5 Cracks under the Starlight

The cold marble floor transmitted the biting chill through the thin velvet fabric. Su Wan sat slumped at the door of the bathroom, her back against the equally cold wall, her body still twitching intermittently due to violent retching. Her throat was burning, her stomach was empty and painful, and only the bitterness of bile burning filled her mouth. Humiliating tears mixed with cold sweat dried on her face, leaving tight, salty marks.

She was like a body with a soul emptied, staring at the towering cold ceiling of the master bedroom with empty eyes. He Liancheng's words "It's an eyesore" echoed in her mind like a curse, and every word was like a poisoned needle, repeatedly piercing her remaining self-esteem. This carefully selected black velvet dress, which symbolized Mrs. He's identity, was wrapped around her body at this moment, like a cold venomous snake, exuding a disgusting sense of restraint.

There was a slight rustling sound in the cloakroom. It was Helian Cheng changing clothes. The sound was like a life-threatening drumbeat, beating her tense nerves. She couldn't stay here, and couldn't let him come out and see her in such a miserable state. That would only lead to more cruel scrutiny and harsher evaluations.

The instinct for survival overwhelmed the physical exhaustion and spiritual despair. Su Wan used up her last bit of strength and struggled to get up from the cold floor. Her legs were still sore, and every step felt like stepping on cotton. She staggered into the bathroom connected to it and locked the door with her backhand.

The huge bathroom was filled with cold water vapor after the water vapor dissipated. She rushed to the mirror-like sink, turned on the cold water faucet, and splashed the cold water on her hot face. The biting cold made her chaotic brain have a brief sobriety. She raised her head and looked at the miserable woman in the mirror.

Wet black hair stuck to her pale cheeks, her eyes were red and swollen, her lips were bloodless, and her eyes were filled with bottomless fear, humiliation, and a completely crushed confusion. Is this still her? The Su Wan who once stayed up all night for a design, argued for studio orders, and whose eyes always burned with the light of dreams?

"Su Wan..." She silently moved her lips at the unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, but could not make any sound. The huge sorrow was like a cold tide, instantly drowning her. She slid to the ground, leaned her back against the edge of the cold bathtub, buried her face deeply in her knees, and trembled silently. This time, it was not for Lin Xiao, not for the studio, but just for herself - the Su Wan who was being wiped out bit by bit by Helian Cheng and imprisoned under the gorgeous body of "Mrs. He".

After an unknown amount of time, the door of the cloakroom outside was opened, and steady footsteps left the master bedroom. It was not until the footsteps completely disappeared at the end of the corridor that Su Wan's tense nerves relaxed a little, like a broken string, leaving only a numb silence.

She didn't know how long she had been sitting on the ground. Until the bathroom door was gently knocked, Xiaoling's respectful but emotionless voice came from outside: "Madam, dinner is ready, in the restaurant."

Su Wan did not respond. She struggled to stand up, her legs were numb and almost unconscious. She opened the door, and Xiaoling stood outside with her hands hanging down, her eyes downcast, as if she ignored her ghostly pale face.

"I'm not hungry." Su Wan's voice was hoarse and dry, like sandpaper rubbing.

Xiaoling did not insist, but bowed slightly: "Okay, Madam. Uncle Fu said that the gentleman has an appointment tonight and will not come back for dinner."

Helian Cheng is not coming back. This news is like a weak straw, causing a slight ripple in Su Wan's dying heart. At least tonight, she could temporarily escape from his sight and have a moment of freedom to breathe - if there was any freedom in this cold cage.

She did not go to the restaurant, nor did she turn on the lights. The huge master bedroom was shrouded in deep twilight, with only the bright lights of the city outside the window shining through the French windows, casting changing light and shadows on the floor. Su Wan was like a ghost, barefoot, silently wandering in this cold luxury. Her fingertips brushed across the cold velvet curtains, the back of the expensive leather sofa, the huge, never-used dressing table... Everything was brand new and perfect, but lifeless, like a huge tomb waiting for its owner to return.

Her eyes finally fell on the huge, dark gray bed. The memory of last night's collapse came like a tide, with a humiliating touch and desperate tears. She could no longer get close to it.

Her footsteps moved uncontrollably towards the glass door leading to the terrace. She longed for the air outside, even if it was just a moment of free breathing. She pushed open the heavy glass door, and a cool night breeze rushed in instantly, bringing with it the fresh scent of early summer grass and trees, diluting the cold fragrance everywhere in the room.

The terrace was surprisingly spacious, paved with smooth dark stone. There was an expensive outdoor sofa in the corner, but Su Wan ignored it. She walked straight to the glass fence at the edge of the terrace, holding the cold railing tightly with both hands, as if it was the only support she could hold.

The night wind brushed across her hot cheeks and blew the wet hair on her forehead. She greedily took a deep breath of the free air and looked at the bright lights of Jingjiang City in the distance that spread out like a galaxy. The light was so grand and so far away, and each lamp seemed to hide a vivid life, a joy and sorrow that belonged to them. Only she was trapped in this cold mountaintop fortress, like a lonely soul forgotten by the world.

Tears slid silently again, and were blown cold by the night wind.

At this moment, a low roar of an engine came from far away, breaking the silence on the top of the mountain. Two dazzling headlights cut through the dark winding mountain road, like two sharp swords, piercing straight to the villa on the top of the mountain.

Helian Cheng is back? So soon? !

A huge panic instantly seized Su Wan. She took a step back like a frightened rabbit, her heart pounding. What was he doing back? Didn't he have an appointment? She couldn't let him see her here! This look of being lost and crying at the night view would only be another "unqualified" performance in his eyes!

She almost rolled and crawled back to the room, quickly closed the glass door of the terrace with her backhand, and pulled up the heavy blackout curtains to completely isolate the outside world. She leaned against the cold glass door, her chest heaving violently, gasping for breath, as if she had just experienced a life-and-death escape.

The footsteps, steady and regular, came from far away, stepping on the thick carpet, making a dull sound. The sound was like a precise drumbeat, and every step hit Su Wan's heart. He's coming!

Su Wan looked around in panic, like a thief who broke into someone else's territory and was about to be caught by the owner. She couldn't stay in the bedroom! She needed a place... a place to hide temporarily!

Her eyes swept across the room and finally stopped at the door leading to the cloakroom. There! It was big enough and deep enough! She stumbled to the cloakroom as if grabbing the last straw, suddenly opened the heavy door, dodged in, and then carefully closed the door, leaving only a tiny gap.

There was no light in the cloakroom, it was pitch black, and filled with the mixed smell of high-grade wood and fabric. Su Wan leaned against the cold door, holding her breath, her heart beating wildly in her chest, almost bursting out. In the darkness, she could only hear her rapid heartbeat and heavy breathing.

The footsteps outside were getting closer and closer, and stopped at the door of the master bedroom. The door was pushed open.

Helian Cheng walked in.

He didn't turn on the light, and his tall figure paused at the door for a moment, as if he was adapting to the dimness in the room. Then, he stepped in and walked straight to the center of the bedroom. Su Wan could only see his vague and oppressive outline through the crack in the door.

He walked to the bed and threw something on the bed casually - it seemed to be a suit jacket. Then, he untied his tie, with a little imperceptible irritation in his movements.

Su Wan's heart was in her throat, and she covered her mouth tightly, fearing that she would make a sound. She prayed that he just came back to get something, and prayed that he would leave quickly.

However, Helian Cheng had no intention of leaving. He seemed a little tired, raised his hand and pinched his eyebrows, and then his eyes swept around the dim room.

Su Wan's heart stopped beating! He... Is he looking for her?

The next second, Helian Cheng took a long step and walked towards the cloakroom with a clear goal!

Su Wan's blood froze instantly! The huge fear gripped her heart like a cold giant hand! He was coming in! He found out that she was hiding here! What would he do to her? Punishment? More humiliation?

She closed her eyes in despair, her body trembling uncontrollably, waiting for the judgment to come.

The footsteps stopped outside the cloakroom door.

A hand grasped the door handle.

Su Wan's heart almost stopped beating.

Just when she thought the door would be opened and she would be exposed to Helian Cheng's cold eyes, a piercing mobile phone ring came from outside the door!

Helian Cheng paused holding the door handle.

He glanced at the screen of his mobile phone, seemed to frown (Su Wan could only see the slight change in his jawline), then turned around, answered the call, and walked towards the terrace.

"Speak." His low voice, with a hint of displeasure at being interrupted, came clearly through the door.

Su Wan slid down the door and sat on the carpet as if exhausted, and cold sweat instantly soaked her back. She gasped for breath and trembled all over. The fear at that moment almost completely broke her down. Was it that phone call... that saved her?

She collapsed on the carpet like a puddle of mud, without even the strength to move a finger. Her ears uncontrollably caught the faint sound coming from outside.

Helian Cheng seemed to be making a phone call on the terrace, his voice was very low, and the specific content could not be heard clearly. Only a few fragmented words could be caught: "... Xingguang Island... Development Case... Agreement... Time Point... Must..."

His tone seemed to carry an unquestionable control and a hint of... urgency? Su Wan had never heard him speak in such a tone. In her impression, he was always so calm and indifferent, as if everything was under control. This phone call... seemed to have touched something?

Su Wan's heartbeat accelerated again, not because of fear, but because of an inexplicable intuition. Xingguang Island? Development case? Agreement? These words, like stones thrown into a stagnant pond, stirred a ripple in her numb heart. She felt vaguely that this seemed to be related to her... or to the reason why Helian Cheng forcibly imprisoned her by his side?

She struggled and carefully approached the crack of the door again, trying to hear more clearly.

Helian Cheng's voice was intermittent: "... That supplementary agreement... deal with it cleanly... I don't want any accidents... especially now..." There was a rare cold murderous intent in his voice.

Su Wan's heart sank suddenly. Deal with it cleanly? Accident? What is he talking about? Is it related to the "Xingguang Island Development Case"? Or... related to her?

At this moment, Helian Cheng seemed to end the call. The door to the terrace was opened and closed, and the steady footsteps came towards the bedroom again.

Su Wan was so frightened that she immediately used her hands and feet to crawl backwards, trying to hide in a deeper corner in a panic. In the darkness, she bumped into something hard, making a soft "dong" sound!

The footsteps stopped instantly!

Su Wan's heart almost jumped out of her throat! She covered her mouth tightly, even stopped breathing, and closed her eyes in despair. It's over!

The door handle of the cloakroom was turned violently!