She wasn't lying in a cage, nor was she dressed in thin gauze, subjected to the appraising leers of a crowd of dressed brutes.
But she knew, all of it, was not a dream.
Struggling to sit up, a middle-aged woman in a maid's uniform with her hair meticulously combed and netted into a bun at the back was just pushing a dining cart through the door.
Seeing that she was awake, the woman approached and said indifferently, "Hello, my name is Lao Gu, and I am the butler here. Now that you're awake, have something to eat, then take a bath and change your clothes. My young master wishes to see you."
"Your young master is?"
"My young master is Mr. Rong Shaoze."
Lin Xinlan closed her mouth, how could she expect that he would let her go. It seems she must be in his villa now.
Uncertain about what he wanted from her, Lin Xinlan still ate, took a bath, and then followed Lao Gu to meet Rong Shaoze.
Upon reaching a door, Lao Gu gently knocked, "Young Master, Miss Lin is here."
"Let her in."
Lao Gu opened the door, signaling her to enter.
Lin Xinlan hesitated, stepped forward a few paces, and the door behind her promptly closed. Her heart gave a start, and she suddenly remembered that night five years ago.
Back then, she was pushed into a dark room, and the door was quickly shut behind her too.
It was that night when she lost her most precious first time as a woman...
Lin Xinlan nearly turned around and fled, but fortunately, she restrained herself.
This was a large study, with bookshelves as big as one wall, a sofa area, tea equipment, and a large desk.
Rong Shaoze sat behind the desk, leaning against a leather swivel chair, holding a pure white cigarette, observing her casually.
Lin Xinlan disliked his gaze, feeling as if he was looking at her as though she were a piece of cabbage.
"What did you want to see me for?"
Rong Shaoze beckoned to her, "Come, take a seat."
Lin Xinlan did not want to go over, but there was no need to be defiant over such small matters. She stepped forward, sat across the desk from him.
The man crushed the cigarette into the ashtray and said lightly, "Ruoxin and I were engaged, with plans to marry next weekend. But now, she's become a vegetable, and my wedding cannot proceed."
Lin Xinlan hurriedly said, "I'm sorry for what happened to Miss Ruoxin, becoming a vegetable. I know, no matter how many apologies I make, they won't bring her back to consciousness. I am willing to take responsibility for my mistake, and you can send me to the po-lice station."
Rong Shaoze appreciated her forthrightness and her courage.
He smiled faintly and continued, "I bailed you out without intending to send you back there again. Do you know, if I hand you over to the po-lice, I have ways to make you spend a lifetime in jail! Would you like to be imprisoned for life?"
Lin Xinlan pursed her lips in silence; of course, she was unwilling.
"See, you're unwilling, aren't you? Therefore, I have saved your lifetime. Now, you belong to me. Whatever I ask you to do, you need to do it obediently. This is the condition for saving you. You can consider whether you want to follow all my arrangements."
She didn't want to follow his arrangements either.
But did she have another way out?
No, there was no way out anymore. Either go to jail, or listen to him.
"Tell me, what do you want me to do? But let's agree beforehand, I won't do anything outrageous!" Lin Xinlan negotiated calmly with him.
Rong Shaoze felt an additional respect for her, as few women could maintain their composure and remain calm in front of him.
He tossed a document to her and said, "I need to get married immediately. Ruoxin can no longer marry me, so now I want you to hold the wedding with me."