The Venomous Wife Let Me Go - Chapter 32

Bai Jun woke up the next morning feeling somewhat groggy. Chaotic dreams continued to plague her, yet she no longer felt that bone-chilling cold from before. Whenever she felt herself slipping into those freezing, agonizing nightmares, a warm embrace stayed by her side like a spark of starlight, soothing her weary and haggard soul.

When she fully roused, Lin Song was at the door collecting breakfast and flowers from a delivery rider. Lin Song had bought her flowers again. Clutching the colorful blooms to her chest, Bai Jun felt a complex swirl of emotions, unsure of how to react.

She didn’t deserve this.

Lin Song glanced at her and, with a cold expression, began drawing a line between them again: “I just wanted to understand how a girl feels when she receives flowers so I can please my ‘White Moonlight’.”

Bai Jun felt a secret sense of relief: this is how it should be. A person like her wasn’t worthy of love or sincere treatment. Lin Song’s current attitude made her feel more at peace.

“Are you happy receiving flowers?” Lin Song asked, staring intently as if waiting for feedback.

“I am happy,” she answered softly. “Seeing beautiful flowers makes me feel like things aren’t so bad, like there’s hope for everything.”

Though she understood clearly: that hope wasn’t hers. She didn’t deserve such brilliant, colorful favoritism, nor did she want to hope for happiness anymore. The world was a mess; it was enough just to hold the flowers in her arms. By not expecting anything, she wouldn’t have to face devastating disappointment.

Lin Song seemed very satisfied with her answer, the corners of her mouth curling almost imperceptibly. Looking at the flowers, Bai Jun wanted to say there was no need to use her as a test subject, as no one would reject Lin Song’s fiery, bright affection, but after a moment’s thought, she kept it to herself. Lin Song wouldn’t listen to the words of a “bad woman” like her anyway.

She held the flowers throughout breakfast with Lin Song. The atmosphere between them was unexpectedly peaceful. Lin Song told her this was the best breakfast in the city and that she had craved it for a long time. Lin Song had hired a rider early in the morning to wait in line and bought a portion for her “in passing.” To avoid waste, she insisted Bai Jun eat more.

“Next time, I won’t hire a rider,” Lin Song grumbled, glaring at her coldly. “Next time I find something delicious, I’ll drag you out of bed and punish you by not letting you sleep in. I’ll make you stand in line with me.”

This punishment seemed rather harmless. However, since Lin Song had finally brought up her revenge plan, Bai Jun felt relieved again. Though she had little appetite, Lin Song watched her with a cold face, and consumed by guilt, Bai Jun forced herself to eat two buns and a bowl of soup. As the steaming liquid hit her stomach, her entire body seemed to warm up.

“I’ll find a lady to stay with you in a bit,” Lin Song said coldly after finishing the meal. “I have some things to handle and might not be back until evening. You stay here. You aren’t allowed to go anywhere. If you run, I’ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth!”

Bai Jun looked up and caught Lin Song’s gaze. Lin Song was looking down at her with a complex expression, but it lacked the hatred she had expected. She felt a bit dazed and even a little wronged: she intended to stay and atone for her sins, so why was Lin Song always worried she would run away?

But she couldn’t blame Lin Song. A bad woman like her had no credibility left; she was truly capable of anything. She lowered her head and remained silent, her heart heavy. Even the flowers beside her seemed to be covered in a layer of grey.

Lin Song was extremely organized. Just as she finished tidying the takeaway boxes, the doorbell rang.

“Thank you for your hard work,” Lin Song said politely, bowing to the woman who entered before taking the trash downstairs.

The newcomer was a pleasant-looking woman named Auntie Wang. She dressed fashionably, had a cheerful personality, and smiled at Bai Jun the moment she walked in. Although she knew Auntie Wang was there to watch her, Bai Jun couldn’t be rude to such a friendly face and offered a shy smile in return.

“I’m a freelance photographer. I got a call from Lin Song early this morning asking me to come for a shoot,” Auntie Wang said, opening her bag and pulling out a tripod. “I didn’t expect such a beautiful girl!”

Bai Jun was stunned. Didn’t Lin Song say Auntie Wang was there to keep an eye on her? She couldn’t figure out what Lin Song was up to.

Seemingly oblivious to her confusion, Auntie Wang pulled out a makeup kit. “Would you like to put on some makeup first, little girl?”

Looking at the camera, Bai Jun felt an instinctive surge of fear and shook her head. But Auntie Wang seemed to anticipate this, pulling out a tablet to show her a contract.

“Don’t worry. Your wife instructed me long ago that not a single negative or raw file from today’s shoot will be leaked.”

Bai Jun pursed her lips. Looking at Lin Song’s digital signature on the contract and the cold camera nearby, she suddenly realized this must be Lin Song’s revenge. Lin Song knew she feared cameras, so she was deliberately using this to torment her.

But Lin Song was still too kind; this torment was actually quite mild. Although she was repulsed by cameras, she wasn’t incapable of facing them. Since she was there to atone, she would follow whatever Lin Song arranged. Once Lin Song had her fill of revenge, they would both be free.

Taking a deep breath, Bai Jun sat stiffly at the table, not knowing where to put her hands or feet. Auntie Wang was skilled at makeup. As she worked, she showed Bai Jun her previous work on a tablet. The subjects in Auntie Wang’s lens seemed to possess souls: deer running in the wild, tiny flowers on a cliff, travelers trekking through a storm, camels in the desert, a one-armed dancer.

“They’re beautiful,” Bai Jun praised sincerely.

“Because I’m interested in photography, I’m good at discovering beauty!” Auntie Wang laughed while working meticulously. “Every image in this world is a unique and precious moment. I didn’t actually go to school for this; I just shoot with emotion, and it happens that people like it.”

Auntie Wang worked slowly and carefully. She was witty and humorous, sharing stories of her travels across the country. Time passed quickly. It wasn’t until noon that the makeup was finished. The woman in the mirror was exquisitely made up, so radiant that she felt like a stranger to herself.

“What a handsome girl, just as pretty as my own daughter,” Auntie Wang praised her repeatedly. Bai Jun, who had rarely received such direct praise, couldn’t help but blush.

Just as the makeup was done, Lin Song sent over lunch and a change of clothes. Under Auntie Wang’s constant urging, Bai Jun ate until she was stuffed once again. After changing, the photoshoot began.

Facing the camera, Bai Jun’s body was incredibly stiff. She couldn’t even control her limbs. Images flashed in her mind: a crowd of people following her, cameras flashing incessantly while she tried to flee in panic and indignation. She couldn’t bring herself to smile, even though Auntie Wang kept complimenting her throughout the process.

“I’m sorry. I must look terrible.”

After what felt like an eternity, Auntie Wang finally called for a break. Bai Jun forced a smile. “It’s not your fault; it’s all me.”

“You say it’s terrible without even looking,” Auntie Wang frowned, playfully shaking her head. “Young lady, you are questioning my professional skills! Come and see.”

Auntie Wang beckoned her over to the screen. She had used backlighting; the woman in the shots had exquisite features but a sorrowful expression. Her eyes were empty and tragic. Amidst the hazy light and shadows, the broken beauty on Bai Jun’s face was heartbreaking.

Is this really me?

Bai Jun was stunned, momentarily afraid to meet the eyes of the version of herself on the screen.

“Such a beautiful girl, why so much self-doubt?” Auntie Wang continued to chatter. “No, you’re too pretty. I must take a few more sets.”

Throughout the afternoon, Auntie Wang took many photos. Bai Jun went from being stiff to gradually becoming relaxed and at ease. Auntie Wang was far too good at giving compliments; she had so many kind words.

Through a lens filled with appreciation rather than malicious scrutiny, Bai Jun looked fragile yet noble, her eyes carrying a multitude of emotions like an angel fallen to earth. As they were shooting the final set, Lin Song returned. She brought two full suitcases, and Bai Jun had no idea what was inside.

“Auntie Wang, could you take a photo of me and my wife together?” Lin Song stood beside Bai Jun, smiling at the photographer.

Hearing Lin Song still refer to her as “wife,” Bai Jun’s heart was filled with complicated feelings. She couldn’t help but look up at Lin Song. Lin Song raised an eyebrow and looked down at her.

Click!

Auntie Wang captured the moment. “A perfect match!” she laughed, handing the memory card directly to Lin Song. “Such a beautiful girl, but she doesn’t like to smile. You must have made your wife angry!”

As Bai Jun silently helped Auntie Wang pack, she heard the older woman say to Lin Song, “I took so many beautiful photos of your wife, you have to treat me to dinner.”

Bai Jun panicked, wanting to deny it; Lin Song hadn’t made her angry, and she didn’t want to ruin Lin Song’s reputation.

“I’ll work hard to make her not angry,” Lin Song chimed in instead. “Where would you like to eat?” Lin Song seemed very close with Auntie Wang. She joked, “You have to teach me how to coax my wife.”

The dinner was settled. Auntie Wang chose a place near her home, and after packing up, Lin Song drove them to the restaurant. It was on the top floor. Looking down through the floor-to-ceiling windows, one could see the city lights flickering to life.

“When I first came to this city, a meal here was a price I couldn’t afford. My biggest dream back then was to have a meal here with my daughter and my husband. We were constantly busy, chasing a better life; exhausted but happy.”

Auntie Wang had a few drinks and, recalling something, sighed with red-rimmed eyes. “Don’t expect me to help you coax Xiao Bai,” she glared at Lin Song. “You have to cherish your wife yourself. You have a mouth; use it to comfort her yourself.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” Lin Song replied, maintaining a very polite attitude throughout.

After dinner, Auntie Wang insisted they come to her house, saying she felt a kinship with Bai Jun and wanted to give her some homemade dried flower tea. Her home was a standalone villa, the living room filled with trophies. Only then did Bai Jun realize Auntie Wang was a famous photographer and a special contributor to a certain magazine. She and Lin Song likely knew each other through work.

Auntie Wang stuffed the tea into Bai Jun’s arms, brushing off her thanks. “I should be the one thanking you,” she said happily. “The fee your wife paid me this time is enough for me to go to Antarctica to photograph penguins.”

After a bit more small talk, Lin Song led Bai Jun back. Bai Jun followed behind, clutching the tea and feeling distracted. Auntie Wang had won so many awards; hiring her must have cost a fortune. Could she ever pay back this debt?

While Bai Jun was worried, Lin Song seemed quite happy. She pulled her into a nearby mall to buy an Instax camera and a photo printer. Along the way, Bai Jun nervously touched her mask several times, terrified of being recognized. After the mall, Lin Song took her to a night market. Bai Jun followed closely, gripping Lin Song’s hand, having no heart to look at the scenery.

Lin Song, however, asked her several times: “Do you want barbecue?” “Do you want tanghulu?”

Bai Jun instinctively shook her head. She was only worried about being recognized and had no appetite. Seeing her constant refusals, Lin Song gradually fell silent. Looking at Lin Song’s back, Bai Jun felt apprehensive, worried her rejections had made Lin Song angry. But she was only by Lin Song’s side for atonement; Lin Song wasn’t supposed to be this good to her.

Lin Song led her to a sugar-sculpture stall. This time, she didn’t ask; she just spoke to the vendor. “Make one for me and one for my wife.”

Following their outfits, the vendor quickly crafted two adorable little sugar figures. Lin Song seemed to lose interest in the market then. She stuffed the figure representing herself into Bai Jun’s hand, kept the one representing Bai Jun, and led her back to the car.

Once inside with the windows rolled up, Lin Song pulled off her mask and turned to Bai Jun with sparkling eyes. “I am going to start my revenge now.”

Bai Jun didn’t expect the sudden declaration. Her body tensed, and her mind went blank, wondering what Lin Song would do. Lin Song narrowed her eyes, picked up the sugar figure representing Bai Jun, and bit its head off in one go.

“I bit your head off!” “And your arm!” “I’ve eaten your whole body!”

Looking into Bai Jun’s stunned eyes, Lin Song raised an eyebrow and smiled, looking quite proud of herself. For some reason, despite knowing she shouldn’t, Bai Jun couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Lin Song seemed to be in a great mood, likely from the pleasant interaction with Auntie Wang. However, when Bai Jun cautiously asked, “How much revenge did you get today, and how much do I still owe you?” Lin Song’s face darkened, and she silently started the car.

Bai Jun didn’t dare speak again, only staring at the little sugar figure of Lin Song in her hand. She poked the little figure’s cheek, unable to bring herself to eat it like Lin Song had. She held it all the way back and placed it on the hotel bedside table.

Back at the hotel, Lin Song helped Bai Jun remove her makeup, took care of her while she washed up, and helped dry her hair. Afterward, Lin Song lay excitedly on the bed, printing out the photos Auntie Wang had taken.

The Bai Jun in those photos was stunning. She had never thought of herself as having such elegance. This made her even more worried about the high photography fee. While Lin Song was showering, Bai Jun secretly searched for news about Auntie Wang to understand her usual rates. She didn’t find the rates, but she found an interview.

Auntie Wang described her journey into photography. Her husband and daughter had been killed in a car accident. Afterward, she quit her job and learned photography.

“After people die, they dissolve into the earth. Every tree and every flower might be a trace of their transformed life. So, I want to try using a camera to record them. The world is them, and they are the world.”

Bai Jun put down her phone, her heart aching. So even a good, hardworking person like Auntie Wang could face such tragedy. She couldn’t sort out her thoughts and silently organized the photos on the bed.

At the very end, she found the photo of her and Lin Song together. Unlike the hollow look in the other photos, her eyes in this shot held an emotion she couldn’t describe as she looked at Lin Song. And as Lin Song looked at her, perhaps because she hadn’t had time to put on a cold face, her expression was incredibly gentle, her eyes even holding a smile. For a moment, it looked like they were back in the days when Bai Jun had first woken up.

Even though she knew she shouldn’t dream of it, Bai Jun stared at the photo for a long time. Pursing her lips, she eventually picked up her phone and secretly took a picture of the photograph.

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