Scarred Hearts — A Girls' Love Tale - Chapter 45

“This is the floor plan of the Han family’s headquarters building,” Yan Shuangfei carefully pinned a yellowed piece of paper to the wall. “It was gathered many years ago by my grandfather’s orders. There have probably been a lot of changes since then, but it’s better than nothing.” The edges of the paper were fragile, flaking with small pieces falling off.

“Do we really have to risk it ourselves?” Ying Sha frowned. “Isn’t there another way? Like sending in spies?”

“Han Yu has always been cautious—some would even say paranoid,” Yan Shuangfei said with a bitter smile. “The Yan family’s spies haven’t gotten close to the top ranks; they’re stuck on the outskirts. Han Yu is really good at managing his people.”

“So that means the security measures must be very tight,” Ying Sha said, sitting down on the floor, resting her hands on her knees. “No matter what, even if it’s a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair, we have to break in. A small Han family won’t stop me.”

“There’s no such thing as not hitting a snag!” Yan Shuangfei rolled her eyes. “You better be careful. If something goes wrong, and word gets out, people will laugh at us.”

“Come on, even if I mess up, you’ll be there. You won’t just watch me fail,” Ying Sha said casually, then suddenly stared intently at Yan Shuangfei, as if she’d just noticed something.

“What are you looking at?” Yan Shuangfei looked uncomfortable and turned away to avoid Ying Sha’s strange gaze.

“Nothing.” Ying Sha stood up and looked Yan Shuangfei straight in the eye. “I just think your short hair actually looks pretty cool. Why don’t you keep it like this? No need to change your hairstyle.”

“Impossible.” Yan Shuangfei refused immediately. “Luo Qinghan likes long hair, so I have to keep it long.” She was determined to make the things Luo Qinghan liked happen. That was Yan Shuangfei’s way of thinking.

“Be practical,” Ying Sha said. “First, we need to make a plan. And prepare the right gear.”

“Too many things—should we bring a bag?” Yan Shuangfei asked.

“Then bring one. You carry it,” Ying Sha said firmly. “I’m helping you with this, so leave the small stuff to you.” Ying Sha patted Yan Shuangfei’s back hard.

“Guns, knives, earpieces… none of these can be missing,” Ying Sha muttered as she picked through her gear. “Shuangfei, do you want to take that mini gun?”

“Give it to me,” Yan Shuangfei caught the item Ying Sha tossed her. “Put it in the compartment next to my boots.”

“Carrying all this stuff feels heavy but reassuring,” Ying Sha said, testing the weight of the weapons. “I believe your stamina is good. Now, we can set up the infiltration plan.”

“Yan Shaoqiu will be responsible for our communications. Just make sure Xue Ren is ready to back us up,” Yan Shuangfei said. “Isn’t your Shadow Place full of people? Can’t you pull some away?”

“Since it’s a personal mission, they won’t interfere with members’ duties. Shadow Place is more like an alliance, not a strict, hierarchical group like Hell,” Ying Sha explained patiently. “Xue Ren came back with me only because of personal reasons.”

“Personal reasons?” Yan Shuangfei repeated, giving Ying Sha a meaningful look, then quietly left.

Back in the living room, Yan Shuangfei immediately saw Luo Qinghan’s cold, icy face. The complicated emotions in her gaze made Yan Shuangfei pause, suddenly feeling nervous and awkward, worried Luo Qinghan might see through her.

“Qinghan, it’s almost 7 pm. Let’s just treat this as dinner and go back to sleep,” Yan Shuangfei said, reaching to hook Luo Qinghan’s elbow in a very affectionate way.

Luo Qinghan’s body stiffened briefly when Yan Shuangfei touched her, but she didn’t pull her hand away. Yan Shuangfei looked at Luo Qinghan with some confusion. She remembered that no matter the time or place, Luo Qinghan had always been open with her—her feelings were clear. But now, she couldn’t tell what was on her mind.

Never mind. Don’t think so much. After all, she was the one hiding things first and causing all this worry.

Yan Shuangfei felt a pang of guilt.

“Let’s go upstairs,” Luo Qinghan said coolly, snapping Yan Shuangfei out of her thoughts. She stood up and walked heavily upstairs without another word. The sound of her shoes tapping on the wooden floor echoed sharply in the empty, cold living room.

Yan Shuangfei hurried after her, taking several steps at once. She grabbed Luo Qinghan’s hand, trying to be sweet. Seeing Luo Qinghan didn’t pull away, she breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

“Qinghan.” They were silent until Luo Qinghan finished showering and came out steaming. Wrapped in a blanket, Yan Shuangfei softly called, “Did I make you angry?”

“No,” Luo Qinghan said flatly, sitting on the edge of the bed, staring off into space without looking at Yan Shuangfei. Her skin was still flushed from the shower, exposed in the air and right before Yan Shuangfei’s eyes. She wanted to pull her close and kiss her a few times.

But sadly, she was playing the role of an innocent, ignorant patient.

Yan Shuangfei felt sorry inside.

After a moment, Yan Shuangfei got out from under the blanket and quietly crawled beside Luo Qinghan. She wrapped her arms around her and gently pressed her face to Luo Qinghan’s back, rubbing softly. Then she whispered, “Then why don’t you talk to me?”

“There’s nothing to say.” Luo Qinghan’s voice held a bit of resentment and anger. Suddenly, she stood up without warning. Yan Shuangfei wasn’t ready and stumbled, falling under the bed. Her hands instinctively searched for something to hold onto and accidentally knocked over a storage box. Something fell out near Yan Shuangfei’s feet.

Hearing the noise, Luo Qinghan turned to help her up, but froze when she saw what had fallen. Yan Shuangfei followed her gaze, and her own smile instantly vanished.

It was a whip—finely made and clearly painful. Black, stained with bl00d. It had kissed Yan Shuangfei’s back countless times before. It was proof of the torture she had suffered. The faint but unmistakable scent of bl00d still lingered faintly in the room.

Suddenly, the room felt so quiet—too quiet, making Yan Shuangfei scared and unwilling to look up at Luo Qinghan’s expression.