The Venomous Wife Let Me Go - Chapter 37

Bai Jun was exhausted. She only vaguely remembered agreeing to some condition set by Lin Song before drifting back into a deep sleep.

When she woke up again, the room was filled with bright daylight.

Lin Song was already up. She was sitting by the window, facing toward the bed as she applied her makeup. She wore a wavy-styled wig and a “hot girl” outfit completely different from her usual style, showing off her slender waist. She had light-colored contact lenses in, and with the help of some clever nose contouring, her features appeared sharper and deeper than usual.

At first glance, Bai Jun almost didn’t recognize her.

Lin Song was naturally beautiful, and her waist showed clear muscle definition. With the makeup, she looked like a soul-stealing enchantress; every movement was impossibly eye-catching. Bai Jun stared blankly, wondering for a moment if she was dreaming.

It took a few seconds for Bai Jun to realize that Lin Song’s presence in her room meant they had slept in the same bed again last night. Back at the hotel, they only had one bed, so it was unavoidable. But here, there were guest rooms. She couldn’t continue to wrong Lin Song by making her sleep with a “bad woman” like herself.

Bai Jun made a mental note to clean up a guest room for her later.

By the window, Lin Song finished her makeup and put on a hat. Without a close look, no one would recognize this fashionable young woman as the famous Lin Song.

“You’re awake!” Lin Song looked over with a smile.

Bai Jun felt a bit dazed and gave a soft “Mm.”

“Does it look good?” Seeing Bai Jun’s eyes unconsciously drift toward her waist, Lin Song sucked in her stomach to make her abs more prominent, the smile on her lips deepening.

“It looks good,” Bai Jun answered honestly.

“Does it look like the usual me? Do you think people on the street will recognize me?” Lin Song arched an eyebrow and pressed further.

“Probably not.” Bai Jun studied her for a moment and shook her head. The usual Lin Song had a calm that exceeded her age, but the person before her looked young, vibrant, and slightly exotic, like a college student in her prime.

“Good!” Lin Song’s smile grew even more radiant. “I’ve prepared clothes for you. I’m going downstairs to buy breakfast.”

Lin Song pointed to an artistic long dress on the nightstand—a style quite different from Bai Jun’s usual wardrobe. “Hurry up and change,” she said with an expectant look.

Bai Jun didn’t understand why Lin Song seemed so excited. She blankly took the clothes to the bathroom while Lin Song headed downstairs. She felt something was off about Lin Song’s behavior, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

It wasn’t until she finished washing up and looked at herself in the mirror that it finally clicked. Lin Song had gone downstairs without a mask!

Lin Song was a celebrity with far more fame than Bai Jun. Going out without a mask and without assistants or bodyguards…

Panic surged through Bai Jun instantly. She rushed out of the bathroom, intending to grab her mask and find Lin Song, but just as she reached for it, the door opened.

Lin Song walked in with total composure and smiled at Bai Jun. “You were right. I passed about fifty people on the way, and not a single person recognized me. It was worth learning makeup from the film crew’s stylists and special effects artists.”

Bai Jun let out a sigh of relief. She hadn’t expected Lin Song to be so bold. However, in her current look, no one except those very close to her would truly recognize her. “Your skills are indeed very good,” Bai Jun echoed. “You look very beautiful like this.”

For once, Bai Jun felt she hadn’t said the wrong thing. Upon hearing this, Lin Song’s smile brightened further. She looked Bai Jun up and down and handed her the breakfast. “Eat up!”

The breakfast Lin Song bought tasted incredibly familiar. As soon as she took a bite, a shop sign flashed through her mind. She checked the label on the soy milk and, sure enough, it matched the one in her memory.

Her memory was gradually returning.

Bai Jun felt conflicted about whether to tell Lin Song. She looked up instinctively, only to find Lin Song watching her with a beaming smile.

“What? Is it not to your taste?” Lin Song asked, catching her gaze.

Bai Jun shook her head and went back to eating. In her peripheral vision, she could feel Lin Song’s eyes fixed on her. The gaze felt strange, as if Lin Song was plotting something. Not wanting to be stared at like that, Bai Jun felt a chill down her spine and sped up her eating.

“I’m full!” She finished her meal and looked at Lin Song, intending to suggest cleaning the guest room. But she saw Lin Song slowly put down her own food and wipe her hands.

“Glad you’re full,” Lin Song said with a smile. “I’ve just finished deciding how to do your makeup.”

“I… I don’t think I need any,” Bai Jun instinctively refused. “I’m going to be wearing a mask later anyway.”

“Did I not tell you?” Lin Song’s lips curled into a smile that made the hair on the back of Bai Jun’s neck stand up. She shrank back as Lin Song continued, “Today, we won’t be wearing masks most of the time.”

Bai Jun’s eyes widened in horror. “No! I refuse!”

The thought of her face appearing before the public, facing their judgment and hearing their vitriol, terrified her. She huddled in the corner, her instincts screaming to flee. “Maybe… maybe I just shouldn’t go out today?”

A flash of pity crossed Lin Song’s eyes, and she turned away, but her words remained as cold as ice.

“You don’t have the right to refuse. I’ve already done my makeup and put in my daily contacts. I’m going out even if it rains knives. Besides, didn’t you say you’d listen to whatever I said?”

Lin Song stared into her eyes and continued coldly, “This is my revenge against you!”

Bai Jun was left without an excuse. As a “bad woman,” she had to face the judgment of the masses; this was her burden to bear. Compared to the suffering Lin Song had endured over the years, this was minor.

Still, Bai Jun was terrified. Her face turned pale as she sat despondently before the mirror, her body trembling so much she couldn’t focus.

Even though she had achieved her goal, Lin Song didn’t seem that happy. Seeing Bai Jun’s state, her gaze grew deeper and darker.

“Bai Jun,” Lin Song whispered, closing her eyes after three failed attempts to help Bai Jun put in her contact lenses. She leaned close to Bai Jun’s ear, her voice low and heavy. “The way you look when you’re scared… it really excites me. If you keep this up, I might just have to kiss you!”

How can Lin Song be this terrifying? Bai Jun wondered. Did she learn this from the old me too?

Just as Lin Song expected, Bai Jun panicked. She shook her head quickly and forced a smile. “I’m not actually scared. It was just a bit cold this morning.”

Bai Jun didn’t dare get lost in her memories anymore. She suppressed her trembling and focused on cooperating with the makeup process.

The woman in the mirror began to transform. Her pale cheeks gained some color, a light pink lipstick was applied, her eyebrows were thickened, and her straight hair was curled into waves. Finally, she put on long feather earrings.

Lin Song’s makeup skills were truly impressive. If it weren’t for the same dejected look in her eyes, Bai Jun would hardly have recognized herself. But soon, Lin Song pulled out a pair of large black-rimmed glasses and placed them on Bai Jun, covering the upper half of her face. She then handed her art supplies—combined with the linen dress, she looked exactly like a traveling landscape painter.

Lin Song hung a camera around Bai Jun’s neck and scrutinized her. “If you’re scared, or if you feel someone staring at you, just hold up the camera like you’re taking a photo to hide your face.”

Lin Song seemed to hesitate for a moment, looking at her many times over. It gave Bai Jun the fleeting impression that Lin Song didn’t actually want to go out that much either. However, after a deep breath, Lin Song led her out the door.

It felt as if a switch had been flipped. Once outside, Bai Jun felt the air become stifling. Pale-faced and carrying her art supplies, she followed Lin Song into the elevator. It stopped one floor down, and several people entered.

Bai Jun immediately shrank into the corner. Two large men in black entered and positioned themselves in the middle, intentionally or unintentionally separating Bai Jun from the others. Even though the other passengers were mostly staring at their phones and ignored her, Bai Jun felt every second was an agonizing ordeal. It felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing her throat; her mouth was dry, her head throbbed, and she could barely breathe.

Lin Song quietly took her hand. “Are you scared?” she whispered into her ear.

Bai Jun wanted to say no, fearing Lin Song would repeat her “threat” to kiss her, but her body was shaking so much she couldn’t speak. Lin Song watched her for a few seconds, sighed, and pulled Bai Jun behind her, completely shielding her with her body.

With Lin Song blocking the view, the feeling of unease lightened slightly. But Lin Song was much more famous; the risk of her being recognized was high. The elevator stopped again, and during the morning rush, more people crowded in.

Bai Jun cautiously pulled on Lin Song, wanting her to turn around. She had recovered enough strength to finally speak. “I should be in front,” she whispered into Lin Song’s ear. “Let me shield you.”

“Don’t you hate me for forcing you to come out without a mask? And yet you’re thinking of protecting me…” Lin Song sighed and leaned in to whisper back, mimicking her. “Junjun, you forgive me so easily. You really look super easy to bully. If you run into bad people, they’ll want to take advantage of you over and over again.”

“But aren’t the ones doing the wrong things the bad people?” Bai Jun gave a bitter smile. “Besides, I’m not a good person either. I’m just repenting.”

Before she could say more, Lin Song chuckled in her ear. “Elevator’s open.”

The people in front walked out first. A little girl’s clear voice drifted back, “Mom, are those two sisters playing ‘kissy’?”

“Don’t be silly! They’re just sharing secrets,” the mother said flusteredly, covering the girl’s mouth.

The people nearby chuckled, but no one recognized them. Bai Jun’s face turned bright red, and she lowered her head. Lin Song, however, wasn’t embarrassed at all and even looked up to laugh along with the strangers.

It wasn’t until Lin Song led her by the hand into the garage that Bai Jun finally snapped out of it. She let out a breath, curling up in Lin Song’s car, her back drenched in sweat.

“We’re going to Linggu Temple this morning, then lunch in the city, and in the afternoon, I’ll accompany you to draw at Lakeside Park,” Lin Song announced while driving. “You better draw well. I want to hang that drawing in the home I share with my White Moonlight. Don’t misunderstand; I only want you to be a stand-in for her, which is why I’m making you include yourself in the drawing. After all, you are quite pretty. We’ll be going to the park to draw every day for the next few days. Once you’re finished, we’ll move to the next stop!”

“Actually… I could just take photos of the park and draw at home,” Bai Jun suggested timidly.

Hearing the plan, Bai Jun briefly considered jumping out of the car to escape! Does Lin Song really want to do this every day? This is worse than being killed, she thought.

But Lin Song’s next words confirmed her fears. “Of course, we’re going every day!” Her voice sounded extremely dissatisfied, with none of the gentleness from the elevator. “Bai Jun, you’re supposed to be repenting. How can I be happy if I don’t torment you every day?”

There seemed to be no way out. Bai Jun felt like she was falling apart. She huddled in the back seat, praying the car would go slower. But Linggu Temple wasn’t far, and they arrived soon.

“Get out!” After parking, Lin Song sighed and reached into the back to pull Bai Jun out. Bai Jun kept shrinking toward the opposite door until Lin Song lost patience and narrowed her eyes. “Do you want me to carry you out and attract everyone’s attention?”

Only then did Bai Jun slowly shuffle out of the car.

Since it was the weekend, the temple was crowded. Bai Jun’s legs shook at the sight of the mass of people. Lin Song, however, seemed unfazed, leading her into the crowd with her head held high. Throughout the walk, visitors were nearly shoulder-to-shoulder. Bai Jun kept her head down, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

Whispers she had heard at some point echoed in her ears: “Is that Bai Jun?” “She looks so quiet, how can she be so malicious?” “She just got lucky with her birth. One day she’ll get what’s coming to her…”

She gritted her teeth, moving forward in a daze, following Lin Song’s lead. She had prepared herself: the moment she was recognized, she would run away immediately and act like she didn’t know Lin Song. She couldn’t let Lin Song be recognized too.

They walked up a long flight of stone steps until they reached the entrance of the main hall. To her surprise, no one had recognized her. The solemn statues of the Buddha looked down on everyone equally, and the sound of chanting was incredibly soothing.

Bai Jun knelt down piously. Looking up at the Buddha, her senses finally returned, and her eyes suddenly welled with tears. She felt as if she had been carrying a heavy burden over a very long road and was finally at her breaking point. In this moment, it felt as if some shackles had suddenly fallen away.

Perhaps I, too, can be treated equally and walk among the crowd again.

She couldn’t describe the feeling, only that her body suddenly felt light. The insults and disdain that had plagued her ears vanished in an instant, and her breathing became smooth. When Lin Song suggested she tie a red ribbon to make a wish, she was able to calmly write it down: “I hope everyone can be happy.”

She hoped Lin Song would find her White Moonlight and live a beautiful life together; she hoped Bai Hong’s sister would get better; she hoped the Chairman of Song Corporation, who had helped her so many times, would stay healthy and successful. As for herself, at this stage, she seemed to have no specific wishes left.

Beside her, Lin Song also solemnly tied a ribbon to the tree. Only Lin Song knew that she hadn’t written anything on hers. She only believed that humans could overcome fate. Furthermore, the person she cherished most was right in front of her.

Her inner calm today was far less than she portrayed, despite her thorough preparations. She had changes of clothes and masks in her backpack, and she had even hired several private bodyguards to blend into the crowd. If anything went wrong, they would immediately converge to shield them and help them escape.

But she had still been worried, terrified that this journey would cause Bai Jun further trauma. Seeing Bai Jun’s helpless state earlier, she had wanted to give up countless times. Fortunately, Bai Jun had finally conquered her fear and walked through it, just as she had hoped. This was only the first step of her plan. From now on, Bai Jun would only get better.

Lin Song gazed at Bai Jun’s profile, her heart filled with both ache and pride. The girl I love is indeed the bravest.

Soon, she would work to find everything Bai Jun had lost her shattered confidence, her destroyed reputation, her stolen happiness and bring it all back, piece by piece.

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