The Lost Lamb's Trap - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Stars

Lin Ke started to push for progress, often coming out of her office to discuss with everyone. She mostly stood next to Duan Jiayang, guiding her on how to model. The department’s schedule was tight, shifting from a relaxed state to an overtime mode. They finished work at 7 p.m. every night, and some teams with slow progress or rejected designs had to work late. Everyone was extremely busy. Even the chairman’s daughter was working overtime, so any resentment they had could only be suppressed.

They also privately discussed how the once-blessed department had now soured a bit. With a director inside and a young lady outside, it wasn’t appropriate to be lazy at any time. When work came, they had to work like mad.

They were busy like modelers, while Duan Jiayang was like a child playing with building blocks. Sometimes she remembered Lin Ke’s words and would patiently work on it, other times she would just half-heartedly go through the motions.

Duan Jiayang sensed what everyone was thinking. Over time, her temper flared up, and she was very dissatisfied. This group of people was too materialistic… Occasionally, she felt suffocated and couldn’t vent her anger. She furiously thought about having her dad fire all of them, but her dad would probably just look at her with a complicated expression and say, “Are you out of your mind?”

Xiao Li in front was very enthusiastic. Every time she asked a question and no one answered, he would talk to her. Li Yuanchen said, “Use the rotation tool, then select the tire sketch as the rotation body’s profile… select the constraint tool… are you done?”

“The spokes don’t seem right…” Duan Jiayang said sullenly.

“I’ll come and show you.” Li Yuanchen got up. Duan Jiayang felt hurt and wronged, but also grateful to this enthusiastic intern. “I’ll treat you to bubble tea or coffee later.”

After a while, Li Yuanchen came over and clicked on the computer screen with his finger. Duan Jiayang suddenly understood. She had to click the “pattern” tool to copy the spokes. He clicked two more places. Duan Jiayang felt he was a bit too close. She gave him some space and moved away, saying, “…Okay, thank you, Xiao Li…”

Duan Jiayang looked up, and Lin Ke was standing next to her. She stood up straight, smiling slightly, and said, “Treat me to bubble tea later. We’ll go to the shop downstairs.”

“And here, you got it wrong in the beginning. Change it again.” She leaned over, her finger pressing on the back of Duan Jiayang’s hand, guiding her on how to adjust the profile. “This way you’ll remember.”

“Do you understand?” she asked.

Duan Jiayang saw her drooping hair and smelled the perfume in her hair.

Duan Jiayang thought to herself: Xiao Li is so useless. Can’t he push her away?

Lin Ke stood there for a while after teaching her before returning to her office. Duan Jiayang’s fingers felt hot. She rubbed her hands under the table. Damn it… Lin Ke always did these reasonable but ambiguous things without any regard.

Xiao Li was confused. He scratched his chin and said, “What she taught you is correct.”

Seeing her looking unhappy, he added, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” Duan Jiayang’s tone was a bit cold, and her expression wasn’t good. Xiao Li looked at her several times. She said, “I’m not mad at you.”

Logically, she shouldn’t be mad at Lin Ke either.

She had taught her conscientiously.

Lin Ke reminded her at the door, “Your salary should be in the account this afternoon.”

It suddenly dawned on her that it was the beginning of the month.

Duan Jiayang looked at her computer. She had gone from knowing nothing to being able to make a car model. Although she couldn’t design it based on drag and power like they could, it now looked like a proper car.

In the afternoon, Lin Ke came out of her office. Duan Jiayang grabbed her bag and followed her unhurriedly. The two of them didn’t look like they were going for dessert; their serious expressions made them look more like they were going to fight.

There was a dessert shop next to the company. The desserts inside tasted good, and the prices were more expensive than other shops. Duan Jiayang occasionally came here. She sat down and glanced at Lin Ke.

The mark on Lin Ke’s lip was gone. They should have been able to retreat from their most intense state, but it was getting more and more intense. She felt that this was wrong.

Duan Jiayang ordered two coffee puddings. Lin Ke took a spoon and ate it. Duan Jiayang took a bite and looked at her phone.

Lin Ke asked, “Who are you chatting with?”

Duan Jiayang showed her the phone. Sometimes Lan Yao would share jokes and videos with her. She replied to Lan Yao’s messages. They would chat a little but never mentioned what happened that day. Fortunately, Lin Ke wasn’t so low-class that she would just take her phone. Duan Jiayang played for a while and then put her phone aside.

When they were leaving, a child was pushing open the glass door, stomping his feet on the ground and pushing forward. Duan Jiayang was distracted by her phone and didn’t notice. Lin Ke next to her pinched her arm and pulled her out.

The child laughed cheekily without any apology. Duan Jiayang frowned and said uncomfortably, “So ill-mannered, what a brat.”

The brat came crashing over again. She left with her bag. Lin Ke patted her back, soothing her mood.

Duan Jiayang returned to the company with a tense face, walking up the steps from the side. She suddenly felt that something was wrong. She looked down and saw that at some point, Lin Ke was holding her hand. Lin Ke stopped and looked at her.

“Let go,” Duan Jiayang said. “There are people from the company here.”

It was hot, and there were no people coming in or out of the company, just two security guards drinking tea on the first floor. Lin Ke’s fingers loosened and then gripped again. “Then let’s hold hands upstairs. Bring your file to my office.”

Duan Jiayang was stunned. What did she think this company, her family’s company, was?

It was hot, so they didn’t linger downstairs and went back to the department together.

Duan Jiayang was depressed and reapplied her lipstick. Everyone was on their phones, checking their salaries.

Xiao Li leaned over and said, “Thank you.”

Yang Ruiqi drank her milk and looked at Li Yuanchen with interest. The young man’s face wasn’t red, but his eyes were darting around. This was nothing but a budding crush. Well, the warnings from that day were all for nothing.

Duan Jiayang said in confusion, “Thank you for what?”

“The bubble tea,” Li Yuanchen said, pointing to the bubble tea on the table.

Duan Jiayang looked at the bubble tea logo. It was from the same shop she had gone to. She frowned and said, “I didn’t buy that. Lin Ke gave it to you.”

“Director… Director Lin gave it to me?” Xiao Li stammered.

Duan Jiayang looked at Li Yuanchen’s expression, feeling helpless. Men… getting so excited over a cup of bubble tea. Falling for her… It was only 28 yuan. 28 yuan, what a cheap crush…

It was strange, though. Lin Ke was truly likable and had never lacked suitors. But she had been working for so long, and no one had pursued her. It was so strange.

When Xiao Li spoke to Duan Jiayang again, Duan Jiayang kept her distance. For work matters, she would humbly ask for guidance. For personal conversations, she would only reply with “mm-hmm,” maintaining a superficial politeness, to prevent Xiao Li from trying to get ahead through her.

The other people were all looking at their phones, no longer complaining. They stretched and discussed where to eat. They didn’t have a fixed salary; they had a bonus. Last month, everyone received a lot, double what they had received when Old Zhang was in charge.

Yang Ruiqi’s bonus was quite large, and she smiled when she spoke. Duan Jiayang would occasionally stop and look at them.

The office was a bit noisy. Duan Jiayang went out to take a call. Duan Litian called to urge her to move out. Duan Jiayang stammered about work handovers, which inevitably led to her dad scolding her, “You have work?”

Duan Jiayang leaned against the cabinet and poured a cup of herbal tea.

She chugged it down to cool off.

The lounge was empty at this time. Duan Jiayang looked at her phone. Her salary was fixed at a certain amount, but she couldn’t help but check it. The total amount was 13,000. Her regular salary was 12,000, and there was a monthly bonus of 1,000.

A bonus!?

Duan Jiayang stood up straight, checked a few times to make sure she wasn’t mistaken, and went back with her phone. The discussion in the office hadn’t ended yet, from bonuses to buying makeup. As they chatted, Duan Jiayang turned her chair around and sat with her hands on the back of the chair, staring at them.

Yang Ruiqi called out to her, “Can you get the shade numbers and some internal prices? And throw in some samples.”

Duan Jiayang sat up straight and said, “I can get all that. It depends on how much of your bonus you’re using. I think with 1,000 yuan, you can get a lot…”

“1,000? That’s a bit expensive…”

Was 1,000 expensive? She used to buy things without batting an eye, but thinking about using that 1,000-yuan bonus to buy something, she felt a pang of pain.

“It is a bit expensive… There are also some that are seven or eight hundred. Buying one or two for three or four hundred is also good. It’s not that expensive if you don’t buy a set.”

“Awesome, then you ask. We’ll rely on you.”

Duan Jiayang agreed. She smiled and turned back, typing a message to Lin Ke: [Did you give me the bonus?]

LK: [You deserve it.]

Duan Jiayang: [Huh?]

LK: [You’ve worked hard this month. Your parts designs were good, especially the wheel hub. They’ll just follow your revised version from now on.]

Lin Ke’s words weren’t as difficult to understand as Old Zhang’s before. Duan Jiayang immediately understood that the money was hers to take. Duan Jiayang brought her phone closer, pursed her lips, and replied with an “Oh.” Then she went to her friends’ group chat, getting lost in He Xiao’s and Gu Siyu’s praises. She rested her chin on the back of her hand, looked up at her reflection in the mirror, and found herself smiling a little exaggeratedly.

Duan Jiayang put on her headphones. She glanced around the office.

Lin Ke didn’t force her to stay. Duan Jiayang felt sleepy and fell asleep for a while. Yang Ruiqi patted her, telling her it was time to leave, and they weren’t working overtime today. She left the office, and Lin Ke also finished her work and came out. They both got into the same elevator.

The elevator was crowded. Lin Ke was squeezed to the back, and the two were very close. Lin Ke’s fingertip touched her nail. Duan Jiayang quickly moved away. Lin Ke’s hand followed and slipped something into her palm. Duan Jiayang was afraid of being discovered and quickly closed her hand.

When she got out, she opened her hand.

Lin Ke had slipped her a movie ticket.

“?”

Duan Jiayang pushed her car door open. The passenger door closed with a bang. Duan Jiayang got into her car. Lin Ke had bought tickets for the latest popular movie, a sci-fi comedy. She didn’t really like popcorn, so she only bought two cups of bubble tea.

The seats were in the last row, in a corner. The lights dimmed. The movie’s opening was cool and dazzling. It wasn’t 3D, but it was acceptable. However, the effect was short-lived, and the comedic effect became too strong later on. Duan Jiayang couldn’t get into it at all.

The lights in the theater were completely off. The giant screen was showing the colorful and beautiful sci-fi world. Ignoring the plot and looking at the theater, the colorful lights were so intense that it felt like being in a disco. The seats in the last row were higher. Lin Ke lightly touched Duan Jiayang’s fingers on the armrest. She bent her fingers and scraped the back of her hand. In the moment Duan Jiayang hesitated, silenced, and didn’t refuse, Lin Ke’s lips came.

She pressed down the middle armrest. Her lips were pressed against hers. Lin Ke’s hand was on the back of her head, making it easier to find her lips in the dark. As she enticed her, her lips and a low whisper merged. Duan Jiayang couldn’t make a sound. Lin Ke’s breath couldn’t be hurried. They were suppressing themselves to avoid being discovered. Then… they were completely lost in the darkness.

In her ears, there were the explosive sounds of the universe and sci-fi. Duan Jiayang’s consciousness was lost under Lin Ke’s mint-flavored lips. Lin Ke bit her lips one by one. She squeezed her eyes shut. All the illusions and unknowns took on a concrete form…

The universe and black holes were mint-flavored.

Her gaze returned to the screen. Duan Jiayang bit the straw, swallowing to catch her breath. Lin Ke wasn’t doing much better, showing a momentary lack of breath after the intense kiss. She leaned back, propping up her chin and breathing.

The movie was two and a half hours long. For them, it was just the beginning. Later, their lips were pressed together again. It was hard to tell who initiated it. Vaguely, at one point, the light was too dim, and she couldn’t find her lips. Duan Jiayang reached out and pinched Lin Ke’s jaw, instinctively searching for the lips she wanted. Duan Jiayang pressed her face against Lin Ke’s, leaning against her neck. Lin Ke bit her jaw. Her forehead burrowed into Duan Jiayang’s hair, touching her constantly swallowing neck. Several times, she wanted to call out her name, but she was afraid of everyone in the theater and held the sound back between her lips.

Duan Jiayang’s mind was in agony, but her body felt extremely comfortable.

When the movie ended, they were the last ones to leave. Lin Ke showed her her phone. After leaving the movie theater, they went to the floor below to eat. They chose a two-person set meal of pan-fried meat from a highly-rated restaurant.

Lin Ke drove her home. She didn’t mention the kiss, talking about some work matters here and there. Duan Jiayang got home at 9 p.m.

She took a shower, casually draped a towel over her head, and her phone rang. She sat up straight, cleared her throat, and took it outside to answer.

It was Lan Yao calling.

Duan Jiayang looked at her phone over and over, touching her lips.

“I hope I’m not bothering you. I heard from Uncle that you’ve been busy with your design recently.”

“A little,” Duan Jiayang said, feeling a bit awkward speaking. “…Is there something you need?”

Lan Yao was silent for a while. “Let me think about how to say this.”

Duan Jiayang guessed she wanted to talk about what happened last time but didn’t know how to start.

Lan Yao’s voice was soft. “You can try, don’t call me ‘Jiejie,’ Jiayang. Step out of that identity and see. Don’t rush to think about whether we’re a good fit.”

Lan Yao’s tone was very light, and it fell into Duan Jiayang’s ears. Duan Jiayang went out to the balcony. The car was parked there. Duan Jiayang’s hands hung by her sides. She looked at the moon.

She knew in her heart that it wasn’t because they had grown up together and were too familiar to feel anything. By that logic, she and Lin Ke were the most familiar, but they had also developed into this complicated relationship.

The words of rejection were stuck in her throat. Lan Yao said, “My family has also been setting me up on blind dates. Let’s just try to get along as normal people first. If we give up without even trying, it’s better to persevere and then reject. That way, we won’t regret it.”

Duan Jiayang couldn’t refute that. After she and Lin Ke broke up, she had always been alone. She had never been in a relationship or contacted anyone else. In school and after work, she was like a ball being kicked around.

Lan Yao was quietly waiting for an answer. Duan Jiayang thought for a long time before replying.

“Yeah… the starry sky is quite beautiful tonight.”

She heard a door open on the other end of the line. Lan Yao seemed to have gone to the balcony. She looked at the sky and then said, “Yes, a sky full of stars. Jiayang, have you read that book?”

“Natsume Soseki?”

Duan Jiayang knew this one. It was about a confession in the night sky. Natsume Soseki’s student wanted to directly translate a male confession into “I love you,” but Natsume Soseki thought it wasn’t touching enough and changed it to “The moon is beautiful tonight.”

During the time that phrase was popular, Duan Jiayang often saw it, but she still didn’t understand its deeper meaning.

It’s beautiful, so what?

“I’ve read Natsume Soseki’s I Am a Cat.”

“I haven’t read that one.”

“I read it as an elective in Japanese class in college.”

They chatted sentence by sentence, and half an hour passed. Lan Yao said, “I hope I didn’t bother you today.”

Duan Jiayang looked at the time. It was already eleven o’clock.

She said no. They said good night to each other and hung up. They didn’t continue the conversation. Duan Jiayang lay in bed, her arm covering her eyes.

Her heart was pounding. For a moment, she didn’t know who she was letting down.

Who was she betraying, and who was she stealing from?

The door was knocked on twice.

Duan Jiayang pretended not to hear.

Duan Litian asked, “Are you asleep?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Let’s talk for a bit.”

His tone suddenly became earnest, making Duan Jiayang feel uncomfortable all over. She took her arm down and looked at the ceiling.

Duan Litian said from behind the door, “Don’t think I just randomly found a blind date for you. The Lan family is good in every aspect. They have money, status, and most importantly, the Lan family isn’t prejudiced against homosexuals.”

He actually listened to her conversation with Lan Yao. This old thing was so shameless.

Duan Litian saw through what she was thinking and said, “I just took a walk downstairs and happened to see Lin Ke drop you off. The two of you were being so ambiguous, like you were kissing. I was about to come up and find you when I heard you on the phone with Lan Yao.”

He paused, saying with a meaningful tone, “That’s good, Duan Jiayang. Two-timing.”

“Like father, like daughter… It’s all because of your bad parenting that I’m such a terrible person.”

Duan Jiayang was already annoyed. Now, scolding herself, she felt even worse. She bit her lip. “Mind your own business… When people go on blind dates, their parents always say that. They think it’s good without knowing the person, but it’s not the parents getting married. You just want to be the main character in someone else’s marriage through your daughter. Anyway, I don’t need you to meddle. I plan to grow old alone. I’m not getting married in this life.”

Duan Litian said, “Two women can’t get married anyway.”

Duan Jiayang was unconvinced. She propped herself up and insisted on arguing with him. “Who says two women can’t get married… If I get married, I’ll have a wedding of the century. I’ll let the whole world know I’m married. So what if there’s no certificate? People who are going to cheat will cheat whether they have a certificate or not.”

“Oh, I thought you said you weren’t getting married?” Duan Litian retorted coldly. He held the doorknob and glanced inside. Duan Jiayang had rolled over and was lying on her stomach, not looking at him, looking a bit exasperated. After a moment, Duan Jiayang picked up a slipper from the floor and threw it at the door.

Duan Jiayang was so annoyed she could die, unable to make up her mind. Now she couldn’t figure out where the line was. Her dad kept pressuring her every day, saying it was for her own good, but in reality, he was trying to kill her, putting her on a spit to roast.

…

It was just Saturday, and Duan Jiayang hadn’t had a chance to rest yet when she got two invitations. She rejected them both, turning down both Lin Ke and Lan Yao.

She lay at home all morning and didn’t have much of an appetite in the evening, so she made plans with He Xiao and Gu Siyu to go for a drink.

Gu Siyu was too lazy to drive at night, so Duan Jiayang picked them up and drove them there. Gu Siyu recommended a lounge bar, saying it was quiet.

When the three of them arrived, the place was full, so it wasn’t quiet at all.

The song “Mojito” was playing. As soon as Gu Siyu entered, someone greeted her. Gu Siyu was familiar with the place. She told the other two to go up first while she chatted with the owner at the bar.

Their seats were by the window, and the soundproofing was good. They couldn’t hear anyone else. He Xiao brought some braised duck parts and placed them on the table. Gu Siyu had ordered a bucket of vodka mixed with juice.

“Do you want to add more juice? The alcohol content is too high,” Gu Siyu asked.

“Just leave it,” Duan Jiayang said, wanting to drink something with a high alcohol content to relieve her stress. “If you add more, it won’t taste like alcohol.”

“Okay.” Gu Siyu was treating them. She ordered some more snacks. She asked Duan Jiayang about someone.

“Do you know Jin Yuansen?”

Duan Jiayang was chewing on a duck wing tip, licking her lips. The name sounded familiar. She seemed to have met him at a banquet last time. “What’s wrong? He probably knows my dad. The people who know my dad are not good people. They’re worse than pigs and dogs. If you want to know something, I can ask my dad. What do you want to know?”

“Just asking if you know him. I want to know about his character and how fat his wallet is.”

Duan Jiayang asked, “Is he pursuing you?”

“He has a wife,” Gu Siyu said.

Duan Jiayang didn’t understand what she meant. She was naturally sensitive to “homewreckers” and was afraid Gu Siyu was going down the wrong path. “Men like that are no good, especially those who live off women. They’re generous when they get you but won’t spend a penny once they get you into bed. Besides, many of them are not picky and play with both men and women. Many men are sick. And if the other party has a child, I’m telling you, it gets even more complicated and becomes incestuous.”

“No, what are you talking about?” Gu Siyu said with a laugh. “Don’t overthink it. It’s just a small dispute. I’m still considering it. I’m not interested in them as a couple. I just like money.”

Duan Jiayang remembered what her dad had said. He had said that Jin was worse than pigs and dogs, and his wife was very smart. She had seen her twice. She was a great beauty with an amazing figure. This woman was also very smart. Jin looked carefree, but all the money in his family was actually his wife’s. She had always wanted to ask the woman for advice and learn a few tricks. She thought about it for a while and then gave up. Her own mood wasn’t good. She was sullen, so she raised her glass to clink with them, inevitably drinking a few more glasses.

Her alcohol tolerance wasn’t great. After a few sips, she was out of it, feeling dizzy. She turned her head and looked out the window. It was a dark blue color after sunset. “The sky is still so bright,” she said.

He Xiao looked at the time. “It’s late. It’s already ten-thirty.”

Duan Jiayang wanted to drink more. “It’s fine. I don’t get crazy when I’m drunk.”

They chatted and drank, trying to drown their sorrows. As they drank, Duan Jiayang became dizzy and couldn’t stand still. She didn’t have her bag today. Her fingers felt weak and couldn’t hold her phone. Duan Jiayang loved this state of being. She was in a daze, murmuring into He Xiao’s ear, “A sheep with two legs on two boats. What’s the idiom?”

He Xiao couldn’t think of the answer. Gu Siyu said, “A bad end.”

“Wuwu.”

“Help, help, say it again!”

He Xiao sighed and held her up. “Her dad must have caused trouble again.”

“She has such a miserable life as a rich second generation…” Gu Siyu helped her and picked up her phone, which had fallen onto the chair.

Just then, Duan Jiayang’s phone rang.

He Xiao was holding Duan Jiayang up, and Gu Siyu was holding her phone, looking at the screen, not knowing whether to answer it. Gu Siyu said, “I didn’t know Duan Jiayang that long ago. Can you see who this person is?”

He Xiao glanced at the screen and frowned.

“Do you know her?”

He Xiao was unsure. She looked at the name on the screen again. A name and a face came to her mind.

“It seems to be her… no… just someone she used to know. But they haven’t been in touch for a long time.”

“This nickname is a bit unique.” Gu Siyu didn’t answer and waited for the call to hang up automatically. But soon, the call came in again.

After several attempts, Gu Siyu clicked her tongue and answered. “Hello?”

There was no sound on the other end. After a long time, a “hello” came, very cold and deep.

“Where is Duan Jiayang?”

Gu Siyu said, “Duan Jiayang is drunk. Is there something? If not, find her tomorrow.”

The phone was on speakerphone. Duan Jiayang heard it. She swayed unsteadily, still very reactive. Hearing that voice, she stomped her feet in a panic. “You, you tell her to get lost.”

Gu Siyu didn’t relay the message, thinking it was better for Duan Jiayang to say it herself once she was sober.

“Xiao Yang.”

Duan Jiayang mumbled again, “Go back to America.”

“Where are you? I’ll come and get you.” Lin Ke’s voice was very calm, coaxing her gently. “Stay there. I’ll come and pick you up.”

“Don’t want you, don’t want her!” Duan Jiayang tried to grab the phone.

He Xiao tried her best to hold Duan Jiayang up. She recognized the voice and was shocked by her appearance. She thought it was dangerous to hand Duan Jiayang over to her. She pulled on Gu Siyu’s clothes and told her that it would be safer to call a designated driver.

“Please give the phone to her,” Lin Ke’s tone was heavy.

“Who are you?” Gu Siyu asked again.

Lin Ke’s voice was steady. “I’m her girlfriend.”

The phone was on speaker. He Xiao heard it and quickly said, “How is that possible… don’t talk nonsense.”

Lin Ke retorted, “Then who do you say I am?”

He Xiao couldn’t reply. She tried to hold Duan Jiayang’s waist, afraid she would fall to the ground.

Gu Siyu looked at the phone and then at Duan Jiayang, and couldn’t help but let out a laugh. She said, “No way. The nickname she gave you doesn’t sound like a girlfriend. Your relationship can’t be that intimate.”

Lin Ke was a little curious, but mostly impatient. She was in a hurry to know where Duan Jiayang was. “What is it?” she asked.

Gu Siyu said, “You probably don’t want to know.”

“Hmm?”

“Epilepsy.”