Falling After Marriage - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Scheming Against You, of Course~

Cheng Sangluo suffered from insomnia.

In the pitch-black attic, her eyes were wide open. She tossed and turned, making the mattress creak noisily.

She rested one hand under her head, and with the other, she rubbed her round stomach, blaming herself for eating too much watermelon before bed.

She found the fan’s noise too loud, so she unplugged it, then found the room too stuffy and quickly plugged it back in.

She blamed virtually every possible factor for her sleeplessness, yet never the true culprit.

The only thing messing with her mind was that pair of feet, tapping the water surface again and again, stirring up ripples that became, like a butterfly effect, a fierce storm.

“Ugh, this is annoying!”

Cheng Sangluo suddenly sat up, ran her hands through her hair, and puffed out her cheeks, not quite sure what she was angry about.

‘Ding—’

The sharp sound of the text message was amplified in the quiet night, making her shoulder twitch.

Lin Jin: What kind of awful method is this? Loop-playing the Great Compassion Mantra doesn’t work.

Cheng Sangluo gazed at the exasperated words, a soft, involuntary smile playing in her eyes.

She didn’t reply to the message. She held the screen-off phone to her chin, gloating: “Even Buddha thinks you’re annoying. You deserve not to sleep.”

She lay back down. The sleepiness that had stubbornly resisted suddenly surged forward.

She yawned widely, blinked her moist eyes a few times, and fell into a deep sleep.

Since the crazy woman had taken away her high-altitude work, Cheng Sangluo hadn’t gone out to look for odd jobs.

She would sleep until she woke naturally, divide the leftover takeout from the restaurant into several meals, chat with the landlord when bored, and occasionally enjoy some chilled sweet melon slices.

When night fell, she would leave the rental house alone, and no one knew where she went.

This routine lasted for two days.

Day Three.

Around midday.

Cheng Sangluo was in a deep sleep when she was awakened by a sudden phone call.

She struggled to turn over and groggily answered: “Hello?”

Suddenly, Bai Mu’s boisterous voice sounded in the earpiece: “Didn’t we agree you’d come with me to the party today? Why haven’t you made a move?!”

Cheng Sangluo, annoyed by the noise, immediately held the phone away from her ear, muttering: “What party did I agree to?”

It seemed she had completely forgotten about it.

“Hmph! Are you eating and running?” Bai Mu was angry, then commanded: “I don’t care. Send me your location. I’m coming to pick you up immediately.”

Perhaps not wanting her friend to see her terrible living conditions, Cheng Sangluo instantly woke up, failed her attempt at a ‘carp jump’ sit-up, and hit her head with a bang.

“Hiss—” She held her head in pain and quickly said: “No need to pick me up. Let’s arrange a place, and I’ll meet you there.”

“Then just meet me directly at Wangyue Port.”

Cheng Sangluo was puzzled: “Wangyue Port? Why does a birthday party have to be held at a port?”

“Dummy! Wangyue Port is the yacht club port—it’s a yacht party!” Bai Mu laughed at her, rushing to add: “Anyway, don’t worry about anything. Just bring yourself. I’m leaving now. Anyone who is late gets one hour of parade rest punishment.”

Hearing Bai Mu mimic her old commands, Cheng Sangluo smiled helplessly: “Alright, I’ll head out as fast as I can.”

The weather was pleasant today. A few contrails floated across the azure sky, looking exactly like delicious cotton candy.

When Cheng Sangluo arrived at the port parking lot, Bai Mu was leaning against the hood of her Porsche.

She was wearing an oversized white shirt, the hem covering her perky bottom, revealing a pair of long, pale legs.

Seeing the person who had rushed over non-stop, she smiled mischievously: “When did you learn to be punctual? Back then, you’d have been running ten kilometers carrying weight!”

“Don’t most birthday parties happen at night? You weren’t clear that day… Ow…”

Before Cheng Sangluo could finish her complaint, Bai Mu pinched her cheek.

The young miss feigned anger: “Are you blaming me? You’re clearly not focused.”

With that, she picked up a tote bag at her feet: “Here, go change into these clothes.”

Cheng Sangluo took the bag and curiously rummaged through it a few times: “Why do I have to change clothes?”

“Your T-shirt is so worn out. When you go out to play, you have to spruce yourself up. Trust my fashion sense~” Bai Mu chirped, pushing Cheng Sangluo towards the restroom.

Just after the two walked away, a Lamborghini roared up, tires screeching.

The harsh brake suggested the driver’s impatience.

The woman in the passenger seat wore sunglasses, her red lips framed by a flippant smile, exuding a strange, cold glamour.

She turned to her friend and raised an eyebrow: “Don’t look so stern. It’s my birthday today. It’s a huge honor to be my driver, you know~”

Lin Jin impatiently pushed the car door open and sneered: “You’re getting too confident.”

“Don’t be a spoilsport.” Gu Shinian gently held the stem of her sunglasses between her teeth, teasing: “Want me to find some beauties to keep you company later?”

Lin Jin put on a fashionable straw hat and replied dismissively: “No interest.”

The sea breeze lifted her sheer, gossamer dress, revealing glimpses of a sexy bra.

Before long, the yacht club manager hurried over to greet them.

“Director Gu, Director Lin, both yachts have been serviced, and the staff are all arranged. I’ll take you over. The guest list and menus…”

The manager rambled on, and Gu Shinian responded half-heartedly.

Today was her event, and most arrangements were up to her.

The swelling in Lin Jin’s ankle had gone down, but it still throbbed when she walked, forcing her to follow slowly behind.

This kind of extravagant party held no appeal for her.

Since Gu Shinian was one of her few close friends, she lent her yacht to allow those in their circle to celebrate more fully.

A few laughs drifted from a distance.

Bai Mu was pulling Cheng Sangluo’s arm, teasing: “I told you this outfit suits you! You look like… hmm… a dark-skinned jock!”

Cheng Sangluo had changed into a half-bun hairstyle. Blushing slightly from her friend’s compliment, she said:

“Not at all.” She protested verbally, but her fingers kept rubbing the comfortable fabric, betraying her slight affection for the outfit.

Bai Mu was indeed skilled at fashion.

She had chosen a floral shirt for Cheng Sangluo, paired with a pure white vest underneath, and flip-flops beneath wide-legged shorts of the same color palette.

Her dark, shiny skin, combined with the light beachwear, indeed made her look exactly like a fit, energetic jock.

Lin Jin subconsciously looked back.

Seeing the person who haunted her dreams appearing in reality always brought a sense of dreamlike astonishment.

When her eyes fell on the two women’s intimate linked arms, the slight smile of joy vanished in an instant.

“What are you looking at?” Gu Shinian followed her friend’s gaze and smiled knowingly: “Found a target already?”

Lin Jin focused on Bai Mu and asked: “Is that woman in the white shirt one of your guests?”

“A small client of one of my subsidiary companies.” Gu Shinian explained simply, then gossiped: “When did you change your taste? Do you like this type?”

“Is my taste that bad?” Lin Jin scoffed, turning and walking into the main hall.

“Sister Gu!” Bai Mu saw Gu Shinian standing at the door and walked over with a smile, handing over a gift: “Happy Birthday.”

“Thank you.” Gu Shinian fiddled with the exquisitely wrapped gift box, her gaze drifting to Cheng Sangluo: “And this is?”

Bai Mu introduced: “My best friend, Cheng Sangluo.”

Gu Shinian nodded understandingly, greeting her: “Hello, Sangluo.”

“Happy Birthday, Miss Gu.”

“Feel free to enjoy yourself today, don’t be a stranger.” Gu Shinian only glanced at her before realizing that this was the one Lin Jin was interested in.

“Shinian.”

A cold greeting came from behind.

Cheng Sangluo turned around. The person was about the same height as her, with an equally sharp gaze.

Gu Shinian introduced generously: “This is my girlfriend, Ji Nanxing.”

Ji Nanxing was also a person of few words. Meeting Cheng Sangluo’s eyes, she nodded as a greeting.

Gu Shinian linked arms with her: “Excuse us, we need to step away for a moment.”

Bai Mu stared at their retreating figures, secretly tugging Cheng Sangluo’s arm: “They match so well! I ship this couple!”

“Ji Nanxing…” Cheng Sangluo didn’t engage with her friend’s comment but muttered the name under her breath, a strange hostility in her tone.

“Hey, stop zoning out…” Bai Mu vigorously pulled the distracted person, muttering: “You don’t mind the heat of the sun? Let’s go inside.”

“Let’s go.” Cheng Sangluo started up the steps. As she looked up, she saw that haunting figure again.

Lin Jin stood behind the glass door, arms crossed. Her gold-rimmed sunglasses reflected the puppy’s instantly tensed jawline.

A subtle grinding sound came from Cheng Sangluo’s back teeth. She hatefully looked away, but in her peripheral vision, she saw the other person approaching steadily in high heels.

As soon as she entered the reception hall, the rich scent of cedar, mixed with the cool air conditioning, rushed over her.

Lin Jin took off her sunglasses, her gaze so cold it made Cheng Sangluo’s spine tingle, yet mixed with a hint of barely detectable resentment.

“Cheng Sangluo, there’s an opportunity to earn money. Interested?” Her tone deliberately rose at the end, her finger lightly playing with the straw hat’s ribbon.

The hairs on the back of Cheng Sangluo’s neck stood up. That tone reminded her of the suffocating moment she was cornered on the sofa that night. She instinctively recoiled, taking half a step back to widen the distance, a cold laugh seeping through her teeth: “Does Director Lin not do background checks before hiring?”

This deliberately strange counter-question was laced with a warning, reminding Lin Jin that she was dangerous.

Hearing their inexplicable dialogue, Bai Mu, who had been ignored, was utterly bewildered.

She didn’t know who this woman was, nor did she expect Cheng Sangluo to know anyone at an event like this.

Lin Jin turned her head to look at Bai Mu, her smile darkening slightly: “You don’t mind me borrowing your playmate, do you?”

“Uh…” Bai Mu felt intimidated by the stare and turned to Cheng Sangluo for help: “It’s up to her.”

Cheng Sangluo didn’t want her friend to be embarrassed, so she leaned in and whispered: “She’s the ‘protagonist from the feel-good novel’ you were talking about.”

“Eh?!” Bai Mu’s eyes widened. She stammered: “How do you know… the protagonist… no…”

Cheng Sangluo offered no explanation, smiling and coaxing: “I’ll talk to her alone. I’ll be right back.”

Bai Mu was dumbfounded, then quickly changed her attitude.

She pushed Cheng Sangluo: “Well, what are you waiting for? An opportunity to make money shouldn’t be missed. Go quickly.”

Cheng Sangluo stumbled into Lin Jin’s personal space. The other woman reached out to steady her, but Cheng Sangluo defensively avoided the touch. The tense lines in her neck were visible, making her look like a hedgehog with its quills raised.

“Don’t touch me.” She resisted fiercely, her fingernails digging deep into her palm to restrain the impulse to swat the hands away.

Lin Jin reluctantly withdrew her hand and led the way unhurriedly, deliberately choosing the scenic terrace where no one would disturb them.

Cheng Sangluo followed. As soon as she was out of Bai Mu’s sight, she warned: “I told you not to bother my friend, and I don’t want to cause a scene with you here.”

“Which eye saw me bothering her? Oh, well, anyone can make a false accusation if they wish.” Lin Jin leaned against the railing, gazing at the angry puppy, her tone slightly wronged.

Cheng Sangluo didn’t want to waste time arguing and went straight to the point: “Tell me, what scheme are you plotting now?”

“Scheming against you, of course~” Lin Jin held her straw hat, tilted her head back to enjoy the sunlight, and spoke unhurriedly: “My yacht needs a server. I have many guests today. How about a daily wage of five thousand? In or out?”

The sea breeze on the viewing terrace lifted the fringe from Cheng Sangluo’s forehead, revealing the pale, old scar above her brow bone.

She stood by the railing, keeping her distance from Lin Jin, remaining absolutely still even when the other woman’s dress was blown against her calf by the wind.

“Five thousand a day?” She scoffed. “Do you think everyone is like the dogs you own, wagging their tail for a bone?”

Cheng Sangluo was struggling financially and shouldn’t turn down money, but she questioned the crazy woman’s motives; after all, Lin Jin’s credibility was long gone.

“Don’t you earn your living this way?” Lin Jin imitated Cheng Sangluo’s earlier action and shook her hands: “Only foolish people turn down money.”

She studied Cheng Sangluo’s sharp eyes. Seeing her hesitation, she knew the puppy was starting to waver.

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