Seven o'clock in the morning.
Sunlight slipped through the gap in the heavy curtains, casting a thin sliver of light that landed right on Zhou Suisui's eyes.
She opened her eyes, stared at the unfamiliar ceiling for three seconds, and then sat up abruptly.
Soreness.
Her waist, her legs, and that unmentionable place—every movement seemed to remind her of what had happened last night.
She reached out and touched it.
It hurt.
Zhou Suisui threw off the blanket and got out of bed. Her legs were so weak she could barely stand; she held onto the nightstand to steady herself for a good while before slowly making her way to the bathroom.
The reflection in the mirror looked awful.
Her hair was a messy bird's nest, there were faint dark circles under her eyes, her lips were slightly swollen, and there were several obvious hickeys on her neck. She leaned closer to the mirror, lightly touched the marks on her neck with her fingertips, and then pulled open the collar of her bathrobe...
The skin on her chest was even worse.
Dark and light red marks spread all the way from her collarbone down to her chest, along with a few deep bite marks, their edges already turning a bruised purple.
Looking at those marks, her mind uncontrollably flashed back to the scenes from last night—when he pinned her against the wall and bit her, when they were on the bed, and later in the bathroom...
She abruptly turned on the faucet and splashed her face with cold water.
The freezing water sobered her up a bit. She raised her head and looked at herself in the mirror for a long time.
Then, she began to brush her teeth, wash her face, and comb her hair.
Her movements were slow, but very meticulous.
By the time she finished freshening up, it was already half past seven.
Zhou Suisui walked out of the bathroom, her gaze falling on the nightstand.
She picked up the cash, counted it to make sure it was correct, bound it back up, and put it into her handbag.
She stood up, walked to the window, and pulled open the curtains.
Sunlight instantly flooded in, so bright it made her squint.
Outside the window was a large courtyard, planted full of sycamore trees whose leaves were already beginning to turn yellow. There was a fountain in the center of the yard, but it was turned off; the pool water was completely still, reflecting the sky above.
It was beautiful.
And very quiet.
So quiet it felt like an isolated cage.
Zhou Suisui looked out the window for a long time.
Then, she turned around, walked back to the bed, and started getting dressed.
Yesterday's dress was unwearable now; it was terribly wrinkled, and the chest area showed signs of being torn. She opened the wardrobe. Hanging inside were several pieces of women's clothing, all brand new with the tags still attached.
The styles were simple, but the materials were excellent.
She picked out a cream-colored knit sweater and a pair of black trousers to put on. Surprisingly, the size fit perfectly.
After getting dressed, she picked up her handbag. She slipped the card and the note inside as well.
Finally, she took one last look at the room.
The bedsheets were still rumpled, and the scent of last night still lingered in the air.
She turned, pulled open the door, and walked out.
---
The hallway was long and covered with a thick carpet that swallowed the sound of her footsteps. Zhou Suisui walked to the top of the stairs and looked down.
In the first-floor living room, Eva was speaking with a middle-aged woman in a uniform. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, saw Zhou Suisui, and revealed a professional smile.
"Miss Zhou, you're awake?" she said. "Breakfast is ready in the dining room."
Zhou Suisui nodded and walked down the stairs.
"Where is Mr. Chen?" she asked, trying her best to make her voice sound natural.
"Mr. Chen left at six this morning," Eva replied. "He instructed me to take you back. We will head out as soon as you finish breakfast."
Zhou Suisui gave a soft murmur of acknowledgment and followed Eva into the dining room.
The dining table was lavishly spread with both Chinese and Western options, along with fresh fruit and juice. Zhou Suisui didn't have much of an appetite; she only drank a glass of milk and ate a piece of toast.
"Miss Zhou," Eva stood to the side, her voice steady, "Mr. Chen asked me to inform you that every Friday at eight in the evening, the driver will come to pick you up. The location remains the same."
Zhou Suisui's grip on her milk glass tightened. "...Alright."
"Also," Eva handed over a business card, "this is my contact information. If you need anything—whether it's for your daily life, or... other matters, you can contact me anytime."
Zhou Suisui took the card.
It was pure white, very similar to the one Chen Boxu had given her last night, except this one had Eva's name and phone number printed on it.
"Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome." Eva gave a slight nod. "There is one more thing. Mr. Chen wishes for you to undergo a comprehensive medical examination. I have already made the appointment for tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock. The driver will come to pick you up."
Zhou Suisui's fingers suddenly clenched.
A medical examination.
Those words were like ice water, instantly extinguishing the last bit of lingering, ridiculous fantasy in her heart.
She remembered his obsession with cleanliness last night, the look in his eyes when he told her to go shower, and the evaluating touch of his fingers as they trailed across her skin.
Now, he wanted a written, official proof.
Proof that she was truly clean.
Zhou Suisui raised her eyes and looked at Eva. "...Alright."
Her voice was very calm, so calm that even she was surprised.
Eva nodded. "Take your time eating, I will wait for you outside."
She turned and left the dining room.
Zhou Suisui sat there, looking at the breakfast in front of her, suddenly losing her appetite entirely.
She set down the milk glass, stood up, and walked out of the dining room.
Eva was already waiting at the door, holding her coat. It wasn't the one from yesterday; it was a new, cream-colored cashmere coat.
"Miss Zhou, please." She handed over the coat.
Zhou Suisui took it and put it on. The size was a perfect fit, and the material was incredibly soft.
She followed Eva out the door.
A car was already parked in the courtyard. It was black, not the same one from last night, but it looked equally expensive. The driver stood by the car and respectfully opened the rear door when he saw them come out.
Zhou Suisui got in.
Eva sat in the passenger seat.
The car slowly drove out of the courtyard, the iron gates slowly closing behind them.
Zhou Suisui turned her head, looking back at the old mansion as it grew further away.
The creeping ivy shimmered with a dark green luster in the morning light, and the leaves of the sycamore trees swayed gently in the wind.
It was beautiful.
And very cold.
She turned her head back and looked straight ahead.
The car merged onto the main road and joined the flow of traffic.
It was now eight-thirty in the morning, the peak of rush hour, and the roads were congested. Zhou Suisui looked out the window at the pedestrians hurrying by, the small breakfast stalls on the side of the street, and the crowded bus stops filled with people waiting.
Everything looked exactly the same as she had seen it yesterday morning.
Yet it felt as though nothing was the same anymore.
Her phone vibrated.
Zhou Suisui took it out to look; it was a message from Liu Weiwei.
Weiwei: Are you... okay?
Zhou Suisui stared at that line of text for a long time.
Then, she typed:
Suisui: I'm okay.
Suisui: He said every Friday night.
Weiwei: Yeah.
Weiwei: Are you heading home?
Suisui: I'm in the car.
Suisui: Sister Weiwei, he wants me to get a medical checkup tomorrow.
This time, Liu Weiwei took a long time to reply.
Weiwei: ...I figured.
Weiwei: Go. Do whatever needs to be done, let the report put his mind at ease.
Weiwei: Also, remember to take your medicine.
Zhou Suisui's fingers paused.
Suisui: What medicine?
Weiwei: What do you think? The morning-after pill. Don't tell me you haven't taken it.
Zhou Suisui looked at the screen, her mind going completely blank.
She had forgotten.
Last night... no, early this morning, after it was over, she had been too tired and too overwhelmed to even think about it.
Suisui: ...I forgot.
Weiwei: Go buy it now. It works within 24 hours.
Weiwei: Don't expect him to think of it for you. Women have to worry about these things themselves.
Zhou Suisui gripped her phone tightly.
Suisui: Okay.
Weiwei: And... Zhou Suisui.
Suisui: Yeah?
Weiwei: Don't be stupid. You chose this path yourself, so you have to walk it to the end.
Weiwei: But also... don't lose yourself.
Zhou Suisui stared at the last sentence, her eyes suddenly growing hot.
She took a deep breath and typed:
Suisui: I know.
Suisui: Thank you, Weiwei.
After sending the message, she locked her phone and leaned back in her seat.
The car was still moving slowly.
The sunlight outside the window was beautiful, shining warmly on her face.
Zhou Suisui closed her eyes.
Flashes of last night crossed her mind—the scent of cedar when he leaned over, the strength of his grip on her waist, the sound of the running water when he pinned her against the bathroom wall.
And this morning: the stack of cash, the card, the note.
And just now, Eva's businesslike tone when she said, "Mr. Chen hopes you will go for a comprehensive physical examination."
Everything was so clear.
So clear that the last lingering fantasy in her heart—that maybe she was a little special to him—popped like a soap bubble.
Zhou Suisui opened her eyes and looked out the window.
The car had already reached a neighborhood she was familiar with.
Two more intersections, and they would be at the apartment she shared with Lin Xiao.
She sat up straight, took a small mirror out of her handbag, and checked her neck.
The marks were obvious; they couldn't be hidden.
She thought for a moment, popped the collar of her coat, and gathered her hair around her neck to cover them as much as possible.
The car stopped downstairs at her apartment building.
"Miss Zhou," Eva turned around and handed her a small paper bag. "Inside is some concealer and... the pill. I've already bought them."
Zhou Suisui froze.
She took the bag. Inside, there was indeed a brand-new tube of concealer and a box of emergency contraceptive pills.
"Mr. Chen's instructions," Eva said, her face still bearing that professional smile. "He hopes you take good care of yourself."
Zhou Suisui held the paper bag, her fingertips trembling slightly.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"You're welcome," Eva nodded slightly. "Well then, we'll see you next Friday."
Zhou Suisui nodded, pushed the car door open, and got out.
She stood by the side of the road, watching the car slowly pull away and disappear around the corner.
Then, she turned around and looked up at the apartment building.
On the fifth floor, the curtains of the apartment she shared with Lin Xiao were drawn, making it impossible to see if anyone was inside.
Zhou Suisui took a deep breath. Instead of going into the apartment, she went to a nearby bank and deposited the 50,000 yuan from her handbag.
Then she picked up her phone, opened WeChat, and found Liu Weiwei.
The chat history was still stuck on just now. On her warning.
Zhou Suisui stared at the screen for a few seconds, then tapped on the transfer button.
Entered the amount: 25,000.
She paused for a long time at the memo field.
Her fingers hovered over the screen, deleting and typing, typing and deleting.
Finally, she only typed two words: Repaying you.
Send.
The successful transfer screen popped up.
Zhou Suisui stared at the green checkmark for a long time before backing out and starting to type.
Suisui: Weiwei, I transferred the money to you. Please accept it.
Suisui: I'm still short... 5,000, right? The money for the dress and shoes.
Suisui: I temporarily... don't have enough on hand. Once I have the money, I'll give it to you, is that okay?
After sending the messages, she held her phone and waited.
A few seconds later, the screen lit up.
Weiwei: Are you crazy? Where did you get the money?
Zhou Suisui's fingers tightened.
Suisui: He gave it to me.
There was an even longer silence on the other end.
Weiwei: Zhou Suisui, are you stupid? You're using the money he gave you to pay me back?
Suisui: I bought things with your money, so I should pay you back.
Suisui: No matter what, debts need to be paid.
This time, Liu Weiwei called her directly.
Zhou Suisui answered, and before she could speak, she heard Liu Weiwei's voice:
"Have you lost your mind? If you give me back that 25,000 now, what do you have left?"
Zhou Suisui leaned against her headboard, her voice very calm: "I have 25,000 left."
"And then?" Liu Weiwei asked. "What do you plan to do with that 25,000? Save it? Or go buy a few new clothes?"
Zhou Suisui didn't say anything.
"Zhou Suisui, let me tell you," Liu Weiwei's voice deepened. "The thing you should be doing right now isn't rushing to pay me back. It's taking all the money he gave you and getting yourself a decent wardrobe. You're his woman now; you need to look like you deserve to be by his side."
"I know," Zhou Suisui said. "But I have to pay you back."
"You..."
"Weiwei," Zhou Suisui interrupted her, "I know you're looking out for me. But this... is something I have to do."
The other end of the line was quiet for a long time.
Then, Liu Weiwei sighed. "Fine, suit yourself. There's no rush for the remaining 5,000. We can talk about it when you have more cash to spare."
"Thank you, Weiwei."
"Don't thank me, Zhou Suisui," Liu Weiwei's voice suddenly became very serious. "Listen to me. From now on, you need to be smart and keep your guard up."
Zhou Suisui gripped her phone tightly.
"First, your money needs to be spent where it counts."
"Second, if he tells you to go over every Friday night, you go. But don't initiate contact with him normally, and definitely don't go looking for him at his company or apartment."
"Third," Liu Weiwei paused, "if Lin Xiao gives you trouble... don't clash with her head-on. Your foundation isn't stable right now; you can't afford to provoke her."
Zhou Suisui bit her lip. "Will Lin Xiao... find out?"
"What do you think?" Liu Weiwei retorted. "Chen Boxu hung up on her three times last night, and she isn't stupid. Plus, you didn't come home all night; there's no way she won't ask."
Zhou Suisui's heart sank.
"Then I..."
"Just play dumb," Liu Weiwei said. "Whatever she asks, just say you were out late with friends and slept over at a friend's place. Don't say anything else."
"Okay."
"And," Liu Weiwei added, "don't... don't actually fall for him."
"...Okay."
After hanging up, Zhou Suisui looked at Liu Weiwei's profile picture on her phone screen.
Then, she opened the transfer history to confirm that the 25,000 had gone through.
After doing this, the heavy feeling in her heart seemed to lighten a little.
No matter what, debts needed to be paid.
This was her bottom line.
Even if this bottom line, after last night, was already as fragile as a joke.
