Yang Shi-luo couldn’t snap out of it for a long time.
She had had sexual fantasies before, and it was obvious who the subject was. But the reason these fantasies remained fantasies was precisely because they were difficult to realize. When the dream came true, Yang Shi-luo was still doubting whether she was just having a wet dream, even though the busy day’s work clearly told her this was reality.
It really happened.
She actually did it with Lai Zuo-yi—they rolled in the sheets.
In the past, she had only flirted with Lai Zuo-yi and never confessed her feelings. Yet when they met again, they went straight to home base. Yang Shi-luo couldn’t believe it for a long time, but she couldn’t help wearing a silly smile all day. Everything had happened so suddenly yet so beautifully. Her emotions were hard to settle, and when she saw Lai Zuo-yi again that night, she felt as if she were experiencing first love—too shy to look directly at the other’s smile.
“Does Xiao Yue-yue still feel hungry? Do you want something to eat?”
Yang Shi-luo, lacking courage, could only speak to the little girl who was silently keeping her head down.
“I already bought her something to eat earlier,” Lai Zuo-yi’s voice held a hidden laugh. “Shi-luo, do you want to stay over at my place tonight?”
“Th-this… sure!” The moment Yang Shi-luo met Lai Zuo-yi’s intensely suggestive gaze, her movements instantly became clumsy.
Lai Zuo-yi chuckled softly. The adults’ exchanged glances carried a budding romance, while the little girl remained silent, looking down as she walked.
Perhaps it was because of their physical intimacy that Yang Shi-luo couldn’t help but care more about Lai Yun-yue.
She knew very well that no matter how many times two women did it, they couldn’t magically produce a child. But every day they spent together, Lai Zuo-yi would emphasize that Lai Yun-yue was her child. Yang Shi-luo felt her common sense being disrupted, and at times, she even believed it was true—that she had indeed given birth to the child.
Although she couldn’t seem to get closer to Lai Yun-yue, with Lai Zuo-yi, even though they hadn’t confessed to each other, they had already automatically entered a family mode. Yang Shi-luo would often stay over at Lai Zuo-yi’s place and frequently went out with them. They were like a real family—two people, plus a child.
So sweet.
But Yang Shi-luo always felt something was off.
She really liked Lai Zuo-yi and enjoyed their intimate exchanges, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what felt strange. She felt as if she had arrived at a door, seemingly free to come and go with a key, but in reality, she was being held back. Most importantly, sometimes she noticed bruises on Lai Yun-yue’s body.
“That child only likes to walk with her head down, so she often trips or bumps into things. I’ve told her many times to look ahead.”
Lai Zuo-yi sighed, her eyes carrying a hint of reproach.
“Sorry, Mom…” Lai Yun-yue kept her head down, her voice filled with caution.
This was what Yang Shi-luo found strange.
Sometimes she felt that Lai Yun-yue was always suppressing nervousness, but since Lai Zuo-yi didn’t say anything, she naturally didn’t bring it up either. She guessed it might be because the child was naturally introverted. Yang Shi-luo vaguely remembered being shy herself as a child, only becoming more outgoing in elementary school.
This couldn’t be rushed; it had to be taken step by step.
“Make sure to look up when you walk from now on! Otherwise, if you keep getting hurt, it’ll break my heart too!” Yang Shi-luo said, thinking for a moment before deciding not to pat her head but instead offering a gentle smile. Lai Yun-yue cautiously glanced up, but before she could return the smile, she had already lowered her head again.
Yang Shi-luo rubbed her nose. Should she get used to this feeling of being ignored?
Could it be that she was stealing Lai Zuo-yi away, and that’s why Lai Yun-yue was upset?
Yang Shi-luo clapped her hands, feeling as if she had discovered a truth. Then, after clearing her throat and meeting Lai Zuo-yi’s gaze, she returned to their main topic. “Then I’ll take care of Xiao Yue-yue tomorrow!”
“Mm, I’ll be getting off work late, so I’ll leave it to you.”
“No problem! Senior’s the one working hard!” Yang Shi-luo waved her hands hurriedly. “Just call me if you need anything!”
“I’m really glad you’re here with me.” Lai Zuo-yi’s lips curved with a hint of helplessness. “I hope things can stabilize soon.”
“They will! Even if it takes a while, Senior can always rely on me!” Yang Shi-luo spoke with confidence, though she herself was surprised. She, who had always been on the receiving end of help, could now be the one offering support.
Lai Zuo-yi had been back in the country for three months now. A few days ago, she quit her job. Yang Shi-luo knew she shouldn’t pry, so she didn’t ask for the reason, even though she was curious. After all, the company was said to have good benefits and pay, and she had even been offered a team leader position but let it slip away.
Yang Shi-luo suddenly remembered her days of frequently switching part-time jobs. It was a wonder she had stayed at the dumpling shop for so long.
The next day after work, Yang Shi-luo rushed to pick up Lai Yun-yue.
Unsurprisingly, the girl was huddled by the children’s book section, but what surprised Yang Shi-luo was that Lai Yun-yue was reading the first book of Harry Potter—the original English version.
Yang Shi-luo gulped. Though many said the first book was easy to read in English, for someone like her who was illiterate in the language, it was still a struggle. She couldn’t help but marvel at Lai Zuo-yi’s good genes—Lai Yun-yue clearly excelled in foreign languages.
Though they had indeed lived abroad before, so Chinese might have been more challenging for Lai Yun-yue.
Lai Yun-yue was so engrossed in the book that she only snapped out of it when Yang Shi-luo sneezed while casually flipping through a children’s storybook. She hurriedly closed the book, lowering her head as she waited to be taken away.
“What’s wrong, Xiao Yue-yue? Why are you so nervous?” Yang Shi-luo sniffled. The little girl shook her head silently. Yang Shi-luo picked up the first Harry Potter book that Lai Yun-yue had haphazardly placed down, smiling slightly as she crouched a little. “Xiao Yue-yue, you’re amazing! I’m too dumb to read this. Do you like it? Should I borrow it for you so you can keep reading at home?”
“Can… can I?”
“Of course! You’re… my daughter!” Yang Shi-luo had meant to say Lai Zuo-yi’s name, but the way Lai Zuo-yi always referred to Lai Yun-yue as “your daughter” made her instinctively change her words.
Lai Yun-yue’s confused little face finally showed a change. Yang Shi-luo’s heart swelled with joy—it was the first time she had seen Lai Yun-yue smile so brightly, and it lasted for more than ten seconds.
After borrowing the book, they headed home together.
Yang Shi-luo skillfully took out the keys and opened the door. Lai Yun-yue carefully carried the book inside, and without needing to be told, the little girl obediently went to her room to put her things away before grabbing her clothes and heading to the bathroom. Yang Shi-luo turned on the water heater and sent a message to Lai Zuo-yi, then sat on the chair, spacing out.
She was nearly asleep when she heard a loud thud.
“Yun-yue!”
Yang Shi-luo shouted in alarm, rushing to turn the bathroom doorknob.
She gasped sharply, her heart tightening.
“No… it’s nothing…” Lai Yunyue said weakly. She had undoubtedly slipped in the bathtub, her frail body unable to get up. Yang Shiluo couldn’t hide the panic on her face as she hurriedly picked her up, unsure where to look.
Lai Yunyue’s body was covered in wounds of various sizes.
If Yang Shiluo hadn’t heard the sound of her fall, she was certain she would never have discovered this.
Chapter 5: 05
No way? No way! It can’t be what I’m thinking—Yang Shiluo’s mind was in knots, desperately hoping it was all a mirage. In the past, when she had spent time with Lai Zuoyi, the latter would often help Lai Yunyue bathe. Every time she thought of Lai Yunyue stepping out of the bathroom with a smile, her feelings were always complicated.
She didn’t believe Lai Zuoyi would abuse her own daughter, but she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
“Xiao Yueyue, how did you get these wounds?” Yang Shiluo gently placed Lai Yunyue back into the bathtub, her voice tense as she asked, “Don’t tell me you did this to yourself! When I was a kid, I often climbed trees and played around, but even if I fell and got scraped, it was never like this… Xiao Yueyue, tell me, who did this? I want to protect you.”
Lai Yunyue pursed her lips and looked down. Yang Shiluo grew increasingly anxious. Remembering that the girl was still naked, she quickly turned on the warm water to rinse her body.
“If someone is bullying you, hurting you, staying silent isn’t the way to go! Xiao Yueyue, you don’t have to endure what you shouldn’t have to! Tell your sister… tell your mom, who is bullying you! Mom will take the spatula from the potsticker shop and settle this with them!”
“It’s okay…”
“No, it’s not okay!” Yang Shiluo tried to calm herself, but seeing the wounds on Lai Yunyue’s body made her heart ache more and more—she had thought Lai Yunyue’s aloofness was due to her introverted nature, but now she realized it was fear of interacting with others. She should have known from the very first time she met her; Lai Yunyue’s eyes had always been filled with fear…
Yang Shiluo shivered. How long had this been going on?
At the very least, it must have been three months, but they had only returned to the country three months ago… Yang Shiluo’s heart felt heavy.
“Tell your sister, who did this to you.”
Yang Shiluo spoke with great seriousness. She desperately didn’t want to hear the answer. If Lai Yunyue admitted it, she would immediately finish bathing her, take her back to her own place, and protect her, trying to figure out the reason behind all this.
No matter what, long-term abuse of a child was already a sign of psychological disturbance.
Yang Shiluo was deeply distressed, the same name echoing in her mind.
“It’s really okay—” Lai Yunyue trembled as she shook her head, tears streaming down her small face as she pushed Yang Shiluo away. “Don’t worry about me… I can bathe myself… I can…”
“Lai Yunyue.” Yang Shiluo called her full name again, her voice choking up. She forced herself not to cry, at least staying calm in front of Lai Yunyue, but the image of the elementary school students passing by the potsticker shop every day made her eyes well up.
She had once seen Guo Ma caring for many children in the shop, some who had suffered domestic violence or run away from home. Every time, she felt heartbroken. Those little ones, who hadn’t even grown up yet, already bore so many scars.
Yang Shiluo had no parents. As far as she could remember, she only had her grandparents, who had passed away during her college years. Although she was from a skipped-generation family, warmth had never been absent, and the relationships with her relatives were good. Even after her grandparents were gone, her aunts and uncles didn’t bully her; instead, they often cared for her and offered help when needed.
She couldn’t help but hug Lai Yunyue and cry, as if those wounds were scars etched on her own heart, burning with pain.
Half of it was sorrow for her experience, the other half was confusion over why someone would do this.
Even though Lai Yunyue still hadn’t said who had hurt her, Yang Shiluo wasn’t stupid; she already knew.
She sniffled as she finished bathing Lai Yunyue. The two of them sat in silence, and Yang Shiluo had no mood to answer the phone. She just wanted to take Lai Yunyue away, but the girl refused, hanging her head low and clutching the original Harry Potter book tightly. Yang Shiluo knew she was scared and smiled bitterly. Before Lai Zuoyi texted to say she was almost home, Yang Shiluo sent Lai Yunyue back to her room and told her to lock the door.
“I’m back!” Lai Zuoyi came home with a bright smile, holding a bento box. “I bought some bento on the way. Since you didn’t answer the phone, I just got two.”
“What about Xiao Yueyue’s?” Yang Shiluo felt her voice was hard to squeeze out. “Doesn’t she need to eat?”
“She can share with me. Kids don’t eat much,” Lai Zuoyi said, her sharp eyes noticing Yang Shiluo’s odd expression. She set the bento down and slowly walked towards her, arms open. “What’s wrong?”
Before she could even hug her, Lai Zuoyi raised an eyebrow as Yang Shiluo pushed her away.
“Lai Zuoyi.” Yang Shiluo’s tone was heavy.
“Yeah?” Lai Zuoyi narrowed her eyes slightly.
“What happened to Xiao Yueyue’s wounds? Don’t tell me you don’t know! You’ve been bathing her almost every day for months; there’s no way you didn’t notice! Why didn’t you say anything—how could you even act like you didn’t care?”
Yang Shiluo vented her anger in one go. She knew she had to speak clearly first, so there was a chance to be refuted. She hoped Lai Zuoyi would roll her eyes at her or take off that indifferent mask and cry, explaining the reason. She hoped—no matter what—that Lai Zuoyi wasn’t the kind of mother who would hurt her own child.
But Lai Zuoyi just looked at her calmly.
“Let’s eat first.”
“You explain first!” Yang Shiluo tried not to let her emotions be swayed by anger; that would undoubtedly be no help to Lai Yunyue. “Was it really you? Did you really hurt Xiao Yueyue? Why! She… she’s your daughter, she…”
“Yeah.”
A soft voice. Yang Shiluo’s expression shifted from anger to shock as Lai Zuoyi’s demeanor changed from calm to forced smiles.
“You think I wanted that child?”
“What do you mean?”
Yang Shiluo suddenly heard the sound of the bedroom door opening. She turned to see Lai Yunyue’s small head peeking out nervously. Lai Zuoyi slowly turned her head too, and before Yang Shiluo could react, she strode over, grabbed Lai Yunyue by the hair, and dragged her out of the room, ignoring the child’s whimpers as she threw her to the ground.
Yang Shiluo’s face turned pale, nearly collapsing from the shock of the scene.
The Lai Zuoyi she remembered had shattered.
“Mom, I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Lai Yunyue cried, curling up on the floor. Yang Shiluo quickly knelt down and held her tightly, her face filled with disbelief as she listened to Lai Yunyue’s broken apologies, staring at Lai Zuoyi’s twisted smile.
“You think I wanted her?”
Lai Zuoyi kicked Lai Yunyue, and Yang Shiluo was also affected.
“You! Don’t hurt the child! Lai Zuoyi!”
She grabbed Lai Zuoyi’s hands, pushing her back to keep her away from Lai Yunyue. The sound of the child’s cries and the woman’s light laughter filled the living room. Yang Shiluo felt that if she couldn’t stop her, Lai Zuoyi would rush over and beat Lai Yunyue half to death.
“Lai Zuoyi! Stop this!”
Yang Shiluo cried out, wishing this was all a nightmare, or that Guo Ma, who knew how to resolve conflicts, was here. She didn’t know how to reason with Lai Zuoyi. The truth was right in front of her, Lai Yunyue’s cries were piercing her heart, but her mind still foolishly refused to accept it.
“You think I wanted to give birth to her? You think I wanted to? You think I wanted to?”
Lai Zuoyi screamed uncontrollably, struggling with Yang Shiluo. “You only care about that bastard, not me! You think I wanted to give birth to that bastard?”
“I care about both of you!” Yang Shiluo’s shoulders ached, already scratched by Lai Zuoyi’s nails. “Lai Zuoyi! Stop this! She’s your child, not a bastard! You’re hurting her!”
“Who’s causing trouble? Who’s causing trouble?” Lai Zuoyi roared out of control. “Should I have been raped and given birth to that bastard? You think I wanted to? Who protected me when I was raped? I wanted to abort her, but she refused to leave! Just because she insisted on staying, should I be a good person and provide for her? Who the hell do I owe? My life has been completely messed up because of that bastard! Who the hell do I owe?”
Upon hearing this, Yang Shiluo’s entire body stiffened. Even though Lai Zuoyi had been biting her hand hard, the pain seemed to vanish the moment those words reached her ears.
She could only hear the weak voice of Lai Yunyue behind her, endlessly repeating apologies.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Mom… I shouldn’t have been born… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry to you…”
In front of her was a shattered adult; behind her, a broken child.
Yang Shiluo felt as if she herself had been utterly crushed by them.