Chapter 67: A Rotten Good Heart Beneath Bad Skin

Outside the window stretched utter darkness, with dust caked along the edges of the panes.

The furniture in the first-floor living room looked worn and outdated. The television and sofa were both draped under dust cloths. The flowers in the vase on the table had long withered into dried husks. A layer of grime dulled the chandelier overhead, casting only a faint, murky glow.

It didn’t look like a place where anyone had lived in a long time.

Lu Huan narrowed her eyes and scanned the room, her fingers tightening into fists. Tentatively, she called out.

She waited a few seconds in place, but no one responded. With that, she shifted her feet and crossed to the cabinet beside the living room.

Its style appeared to be from a decade or more ago—popular back then. The carved wooden patterns had been blurred over by the passage of time.

Several photo frames sat atop it.

Lu Huan noticed them and looked closer.

Dust coated the surface of the frames, but it was easy enough to make out the family portrait of three people inside.

A man and a woman crouched on either side, smiling as they held the little girl between them. The girl looked dazed and no more than two years old, just starting to learn how to walk.

It was immediately clear that the woman was Bai You—her face radiant with a smile, far more vibrant than in her memorial portrait.

It wasn’t hard to guess that the girl in the middle and the man beside her were Bai Jin and her father.

Lu Huan shifted her gaze to the frame on the other side. Its fresh edging and spotless surface stood in stark contrast to the surrounding decay.

All the others had clearly been there for years, but this one looked like it had just been placed.

In it, two women sat by a riverbank, gazing at each other.

Qin Dian and Bai You.

They looked to be in their early twenties, young and full of life, surrounded by lush trees and flowing water.

The way they looked at each other… Something flashed through Lu Huan’s mind.

Suddenly, a question she’d never considered before struck her—was their relationship really just that of classmates and friends?

But she didn’t have time to dwell on it. Footsteps sounded from upstairs.

Lu Huan looked up at the sound. All she caught was a fleeing silhouette at the end of the second-floor corridor, along with a glimpse of curving dark hair.

Her first thought was Bai Jin. Without much hesitation, she called out her name and headed for the stairs. There, she spotted several drops of blood on the steps.

Her pupils contracted slightly. She quickened her pace and pursued straight into the room the shadow had vanished into.

“Bai Jin.”

The room was unlit, lit only by the sliver of light seeping through the door, which stood a quarter open. It was nearly empty—just a bare bed frame and an empty wardrobe.

No one was there.

A strange scent lingered in the air. Inhaling it for even a few seconds made her head spin.

This wasn’t right. It was…

Even as the thought spun through Lu Huan’s mind, the last trace of light behind her vanished.

The door had been shut.

The entire room plunged into pitch blackness. Lu Huan sensed something was wrong and took a step back. At that moment, a warm, soft body wrapped around her from behind.

At the same time, a familiar, soft voice whispered in her ear.

“Sister, you’ve finally come to find me.”

Lu Huan recognized the voice at once—it was Bai Jin. She opened her mouth to speak, but in the next instant, a hand clamped over her mouth and nose. “…!”

It felt like a rough rope had tightened around her throat. Her body instinctively fought for air, forcing her to inhale the chemical scent from the cloth.

It was as if a thousand pounds of sandbags had been strapped to her limbs. Even the slightest movement took every ounce of strength she had. Her arms and legs gradually lost all power to resist.

“Urgh…”

Numbness flooded her body in an instant. Her already dim vision swirled into chaos, her thoughts tangling into a hopeless mess.

Finally, her consciousness faded, plunging her into endless darkness.

In the last second before she blacked out completely, a few words slithered into her ears like the whispers of a venomous serpent, luring her into a terrifying abyss.

Once she stopped struggling entirely and went limp, Bai Jin held her close, gently patting her back with obsessive devotion, as if cradling a long-coveted treasure. “Don’t be afraid, Sister…”

“I won’t hurt you.”

—

A fierce wind howled through the night, bending the slender branches outside until they bowed under the strain. The house fared no better; gusts poured through an open window on the first floor.

On the cluttered cabinet, the photo frame holding Qin Dian and Bai You’s picture wobbled in the breeze and toppled over.

The image inside remained the most beautiful scene from twenty years ago.

The people in the photo hadn’t changed, but the world outside it had transformed utterly.

Twenty years prior, in the small wooded park beside Z University, there was an artificial stream lined with dense trees and thick underbrush—a prime spot for lovestruck college couples to meet.

Most people stuck to the upstream and midstream areas, near the woods’ exit and the stalls selling trinkets.

Venturing farther in was too remote and secluded for most.

But it was a place Qin Dian frequented.

Her sophomore year was one of the busiest stretches of college. She was preparing for competitions, racking up achievements, and laying plans for the future.

Qin Dian majored in business management—a choice that drew disapproval from many from the start. Everyone agreed that as a girl, she should pursue something like teaching or nursing, professions deemed more “suitable” for women.

But Qin Dian had too much pride to follow the crowd.

The girl sitting by the river wore a white dress with lace trim. Her bag sat neatly to one side, and she was flipping through a book.

Another girl appeared out of nowhere, dressed in a formal suit. She hugged Bai You from behind.

Bai You didn’t pull away. Her tone was gentle. “Back from the competition?”

“Mm.” Qin Dian’s reply came out muffled.

Bai You tilted her head slightly. “Why so quiet?”

“Not happy.”

At that, Bai You turned around. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind Qin Dian’s ear and stroked her cheek. “Did you lose?”

Qin Dian met her concerned eyes and looked down. “No. We won.”

“Wow, that’s amazing!”

A spark of joy lit Qin Dian’s dark eyes at the praise, but it was quickly overshadowed by a surge of other emotions.

She drooped her head. “We did win, but the professor from the other team kept badmouthing us, insisting we’d plagiarized another group’s plan from our school.”

“Even after the judges rejected his claim, he said something like, ‘A team of all girls couldn’t possibly come up with something that good.'”

“We weren’t penalized in the end, but I’m still furious.”

Bai You listened without a hint of anger, simply smoothing Qin Dian’s hair.

“Do you think he was right?”

Qin Dian didn’t hesitate. “Of course not. What he said was bullshit. I wanted to curse him out right there, but I couldn’t do anything about it. I…”

Her status as a student put her at a disadvantage. Making a scene would only backfire on her. She had no choice but to let it go.

“They’re just narrow-minded and ignorant,” Bai You said softly.

“Those deep-rooted biases will die with them as they age. What we have is the future. No one can stop you from getting better and better.”

“Mm.”

Bai You’s words swept away much of Qin Dian’s resentment, transforming the rest into motivation.

In a small voice, she said, “I’m not just going to master this major. I’m going to double-major in law and slap them all in the face.”

Bai You nodded. “Good.”

Qin Dian blinked in surprise and looked up.

“You’re not going to argue? That’s really hard…”

“Because I believe in you.” Bai You smiled, her gentle eyes sparkling with a resilient strength. “Xiao Dian is so capable—she’ll succeed at anything she sets her mind to.”

The light in her eyes reflected into Qin Dian’s, planting a seed deep in her heart amid the gloom. Those lights, those words—they were the nourishment that would make it grow and sprout.

Qin Dian’s heart raced for a couple of beats. She reached out and pulled Bai You into a hug.

“Thank you.”

She buried her nose in Bai You’s shoulder and neck, breathing in the faint, elegant fragrance of the young woman. Unable to help herself, Qin Dian nuzzled closer, craving more.

“Haha~ Come on… You’re like a little puppy. That tickles.”

Bai You laughed. Despite her words, she didn’t stop her, letting Qin Dian do as she pleased. Off-balance, she toppled backward onto the grass.

In a daze, Qin Dian found herself pinning Bai You down, her hands braced on either side.

Bai You’s hair fanned out across the lawn, making her delicate features look even more endearing. A hint of confusion clouded her eyes.

Qin Dian’s heart skipped half a beat. Blush flooded her cheeks. She scrambled up and straightened her clothes.

A few seconds later, Bai You blinked and sat up as well.

“I brought a camera today—the one I used for the competition,” Qin Dian said, facing away, not daring to look at her. “Let’s take a picture.”

Bai You looked at her and smiled faintly.

“Sure.”

Qin Dian set up the camera, and they sat together.

In the two seconds before the shot, Qin Dian finally mustered her courage and turned to Bai You.

To her surprise, Bai You met her gaze. Her lovely eyes curved like crescent moons, the bright depths mirroring each other.

Words were spoken aloud, but love spoke in silence.

As their eyes locked, the camera clicked.

That moment was captured forever, sealed in the treasure chest of memory.

…

A ferocious gale was the harbinger of a storm. Lightning ripped across the sky, followed by deafening thunder that faded back into the boundless night.

Time passed—Lu Huan didn’t know how long.

Her consciousness slowly returned. Her numb body tried to move, but she couldn’t. A cloth bound her eyes, leaving her in darkness, blind to everything.

Her hands were tied together behind her back.

The bindings wrapped around her lithe form, accentuating its curves.

Beneath the ropes, she was completely bare.

Red marks circled her wrists from her struggles.

The room was thick with fragrance. All her strength seemed to have been stripped away.

A fire burned inside her, heat suffusing her limbs. Even the simple act of tugging at her bonds left her breathless and weak.

The door creaked open, followed by the click of the lock.

Lu Huan’s chest heaved. She forced the name through gritted teeth.

“Bai Jin.”

“Mm, Sister. I’m here.” Bai Jin approached her.

The small room was clean and tidy, much like any ordinary bedroom—except for the enormous full-length mirror beside the bed.

Lu Huan lay sideways on the sheets. The vivid red ropes contrasted sharply with her pale skin, displaying every line of her body in exquisite detail, like a delectable feast laid out for the taking.

Lu Huan had probably already guessed that she was out for revenge. Biting her teeth, she demanded, “What are you going to do?”

“No one will find this place,” Bai Jin murmured as she drew closer. “Not even your lovers.”

“Sister… do you know why I’m doing this?” Bai Jin’s gaze grew hazy, as if she were lost in admiration of a priceless work of art. Her lips parted slightly, and she answered her own question in a slow, languid drawl.

“I could accept you doing anything to me—even bullying me or deceiving me. As long as it’s you, sister, I’d be willing.”

“But you shouldn’t have… absolutely shouldn’t have fallen for someone else.” Bai Jin’s fingertip traced lazy circles over Lu Huan’s clit, sending waves of tremors rippling through her.

A hint of sorrow flickered in those dazed eyes.

“Sister, I belong to you. If you belong to someone else, then what am I supposed to do?”

“…”

“Urgh…”

“…”

Bai Jin gazed at the elegant curve of Lu Huan’s spine arching in the air, finding it utterly beautiful. She propped herself up on one elbow, her hand slithering forward like a venomous serpent. Unfortunately, Lu Huan was clenching her jaw tight, refusing to utter a single sound of submission.

Bai Jin leaned down to kiss her, only for Lu Huan to bite back fiercely, splitting her lip open.

“You bastard,” Lu Huan growled through gritted teeth.

The metallic tang of blood flooded their mouths, and that bloody taste mingled with Lu Huan’s curse only fueled Bai Jin’s excitement further.

Bai Jin pulled back, her thumb brushing over the blood welling on her lip before smearing it across Lu Huan’s mouth.

“Do you know what I love most, sister? It’s that way you hate me—but never quite all the way.”

Lu Huan tasted the blood at once. Her bound hands thrashed against their restraints, a gnawing itch like ants devouring her bones from the inside.

Bai Jin’s voice whispered endlessly in her ear.

“Do you remember that time in calligraphy class when we were kids? You deliberately lured me away so you could team up with the others to frame me for theft.”

The memory was still vivid for Bai Jin. The evidence had been ironclad, and she was moments from being branded a thief when Lu Huan had suddenly stood up.

“But in the end, you couldn’t cross that moral line in your heart. You took all the blame on yourself. You were so close to succeeding—just a little more, and your plan would have worked perfectly. Sister, you’re too kind. No true villain could ever be this kind.”

Madness swirled deeper in Bai Jin’s eyes.

“I love that rotten good heart of yours, hidden beneath your villainous skin…”

“I love it so much.”

“Sister, give me that heart.”

“I really… love it so much…”

Lu Huan panted raggedly, forcing her breathing to steady as she gritted out, “What exactly do you want?”

“What do I want?” Bai Jin laughed softly at the repeated question. She pinched one end of the binding strip and pressed her body forward. “Haven’t figured it out yet, sister?”

Lu Huan’s soft form yielded beneath her, inch by inch conquered. Sweat slicked their skin amid shallow gasps, and Bai Jin’s words wove around her like intoxicating silk threads—bewitching, unhinged, inescapable.

“I want you to love me forever.”

Her hot breath ghosted against Lu Huan’s ear.

“Forever—only me.”