The scream was within Lin Bao'er's expectations, but the person who screamed was not.
She had thought that the one screaming would be Tang Guo, but it turned out to be that beastly Ye Qiu.
What? Could it be that Tang Guo was molesting him?
As she thought about this, an indecent scene played out in Lin Bao'er's mind: the wolfish Tang Guo advancing on a naked Ye Qiu, who was covering his chest and crotch, with a sinister smile and saying, "Scream all you want—no one will come to save you—mwahaha..."
Lin Bao'er quickly dismissed this absurd idea and ran upstairs, holding her chest. After all, this was all because of her. She had let Ye Qiu stay in Tang Guo's room.
Tang Guo wasn't screaming because she didn't want to; she simply couldn't.
Initially, she was thrilled upon hearing that the beast was gone. She hummed a Faye Wong tune while going upstairs. Although the singer, who wasn't particularly beautiful but exuded femininity, had retired, Tang Guo still loved her songs.
As soon as she opened her bedroom door, she was stunned.
The first thing she saw was that large bag she didn't even have the courage to touch, the bed strewn with clothes that she recognized as the beast's. Then, she heard the sound of water flowing from the bathroom. When she opened the door, she saw the beast lying in her custom-ordered French whirlpool tub, eyes closed—
She felt breathless and dizzy. Then the beast opened his eyes, glanced at her, and began shouting while covering his lower body. Did he think she was going to molest him?
Tang Guo bit her lip until it bled. If her father hadn't always emphasized improving her physical fitness, she would have fainted on the spot.
Who could explain this to her?
The man she despised the most was in her room, touching her bed, using her private tub. Before this, no man had ever entered her private space.
Tang Guo wanted to kill. Really, really wanted to.
Shen Mo Nong's room was next to Tang Guo's. She had been resting and hadn't noticed Lin Bao'er leading Ye Qiu into Tang Guo's room. Hearing a man's scream from next door, she threw off her blanket and ran over.
"What happened? Guo Guo, are you okay? What's going on?" Shen Mo Nong saw Tang Guo standing at the bathroom door, glaring furiously at the bathroom. Following her gaze, Shen Mo Nong's face turned bright red. She pulled Tang Guo's hand, saying, "Guo Guo, you shouldn't see this."
She then told Ye Qiu, who was covering his chest and curled up in the tub as if Tang Guo had just assaulted him multiple times, "Put on your clothes and come downstairs immediately."
Her tone was laced with undisguised anger. She hadn't lashed out immediately because she wanted to understand the situation first. Something didn't add up.
Tang Guo, looking dazed and emotionally shattered, was led downstairs by Shen Mo Nong. They bumped into Lin Bao'er, who was sneaking around. Shen Mo Nong instantly grasped the situation and asked, "Bao'er, what are you doing here?"
"I heard someone screaming upstairs and came to check," Lin Bao'er replied guiltily, eyeing Tang Guo cautiously. "Is Tang Tang okay?"
Shen Mo Nong glared at Lin Bao'er. "You come too."
In the Blue Apartment, Shen Mo Nong, being the oldest and most authoritative, usually had the final say. So Lin Bao'er, holding her chest, followed Shen Mo Nong downstairs, all the while wondering why the beast screamed and not Tang Tang.
When Ye Qiu came downstairs, the three mistresses of the Blue Apartment sat in a row on the sofa, staring at him like they were judging a criminal.
"Ye Qiu, what happened just now?" Shen Mo Nong asked, staring intently at him.
"I was taking a bath when she suddenly barged in. I was naked—so I screamed—" Ye Qiu protested, his face full of indignation, as if he had been greatly wronged.
"But why were you bathing in Guo Guo's room?" Shen Mo Nong's eyebrows furrowed, her voice calm yet stern.
"Guo Guo's room?" Ye Qiu pointed at Tang Guo, his mouth wide open. "I—"
"I know, I know," Lin Bao'er jumped up, interrupting Ye Qiu. "He probably thought he was too dirty and wanted to find a nice room to bathe in. Guo Guo's room is the prettiest, so he went in. Right?"
Lin Bao'er winked at Ye Qiu, signaling him to go along.
"Bao'er, what are you doing?" Shen Mo Nong, astute as she was, easily saw through Lin Bao'er's actions and scolded her.
"Nothing. I was just guessing why the beast would go to Tang Tang's room," Lin Bao'er grinned as she sat back down.
"Guo Guo—" Shen Mo Nong wanted to comfort Tang Guo but didn't know how to start. She knew Tang Guo had mild OCD, and having someone she despised enter her room must have been a heavy blow. Tang Guo, usually lively and cheerful, was now silent.
"Guo Guo, let's not use that room anymore. We'll change it, okay?" Shen Mo Nong held Tang Guo's hand, smiling. This was the first time Ye Qiu had seen her smile since arriving at the apartment. Her smile was so beautiful, like a flower blooming, stunningly gorgeous.
"Ah, ah, ah—" Tang Guo finally snapped out of her daze. She jumped off the sofa, screamed a few times to vent her frustration, and said to Shen Mo Nong, "No. He must leave the Blue Apartment. Either he goes, or I—I'll kick him out—"
Saying this, Tang Guo grabbed her keys and ran out again.
Shen Mo Nong knew she was going out for a drive to blow off steam and called after her, "Guo Guo—Guo Guo, don't go out—it's already late, and it's dangerous—"
But the only response was the sound of the car engine starting.
"It's all your fault. You've driven Tang Tang away again—" Lin Bao'er glared at Ye Qiu. "Yelling when you shouldn't, staying silent when you should—"
Ye Qiu felt wronged. Why could women scream when men saw them, but men couldn't even shout when women saw them?