"Talk?" Chiang Baohe said, "Then why did you bring her with you?" Chiang glanced at Yu Chunyu, his gaze darkening.
Today, Yu Chunyu wore a very soft top that accentuated the shape of her chest, and a pair of slightly flared jeans that highlighted the seductive curve of her waist and hips.
Chiang Baohe stared until his eyes were fixed.
Zou Xiaoling, oblivious to his gaze, hugged Yu Chunyu’s arm and said, "We’re colleagues, what’s so strange about coming over together?"
Chiang Baohe forced a strange smile and replied, "You want to talk? Then let’s talk, but I’m thirsty now, my mouth is dry, can’t talk; go pour me a glass of water."
"You..." Zou Xiaoling wanted to say she wasn’t there to serve him, why should she pour water for him?
But Yu Chunyu tugged at her, saying, "As long as he’s willing to talk, pouring water is no problem."
Zou Xiaoling thought there was some sense in her words, snorted, released Yu Chunyu, and went to search for a kettle and cup to serve water to Chiang Baohe.
But as soon as she entered, she saw the room in disarray; all the kettles and cups were shattered. It seemed that before their arrival, Chiang Baohe had thrown a tantrum and smashed everything in the house.
She turned back angrily and exclaimed, "You’ve smashed everything; how can we drink water?"
Chiang Baohe let out a cold laugh and responded, "Can’t you figure it out? There’s a stove, pots, and bowls in the kitchen; boil a pot of water and serve it in a bowl. If you’re unwilling to do even a small task, what is there to talk about with you?"
For a completely unnecessary "talk," Zou Xiaoling clenched her teeth and followed his instructions to boil water in the kitchen.
Yu Chunyu gave Chiang Baohe a disdainful glance and walked past him, following into the kitchen.
From his vantage point, he could see two young women sitting together on small, low stools, their backs to him, their waist and hips curves silhouetted against the flicker of the stove fire, resembling a painting.
Chiang Baohe’s mouth went dry as he watched, swallowed spit, clutched his crutch, made an effort to rise on one foot, and hopped to the door. He shut it, sliding the heavy bolt into place, then reached below it and inserted a hidden bolt.
This hidden bolt was usually unseen, but unless it was opened, even if the main bolt was drawn, the door wouldn’t budge.
Then he hopped and limped to the outside of the kitchen, saying to Zou Xiaoling, "Go find something for me, let her keep an eye on the fire."
"Can’t you find it yourself?"
"Me, find it myself? Fine then, you can leave, I don’t want to talk anymore."
"Fine, fine, fine, I’ll go! What do you want me to find?"
"A small cloth bag with some things inside. You’ll probably be interested in it. It’s in the room to the left."
Zou Xiaoling said to Yu Chunyu, "Chun Yu, you watch the fire for now."
Yu Chunyu looked back at Chiang Baohe and felt something was off with his expression and eyes. She had an uneasy feeling but at that moment, she wasn’t worried for herself; rather, she subconsciously feared for Zou Xiaoling, who was about to enter Chiang’s room, and wanted to warn her, but Chiang was already staring intently at her.
Yu Chunyu shivered inside and was too preoccupied to warn Zou Xiaoling. She just nodded distractedly and turned back to tend the fire.
She heard Zou Xiaoling’s footsteps fading away.
But after a while, when there was no sound from Chiang, panic set in. She abruptly turned around, only to see a crutch swinging towards her.
"Ah!" Yu Chunyu screamed and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, but she fell to the ground.
The next second, Chiang Baohe had pounced on top of her.