After she finally fell asleep, the phone at the head of the bed suddenly vibrated.
It was Lin Mian's phone.
Shi Lin glanced at the screen sidelong, recognizing an unfamiliar number without a contact name, he promptly hung up on behalf of her.
After a few seconds, the same number called again.
He ended the call several times, but the other side kept dialing without a pause.
On the bed, Lin Mian slightly furrowed her brows, seemingly disturbed by the noise.
Shi Lin had no choice but to pick up the phone, sliding to answer.
"You damn girl, becoming more rebellious, aren't you? Enjoy hanging up on me, huh? Despicable wretch, all you do is cause trouble, do you even recognize me as your mother?"
As soon as the call connected, a woman's curses poured over him relentlessly.
Shi Lin's brows furrowed, a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.
The other party's words were too harsh, so distasteful that it made him feel physically repulsed.
"Lin Mian, listen to me, come back this weekend for a blind date arranged by the matchmaker. They have found you a match, a civil servant with a good family background, owning a house, a car, and willing to pay a dowry of five hundred thousand. They are looking for a highly educated person to marry and improve the genetic pool of the next generation. If you have a son, he will even provide a hundred thousand pocket money. It's such a great opportunity, you can't miss it, do you hear me?"
"The person has already taken a liking to your qualifications and wants to meet you in person. So dress up nicely when you return, don't look like a bumpkin."
The woman on the other end continued her relentless chatter, each word deepening the furrows on Shi Lin's forehead.
What a era to still have families selling their daughters for dowry?
Shi Lin held the phone in silence.
The other end exploded, cursing loudly, "You disagree, huh, little brat? You stay silent every time you resist me, don't you?"
"Fine, if you don't want to marry, then give money. We are in dire need of money at home, your brother is about to get married, but the bride's family is demanding a house, a car, and a dowry. Where do you expect us to get so much money from? We worked hard to provide for you, hoping you would be filial to us. You can't avoid your responsibilities!"
Shi Lin remained silent.
The other side kept on with the insults, using all kinds of filthy language.
Shi Lin felt the situation was absurd; in this day and age, there were still families with a preference for sons over daughters, using their daughters to subsidize their sons.
Lin Mian was a university student, well-educated.
It was surprising how she was able to endure such humiliation.
After some contemplation, Shi Lin realized that if she didn't endure it, he wouldn't have had the chance to get close to her.
He hung up the phone, turned it off, and tossed it onto the bedside table.
Finally, the world returned to peace and quiet.
He lowered his head to look at the woman in his arms, her brows furrowed in unease, her face flushed red, her thick eyelashes trembling slightly, her eye sockets and nose reddened.
She looked like an unwanted, weak stray cat.
No wonder she was selling her eggs.
It all stemmed from her family background.
He gazed at her intently for a moment, turned his face away, and his eyes returned to a state of indifference.
...
The next day.
Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow on the cartoon blue bedsheets.
Lin Mian slowly woke up, feeling as though her throat was being sliced by blades, parched and sore.
She wearily sat up, about to reach for the water glass on the bedside table when she noticed the medicine box placed there, freezing her in place.
Blurry images flashed in her mind, gradually becoming clear and real...
She was with Shi Lin last night?
"Awake?"
A calm voice came from the doorway.
A tall and lean figure walked over, holding a glass of water that he placed on the bedside table with defined hands.
"Take your medicine later."
Lin Mian looked at the pill box on the bedside table, two pills missing, a few scattered pills left behind, and the memories of last night continued to assault her mind.
"Last night." Lin Mian's voice was hoarse, her pupils shaking, "When you fed me the medicine, you... you fed me mouth to mouth."
"I did." Shi Lin replied nonchalantly.
Lin Mian felt her cheeks starting to flush again.
"You..."
"We even got into bed together, you slept in my arms all night, wouldn't let me go, and even told me your bank password," said Shi Lin teasingly, a faint smirk on his lips. "Is there anything else you can't remember? Let me help you recall."