Chapter 27: Subway

“Stop dawdling. If people didn’t know better, they’d think you were pregnant.”

As soon as we swiped our cards into the subway, Yan Dong started grumbling at me under his breath.

It was obvious he was just picking a fight on purpose.

Sure enough, even though I ignored him, he still waited until we were standing on the platform to hang that heavy Camera around my neck.

“Lin Yunxia, you really need to work out. With such a frail little body, how are you going to spread warmth across the whole city if you don’t toughen up?”

I glanced at Yan Dong, whose lips curled with a moody sneer.

Even though I couldn’t be bothered to argue, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

“Young Master, I’ve actually discovered something pretty convenient about this body lately.”

Yan Dong snorted at that, the cold light from his phone screen flickering between his fingers.

“Let’s hear it, then.”

“It’s that when I pretend to be pitiful, it’s really easy to trick people.”

Lowering my head, I loosened the already slack scarf around my neck, and caught sight of a few uncles and aunties three meters away, each holding a grocery basket.

“Young Master, want to give it a try?”

“You think I’m stupid?”

He let out a sinister laugh, clearly not taking my threat seriously at all.

“You think I’d fall for such a lame trick?”

“Of course, someone as clever as you can’t be fooled by me. This trick is just for getting good reviews from delivery guys, anyway. Like…”

I took a deep breath, then met his teasing gaze and suddenly raised my voice, “I still have a child in my belly, and I swear I’ll serve you well in the future!”

“Lin Yunxia, you fucking…!”

Yan Dong’s face darkened instantly, his mouth twitching hard.

“I don’t want your money, just don’t abandon us, mother and daughter.”

I turned my face as I spoke with a sob in my voice, letting the tear mole at the corner of my right eye catch the overhead light.

My loose scarf conveniently slipped down, revealing the red mark on my neck from the Camera strap.

I had to admit, this body’s naturally sweet voice was even more lethal than I imagined.

Even I felt a chill down my spine at the trembling sob in my throat.

The effect was explosive.

After just a couple of lines, the nearby uncles and aunties immediately started whispering among themselves.

Yan Dong’s Adam’s apple bobbed twice.

He stepped forward and yanked the Tripod I was hugging close, pulling me toward him.

The zipper teeth on my puffer jacket scraped against the Camera’s metal, sending out a harsh, grating sound just as my voice faded.

“Lin Yunxia, you might not want your dignity, but I still want mine.”

“Right now. Go home. Immediately.”

My low warning made Yan Dong’s fingers gripping the Tripod go pale, and the metal frame groaned under the pressure.

“What if I refuse?”

“Then I’ll just keep talking.”

I heard a cold laugh grind out of my throat, like a rusty switchblade scraping metal.

Right then, the station broadcast sounded the train’s arrival, and the howling wind mixed with the thunder of the rails, but it still couldn’t drown out the swelling chatter around us.

“Say one more word, I dare you.”

Yan Dong suddenly leaned in, cedar scent and hot breath brushing my nose.

“Do you know if I kiss you now, it counts as a prodigal son turning over a new leaf?”

In the shadow of his lashes, something dangerous seemed to flicker.

At some point, his forefinger brazenly traced my cold lips.

“Want to try it, Miss Lin?”

Yan Dong’s audacity left me speechless.

I wasn’t nearly bold enough to play along, but with this guy, you never knew.

After thinking it over, I swallowed my retort and let him take the Camera off my neck.

“Relax. A girl as virtuous as you, never mind twenty years, even after forty years, I wouldn’t let you go. Right, Wife?”

For some reason, his words reminded me of how he bought the Princess Hairpin with my advance salary, which ended up extending the Employment Contract by a few days.

With him, if he wanted, twenty years could easily become forty…

Seeing me standing there, face like thunder, Yan Dong’s lips curled in triumph.

As the subway doors opened, he stepped into the carriage and turned back, flashing an intentionally gentle smile.

“Don’t just stand there, Wife. Need to hold my hand?”

Looking at the hand stretched toward me, I just snorted, slapped it away, and said, “No need. I have feet.”

***

Once on the subway, Yan Dong sat on the bench, yawning and playing with his phone, his long legs bent to block half the seat next to him.

Left with no choice, I turned and leaned against the carriage connector, peering through the crowd.

His phone screen glowed faintly blue, a Star Nebula Photo, taken who knows when.

Looks like the Young Master is into stars again.

I set the Tripod on the floor, trapping it between my legs, and leaned against the swaying wall.

My head lowered, I gently rubbed the School Badge pendant on my phone. In Uncle Yan’s chat window, a report message still sat unsent.

The Contract Loophole could wait.

The real question now was whether to tell Uncle Yan about all this.

My thumb hovered over the send button, hesitating, when a gentle middle-aged man’s voice floated over.

“Little sister, I see that School Badge on your phone, are you a student at Sixth Road University nearby?”

Turning my head, I saw the speaker was a stranger, a middle-aged man in a camel coat, carrying the distinctive chemical scent of a high-end dry cleaner.

He stood just close enough to be heard, but not so close as to draw attention or make me wary.

Every syllable landed precisely in my ear.

When I looked at him, he gave me a friendly smile.

“My niece is hoping to apply to your university this year. Can I ask, how’s the academic pressure there?”

I put away my phone, glancing sidelong at Yan Dong, who had also set his phone down, clearly ready to watch me make a fool of myself.

Annoying…

With no way to escape in the cramped subway, I could only sigh inwardly, then politely turned to the man and gave my signature professional smile.

“It’s not too bad. It mostly depends on your niece’s career plans. Do you know what major she’s interested in?”

“Financial Major.”

As he spoke, he tucked his chin and leaned in slightly, revealing a sapphire tie under his collar.

“But young people have it tough nowadays. Balancing study and social life, and sometimes spending so much time just figuring out how to earn tuition and living expenses.”

He stepped a little closer, the scent of cologne and dry cleaning growing stronger.

“I know a few business owners who often talk about helping outstanding students make connections.”

Seeing my smile unchanged, his eyes flicked over my neatly pressed suit sleeve, and he continued, “You seem calm and mature, do you get busy with these things too? My company sometimes needs translation work or product photography. The pay is good and the schedule is flexible…”

He smoothly pulled out a business card, letting an expensive watch glint from his cuff.

“If you’re interested, you can call me.”

“No need, sir. I already have a steady part-time job.”

“Don’t misunderstand, little sister. I just appreciate hardworking kids like you. People as sensible as you deserve someone to share their burdens.”

His ever-kind smile stacked up, like a researcher observing a white mouse in a lab.

“Do you know the Left Bank Café near your university? The owner is an old friend of mine. I’ll treat you to some Gesha Coffee sometime. If you ever feel down or run into trouble, you can talk to us elders.”

Though he was already polite and earnest, this approach didn’t work on me, especially with that Young Master watching nearby, his face dark as ever.

Not to mention, I was a guy to begin with.

Normally, I’d just refuse outright.

But thinking of Uncle Yan’s hunched figure from coughing, and then at the Young Master who’d rather hang out than go back to school, my mood hit rock bottom.

“Sir, if you can help me pay off my 1.5 million debt…”

As I spoke, I turned my professional smile toward Yan Dong, whose expression was growing darker.

“Not only will I complain to you, I’ll even be your personal assistant.”

Still, my face stayed warm and pleasant.

The man hesitated, about to speak, but the station announcement drowned out the noise.

“Also, I don’t like coffee. But if you’d like to try some Jasmine Tea dried at my place…”

I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, picked up the metal Tripod, and kept my voice steady as ever.

“You can come find me at the University Library anytime, my treat.”

As the doors opened, I stepped off the subway with my photography gear.

The artificial marble floor reflected Yan Dong’s darkening face behind me.

He caught up, letting out a cold, restrained laugh.

“Lin Yunxia, what was that just now?”

He yanked the Tripod from my arms so hard I stumbled, my cheap snow boots squeaking in protest.

“Exactly what I said.”

I looked up at the storm in his eyes, keeping my professional smile in place.

“If you don’t like it, Young Master, you can still make it back for Third Period this afternoon.”

“Heh. Pathetic provocation.”

With a cold snort, he said nothing more, just carrying the Tripod as he followed me out of the subway station.