The Lost Lamb's Trap - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Stars

The door was knocked again. Duan Jiayang held her phone and went to open it. Gu Siyu had changed and was now wearing her riding gear on top of her swimsuit. “Your clothes are way too sexy,” Gu Siyu said.

Duan Jiayang wasn’t sure who she was talking about. She looked at Gu Siyu, then at herself. They both looked pretty sexy, and she couldn’t tell who had the upper hand.

“This is how you swim.” Duan Jiayang tried to put her phone in her pocket, but there were no pockets in her swimsuit. She rubbed her hand across her waist. She was wearing a tiny white ruffled swimsuit, and she gathered her cover-up around her. “Will people stare at us if we go down like this? Will we look out of place?”

“It’s pitch black. If anyone stares, I’ll punch them. I’ll beat them to a pulp.” Gu Siyu walked ahead. They were about the same height, but Gu Siyu was a little thinner and spoke with more conviction.

The sea was right next to the hotel. There were only a few people in the big pool below. “Aren’t you going to check out the beach?” Duan Jiayang asked.

“Not really interested,” she said.

Duan Jiayang, wearing her flip-flops, sat on a chair, her cover-up still on, her long legs together. She used her phone to order, and the top of the screen still showed the ongoing call. She hit the back button and ordered juice and a snack platter. “Siyu, do you want dessert?” Duan Jiayang called out.

Gu Siyu was in the water and didn’t answer. “There’s coconut milk pudding,” she added.

Gu Siyu swam a lap, then wiped the water from her face. “No thanks, I don’t eat sweets at night.”

Duan Jiayang said “oh.” It was almost a new day. She sent a message to Lan Yao: Lan Yao-jie, my friend came over. I’m with her at the pool.

At this hour, Lan Yao was probably asleep. Duan Jiayang looked up at the hotel rooms. The lights were on. Was Lan Yao sleeping? Which room was Lin Ke in?

Gu Siyu was also looking, marveling at how many people were staying in these expensive rooms, thousands of yuan a night. What a diverse world…

Duan Jiayang’s feet were wet. Gu Siyu splashed her, then leaned on the edge of the pool. “Why are you spacing out? You look like you have a lot on your mind. What’s going on?”

Duan Jiayang sighed softly. It seemed like nothing was wrong. The waiter brought the juice. She handed one to Gu Siyu. Gu Siyu took a sip and said, “This is good. How much is one of these?”

Duan Jiayang looked at the price. “Not much, just over eighty yuan.”

Gu Siyu pursed her lips tightly. “Hold this for me.”

Duan Jiayang held it, confused. “What’s wrong?”

“Hold it tight,” Gu Siyu said. “Don’t spill a single drop. It’s all money. When I’m broke, I’ll come here with a cart and sell juice.”

Duan Jiayang smiled.

Gu Siyu swam another lap, then put her juice on a nearby chair where someone was sitting. Duan Jiayang’s lips parted. The name “Lan” was stuck in her throat. Duan Jiayang sat back down, watching the “end call” button, her finger hesitating. She looked at her phone again. Three minutes ago, Lan Yao had messaged her: I’m coming to find you.

Lan Yao smiled at her. “What are you looking at?”

Duan Jiayang was grateful the lighting here was dim and there was a couple talking nonstop behind them. Otherwise, her embarrassment would be plain to see. She pointed at Gu Siyu, who was still swimming. “My friend.”

“I haven’t met her before,” Lan Yao said.

Duan Jiayang introduced her briefly. Lan Yao was holding a laptop. “Do you still have work to do?” Duan Jiayang asked.

“Yes, just a small proposal. I’ll send it to someone to handle it after I read it, and I’ll check on it Monday. It’s not very important work,” Lan Yao said with a soft laugh. The way she said it made Duan Jiayang feel like “you’re more important.”

Duan Jiayang didn’t want to disturb her work. She bit her lip, clenched her hands, and leaned back, exhausted, closing her eyes. She only opened them when her feet were splashed again. Gu Siyu had come back. She propped herself up and said, “Are you really not going to get in? A couple of laps will help you relax.” Duan Jiayang actually wanted to get in now. She wanted to drown herself, sink to the bottom of the pool.

Just as she was about to get up, Gu Siyu asked her to hand over her juice. When Duan Jiayang passed it to her, Gu Siyu said, “Because of that epileptic from last time?”

Duan Jiayang didn’t know what to say. Gu Siyu stood on the steps, looking down at her own stomach. “Finally, abs. It was worth the workout… When I called you last time, she said she was your girlfriend. I saw you named her ‘Epileptic’ and didn’t believe it at first. Then you started asking me weird questions about what happens to people who two-time.”

Duan Jiayang suddenly understood. No wonder whenever she thought about two-timing, the Chinese idiom “can’t die a good death” popped into her head. It was Gu Siyu who said it. “Siyu. Maybe… we shouldn’t talk about this.”

Gu Siyu frowned. She leaned against the handrail. “Not talking about it? Have you found your answer? You’re not the type to two-time; you’ll crash and burn, and you’ll be scared to death. ” She got out of the pool. “How’s that blind date of yours? He Xiao said he’s good-looking and your neighbor? Did he like you since you were kids?” She looked confused. “Is that epileptic your neighbor too?”

Duan Jiayang bit her lip, breathing out. “She… she’s not my neighbor.” She kicked her foot forward, but it didn’t hit Gu Siyu. She whispered, “I’m not two-timing. I’m not even in a relationship yet…”

“What?” Gu Siyu was surprised. She sat on the chair barefoot and started eating the snacks with a fork. After a few laps, her energy was completely drained, and she was starving.

Gu Siyu, for once, was patient and tried to help. “You’re not even two-timing, and you’re this stressed? I thought you were dating both of them. Have you figured it out yet? How about you choose the one with more money? But your family is rich, so that’s not a good way to choose. Then choose the one who treats you better… Tsk.” Gu Siyu was getting frustrated herself. “How does the blind date treat you?”

“Very well. He’s great,” Duan Jiayang replied.

“And the epileptic?” Gu Siyu asked.

Duan Jiayang wanted to say, Do you know? Sometimes it seems like only two people are talking, but there are actually three people in the room and four people involved.

She lay back and forcefully hit the end call button. She looked up to distract herself and saw a white figure on a lounge chair across the way.

“So, silence means yes,” Gu Siyu said. She tilted her head and asked Duan Jiayang seriously, “Don’t avoid the question. I’m trying to help. Who do you like most?”

“It’s not…” It wasn’t a matter of who she liked. She had already decided what to do. Lan Yao was great, but she was not for her, and she would make that clear. The other person… she hadn’t thought about her. She wasn’t dumb enough to talk about it in this situation.

At that moment, Lan Yao looked over. “Has your friend eaten? Should I take her to get a late-night snack?”

Gu Siyu’s mouth instantly stopped. The situation became chaotic, and the atmosphere was visibly awkward. Duan Jiayang felt like she was about to bite through her inner lip. Lan Yao finished her work, closed her laptop, and said, “Are you two done talking?”

“Pretty much.”

The nightlife on the beach went on until three or four in the morning. Since they were in their swimsuits, they were too lazy to go out, so they ordered a private chef from the hotel. Duan Jiayang put her cover-up on and dragged her body forward. The streetlights shone on Gu Siyu, and Duan Jiayang saw her abs. She felt a little envious. Gu Siyu gritted her teeth. “No wonder you’re so out of it.”

Duan Jiayang also felt speechless and remained silent. She thoughtfully didn’t tell Gu Siyu that her call was never ended, and the other person in the conversation was sitting right across from them…

She was still thinking when they arrived at the restaurant, or rather, she didn’t need to think at all, because she saw a very familiar face. Lin Ke. Lin Ke’s table was in the back, and the lighting wasn’t exactly dim, but because of the angle, the light wasn’t bright enough to see her whole face. Lin Ke was facing their direction. When they sat down, Duan Jiayang wanted to turn her back, but Gu Siyu walked in front of them, so she, Lan Yao, and Lin Ke ended up face to face.

Lan Yao put her laptop on the table. Because of the conversation at the pool, they were extremely awkward and didn’t introduce each other. The three of them had a very difficult conversation.

Lan Yao: “What do you do, Miss Gu?”

Gu Siyu: “I work on resolving emotional and property disputes between couples. As long as the payment is sufficient, I can ensure both parties will hate each other to death and never see each other again.”

Lan Yao: “A lawyer?”

Gu Siyu: “Not so high-end. More like a folk-level professional.”

Lan Yao: “A break-up master?”

Gu Siyu: “You could say that. My company’s services are only for the wealthy.”

Lan Yao thought for a moment, then slid her business card over. “Can I have your business card? Just in case I need it one day.”

Gu Siyu gnawed on a crab leg. She looked at Duan Jiayang, who was staring down at the table, wishing she could hide under it. “My company is small, and I’m the only one right now, so I haven’t had business cards made. I can give you my WeChat ID,” Gu Siyu said.

Lan Yao turned her laptop around. Gu Siyu’s finger typed out her account name. She searched, then pushed the laptop toward Lan Yao, who added her. Gu Siyu wasn’t a “break-up master” at all. She was a self-proclaimed “female con artist,” a “jerk killer” who specialized in seducing cheating men and then working with their wives to get all their money. It was a new business, and she had just landed her first deal. Gu Siyu continued to eat. “I’m pretty busy lately. I’ll let you know when I’m on my second deal.”

“Okay,” Lan Yao said with a slight smile. “Just let me know when you’re free.”

After dinner, Gu Siyu got up. As she pulled a napkin, her eyes scanned the area behind her. She had seen Lin Ke before, but it was dark, and she wasn’t interested in people, assuming they’d never meet again. The memory was fleeting. A month later, seeing her again, she looked familiar. Gu Siyu took another look. She thought Duan Jiayang wouldn’t be dumb enough to create such a love triangle. Otherwise, this wasn’t a blind date; it was walking into a fire, being roasted alive.

The three of them went back to their rooms in silence. Duan Jiayang lay on the bed, her mind a blank. She wanted to take a shower but was too exhausted. She rubbed her face over and over. She took out her phone. The call had ended half an hour ago. She didn’t dare to think about what had just happened. Her head ached. She lay on her stomach, biting her arm. Lin Ke hadn’t sent her any more messages. Her phone was silent. She fell asleep, still lying on her stomach.

She woke up early the next day at 7:30 a.m. She took off her swimsuit and hung it on the wall, realizing how sexy they were, with very little fabric and a lot of strings. In the morning, she changed into a white, form-fitting dress with a square neckline and puffed sleeves, the hem just barely covering her thighs. She put her foot on the edge of the bed to apply sunscreen. Duan Jiayang knocked on Gu Siyu’s door. Gu Siyu was wearing a black cropped t-shirt that showed off her stomach.

“I’m not going to hang out with you guys anymore,” Gu Siyu said.

“Why?” Duan Jiayang asked, confused.

Gu Siyu said lazily, “Hanging out with you just feels dangerous for some reason.”

“…” There was no point in trying to reason with her. “I think…”

“You go on your blind date,” Gu Siyu said, stretching. “I’ll be heading back later.”

Duan Jiayang felt like crying. “Siyu… I, I, me too…”

“No wonder He Xiao said you weren’t acting right.” Gu Siyu patted her on the shoulder solemnly. “You choose your own path. If I stay here, your path will only get more difficult, and third wheels never have a good ending.”

Gu Siyu had no morals. She said, “Don’t be so moralistic. They’re all pursuing you. You’re just making a choice. Don’t act like a jerk when you haven’t even committed to a relationship yet. If you have to, try both of them. See which one suits you better, and choose that one.”

Duan Jiayang looked at her in despair. It was true. Gu Siyu couldn’t do anything for her here, and her questions were more shocking than the last. Sometimes, she pushed her to the edge. What Gu Siyu said was logical, but…

“Don’t let people calling you a two-timer make you feel like a jerk. You’re just choosing,” Gu Siyu advised. “Look at me. I only go after money, so I don’t need morals. Besides, what’s it to you if your blind date and the epileptic fight? Don’t be a fool and get played. You haven’t even gotten into a relationship yet, and you’re already getting eaten alive… Well, I guess if they eat you, it’s not a loss for you either.”

“Yeah.”

Isn’t it always calm before a storm? She just had to wait quietly. Whether she lived or died, in the end, she would be dead.

“You’re right.”

“Want me to give you a ride?”

“No.” Gu Siyu paused again. “If they start fighting, don’t try to stop them. I’m afraid you’ll get beaten.”

“…”

In the morning, the three of them had breakfast together. It was too dark last night, and Gu Siyu hadn’t been able to see much. Today, she made a point of looking closely. No wonder Duan Jiayang was so indecisive. Lan Yao was stunning, a beautiful and smart woman.

Duan Jiayang, no matter who she was with, was like a little lamb. When she was confused, others would naturally stare, ready to take a bite.

In the morning, they went to an island. The island was small. They rode bicycles around it, then got on a cruise ship to see the sights. When they reached the diving area, they were ready to get into the water. Duan Jiayang didn’t know if Lan Yao had seen Lin Ke. She hadn’t seen her in the morning and was trying to act like nothing had happened. She hadn’t seen her, so she thought Lin Ke hadn’t come. But when she turned back on the boat, she saw Lin Ke standing at the bow, wearing a pair of light-colored sunglasses. You could see her eyes, calm. She wasn’t speaking, and the sea breeze was blowing through her hair. Her gaze was fixed on something far away.

“Jiayang.” Lan Yao held up her camera. “Do you want to take a picture at the stern?”

Duan Jiayang turned around. “Sure.” She walked to the stern, holding her skirt down against the wind. Lan Yao knelt slightly to take pictures. When they got to the top deck, Duan Jiayang glanced down and saw Lin Ke leaning on the railing, talking to someone. The person had straight black hair. The boat’s engine was too loud to hear what they were saying, but when the person turned their head, they were smiling. As she watched, Lin Ke looked over at her. Duan Jiayang quickly looked away.

Lan Yao handed her a pair of binoculars. As Duan Jiayang adjusted the focus, Lan Yao said, “Jiayang, do you not really like playing by the sea?”

Duan Jiayang paused. “It’s not that. It’s just that I stayed on an island for half a month once. That island was… indescribably awful.”

“When was that?”

“The summer of my freshman year,” Duan Jiayang said seriously. “It’s great being with you. You have everything planned out, so all I have to do is enjoy myself.”

“Good,” Lan Yao said. “It’s okay if this place isn’t fun… We can go somewhere else on the next long holiday.”

Duan Jiayang looked through the binoculars but didn’t see any marine life, only rows of boats. “Okay. The National Day holiday is coming up, right?” Lan Yao leaned against the railing and smiled softly.

After getting off the boat, they went to the diving area, where it was crowded. Lan Yao had brought her own diving suit. They went to their separate changing rooms. Just as Duan Jiayang swiped her card to enter and opened the door, someone came in behind her. “Lan…” Lin Ke’s appearance was sudden. She wasn’t deliberately following her, but she would suddenly show up just enough to be impossible to ignore. She would watch her. She would stare at her. And she would also ignore her.

Duan Jiayang couldn’t dive, and this was her first time. Lin Ke probably couldn’t either. Lin Ke had always covered herself up. When she went to the pool with her classmates, Lin Ke would sit on the side and watch her clothes. Lan Yao didn’t know what was going on inside, and Jiayang couldn’t yell for her. Lin Ke didn’t say anything, just looked up at Duan Jiayang and walked in, closing the door. The small space was just the two of them.

Duan Jiayang’s heart was raging, like a turbulent sea. Lin Ke backed her into a corner. Duan Jiayang retreated. Lin Ke lifted her leg, her black sneakers kicking Duan Jiayang’s white sandals, as if to vent her frustration. Duan Jiayang didn’t move. Lin Ke kept kicking until Duan Jiayang’s feet were slightly apart. Duan Jiayang’s back was against the wall. She lowered her head, her chin resting on Lin Ke’s shoulder. Lin Ke breathed. Duan Jiayang breathed too. Their thin clothes were pressed together. At this moment, it felt like a damn secret tryst.

Duan Jiayang didn’t dare to breathe, afraid Lin Ke would hear her, and afraid that the person waiting outside would come in. Lin Ke turned and kissed her on the neck, then stood up, looking straight at her. “Are you going to change? Do you want to keep her waiting?”

Lin Ke was blocking the way. How could she change? Duan Jiayang squeezed past her and lifted her skirt, but she felt unsafe. She unzipped her dress, her back to Lin Ke, and changed into the tight diving suit.

Lin Ke. What was wrong with her? She closed her eyes. Lin Ke wrapped her arms around her waist from behind and pulled the zipper all the way up. The suit was a simple, color-blocked design of black and white. Lin Ke left a kiss on her neck. It was a mess. None of the three of them were normal. It wasn’t that they were tangled up together, but… they had all started to twist themselves into knots.

Duan Jiayang came out. Lan Yao was waiting for her under a tree, a patch of sunlight on her shoulder. Duan Jiayang felt a sense of relief. She walked quickly, her soul feeling like it was being pulled back, stumbling with every step. Duan Jiayang blamed her shoes, so she took them off and carried them.

On the boat, the instructor explained the swimming area. Lan Yao jumped in first. Duan Jiayang was afraid, but Lan Yao waited below with her arms open. Duan Jiayang closed her eyes and jumped.

Throughout the day, they ate, drank, and played. Gu Siyu sent Duan Jiayang a message at noon, saying she was driving back. She was free and uninhibited. Duan Jiayang could almost see her filling up her motorcycle with gas and riding wherever she pleased.

Duan Jiayang was sinking, sinking into the deep sea. Lan Yao held her hand and pulled her deeper, naturally holding her waist from behind. There were fish in the sea, but not many. A few scattered fish were startled and swam away wildly. In the water, Lan Yao didn’t seem as polite and intellectual as she was on land. She was the one who went into the sea first. But it felt like Duan Jiayang was pulling her down with her.

Duan Jiayang couldn’t dive and instinctively struggled to go up, her legs like a mermaid’s tail. She was about to surface and saw the light, but she was just short. Lan Yao swam over and pulled her down, showing her the coral. People are instinctively afraid of death. Yesterday, she wanted to drown herself. Today, in the sea, she didn’t have the courage to pull out her oxygen tube. She followed Lan Yao closely. Lin Ke had also gotten into the water and swam past her, with an instructor following her. She created a wave. Duan Jiayang’s oxygen mask was filled with her own heavy breathing. Lan Yao held her waist, and they surfaced together after a long time, the intimacy crossing a line.

Duan Jiayang felt too suffocated and pulled down the collar of her suit. As she climbed onto the boat, she pulled off her oxygen mask and took a deep breath, then touched her face and neck. There was a red streak on her finger. It wasn’t bl00d. Lin Ke had left a lipstick mark on her neck. She tried to rub it off, but the lipstick just smeared into a red patch on her skin, a hickey.

Duan Jiayang lowered her head, covering her neck. Lan Yao’s shadow fell over her. She took a big breath, feeling short of oxygen. Lan Yao squatted down and made her look up. “Take it easy. Don’t get poisoned.”

“I’m fine… I won’t die.”

In the evening, the trip ended. Duan Jiayang bought a bunch of local specialties. They weren’t to her taste, and she didn’t want to eat them, so she planned to bring them back for her colleagues. She took out her dad’s card, but Lan Yao paid for everything. They would be heading back the next morning, so they didn’t go out that night.

Back at the hotel, she packed her things, took out some cards from her bag, and labeled all the things she had bought. For the last bag, she hesitated, holding the pen, wondering whether to write a name or a letter. Her phone rang again. Before the seconds ran out, the call ended. Duan Jiayang stared at it for a few seconds, sighed, and continued packing. Then a text message came in: I’m coming up to find you.

Duan Jiayang swallowed. Her throat was dry and sore, like she had been on the beach for too long, breathing in rough sand. She put the pen back, not a single word written, and replied: I’ll come down.

LK: Downstairs. Go down twelve steps, and you’ll see me.

Duan Jiayang: Do I have to go?

LK: Look at the first message.

Duan Jiayang scrolled back. The few words already showed signs of being out of control. After that night, a strange, uncontrollable emotion had taken over her. She always felt powerless, just falling. She was exhausted, lying on the bed, wishing someone would step on her so she could feel a twisted, clear pain when she was numb. That way, her whole body would feel comfortable. Was Lin Ke the person who would give her that blow?

There was a light on the stairs. Duan Jiayang dragged her body, walking slowly. She saw Lin Ke immediately. Lin Ke was holding her phone, looking up. “Afraid she’ll see us?” she asked softly. Her words were precise and provocative. “Just like during the day, afraid that I’d see you with her?” “Is it fun, going back and forth between two women?” she said.

Duan Jiayang’s heart trembled. Before, she would have said without a hint of guilt, “What’s it to you? I didn’t get involved with you.” But after having that physical encounter with her, it was no longer fun. She felt the suffocating pressure of being underwater. She couldn’t adapt. After what happened, Duan Jiayang couldn’t be righteous. Lin Ke’s two short sentences had backed her into a corner, making it feel like a vulgar, messy love triangle. She wanted to run away, but her feet were nailed to the ground.

“Did you come here just to… watch me? How did you know I was here?” Duan Jiayang asked.

Lin Ke said, “You’re the one who’s been watching me.” Her tone was calm but full of pressure. “…Are you afraid of me, or are you afraid of both of us forcing you to choose one?” But… she had already chosen before.

“That’s enough,” Duan Jiayang said, trying to change the subject. “You’re stalking me. You… you’re doing this…”

She didn’t have the ability to juggle two people. Being with anyone felt like cheating. A normal person, tortured by guilt for too long, would lose their sense of shame and become a jerk. But she was becoming clearer, her heart wasn’t hardening, and she was trembling uncontrollably. The clearer she became, the more she fell. She couldn’t find the stop button.

Lin Ke said, “She tried to claim you today, but I didn’t make a scene. I was gentle and polite. Don’t you think I was well-behaved?” She thought for a moment. “I was gentle to her.” She was respectful to Lan Yao, but she took advantage of her.

Duan Jiayang tried to pull the conversation back. “Stop talking about that. How did you know I was here?” The stair railing was clean and spotless. She didn’t lean on it. She went up a step, and Duan Jiayang backed away. Lin Ke stopped and said in a gentle voice, “I looked at your WeChat step count. I know when you left and when your step count updated. I estimated your speed and figured out where you were.” She was being open, telling her all her methods, but her methods were so obsessive. “Are you mad? Then don’t play with her next time… I was a little sad, too. We said we’d go to an island together, you and I…”

“Stop talking,” Duan Jiayang said, glaring at her. At that moment, a call came in on her phone, and the sound echoed through the quiet stairwell. Duan Jiayang fumbled with her phone, frantically choosing to answer.

Lan Yao asked, “Where are you?”

Duan Jiayang was about to hang up. Lin Ke grabbed her by the neck and pulled her in, her voice filled with a long, drawn-out affection. “Jiayang…” She kissed her lips. Duan Jiayang’s mind was screaming no, but as Lin Ke’s lips came down, her mind was a mess. Their lips met. They were shockingly soft, and her teeth were weak. Her hands were pinned behind her back. The phone fell to the ground. Duan Jiayang tried to see if the call had ended, but it was still going, one second, two seconds, three…

Lin Ke’s kiss was airtight and skillful. She licked Jiayang’s lips, making her feel tingly. Then she became gentle and delicate, catering to all of Jiayang’s senses. The moment Jiayang let her guard down, she conquered. Jiayang was invaded, her whole body controlled by Lin Ke, so soft that she lost control. She remembered Lin Ke’s provocation. The last time was barely enough to quench her thirst… Lin Ke continued to press her lips, trying to grab her waist. Duan Jiayang was gasping, unable to breathe. Her lips were about to be eaten, and she was going to die.

Duan Jiayang couldn’t take it. The loss of control felt like drowning in the sea. The buoyancy pulled her up, and the pressure pushed her down. Her body was being torn apart. The invading scent was fresh. Lin Ke had specifically sprayed perfume. It was a cold, summery scent. Her tongue was numb from being sucked on, but every time she was about to fall, Lin Ke would hold her neck.

Lin Ke was jealous. Because they didn’t go diving together, she was getting it all back now. She left her lips and started to nibble on her neck. Her bl00d boiled and swelled. Duan Jiayang should have rejected her, but in that moment, she trembled uncontrollably. Lin Ke’s fingers hooked her lower abdomen, touching her waist.

“Don’t kiss me here… There are cameras.”

Lin Ke paused, her voice soft. She bit her ear. “Then let’s go to your room? There’s a couch, right… I’ll help you relax. You can leave first thing in the morning. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Duan Jiayang’s body trembled. Lin Ke’s hand pulled away. Duan Jiayang held onto the railing. Lin Ke picked up the phone. She said to Duan Jiayang’s ear in a voice meant only for the two of them, “Little lamb, what’s wrong? Why are you so soft again?”

Duan Jiayang closed her eyes, unable to think about what the person on the phone might be thinking. Lin Ke was going too far, way too far… She parted her lips to speak but stopped herself. Lin Ke was seducing her, and there was nothing she could do. She was too busy sinking.

Duan Jiayang hit her, but not on the face. She pulled at Lin Ke’s hair, pulling weakly. Duan Jiayang pushed her away and went upstairs. After a short while, Duan Jiayang came back down to get her phone. The call had ended three minutes ago. Duan Jiayang’s mind was blank. She looked at Lin Ke.

Lin Ke said, “Should I go up with you?”

“Don’t you dare!!”

Duan Jiayang grabbed her phone and ran back up. She felt for her room key. Thankfully, she hadn’t dropped it, otherwise, the door would be locked, and she would have nowhere to escape. At the door, she felt something was wrong. She looked up. Lan Yao was leaning against the door. Lan Yao was looking at her, a kind of inexpressible sadness in her eyes.

Duan Jiayang put her hand behind her back. Her expression was stiff, and she couldn’t adjust it. She timidly called out, “Lan Yao-jie.” Lan Yao hummed and smiled gently at her.

Duan Jiayang pressed her lips together. They were stinging. She couldn’t tell if the marks were visible. She lowered her head and took out her room key. Just as she was about to swipe it, Lan Yao said, “…Jiayang, can I kiss you?”

Her lips, which Lin Ke had just kissed, were burning. Her heart raced. Duan Jiayang’s eyes widened in shock, as if they were about to pop out of her sockets. Her heart was pounding painfully against her chest, beating like a drum, thump thump thump. Hyperventilating would cause poisoning. Would a racing heart kill her?

Duan Jiayang turned her face to look at her, unable to believe it. Her gaze went over Lan Yao’s shoulder and landed on the person at the bottom of the stairs. Lin Ke was walking toward them, step by step. Lan Yao moved to block her view. She said again, “I want to kiss you.”

Ding. The tight strings of all three people broke.

And she, Duan Jiayang, was the one who started it all.