Chapter 6: Truly Filthy

Su Nuo stood dumbfounded, gazing at the guest room before her. It was located on the northernmost side of the second floor of the Duan family villa—the coldest corner, perpetually deprived of sunlight. The Duan family had many guest rooms, each lavishly decorated, but this particular one had been renovated due to water leakage. The lingering scent of renovation still hung in the air, damp and sticky.

Yet, Su Nuo felt no discomfort; the moment she closed the door behind her, a faint sense of relief washed over her. At least there was this place where she could barely survive. She thought to herself that this was all she deserved.

Looking into the bathroom mirror, she quickly turned away, unwilling to meet her own gaze. She now resembled a walking skeleton—emaciated and lifeless. Her eyes were hollow, seeming indifferent to everything, yet she flinched at the slightest sound, as if terror-stricken.

Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she trembled as she returned to the bed. Duan Yubai had given her room to Mo Xiaoxue but hadn’t left her even a single piece of clothing—not a scrap of underwear. But someone as filthy as she was, how could she possibly deserve any?

A sudden knock at the door startled her. Instinctively, Su Nuo covered her head with the blanket, as if that would spare her from hearing or seeing. Yet she shivered uncontrollably as countless unbearable memories flooded her mind—nights just like this, suffocating and dark.

Knock, knock, knock—the persistent knocking echoed like a death warrant.

“Miss Su? It’s me. I brought you some clothes,” Mo Xiaoxue’s voice came softly, tinged with false kindness. “Mr. Duan gave me the room, and I thought you might not have any fresh clothes, so I prepared some for you.”

“Miss Su, are you there?” Her voice continued, relentless, and Su Nuo felt as if she were about to lose her breath.

After the knocking subsided, just as Su Nuo exhaled in relief, Mo Xiaoxue’s voice returned.

“Looks like Mr. Duan will have to come over, but he…”

Bang!

The guest room door was flung open. Su Nuo stood barefoot on the cold floor, reaching out her hand.

“Just, just give them to me. Thank you.”

She dared not raise her head, fearing to meet Mo Xiaoxue’s gaze. Nor did she dare let Duan Yubai come closer. What would he say? That she was unreasonable, ungrateful, and utterly detestable.

—

Slap!

Mo Xiaoxue threw a plastic bag onto the floor. Su Nuo’s formerly high-end lingerie and several nightgowns lay scattered in disarray. Every piece was stained with unknown fluids—red and yellow—and emitted a foul stench.

Mo Xiaoxue disdainfully wiped her hands with a tissue.

“Disgusting.”

Just two words, yet Su Nuo froze in place, her body trembling uncontrollably. The next moment, she dropped to her knees, hastily gathering the scattered clothes.

“I’m sorry, sorry! I’ll clean everything immediately, I promise.”

Mo Xiaoxue looked down on her, the corner of her mouth curling with undeniable triumph.

At the sound of familiar footsteps, Mo Xiaoxue whispered, “He’s here.”

Startled, Su Nuo’s hand shook, and the clothes slipped through her fingers again.

Mo Xiaoxue exclaimed, “Miss Su, what are you doing? I was only trying to be kind and bring you clothes!”

She covered her mouth, tears instantly welling up—overwhelmed with grievance.

Stunned, Su Nuo glanced at her, then caught sight of a familiar pair of slippers. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the floor.

“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault!”

Her body trembled relentlessly. The memory of Duan Yubai’s earlier kick sent a dull ache coursing through her, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint the pain.

Mo Xiaoxue looked at Duan Yubai with a pitiful expression.

“Sorry, Mr. Duan. I thought Miss Su might not have any fresh clothes. I didn’t expect such a strong reaction.”

“It’s my fault; perhaps Miss Su just doesn’t like me touching her things.”

Duan Yubai’s cold gaze swept over the filthy, scattered garments on the floor, his brow twitching ever so slightly.

As his breathing grew heavier, Su Nuo’s fear intensified. She apologized without cease.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

“Enough!” Duan Yubai snapped harshly.

“Your act is getting better and better. How long do you intend to keep this up? Haven’t you made enough trouble?”

He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, irritation simmering beneath his calm exterior. This woman was truly an eyesore.

Su Nuo quickly shut her mouth, too afraid to utter a single sound. She wanted to cry but dared not. Tears would only be seen as another performance; she could not afford to anger Duan Yubai.

She swiftly gathered the clothes, only to feel sticky liquids on her hands.

Mo Xiaoxue cried out sharply, “What is this?”

—

“Disgusting,” Duan Yubai sneered.

Then he turned to Mo Xiaoxue. “Xiaoxue, you haven’t been resting well lately. Go get some sleep.”

“And you?” Mo Xiaoxue pressed her lips together.

“Of course I’m going back to sleep. Why would I waste my time here looking at trash?”

With that, Duan Yubai strode away.

Mo Xiaoxue cast Su Nuo a mocking glance, but Su Nuo kept her head bowed, too afraid to meet her eyes.

After they left, Su Nuo finally exhaled deeply.

She wanted to wash the clothes but soon realized every piece had been cut to shreds. The nightgowns bore two large gaping holes at the chest, with the word “bitch” scrawled in lipstick inside one.

Unable to bear it, she threw all the clothes into the trash bin hastily.

She then hugged her knees and slowly sank down, expressionless, staring at the discarded garments.

Once glamorous and costly designer wear, now just like her—trampled upon without defense.

Tears rolled down her neck, soaking into her countless wounds, bringing her back to reality.

The Duan family dared not expose her situation nor provide her treatment; she had to find a way to survive on her own.

Thinking of the medicine cabinet in the kitchen on the first floor, she checked the time—it was already two in the morning. Summoning her courage, she tiptoed downstairs.

To avoid making noise, she walked barefoot, having practiced this many times before to ensure silence.

After finally locating the medicine cabinet and just as she reached for the iodine, she heard someone approaching from behind, terrifying her so much that the bottle slipped from her hands and shattered on the floor.

“Ah!”

Mo Xiaoxue’s sharp voice rang out, and the villa’s lights suddenly blazed on.

“Xiaoxue, what’s wrong?”

Mrs. Duan, draped in a shawl and still half asleep, emerged.

Duan Yubai’s bedroom door opened as well.

When everyone descended the stairs and saw Su Nuo clad in red, collapsed on the floor, they were all shocked.

“Xiao Nuo, what happened? Are you hurt?”

Mrs. Duan hurried over, but before she could reach Su Nuo, the girl instinctively knelt down.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry for waking everyone.”

She tried to kowtow, but Mrs. Duan moved to help her, only to be held back by Mo Xiaoxue’s grip on her arm.

“Auntie, Miss Su didn’t mean to scare me,” Mo Xiaoxue said calmly, casting a glance at Duan Yubai. “But it was really frightening to have her suddenly appear behind me like that.”