Chapter 16
“What did you say…?” Lin Qianqian asked, as if she had misheard, her eyes welling up.
Lu Yin was kicking her out, giving her no time to prepare, casually dismissing her while she had been trying so hard to be close, to be affectionate.
She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, taking deep breaths, trying to control her emotions.
“You’re an adult, not a child anymore,” Lu Yin said impassively. “I don’t think you should be clinging to me like you used to.”
“But you’re my sister…” Lin Qianqian wiped away her tears, her voice trembling.
Before she could say more, Lu Yin interrupted. “That was the past. We have no relationship now. Why should I take you in? Why should I offer you a safety net? This isn’t a shelter. I decide who stays and who goes.”
Lin Qianqian froze, staring at Lu Yin in disbelief. The gentle and kind sister she knew would never speak so harshly.
…She had almost forgotten.
Four years ago, during their argument, Lu Yin had been like this, her words sharp and unforgiving.
Lu Yin hadn’t changed.
She hadn’t loved her then, and she didn’t love her now.
In Lu Yin’s eyes, she was a burden.
A disruption to her painting, her routine, a nuisance who demanded cold noodles late at night after a long day of work.
She wanted to ask if Lu Yin was being sincere, but Lu Yin’s indifferent expression confirmed her fears. Lu Yin was pushing her away.
Lu Yin, who preferred solitude, didn’t want anyone intruding on her territory.
Lin Qianqian desperately wanted to understand Lu Yin’s thoughts, her motivations.
She could never predict her. When she expected comfort, she was met with harsh words. When she dared to be rebellious, she was coaxed back with unexpected tenderness.
Lin Qianqian wanted to prove she wasn’t childish, but she had no evidence to support her claim.
She could only endure Lu Yin’s cruel words, powerless to argue.
“I’m sorry…” she whispered.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated.
“You still see me as a burden, don’t you?” Lin Qianqian asked, her eyes red, needing confirmation. “Don’t you?”
Lu Yin avoided her gaze.
Lin Qianqian understood. “I’ll pack my things soon…” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
She walked downstairs, her hand on the railing, her tears flowing freely as soon as she turned her back on Lu Yin.
She hurried to her room, locked the door, and leaned against it, sobbing uncontrollably.
She didn’t care if Lu Yin heard her, or if Lu Yin would spend the night in the loft. She needed to release her pain.
Why?
Why was Lu Yin doing this?
Even if it was her apartment, she should at least offer some warning, not treat her like a disposable object.
Despite a terrible night’s sleep, Lin Qianqian was woken by her alarm.
Her eyes were swollen. The apartment was empty, no breakfast on the table.
She went to work hungry and miserable.
Around noon, the HR department shared a news article in the work chat group.
A robbery had occurred near the office building the night before. The victim was a woman. The police were investigating.
The perpetrator was still at large. Employees were advised to avoid walking alone after dark and to avoid lingering downstairs late at night.
“I saw the video online!” a colleague said to Lin Qianqian. “He dragged her into a corner, a blind spot for the security cameras. She managed to break free and run into a nearby restaurant that was still open. If it had been later, when everything was closed, who knows what would have happened.”
Lin Qianqian, still reeling from the previous night’s events, simply nodded, saying she would be careful, then retreated into silence.
She browsed apartment listings on her phone. She had no experience renting in China. Even abroad, her classmates had helped her find a place.
She wasn’t one to make decisions, preferring to follow instructions.
For example, when traveling with friends, she never complained, happily following their itinerary.
Although she hadn’t actually traveled with friends before, only with Lu Yin, but that was a long time ago.
“Are you looking for an apartment?” her colleague asked, seeing her browsing listings.
Lin Qianqian seized the opportunity to ask for advice. “Yes, do you have any recommendations?”
“Hold on, I’ll send you a note!” her colleague exclaimed. “These are all lessons learned from personal experience, painful and expensive lessons!”
Lin Qianqian received the note and thanked her, carefully comparing the listings with the ones she had saved.
She glanced at the rental prices, then at her bank balance, and groaned.
It was the most expensive part of the city. Rent would consume two-thirds of her salary.
Lin Qianqian remained glum all day. Her colleague, assuming she was worried about finding an apartment, offered some words of comfort. “Don’t worry, it shouldn’t take too long. Once you find a place online, you can visit it in person, and if everything looks good, you can sign the contract.”
“I know, thank you,” Lin Qianqian clocked out and headed for the door.
“Qianqian! Wait! I’ll walk with you to the subway station!” her colleague called out, hurrying after her.
Lin Qianqian slowed down, waiting for her at the elevator.
“I wasn’t too worried about that news story before, but after hearing everyone talk about it all day, I’m starting to get scared,” her colleague said, her expression worried. “Let’s leave together for a while.”
“Sure,” Lin Qianqian agreed readily.
They took different subway lines, parting ways at the station.
As she walked towards her apartment complex, Lin Qianqian reread the news article.
It hadn’t bothered her during the day, but now, walking alone in the dark, she felt a surge of fear.
She started running, unlocking the apartment door and quickly closing it behind her, leaning against the wall to catch her breath.
Lu Yin looked at her, her expression questioning.
“Um…” Lin Qianqian bit her lip. “Can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
Lin Qianqian walked over and showed her the news article on her phone.
Her eyes pleaded for understanding. “Can I stay a few more days? Just a few…”
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