The Venomous Wife Let Me Go - Chapter 33

Just after the photo was taken, there was movement in the bathroom, and Lin Song opened the door. Realizing her impulsive behavior, Bai Jun quickly hid her phone. Unable to face Lin Song, she burrowed into the covers and pretended to sleep. However, as soon as she closed her eyes, the effects of her medication gradually took hold, and she drifted off into a real sleep before she knew it.

The next morning, Bai Jun was jolted awake by an alarm. It was six o’clock, and Lin Song’s alarm was ringing. Lin Song seemed intent on carrying out the revenge plan she had mentioned the day before; as soon as the alarm went off, she pulled Bai Jun out of bed.

Groggy and dazed, Bai Jun washed up, put on her coat, and sat on the edge of the bed waiting for Lin Song to finish. The sugar figures on the nightstand, which they hadn’t had time to eat the night before, were starting to melt, their colors blurring together. After a day, the fresh flowers Lin Song had given her had also lost their vibrant brilliance.

They were just like all the fleeting moments of happiness in her life.

Lin Song took quite a while in the bathroom this time, and it was around six-thirty when she finally led Bai Jun out of the room. Seemingly determined to make Bai Jun suffer more, Lin Song didn’t drive. Instead, she made Bai Jun go for a morning run.

Bai Jun had been in a state of poor health recently and hadn’t exercised in a long time. After only a few steps, she was gasping for breath. Lin Song, however, looked perfectly fine. She stood ahead, waiting for her.

“The breakfast shop we’re going to today is about two kilometers away. It opens at seven and only stays open for an hour and a half. They have a limit of one hundred customers. Usually, anyone who shows up to queue after seven loses their chance to get in.”

Bai Jun panicked instantly. With less than half an hour left, she didn’t think her current physical condition would allow her to finish two kilometers.

“How about you run ahead to queue first, and I’ll catch up?” It was the best solution. Lin Song had a habit of morning runs; covering this distance should be no problem for her.

Lin Song silently refused the suggestion and returned to her side, clearly intending to stay with her. Bai Jun grit her teeth. Lin Song was definitely being malicious; she wanted to get back at her!

She felt like giving up—if she couldn’t run, she couldn’t run. However, Lin Song began to mumble leisurely beside her.

“I’ve wanted to eat at that breakfast shop for a long time. I heard the owner hand-pulls the beef noodles himself. It’s one of the best in the country and has been featured on several food shows.”

Lin Song saying this made Bai Jun feel even more restless. Lin Song seemed to be looking forward to this breakfast very much. She was so busy that if they missed it this time, who knew when the next opportunity would be?

Even though she knew Lin Song was just watching her make a fool of herself while running, Bai Jun decided to give it her all. She was here to atone anyway. If she looked ridiculous, so be it. If Lin Song enjoyed the revenge, then she had at least made up for some of her mistakes. She took a deep breath, feeling a rare spark of determination in her chest, and grit her teeth to keep running.

Lin Song clearly didn’t want to make things easy for her. While running alongside her, she began to leisurely distract her.

“Look at that old man. He’s in such good spirits, out fishing so early in just a vest.” “That kid isn’t wearing his red scarf; the teacher will definitely scold him later.” “Turn right at the intersection ahead.” “Those osmanthus trees smell so sweet.” “Look at that lady in her sixties or seventies; she can actually do pull-ups!”

Bai Jun glanced over at the scenes Lin Song pointed out. Compared to Lin Song’s effortless grace, she was panting heavily, her forehead covered in sweat. She hadn’t intended to waste her energy responding, but for some reason, before she realized it, she snapped back indignantly.

“When you get to that age, you’ll probably be able to do it too.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized it was inappropriate. How could someone seeking atonement speak so sharply to Lin Song? But after a momentary stun, Lin Song seemed to think of something and suddenly leaned over, laughing with genuine delight.

“Fine. If my health is still this good when I’m old, I’ll definitely do pull-ups for you.”

Although Lin Song was wearing a mask, it couldn’t hide the smile in her eyes. The anxiety and gloom that had surrounded Lin Song lately seemed to vanish in that instant. Bai Jun’s ears flushed hot. Not daring to look at the laughing Lin Song, she reflexively quickened her pace.

The atmosphere between them shouldn’t be this light and pleasant. Although, she didn’t feel she was wrong. When Lin Song grew old, she would certainly be a beautiful, energetic old lady. But by then, the person by Lin Song’s side would definitely not be her.

Bai Jun suppressed the sudden surge of sadness in her heart. She ran in bursts, stopping to catch her breath, while Lin Song stayed two or three steps away, keeping pace with her. Bai Jun arrived outside the breakfast shop just as the clock struck seven. She was out of breath, but she had no time to worry about that. A long queue had already formed outside, stretching out of sight. Bai Jun’s heart sank at the sight.

With so many people, could she still get a spot?

Just as Bai Jun caught her breath, the shop doors opened. She watched the people in front enter one by one and couldn’t help but crane her neck, standing on her tiptoes to peer inside, trying to count. But she was too far back and couldn’t tell. After a moment, she realized she was being immature and lowered her head in shame.

“Just like a child,” Lin Song mocked her with a sigh.

Bai Jun felt Lin Song wasn’t wrong and didn’t take it to heart. She turned to look at Lin Song, intending to tell her they might not get breakfast, but Lin Song’s eyes didn’t hold the mockery she expected. Instead, they held a smile of appreciation.

“So cute!” Meeting her gaze, Lin Song even crinkled her eyes.

Like an electric shock, Bai Jun quickly looked down. Her heart went out of control again, beating rapidly.

“She’s this nice to everyone; it’s just Lin Song’s upbringing,” Bai Jun told herself, biting her lower lip. It was because Lin Song was too good that she hadn’t been able to stop herself from forcing her way into Lin Song’s life and hurting her. Not only had she forced herself on Lin Song, but now she had also caused Lin Song to miss the breakfast she wanted. She really was useless.

Her agitated emotions gradually settled. Knowing Lin Song didn’t like hearing her say “sorry,” Bai Jun could only say guiltily, “I should have tried to run faster.”

Along the way, she had listened to Lin Song and spent a lot of time distracted by the scenery. Lin Song slowly retracted the smile from her eyes and took her hand.

“Actually…” Lin Song seemed to want to say something, but Bai Jun was too distracted to listen.

The staff member handing out numbers was getting closer, calling them out as they walked. When they reached Bai Jun and Lin Song, they were exactly number ninety-nine and number one hundred!

Bai Jun’s mood brightened instantly, and she gripped the number tag tightly. “We made it!” she said, looking at Lin Song with a smile.

Lin Song, however, put on a cold face again, clearly remembering the grudge between them. She gave a cold “mm” but kept her eyes fixed on Bai Jun. Bai Jun was in such a good mood that she didn’t mind the attitude; in her heart, this was how the two of them should interact.

Listening to the staff politely ask the people behind them to leave, she held her number tag firmly and sat down at a waiting table with Lin Song.

“What did you want to say?” she remembered Lin Song’s unfinished sentence.

“Nothing,” Lin Song replied coldly, but she glanced toward a table already inside the shop and shook her head.

She had actually hired someone to wait in line for them; they would have been able to eat regardless. She had dragged Bai Jun out early mainly because she wanted her to exercise. A healthy body would better withstand psychological distress. She wanted to tell Bai Jun not to care too much about this one meal. If they couldn’t eat here, there were plenty of other delicious places. The beautiful sights they saw during their morning run were also unique experiences in life.

She had many things to say, but at this moment, she wanted to say nothing—because of the smile that had reignited in Bai Jun’s eyes. There was no need to tell Bai Jun those things. As long as Bai Jun truly felt happy, everything was worth it.

Before long, the two of them entered the shop. Lin Song was right; the beef noodles were truly delicious. The broth was rich and fragrant, the noodles were chewy, and the beef was cut into thick slices with generous toppings. Each bite was so spicy and flavorful that one almost wanted to swallow their own tongue.

Bai Jun was a bit cautious at first, afraid of being recognized, but the people in the shop were in a hurry, busy posting to their social media, going to work, or taking kids to school. No one noticed her in the corner. Gradually, she felt at ease. Inside the steaming noodle shop, she found a long-lost sense of peace amidst the noisy city.

It felt like the world was truly large enough to still hold someone as loathsome and base as her.

Lin Song, who had been saying how much she wanted beef noodles, put down her chopsticks after eating less than half. Seeing Lin Song’s teary eyes, Bai Jun finally remembered that Lin Song couldn’t handle spicy food very well.

She handed Lin Song a tissue and couldn’t help but ask, “If it doesn’t suit your taste, should we find another place?”

Lin Song, with tears in her eyes, glared at her coldly. “No, I want to watch you finish it.”

Was this another part of Lin Song’s revenge?

This version of Lin Song, in truth, didn’t look intimidating at all.

Bai Jun couldn’t help but remind her, “I actually quite like spicy food.”

A revenge like this didn’t even qualify as a punishment to her. However, because Lin Song kept a cold face, she didn’t have the nerve to say more and simply finished the noodles obediently.

On the way back, Bai Jun felt uncomfortably full. As they walked, she found herself falling a few steps behind Lin Song every now and then. She stared at Lin Song’s back, her mind beginning to wander.

Lin Song was truly impressive. She seemed delicate, yet she always harbored immense energy. After enduring such a terrible woman and being forced into marriage and harmed, she had managed to persevere until today. But no matter how strong a woman was, she still needed to look after her health.

Thinking of the few bites Lin Song had taken of her beef noodles, Bai Jun couldn’t resist buying two tea eggs for her from a roadside stall. But immediately after buying them, she remembered that Lin Song didn’t seem to like street food, nor did she need the concern of a wicked woman like herself.

Lin Song noticed she hadn’t kept up and had already turned around to wait for her.

Bai Jun panicked. Under Lin Song’s gaze, she didn’t dare make eye contact. She walked up to Lin Song slowly, peeling a tea egg and pretending she was the one eating it. But she was truly so full that she couldn’t swallow another bite.

Bai Jun frowned in frustration.

“What’s this? You find something delicious and start eating it all by yourself?”

Before the feeling of self-loathing could fully surge, Bai Jun heard Lin Song’s voice. In her peripheral vision, Lin Song seemed to smile, but when she looked again, Lin Song’s face was stern once more.

Lin Song lowered her head. Meeting Bai Jun’s uneasy gaze, she leaned in and took a bite of the tea egg right from the spot Bai Jun had just bitten.

“As I thought, things snatched from you seem to taste especially good!” Lin Song looked at her sideways with a slightly provocative glance.

Bai Jun breathed a sigh of relief. In her heart, she felt this version of Lin Song, who sought revenge in such a childish way, was both kind and cute. On the surface, however, she continued to cautiously please her, obediently lifting the tea egg to Lin Song’s lips. “You eat it.”

Lin Song’s eyes instantly darkened.

She gazed at Bai Jun with that look that made her tremble with unease and caused her legs to go weak, but in a flash, Lin Song lowered her head. Seemingly satisfied with her compliance, Lin Song finished the tea egg in a few bites. At the end, her lips seemed to accidentally brush against Bai Jun’s fingers.

Bai Jun’s eyes widened. As if she had been burned, she jerked her hand back, her heart racing even faster. In that moment, she couldn’t help but recall those chaotic nights they had shared. On several nights, Lin Song had been like a succubus, kissing her fingers with lingering hints of suggestion.

This must be a habit Lin Song formed because I forced her all those years, and I actually have the nerve to reminisce about it!

Bai Jun forced herself to stop her mind from wandering. Her face pale, she stuffed the remaining tea egg into Lin Song’s hand. Not daring to meet her gaze, she lowered her head and walked to the side.

Lin Song finished the second tea egg quickly and put her mask back on. However, she stopped paying attention to where she was walking, pulling out her phone to look at something. Bai Jun didn’t dare to nag her, but fearing she might be bumped by the passing crowd, she could only stand beside her and tug on her sleeve.

A glimmer of a smile suddenly appeared in Lin Song’s eyes. By the time Bai Jun reacted and looked up blankly, a click sounded, and the image on the phone was captured. In the photo, both were wearing masks. The way Bai Jun cautiously pulled on Lin Song made her look like a timid little wife who was utterly dependent on her.

“You’ve finally met your match!”

Bai Jun tried to pull her hand back, but Lin Song caught it and held on.

“Keep holding me!” Lin Song seemed incredibly pleased. Her fingers brushed against Bai Jun’s hand twice, her voice sounding indignant. “The more uncomfortable you are, the happier I am.”

Bai Jun pursed her lips. Her heart was in a total mess. She felt things shouldn’t be this way. This silly girl, Lin Song, had no idea that this wasn’t revenge; in a way, it was a reward for a bad woman like her.

She didn’t deserve Lin Song’s kindness. But Lin Song looked so genuinely happy. She didn’t have the heart to break Lin Song’s joy. Ultimately, Bai Jun said nothing and allowed herself to be led back to the hotel in a daze.

Back at the hotel, Lin Song began to pack. Only then did Bai Jun realize the suitcases Lin Song brought were packed full with clothes and daily necessities for both of them, as if they were going on a long journey.

Are we leaving?

Bai Jun looked at the withered flowers and the melted sugar figures on the nightstand, feeling a sense of reluctance. But a moment later, she thought: This kind of happiness was stolen to begin with. I shouldn’t be attached to it.

She followed behind Lin Song with her head down, checked out at the front desk, and walked out of the hotel.

“You follow me without saying a word. Aren’t you afraid that a money-loving, scorpion-hearted woman like me will sell you off?” After putting the suitcases in the trunk, Lin Song turned around and looked at her with a half-smile.

Bai Jun shook her head. If Lin Song actually did that, her internal guilt wouldn’t be so deep.

“Then you must be obedient from now on.” Perhaps because her attitude was good, Lin Song’s tone softened as she patted Bai Jun’s head. “Show some sincerity in your atonement.”

Bai Jun felt a bit wronged. She felt she was already being very sincere, but Lin Song just didn’t trust her and always thought she had ulterior motives. But being suspected and questioned was exactly what she deserved; she shouldn’t blame Lin Song.

Lin Song still wouldn’t let her sit in the passenger seat, making her sit in the middle of the back row instead. In the past, she had happily assumed it was because of car accident after-effects and that Lin Song was afraid she would be in danger again. Now, she realized in a daze: perhaps Lin Song simply wanted to save the passenger seat for her “White Moonlight.”

Her heart felt bitter, as if something was blocking her chest. She opened the back door without a word, but her eyes suddenly widened.

A bouquet of brilliant flowers lay on the back seat.

“Thank you for the tea eggs this morning. I don’t want to owe you anything.” She heard Lin Song’s voice from behind her.

She was in a daze, feeling both lost and terrified. She felt she didn’t deserve this bouquet, yet the flowers were already placed before her. It wasn’t until Lin Song sat in the driver’s seat that Bai Jun slowly snapped out of it.

“Take off your mask, hold the flowers, and come closer. I have something to say.” Lin Song closed the windows, took off her mask, and glanced at her.

Bai Jun didn’t suspect a thing. She obediently took off her mask and leaned in.

A click sounded, this time from an Instax camera. As the image in the photo gradually developed, she met Lin Song’s crinkled eyes.

“Don’t you want to atone for your sins?” Perhaps because she was in a good mood, Lin Song’s voice returned to a gentle tone, even carrying a faint hint of enticement.

“I’ve cleared nearly two months of vacation.”

“You made me lose my ‘White Moonlight’.” Lin Song curled her lips, watching her every expression closely.

“For the next period of time, you’re going to stay with me and help me find her back.”

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