Meanwhile, at Bai Huizi’s home.
Bai Huizi stood barefoot on the marble windowsill, the strap of her silk nightdress slipping down to her elbow, revealing the curve of one rounded breast.
The wine-red fabric wrapped her ripe, peach-like figure, the two arcs lifted by her chest shimmering with droplets of light.
The folds of fabric gathered at her waist resembled rose petals ruffled by the wind.
Her earlobes were adorned with the Golden Ginkgo Leaf Earrings, which brushed against her neck as she tilted her head back to sip her wine, casting scattered reflections on the glass.
The torrential rain had already soaked the city, turning it into a flowing river of neon.
The giant screen on the building across the street bathed her voluminous curls in blue light, while the remaining raindrops wove a beaded curtain on the glass.
The flickering street lamps shone through the watery veil, gathering a pool of trembling light.
The entire city’s reflection flowed behind her like a spilled jewelry box—lights of various colors melting in the rain, climbing up the veins of the glass, and seeping into the bottomless night.
Warm breath escaped her lips, fogging up the window and revealing half of her bare, makeup-free face.
Her lips were red like wine, and droplets hung from her eyelashes, caught between moisture and fatigue. The white strands in the glass shimmered coldly in the rain.
The rain pattered lightly, as if thunder still lingered in the distance, pulling her thoughts far, far away.
Countless scenes with Shen Cishu suddenly flooded her mind.
“Sister,” what an elusive word it was.
Her mood was overwhelmingly complicated until the vibration of her phone snapped her back.
Was there news from that side?
How far had they gotten?
Feeling her heart pounding, Bai Huizi picked up the phone. When she saw the sender wasn’t Su Li, a flash of disappointment crossed her eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly.
She tossed the phone aside casually and returned to standing by the glass, lost in thoughts about Su Li.
She hadn’t expected her prickly younger sister to so easily yield to a stranger.
Shen Cishu, who regarded herself as aloof and superior to others, had invited someone she barely knew home.
And the one who made Shen Cishu surrender—Su Li—was like a little dog, obedient and submissive under her, obeying every command.
Su Li even showed a gentleness in front of another person that Shen Cishu herself had never witnessed, all in accordance with the tasks given to her.
Suddenly, Bai Huizi squeezed her legs tightly, her knees accidentally knocking against the glass. The sharp pain mixed with pleasure, like two electric wires twisting at her tailbone.
The mirrored wall reflected her flushed face, but the curve at the corner of her lips looked like a dead fish caught by a fishing hook.
She suddenly regretted not having Su Li record a video as proof, but her mind still replayed the scene of Su Li acting as their Mother.
She pictured Su Li dressed in Mother’s clothes, holding her younger sister in her arms, comforting her with the information Bai Huizi had given her, even brushing the scattered strands of hair from her sister’s forehead.
Her body trembled slightly. She suddenly grabbed the Ice-chilled Wine Bottle and pressed it against her lower abdomen.
The cold burn sent a shiver through her, and she seemed to see Su Li lying on the ground like a seal, eagerly accepting little fish snacks she tossed her way, even helping to clean the dirt from her toes.
Her hair swayed over her instep, tickling her now in the same way as her restless heart.
The touch of Su Li’s lips felt as cool as the droplets gathering at that moment.
Unconsciously, the subtle rhythm of Su Li’s eyelashes fluttering seemed to sync perfectly with the raindrops hitting the glass outside.
Bai Huizi’s breath fogged the window again, and she slowly stuck out her tongue to lick it.
The steam mixed with the bitterness of the wine spread in her mouth, and suddenly she felt as if her heart were being squeezed by a hydraulic press filled with lemon juice, each contraction squeezing out sour, rotten liquid.
A wave of displeasure spread through her heart.
Bai Huizi picked up her phone again and looked at the contact for Su Li. She sent a new message:
【Little Su Li, Elder Sister needs you to complete a new task—make Shen Cishu completely dependent on you.】
After sending the message, she finally felt that sour feeling inside gradually dissipate, replaced by an indescribable comfort swelling within her.
【Elder Sister Bai, I am Teacher Shen’s student. I still have to attend her classes. The more contact there is, the more likely our secret will be exposed sooner or later.】
Su Li’s reply came quickly. Bai Huizi guessed she was either still in the car or already at home.
At the sound of the phone vibrating, Bai Huizi felt her heart race wildly and hurriedly picked it up.
The words “Teacher” and “Student” stood out on the screen, making her heart beat like a drum with Su Li’s message.
She, Bai Huizi, Su Li.
Elder Sister, Younger Sister, Teacher, Student, Owner, Servant, Client, Supplier, Demand Side.
The relationships among the three intertwined, complex and intricate, causing the corners of Bai Huizi’s mouth to curl into a faint smile, a trace of excitement rising within her.
She didn’t reply to Su Li’s message.
She just transferred thirty thousand yuan.
【OK, task guaranteed to be completed, Elder Sister Bai.】
Seeing Su Li’s message, Bai Huizi hummed softly, unable to suppress the smile creeping up her lips.
Her mind pictured Su Li typing the message—though usually expressionless, in Bai Huizi’s imagination, Su Li looked like a little miser, eagerly replying, making her seem much cuter.
But the smile on Bai Huizi’s face didn’t last long. Just as she was about to continue chatting with Su Li, the phone vibrated again—it was a message from someone else.
This phone was originally meant for tenants, and since Su Li had been one of them, Bai Huizi never gave her any other contact number, always communicating with her through this phone, simply setting Su Li as a priority contact.
Because of the new message from another tenant, Bai Huizi suddenly lost interest in continuing the conversation.
【Dear Landlady:
Hello! I am the tenant of Room 501. Sorry to bother you, but I need to report two urgent issues with the apartment:
Severe clogging in the bathroom drain: The drainage has been very slow for the past three days, and this morning it was completely blocked (we tried drain cleaner but it didn’t work).
We suspect there may be debris blocking the main pipe and professional cleaning is needed.
Ceiling leak in the bedroom: Water stains continuously appear in the southeast corner, and the paint is bubbling and peeling.
It seems to be a leak from the upstairs plumbing. We are worried about electrical safety and mold growth.
These problems have affected daily life and pose safety hazards. Please contact maintenance personnel as soon as possible (please notify us in advance if they need to enter the apartment). I can assist on-site if necessary. Thank you!】
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She looked over the message. It was from another tenant, apparently living a floor below where Su Li used to live.