Chapter 43: The cozy little nest turned into a pigeon cage

Carrying two heavy pots, Lu Weizhu jogged quickly toward her rented apartment.

The rice cooker and iron pot weighed heavily, and the bag holding them bit into her fingers painfully.

Her arms felt like they weren’t her own as she panted.

Determined not to stop, she ran all the way back to the apartment.

“Ha…I’m exhausted…ah…”

Once inside, she closed the door and dropped the pots onto the floor, then collapsed onto the ground.

Her heart pounded violently, and her shirt was soaked with sweat.

Lu Weizhu wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.

The bandage on her hand had turned dark where it was soaked with sweat.

“She…shouldn’t have caught up with me, right? Ah…yeah, she’s with someone else now, so there’s no way she’s coming after me.”

Lu Weizhu clenched her palm tightly.

Her physical strength was poor; carrying two pots and running such a long distance was already beyond her capability.

Her heart was beating fiercely, twisting painfully, and her face turned pale.

Suddenly, regret crept in.

“Ugh…why did I even run…”

She pursed her lips.

“That woman is probably just with her friend, right? I’m just some kind of toy. Would anyone really abandon their friend for a toy and just walk away on their own? No way.”

Though it was humiliating, Lu Weizhu thought that for the crazy pair, Bai Lu and Ning Wan, she was indeed only fit to be a toy.

How ridiculous and pitiful.

“Well…whatever. It’s fine. No matter how much they look down on me, there are still others who like me, right?”

The wave of sadness quickly passed as images of Bai Yun and Lu Weiyu’s smiles flashed through her mind.

Lu Weizhu steadied her emotions.

“D…”

She sighed.

Lu Weizhu felt like she was going insane.

“I keep talking to myself lately…”

She sat on the floor for a long time, resting until her chest felt a little better before standing up.

“Hope nothing broke…”

Bending down, she picked up the pots from the floor and carefully checked them again and again.

“Alright, no damage.”

Feeling relieved, Lu Weizhu put the pots away in the kitchen and then threw herself onto the sofa.

“It’s still early…but I don’t want to go out to buy anything now.”

Who knew if that lunatic Ning Wan was still hanging around the supermarket nearby?

After hesitating for a moment, Lu Weizhu decided to order takeout.

It was more expensive, but at least it was safer.

She’d eat first, then go out later to buy things.

Her mind still lingered on the pressure cooker.

“Ugh…”

Looking at the takeout app’s menu, Lu Weizhu considered what to eat.

Suddenly, Bai Yun’s words came to mind.

“Eat more meat? Fine, then I’ll splurge tonight.”

Lu Weizhu ordered a whole fried chicken and a bottle of soda water.

Collapsed on the sofa, eyes closed to rest, it wasn’t long before there was a knock at the door.

Delivery already? That was fast.

Still not fully rested, Lu Weizhu jumped up from the sofa.

Normally, faster delivery was a good thing, but her mood wasn’t good.

The aftereffects of running so far still lingered; her legs felt incredibly weak.

“Such a genuine weakling? Ha…”

She smiled self-mockingly as she opened the door.

“Delivery…uh!?”

Her words caught in her throat.

Her wrist trembled as she gripped the doorknob, instinctively wanting to push the door shut.

But just as she exerted force, she stopped herself.

“N-Ning, Miss Ning…”

Words failed her, and Lu Weizhu felt dry and parched.

What met her eyes was the worst nightmare—

Ning Wan, a lunatic, an irrational madwoman.

Though she had given Lu Weizhu money, Lu Weizhu would never change her opinion of her.

Even if Ning Wan said nothing, just seeing her was enough to terrify Lu Weizhu.

The wound in her palm throbbed faintly; her teeth trembled.

She tried to smile, but it looked more pitiful than crying.

The fear of Ning Wan seemed etched into her bones.

“What? Surprised to see me?”

Ning Wan raised an eyebrow as she calmly watched the trembling cat in front of her.

She walked into the living room.

Unable to refuse or even dare to stop Ning Wan from coming in, Lu Weizhu could only tremble and move aside.

Lowering her head, Lu Weizhu didn’t dare close the door.

She hoped someone would appear outside; at least if someone was watching, Ning Wan wouldn’t act so crazy.

“Don’t hide from me.”

Ning Wan sat down on the sofa without a care, uninterested in examining Lu Weizhu’s home.

To her, the place was pitiful.

No furniture to speak of, the decoration was unusually simple, and patches of paint had peeled off the walls, revealing gray cement beneath.

She glanced sideways at Lu Weizhu, who was shrinking nervously by the door.

“I didn’t give you money to play cat-and-mouse with you. Money’s not that easy to come by.”

Casually complaining, Ning Wan crossed her legs.

She wore sandals, her toenails painted a pale red, which stood out somewhat.

In fact, Ning Wan had always been someone who drew attention.

“I…know…ugh…”

Swallowing nervously, Lu Weizhu took a hesitant step forward.

She hid her hands behind her back.

Lowering her head like a frightened quail.

“…”

Seeing the trembling cat before her, Ning Wan sneered.

She placed her hands on the coffee table and tapped rhythmically.

The sharp knocking echoed through the room, making Lu Weizhu’s heart race chaotically.

What was she doing?

What did she want?

What was Lu Weizhu supposed to do?

Questions came thick and fast.

Suddenly, Lu Weizhu recalled the conversation she’d had with Ning Wan that night.

Ning Wan had said their relationship was that of Owner and Pet, and not to misinterpret it.

Then, when the Owner returns home, what should the Pet do?

Lu Weizhu pursed her lips as her emotions plummeted, a suffocating sadness filling her chest.

Her home—her newly built Warm Little Nest—her life, which hadn’t even begun, was already destroyed.

If only one person knew, that would be one thing.

Now two Patrons knew where she lived.

Her little nest had become a pigeon cage.

Her eyelashes fluttered rapidly, her eyes stung, but she did not cry.

She had already cried enough.

What she probably had to do now was learn to please the person in front of her like a pet.

Well…the Owners had already called her and she had pleased Bai Lu.

So pleasing Ning Wan should be no different, right?

Lu Weizhu slowly walked to Ning Wan’s side.

She carefully sat down.

“Hm?”

Ning Wan glanced at her.

Lu Weizhu said nothing, instead using her eyes to probe Ning Wan’s expression.

She gently cupped Ning Wan’s wrist with both hands.

“…”

Lu Weizhu rubbed the top of her head against Ning Wan’s palm.

Would this make her happy, so she wouldn’t torture her?

Lu Weizhu didn’t know.

She realized her limits were slowly disappearing.

“Um…sorry…I didn’t mean to avoid you.”

She apologized timidly, explaining in a soft voice.

“I saw you walking with someone, I thought you were friends going shopping together, and it wasn’t my business. I just didn’t want to bother you. I didn’t mean to avoid you.”

Her clumsy explanation left her panicked and flustered.

Ning Wan said nothing, silently listening to Lu Weizhu’s faltering excuse.

Not wanting to disturb?

Yeah, right.

The panicked way she ran away was far from convincing.

But seeing Lu Weizhu’s conciliatory attitude, Ning Wan’s anger faded.

The cat was finally learning to actively please her, which was clearly a good thing.

Ning Wan narrowed her eyes.