Living room. The two of them placed the condolence gifts they had brought at the entrance, then sat together on the sofa in the living room, facing Qin Haiyue across from them.
What followed was simple. Ji Yu, with no other choice, followed Luo Xi into the living room. After a while, the takeout they had ordered arrived, and so began this somewhat rushed, very awkward dinner.
Miss Qin Haiyue… didn’t seem very fond of her younger sister?
During the meal, Luo Xi was the first to broach the topic.
“Hmm, that’s our family matter. Do you have a problem with it?” Qin Haiyue’s face was displeased.
“Nothing really. I just get the feeling your younger sister is very concerned about you, that’s all.” Luo Xi smiled.
“You’d better mention her less. It’s annoying just hearing about her.” Qin Haiyue turned her head away.
“Alright. But I have another question. Are you and Student Ye really in a romantic relationship? I feel like… something’s a bit off?”
“Hmm? What’s off?” Qin Haiyue frowned warily.
“This Student Ye… why hasn’t she said a word?”
The topic suddenly shifted to her. Ye Xingmian’s body trembled. She raised her head in confusion, then met Qin Haiyue’s threatening gaze and fearfully lowered her head again.
“It’s nothing. She’s just a bit introverted.”
“Is that so? Then what’s that on her neck? A collar?”
Qin Haiyue’s pupils constricted sharply. Looking down, she realized the zipper on Ye Xingmian’s clothes around her neck wasn’t properly closed, allowing Luo Xi to notice.
Damn it!
Her mind raced, quickly formulating a countermeasure.
“Oh, that’s just an accessory. A pink cat-ear collar. It’s cute.”
Luo Xi nodded. “It is quite cute, isn’t it? Could we ask Student Ye to lower her zipper a bit more? I’d like to take a closer look at this accessory.”
“No.”
“Hmm? Why not?”
“No means no.”
“Ha… Student Ye hasn’t even spoken. Why are you in such a hurry? Forget it. I was just a bit curious about the style of the collar. It really is quite cute. I should buy one for Ji Yu to wear sometime.”
Ji Yu felt a drop of cold sweat trickle down her forehead.
“Miss, I don’t think I need one…”
“Hmm? You call me ‘Miss,’ so doesn’t that make you my servant? What’s the problem with me having you wear a collar?”
“…Alright, Miss Luo Xi. But a collar really isn’t necessary.”
“That’s more like it.”
Satisfied, Luo Xi nodded. She was also growing tired of the atmosphere here. Half the reason she came was on a whim, and partly due to that factor of Qin Jiangmian’s request. Now she was full and had drunk her fill. Staying here any longer was just asking for trouble.
“We’ll be going now. Since I accepted your sister’s request, I’ll be coming here again tomorrow to see you. Hmm, maybe the day after too?”
“I really don’t think that’s necessary.”
“How can you say that? After all, you just went through such an incident. As a classmate, I’m also worried you might do something foolish. So, just be prepared to welcome us tomorrow.”
“…Take care. I won’t see you out.”
Thud.
The door closed.
Qin Haiyue’s face was dark, her expression gritted as if she wanted to kill someone.
Coming here again tomorrow? Didn’t they already see that Qin Haiyue was fine?
She took out her cellphone and dialed someone’s number.
***
Starting the car, her expression seemed somewhat helpless. Opening the car door, the two of them sat in the driver’s and passenger’s seats respectively. Ji Yu spoke:
“Miss, weren’t we just asking for trouble? Why are you coming here again tomorrow?”
“Still calling me ‘Miss’? I really think I should get a little cat collar and put it on you.”
“No… I was wrong… spare me, Sister Luo~”
“Hmph, you know what’s good for you.”
The atmosphere in the car was relatively relaxed. Luo Xi fastened her seatbelt, though her expression was somewhat serious.
“What’s wrong? You seem in a bad mood.”
“Hmm?”
“Nothing… I’m just a bit concerned.”
“Don’t you think the way those two interact seems very strange? That Ye Xingmian keeps acting all timid and scared, and that Qin Haiyue keeps giving her threatening glances. How is that anything like the way so-called lovers interact? It’s practically…”
“Is that all? Are you concerned about that girl?”
“Hmm… I wouldn’t call it concern. I’m just… bothered. I had this feeling last time we met too.”
“Sister Luo, I’d advise you to worry less about these unimportant matters. If the Master knew, he wouldn’t support you.”
“I know.”
Luo Xi puffed out her cheeks, feeling irritated. She simply took off the hairband holding her ponytail, letting her hair fall over her shoulders.
The crimson sunset spilled onto her round, puffed cheeks, like snowflakes stained red with dye, exceptionally beautiful.
“But you know, it’s hard not to be bothered by this sort of thing. Your dad says this to me, and you use my dad to pressure me too. Whose side are you even on?”
“Hmm… Miss, I’m not on anyone’s side. I’m just your assistant, that’s all.”
“Hah!”
“Sigh, Miss, when will you understand the Master’s good intentions? If you want to be mature, you need to learn not to meddle in others’ affairs, to respect others’ choices, and not to waste energy interfering in others’ fates. That is a kind of wisdom.”
Luo Xi turned her head to look out the car window, ignoring her.
Ji Yu sighed and decided not to say more, silently continuing to drive.
“Hello, Sister?”
A voice came from the other end of the phone. Qin Haiyue held her breath, restrained herself, and said:
“Was it you who called Luo Xi to come to my home?”
“Hmm, yes, Sister.”
She admitted it quite decisively, but this decisiveness only made Qin Haiyue more displeased.
“Because I was worried about you, Sister. That night you left angrily on a flight back home, I was afraid you might do something foolish because of it.”
It was an impeccable excuse, but Qin Haiyue felt no gratitude.
“Didn’t I tell you not to interfere in my life?”
“You did.”
“Then why did you—”
“I was just concerned about you, Sister.”
“If you really encounter an unsolvable situation there, or have financial problems, you can come stay with me. You’re always welcome here, Sister.”
“Get lost!”
Qin Haiyue angrily hung up the phone.
Concern? Ridiculous. She had beaten up Qin Jiangmian plenty when they were young. Would she still be concerned about her? Could she have some strange fetish?
Qin Haiyue only felt furious.
Yet, even so, it had to be said that Qin Jiangmian seemed to be the only one in her family willing to call and show concern for her, even though most of the time she got scolded in return.
The others—her parents—wouldn’t call her unless it was an important holiday or some urgent matter, like the incident a few days ago when her father was diagnosed with cancer.
She was a marginal figure in this family. A person who had nothing except money and a terrible personality.
Taking a deep breath, she beckoned to Ye Xingmian and pulled her into an embrace.
“Tomorrow, you’ll be free.”