The room returned to silence.
After the butler left, Jin Ke’er hobbled over with her other crutch, stumbling as she picked up the one she had thrown away.
Although the butler had grown up with her, he was still someone who reported directly to the family.
The fact that he hadn’t immediately reported her current rage to the family was already the greatest kindness he could offer.
She had no way to vent her anger on the butler.
After picking up the crutch, Jin Ke’er sat down in a nearby chair and angrily slammed the floor with the crutch, yet still couldn’t relieve the frustration in her heart.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Su Li’s number again and again, but it remained unreachable.
Normally, she and Su Li only communicated by phone—Su Li would always come when called.
But after their deal ended, she had deleted Su Li’s contact info right away.
She never expected Su Li would be bold enough to block her.
What frustrated her even more was that there weren’t many photos of Su Li in her phone.
The only one left was the picture the butler had sent her when he first found Su Li.
Jin Ke’er sat in her seat, her slender fingers brushing over the pale face in the photo.
She pressed her finger hard against Su Li’s cheek, as if she could touch her through sheer force.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she finally gasped for air, her cheeks flushed.
Still, she couldn’t shake the restlessness from her chest.
“Miss, these are the clothes Su Li left behind when she worked here.”
Not long after, the butler returned, a few pieces of clothing in his hands.
Back when Jin Ke’er had Su Li working for her, she made her wear a different outfit every day.
When Su Li left, Jin Ke’er felt those clothes were too dirty, polluting the air at home, so she told her to throw them all out.
Fortunately, they hadn’t been discarded yet—just waiting to be dealt with later.
Seeing that the rage on Jin Ke’er’s face had eased slightly, the butler finally relaxed a bit.
“The doctor is urging us to get started.”
“I know.”
Jin Ke’er replied irritably, already impatiently snatching the clothes from his hands and burying her face in them, inhaling deeply.
The scent had faded, but still carried a faint familiarity that helped soothe her mood—if only a little.
Her nails, however, still dug deep into the fabric.
“When I go in for treatment later, keep sending me messages nonstop, got it?”
Jin Ke’er looked at the butler.
He nodded, then stood aside and watched her, looking somewhat unwell, take out her phone, wrap it in the clothing, and stuff it into her pants.
The photo displayed on the phone was, of course, Su Li.
The butler understood Jin Ke’er’s way of easing her anxiety: making the phone vibrate continuously with messages, simulating the feeling that Su Li was still by her side.
Even if it was just self-deception.
The butler followed behind Jin Ke’er, watching her slowly make her way into the treatment room.
He let out a long sigh.
He honestly missed the days before the deal with Su Li ended.
That had been the most relaxing period of his working life.
……
After leaving Chi Qingya’s house, Su Li’s top priority was to find a place to live and then bring her cats home.
She returned to the area where she’d set up shelters for the strays, fed them their meals, and patted each of their little heads while they affectionately rubbed against her legs.
“Once I find a home, I’ll come get you all,”
Su Li said softly. As if they understood her, a few of the cats meowed in response.
After feeding them, Su Li ordered a milk tea, then sat down in the shop and began studying various rental apps.
When Chi Qingya had taken her in, she had known nothing about this world.
But after some time learning and observing, she had picked up quite a bit.
“Xiao Su Li.”
Just as Su Li was about to click on a rental listing, she felt a light tap on her shoulder, followed by a rich, velvety voice in her ear.
It sounded like aged red wine—deep, layered, and full of complexity—tickling her heart.
Of course, Su Li suspected the effect came from the woman deliberately speaking close to her ear.
She looked up and saw Chi Qingya’s landlady, Bai Huizi.
“Sister Bai.”
Bai Huizi stood behind her like a carefully crafted painting.
Her long, wavy white hair cascaded over her shoulders, exuding an air of refined elegance.
In the sunlight, her hair glowed softly, and the space around her carried a faint scent of tulips.
Her features bore the graceful charm unique to mature women.
Her brows were slightly raised, as if concealing countless thoughts, her deep eyes staring straight at Su Li.
Her nose was straight, lips rosy, and the corners of her mouth always carried a faint, almost imperceptible smile—subtle, yet undeniably warm.
The knitted sweater she wore was stretched taut, rising and falling with Bai Huizi’s breath, hinting at the graceful curves beneath.
Her slender, shapely legs were wrapped in black stockings—thighs full and calves slim—with faint indentations barely visible through the fabric.
On her feet were a pair of elegant high heels. Standing behind Su Li, it felt like those voluptuous ** could practically press down right on her head.
“I saw you looking at rental listings, Xiao Su Li. What’s wrong? Not planning to live with your little girlfriend anymore?”
Su Li swallowed hard, suddenly feeling a strange heaviness pressing down from above.
Bai Huizi’s delicate, boneless hands rested gently on her shoulders, and her curious gaze was now fixed on Su Li’s phone.
“She’s not my girlfriend. We’re just… regular tenants.”
Su Li thought for a moment and explained.
After all, she had paid rent, so calling herself a tenant was perfectly accurate.
She didn’t really mind Bai Huizi’s overly familiar behavior.
During the time she rented the place, the landlady had indeed helped her quite a bit.
From handling everyday matters to offering rent discounts, she had been more than generous.
“Oh? Just regular tenants?”
Bai Huizi hooked an arm around Su Li’s neck, her tone laced with amusement.
She remembered Su Li well—after all, anyone who regularly saw a girl hauling around over twenty garbage bags at once would definitely be left with a lasting impression.