheng Sangluo picked up the agreement suspiciously.

She remembered the debt agreement she signed last time, where every clause was potentially life-threatening, so this time she checked it word by word.

The agreement was short and didn’t even specify the exact content to be kept confidential, only requiring Party B to ensure they would not disclose any of Party A’s plans or actions.

Cheng Sangluo figured someone like Lin Jin must be skilled at legal pitfalls, so she didn’t sign or put her fingerprint on it immediately, asking cautiously: “I have a question.”

Lin Jin only uttered one word: “Ask.”

This economical use of words was too unusual, making Cheng Sangluo feel uneasy.

She awkwardly swallowed a mouthful of saliva before asking: “What if you commit a crime? If I fail to report it because I knew about it, wouldn’t I become an accomplice?”

“Me? Commit a crime?” Lin Jin let out a cold laugh, spreading her hands for Cheng Sangluo to take a good look at the surroundings. “I have a large family fortune. Is there anything I lack or can’t obtain that would require resorting to crime?”

This series of forceful rhetorical questions was taunting, irritating Cheng Sangluo and shrouding the atmosphere in gloom.

Perhaps feeling that her demeanor was too sharp, Lin Jin paused, her tone softening slightly: “This non-disclosure agreement concerns my reputation. You don’t need to worry; it’s just a formality.”

“Reputation?” Cheng Sangluo was suspicious. “I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“Whether you can repay the three million within a month or not, it won’t change the fact that we will eventually get married. This marriage is a pretense for revenge. The state of my reputation will affect the enterprises under my name. Since it’s a marriage of convenience, the non-disclosure agreement is necessary. It’s a constraint for both you and me.”

“I never agreed to marry you.”

“Did I not make myself clear enough? Then I’ll say it again. It’s all a pretense for retaliating against the person who harmed you.”

“But there’s more than one way to take revenge!”

“Even without marriage, shouldn’t such an agreement still be signed? This is a necessary constraint; it is the contract for our cooperation.” Lin Jin didn’t seem anxious, and what she said sounded very reasonable.

Cheng Sangluo stared at the deep black eyes, attempting to find any unusual emotion, but the deep pool showed no ripples.

Finally, the stubborn person wavered.

To seek revenge, some sacrifice was inevitable. If she continued to refuse, she would appear uncooperative.

“You’re right. We should act cautiously.” Cheng Sangluo grabbed the pen and signed her name on the agreement.

Lin Jin took the agreement back and glanced at it, speaking in a measured, official tone: “Then, I wish us success in our future cooperation.”

Cheng Sangluo stared blankly at the person handling business matters, whose distant and unfamiliar attitude could not be associated with the insatiable demands of last night.

She parted her lips, wanting to say something, but didn’t know where to start, becoming speechless like a dud firework that failed to make a sound.

Lin Jin picked up the wine glass again and twirled it, instantly seeing what Cheng Sangluo wanted to express.

If it were before, she would have smiled dotingly or taken the opportunity to tease her, but today she truly wasn’t in the mood to cultivate such trivialities.

The thought of Cheng Sangluo being both intensely demanding and resistant made a difficult-to-release anger rise in her heart, so she simply tilted her head back and downed the red wine in one gulp.

Cheng Sangluo also noticed her unusual mood and called out softly: “Lin Jin.”

Lin Jin heavily set down the wine glass, again only uttering a single word: “Speak.”

“Why are you acting strange today?” Cheng Sangluo truly couldn’t figure out the madwoman in front of her, but asking again was pointless. “Forget it. You’re not sick or in trouble, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“……” Lin Jin glanced at her coldly. Concern was written all over her face, yet she couldn’t utter a kind word.

Grumble—Grumble—

The silent atmosphere was broken by the cute sound of a hungry stomach.

Cheng Sangluo smacked her lips, feeling a little embarrassed.

She had been so busy yesterday that she only ate one piece of bread that Brother Yuan bought in the evening, and then had a wild night of revelry. Now, she was so hungry her body was hunched over.

Seeing that it was still early, she mumbled: “I’ll go make breakfast. You’ll have to make do with what I prepare.”

Lin Jin remained indifferent, neither refusing nor agreeing. She watched the puppy leave, using the alcohol alone to quench her post-coital dissatisfaction.

In the kitchen.

Cheng Sangluo plunged into the double-door refrigerator to search for ingredients, but suddenly paused, realizing something.

Looking thoroughly exhausted, she leaned against the refrigerator door, resting her head on the side, sighing helplessly.

This feeling was strange, and she herself was acting oddly.

The person said it was just a game for adults, so why was she taking it seriously? Didn’t she think her self-pitying concern was ridiculous? Or was she too bothered by the madwoman’s hot-and-cold attitude?

“Hiss! Cheng Sangluo, you’re despicable!” Cheng Sangluo cursed, slapping her head, but then turned to continue searching for ingredients.

A hand suddenly slammed onto the refrigerator door, startling Cheng Sangluo: “You walk without making a sound. Scaring people like that could be lethal!”

“Didn’t you want to know what was wrong with me?” Lin Jin leaned against the refrigerator dismissively. The tension she had maintained for most of the day finally softened a bit. “I’m mad at you.”

“Mad at me?” Cheng Sangluo pointed at herself and asked in surprise, feeling baffled. “I didn’t provoke you today, did I?”

“Then reflect on yesterday.” Lin Jin prompted in a teasing tone, exasperated that she truly couldn’t be firm with the puppy. She tugged on her ear. “Anyway, I’ve given you a hint. Think carefully.”

“You are truly incomprehensible and narrow-minded. But where did I provoke you yesterday?”

Cheng Sangluo searched her mind thoroughly but couldn’t find anything wrong.

She suddenly bit her tongue and fell silent, suspiciously sizing up the sulking Lin Jin, stammering: “I… that… it must be the strong effects of the drug. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have slammed you into the mirror. I can pay for the mirror… Is that what you’re mad about?”

The mention of the mirror made Cheng Sangluo afraid to think deeply, but the scene of the spring rain moisturizing things already flashed in her mind.

She touched the bridge of her nose, quietly lowering her neck, her round eyes watching the silent Lin Jin.

That was the puppy’s standard expression after making a mistake, but sometimes the puppy didn’t know what she did wrong either.

Lin Jin didn’t get the answer she wanted, but she did get a dog who was slowly learning to please her. She sighed: “You, oh you. If I call you stupid, you somehow manage to learn some things without being taught. If I call you smart, you always miss the point of what I’m trying to say.”

Cheng Sangluo leaned back against the refrigerator, turning sideways to face Lin Jin, making a rare joke: “I call this great wisdom that appears foolish.”

“I think you’re great foolishness that appears wise,” Lin Jin teased. She stood on her tiptoes, looped her arms around Cheng Sangluo’s neck, and coaxed softly: “I’ll give you another chance to acknowledge your mistake. You’re very conscious now… so how should you please me? You know what I’m mad about now, don’t you…”

Lin Jin stopped there, quietly waiting for the puppy to figure out the answer herself.

With just the hint of “conscious,” Cheng Sangluo understood the reason for the anger. Her face instantly flushed red.

“Conscious or drugged, it’s still doing it. What’s the difference?” She suppressed her embarrassment, asking in a whisper: “You… want it again?”

Lin Jin tilted her head, smiling slyly: “Haven’t you experienced the joy of realizing you crave something after tasting it?”

Cheng Sangluo smiled bitterly. Peeling away the layer of shame she dared not face, she found that the inside was filled with reminiscence. Otherwise, why would her mind be so consumed with that matter?

So, did this count as craving after tasting?

“Hold me.” Lin Jin didn’t give her a chance to think, explaining the meaning of the phrase with action. She pointed toward the countertop and commanded: “Go up there.”

Cheng Sangluo listened to her instinctively, or perhaps as if possessed, easily lifted the person in her arms and sat her on the countertop, asking knowingly: “And then?”

“Lick-me.” Lin Jin blurted out the two words without reservation, full of playful allure. “Hurry.”

“You, you, you…” Cheng Sangluo’s entire head was burning crimson, turning her into a chimney. She stammered: “I… lick what… a hug should be enough…”

She watched as the madwoman undid her belt, revealing a scene of spring abundance and melting snow, and immediately reached out to pull the lapels, wrapping her up tightly again.

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