Ye Xingmian slept terribly.
That was actually to be expected, really. Being held all night by someone who might strangle you or force themselves on you at any moment—it would be a miracle if anyone could sleep well under those conditions.
She’d been tempered by experience, though. She could still fall asleep in this kind of environment.
But she was the one who woke up later.
Her head ached, but her eyes had already caught the faint glow of light.
She opened her heavy eyelids, her body trembling slightly. Then a sudden sound came from behind her, startling her.
“You’re awake?”
That voice, as if carved into her very marrow, nearly reignited her fear. She sat up in an instant, pressing herself into the corner of the wall, curling her body tightly as she cautiously looked at Qin Haiyue.
Qin Haiyue was leaning against the headboard, legs crossed, phone in hand, casting a casual glance at her.
Without waiting for her answer, Qin Haiyue continued, “Since you’re awake, go make me something to eat. I’m hungry.”
She wasn’t going to keep pursuing the scratch wound from last night?
Ye Xingmian looked up at the window.
The sun was already high in the sky.
She almost blurted out in surprise, “It’s nine now?”
“Nine.” Qin Haiyue frowned.
“Nine?! Then won’t I be late for school! You… aren’t you going to school?”
“Watch your tone when you talk to me. I took leave.”
Qin Haiyue said coldly, and only then did Ye Xingmian realize her own situation with a start.
“Then… what about me?”
Qin Haiyue put down her phone and glanced at her. “Don’t make that sour face. I took leave for you too.”
“Is that okay?”
“Why do you have so much damn nonsense? Go make me something to eat, got it? Or don’t tell me you can’t cook?”
Catching an inadvertent glimpse of Qin Haiyue’s scabbed forearm, Ye Xingmian froze for a moment. She shrunk her head and carefully tried to get off the bed.
“Your wound…”
“Say one more useless word and I’ll cut your tongue out.”
“S-s… sorry…”
Ye Xingmian fled like a gust of wind.
Watching her leave, Qin Haiyue curled her lip.
Boring.
But what was interesting?
Maybe bullying her was the most interesting thing, but Qin Haiyue didn’t feel like it. Maybe she could try continuing what happened last night?
No… forget it.
Adding another wound wasn’t worth it. Maybe she could try something else.
Qin Haiyue thought for a long time but couldn’t come up with a good idea.
Entering the villa’s kitchen for the first time, Ye Xingmian was a bit stunned.
Was this luxurious a place really just for cooking? That seemed far too extravagant.
Simple yet lavish wooden cabinet surfaces and table, a chandelier hanging from the ceiling beams that sparkled like stars in a night sky. A small window let in the bright sunlight outside, and the water in the sink glittered with scattered gold.
The ceiling was also a transparent glass skylight, through which she could see the leaves outside.
She looked around and finally found the refrigerator. But when she opened the door, there was no food inside at all.
She couldn’t help but furrow her brows.
Inside were beer, desserts, and all kinds of snacks—but no ingredients for cooking.
She had no choice but to return to Qin Haiyue’s bedroom.
“Um… there don’t seem to be any ingredients in the fridge.”
At that, Qin Haiyue looked completely unconcerned.
“Used them up that fast? How? That person was still cooking here a few days ago.”
“That person is…”
“Tch, none of your business. Can’t you go buy some if there’s nothing? Do you need to report every little thing to me?”
Ye Xingmian lowered her head.
“It’s too far… and… I don’t have any money.”
“How troublesome.”
Qin Haiyue got off the bed with a dissatisfied look.
“Can’t even make a simple meal without a bunch of issues. Fine, don’t bother. I’ll order takeout.”
“Um… do you drink?”
“Alcohol? No, I don’t drink that stuff.”
“Then the alcohol in the fridge is…”
“Probably left by that person. Tch, just throw it all out.”
Qin Haiyue led her to the living room on the first floor. Some flowers were arranged in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, catching her attention.
Ye Xingmian couldn’t help but feel a hint of curiosity.
There seemed to be many traces in Qin Haiyue’s home that didn’t belong to her, and she seemed to strongly dislike someone.
“Um… these flowers…”
“Ask again and I’ll dump the flowers on your head! I was just wondering how to get rid of them.”
“Didn’t I tell you to stop asking? So annoying! Ask again and I’ll—”
Ye Xingmian didn’t dare speak anymore. She could only follow Qin Haiyue’s instructions, throwing away the pile of beer in the fridge, then taking out some pastries as directed. They began eating pastries while waiting for the takeout.
That breakfast ended in a complete blur.
Then Qin Haiyue wanted to pick a fight again. She beckoned to Ye Xingmian.
“Come here.”
Ye Xingmian hesitated for a moment, then obediently walked over.
Qin Haiyue casually pulled her into her arms. Because of the difference in their sizes, she was like a little cat, not daring to move at all.
“Have you thought about how you’re going to compensate me for scratching me last night?”
Qin Haiyue said it casually, but Ye Xingmian’s breath caught when she heard those words.
“S-s… sorry.”
“What use is just saying sorry? I bled that much, and you saw it too, didn’t you?”
Ye Xingmian felt so wronged.
‘Ugh… she was the one who wanted to force herself on me. I only struggled a few times out of fear and accidentally hurt her. But I already got my punishment—I was choked until I passed out.’
‘At that moment, the experience was completely worse than death for me. Even if it were a crime, this punishment should be enough, right?’
But… the person in front of her was Qin Haiyue. She could only be like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, awaiting her orders.
But she really couldn’t accept it.
“You already… already choked me.”
“Hm—?”
Qin Haiyue deliberately dragged out her tone, and Ye Xingmian’s heart instantly leaped into her throat.
“Who am I, and who are you? Answer me.”
“Ugh… you’re Qin Haiyue… and I’m… I’m Ye—”
“No, I’m the Miss of the Qin Family, backed by a major multinational corporation. You’re just a motherless, fatherless little bastard living off others’ charity. Understand?”
Ye Xingmian was dazed for a moment, then immediately shook her head.
“No… I’m not.”
“Smack!”
Her face suddenly stung. By the time Ye Xingmian reacted, the left half of her face was already burning.
She turned back in disbelief, her nose tingling, but she remained stubborn. She saw Qin Haiyue’s raised hand.
“I have a mother. I… I’m not a bastard. I’m not motherless or fatherless. I’m loved by someone.”
She told herself this, barely holding back her tears, her gaze growing firmer.
“Smack!”
Another sharp pain, this time on her right cheek.
“I’m not! I’m not! I… I’m not!”
“Smack!”
“I’m not—”
“Smack!”
“I…”
“Smack!”
The searing pain made Ye Xingmian unable to say another stubborn word. Her face crumpled, tears streaming down like broken beads off a string.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… please don’t hit me anymore… please… don’t hit me anymore.”
“Say it! What are you?” Qin Haiyue demanded.
“I… I’m a motherless, fatherless… little bastard…”
“Then this little bastard actually scratched a noble young lady. What are you going to use to make amends? Hm?”
“I’m sorry… ugh… I’m sorry… please… anything but that… please don’t…”
But surprisingly, Qin Haiyue could understand what she meant. As Ye Xingmian stammered out a bunch of words no one could make sense of, Qin Haiyue smiled.