Chapter 38: Threat
The hotel was not big. It was located near the bus station, and the entrance was narrow. A red plastic cloth was wrapped around a square iron frame. A corner was broken, and the light from the white incandescent light was shining through. A hazy halo was flickering in the night, and it was illuminating the simple and plain name of the shop.
The clerk was half-leaning under the counter and was dozing. The TV was playing on his phone, and the dim light was mixed with a blurry and indistinct human voice. Su Yu gently knocked on the table.
The clerk immediately woke up and looked at them. “Hello, are you staying here?”
“Yeah, a double room.” Su Yu said without much thought.
“A double room? Our double rooms are all full. I’m sorry.”
“Then two single rooms…”, he licked his lips. The girl was holding his shoulder, and the faint fragrance on her body was as if it had been fermented by alcohol. It still smelled fresh. It was a familiar smell that he had gotten used to, but it was stronger, and it was teasing his emotions like alcohol.
“A single room, thank you.”
The person next to him was suddenly bold and had ignored the clerk’s ambiguous and unclear gaze. Her hand was faster than his. She had registered the information, had paid the money, and had thrown the key into her bag.
She had turned her head to look at him, and her tone was casual, and there was a hint of a gritted-teeth meaning. The red from the wine that had faded was rising behind her ear.
“Hey, are you going or not?”
He Mu Qing had turned her head and was staring at him. Her light brown eyes were misty, and her voice was slightly trembling. “I’m sleepy… I want to sleep.”
A heart was hanging high in the air, and the sweat in her palm was wet and sticky.
The half of the fair and white that was exposed from the slightly wrinkled sleeve was held.
“Walk slowly. The stairs here are not very sturdy.”
“Oh, I’m not a child anymore.” She had swallowed, and her chest was as if a little deer were pounding. It had stepped on the yellow and withered grass stalks, but it was as if it had been revived, and it had sprouted from the soil.
…
The key was in the lock for a long time before it had opened the door. The air was a little stuffy, and there was no strange smell in the room. He had opened the light, and it was a warm and yellow wooden floor. The window was tightly closed, and the thick and cold-proof door curtain was old. The originally transparent and cold-proof door curtain had turned a dark yellow.
He Mu Qing had lowered her eyes and had seen his shadow covering her from behind. She had thrown down the bag in her hand, and her heel had casually kicked off her shoes. Her slender and fair fingers were tying her hair, and she had pulled off a few rubber bands. Her dark and smooth long hair was draped over her shoulders. When she had bent down, her waist was thin and tender, and it was whiter than snow.
“I’m going to bed first.”
She had supported herself with the shoe cabinet and had walked to the bedroom with her bare feet on the wooden floor. Her slightly swaying steps had revealed a hint of a not-so-sober laziness. It was as if she really didn’t want to care about anything. She was really tired.
“Aren’t you going to take a shower? The owner said there’s hot water here.”
Su Yu had followed behind and had packed up the shoes that she had taken off and had been crookedly on the side.
“I’m tired.”
He had looked at the little girl, who was always lively and enthusiastic, and her shoulders were drooping. She had lowered her head and had disappeared behind the ajar door.
He had sighed and had rubbed the bridge of his nose. He had walked to the shower. The orange-yellow bath light was on, and the sound of trickling water was heard.
…
Su Yu had come out with his wet hair, and the water droplets were sliding down the upturned ends of his hair and into the hollow of his thin and chiseled collarbone. His skin, which had been scalded by the hot water, had turned from white to red.
He had found a clean cup in the kitchen and had wanted to pour a glass of water. A panicked and helpless cry had suddenly come from the bedroom. The owner of the voice was as if she were in a nightmare that she couldn’t get rid of. He had almost thought that He Mu Qing had already fallen asleep.
He had immediately put down the cup, and the towel had been casually thrown away. He had rushed into the bedroom and had immediately turned on the light. He had been stunned for a moment. The bedroom was not big, and there was a bed and a bedside table.
The first thing he had seen was the pure white bedding that was commonly used in hotels. It was like a marshmallow that had been puffed up on the bed. The wrinkles from the frantic struggle were still there, and the slightly bulging and undulating surface was spreading to the corner.
He had looked up and had seen the girl hugging the blanket and was curled up in a corner of the wall, which could give people a sense of security. Her whole body was hidden under the fabric, and her messy and dark hair was like seaweed, and it was draped down. A pair of light-colored eyes were exposed, and the corners of her eyes were wet and red, and a mist was lingering. At that moment, she had held him tightly.
“What’s wrong?”
The pair of wet eyes had blinked, and it seemed that she was still in a state of shock. But the person in question had not spoken.
“Is there a mouse or something?”
Su Yu had touched his chin and had looked around. The circuits of the old house had all been greatly modified, and many of the corners of the walls were broken. The complex and intricate lines had been moved over, and there were many dark and small holes in the corners, which were all covered by the decoration.
He had seen He Mu Qing nod, and her round eyes had rolled. They were soft and fluffy, and she was licking him like a cat. He always felt that the wet and smooth touch had reached his heart. It was a kind of a pureness that made people let down their guard. And besides, he had a natural trust in the girl.
He had raised his foot and had walked over. He had held a corner of the bedding and had straightened the messy bedsheet. His knees had climbed onto the bed, and his hand had gone under the blanket. There was a kind of a warmth that had been baked. He had looked up and had met the girl’s soft gaze again. He had suddenly realized that the girl was now curled up under this blanket. He had immediately withdrawn his hand.
“Cough cough… are you okay?”, he had coughed twice, and his exquisite features were proper. His expression was serious, and he had asked.
Su Yu had known that the girl had always been afraid of these small things that were hidden in the dark. She was so afraid of cockroaches and mice. Especially in her hometown, the well-developed mice were almost as big as small cats.
Once, a mouse had suddenly rushed past the two of them. The girl had hung on him and had refused to come down. It was a bit of a contrast to her usual casual personality.
“I’m scared. It ran out from under the bed.”
“The mice here should be quite afraid of people. They’re not like the ones at home. Don’t be nervous.”
She was staring at him without speaking, and her eyes were blinking. The alcohol should have long since worn off. But her face was still red, and in the cloudy light, it was a bit like a ripe apple.
“Aren’t you sleepy? Go to sleep. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
Su Yu had smiled and had looked at the chair and the bed. He had only found a coat. So he had reached out and had wanted to tidy up the blanket for He Mu Qing. His knees were on the soft bed, and he had moved forward a little. The space between the two of them had been squeezed again.
He Mu Qing’s body, which was leaning against the wall, had slid down a little, and her gaze had also lowered. Her dazed eyes had slid into the side of his neck, which had two buttons undone. She had seen the distinct and neat lines, and her heart was as if a red balloon were expanding. It was as if it would explode in the next second, and the sticky and hot juice would be all over her.
Her breathing was tight, and her legs were bent and were under the blanket. Her toes were on the bedsheet.
The stuffy and humid air in the room had not yet been cleared. The window had been tightly closed for some reason. She had wrinkled her nose, and the unique masculine scent was rich.
Her heart was beating faster. The scent was as if it would kill this heart of hers, which had been restless since before he had pushed open the door.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”, Su Yu had pulled at the blanket and had found that it was held by He Mu Qing and was motionless. He had curled his lips helplessly, and his hand was on the back of her head, and it had replaced the cold and icy white wall.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m always here.”
He Mu Qing seemed to have really believed it. She had let go of the blanket, and she had peeked her head out from behind like a little squirrel. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were as bright red as if they were about to drip with blood. She was so delicate and beautiful that it was as if she would drip with water.
She was propping up his hand and was leaning back. She was lying on her back on the bed, and her eyes were always staring at him. A quiet and secret, half-dark and unclear light was flowing.
Seeing that she was sleeping well, Su Yu had finally let out a sigh of relief. He had scratched the back of his neck. The blush on her cheeks had not faded, and he had thought that she was feeling stuffy and uncomfortable. “Have some water and then go to sleep. You’ve had so much wine. It would be strange if you weren’t uncomfortable.”
His collar was cool. He had lowered his eyes and had seen his half-open collar. Vaguely, it was as if a hot gaze were sweeping over him. He had frowned and had felt that it was inappropriate. He had secretly cursed himself for being careless. The two of them were not the same as before. When people grew up, their thoughts would become complicated. If they thought too much, there would slowly be a barrier and a sensitivity, and they had to be avoided.
Whether it was physiological or psychological, what was wrong had to be corrected immediately. The rigid and proper framework was restraining everyone’s behavior. To cross the line was a sin, and to be ambiguous was the same sin.
His Adam’s apple had rolled. He had looked at her half-drunk and hazy eyes, and he had forcefully suppressed his words. He had sighed. Since he had said that he would talk about it tomorrow, then he might as well leave it for tomorrow.
So his speed of getting up had quickened, as if he wanted to clear something. He also didn’t know why this emotion had suddenly become so strong. It was as if if he stayed for another second, he would be in prison, and the quagmire would be pulling him back.
“Su Yu…”
She had called his name, and he had subconsciously answered and had raised his head. He had wanted to see her eyes clearly, so he had lowered his head.
In the end, he had not been able to see her eyes clearly. His neck had been held without any warning, and his unsteady body had fallen towards the side that was using force. His vision was swaying, and for a moment, he had supported himself by the side of the other person’s ear.
The air had been stagnant at this moment, and the temperature had risen in their intertwined breaths.
“Mu… Mu Qing?”
He had bitten his lower lip and had woken up from the pain.
“I’m still scared…”
The her under him was still quietly staring at him. After a long while, her red lips had parted, and her voice had come over, and it seemed to be weak and powerless. “Don’t go. Okay?”
“Okay, I won’t go.”
Su Yu was a little out of breath. Two slender arms were tightly on his neck. He could only lie on her in an awkward posture, and his head was almost buried in her chest. Fortunately, there was a layer of a blanket, but he could vaguely feel the soft and tender softness, and the warm and fragrant warmth was coming from the deep part.
“Aren’t you awake yet? I’ll get you some water. You can let me go first, okay?”
His tone was gentle. He looked at her face, which was red to the point of dripping with blood. He had thought that it was the alcohol that was coming back, and he had not dared to use too much force. He had struggled a little.
“Shh! Don’t move…”
She was holding his collar and was looking at his face. She had slightly raised her head, and her slender eyebrows were furrowed together. Her light brown eyes were staring at him without blinking. She was gently biting his ear.
“It wouldn’t be good if others heard, hmm?”
The light bulb above was dim yellow, and the somewhat aging circuit was not very stable. It would occasionally flicker and was not soundproof. The snow-white walls had already turned yellow, and they were not soundproof. He could vaguely hear the clinking sound of the tenant next door. There was even a faint sound of a TV. He didn’t know what they were doing, but his hands and feet were involuntarily lightened, and he was also afraid of being heard by the other side.
He had come back to his senses, and his nerves had suddenly stiffened. He had slowly lowered his head, and his dark pupils were contracted, as if he had suddenly realized something.
He had looked at the girl’s face, which was covered by his shadow. Her wine-colored and flushed expression was as blurry as melted wax.
He had been too relieved. The inherent impression was very harmful. So he was completely unguarded with her, as if he were treating a little cat that was in his arms. In the blink of an eye, it had turned into a cold and smooth snake, and it was coiling around his neck, and its tongue was licking his cheek.
He had looked at the girl’s lips, which were slowly curved up, with an almost-unbelievable look, and he had suddenly understood.
She was threatening him.
