Internal medical clinic.
Lin Mian sat on the chair, with a large pile of alcohol swabs, cotton swabs, tweezers, gauze and other items on the table in front of her.
The man's long and well-defined hands unscrewed the bottle cap, deftly soaked the cotton swab in alcohol, and applied it to the wound on her forehead.
The alcohol was sharp and stimulating, it should have been painful, but she didn't feel a thing.
Perhaps she had gotten used to it.
In the past, after being beaten by Zhao Guilan until her head was covered in blood, besides her father, no one had helped her treat the wounds.
Lin Mian sniffed, a sourness rising in her throat for no apparent reason.
If her father knew that she had sold herself, she wondered how disappointed he would be, perhaps even angrier than Zhao Guilan?
"Done."
Shi Lin's movements were quick, and in less than a moment, he had treated all of her wounds, covering the large wound on her forehead with gauze.
His eyes lowered slightly, and he looked at the red and purple marks on Lin Mian's neckline, suddenly laughing.
"Lin Mian, you've changed, using little tricks now."
Lin Mian was slightly stunned, not immediately grasping the meaning behind his words.
"Last night, you were so eager to please me, seducing me, was that to intentionally make me bite you and leave these marks?"
His slender fingers clasped her face gently, moved down to her neck, collarbone, rubbing the red and purple bruises.
The next moment, he gripped her slender neck.
Tightening his five fingers slightly, he easily held her life in his hands. Lin Mian bit her lip, turned her head and remained silent.
Silence meant consent.
"I thought you were a soft and limp rabbit, but now it seems you might be a small wildcat, innocent on the outside but skilled in disguise."
She could be soft and cute, but that stubbornness deep down never disappeared. Making her submit was more difficult than killing her. But the more difficult, the more it aroused the man's desire to conquer.
Forced to look up at him, with red eyes, disheveled hair, a piece of gauze tilted on her forehead, red lips bitten between her teeth, faintly showing white.
No matter how you looked at it, it was pitiful. How could such a soft and limp little bunny have such a tough bone?
Shi Lin stared at her firmly for a long time, then slowly released his grip, smoothed her collar, buttoned up her shirt, and covered the red marks securely.
"Go back," he said. He had a surgery in the afternoon and couldn't afford to waste too much time. Originally, her wounds didn't require his personal attention; they could have been simply treated by the surgical department.
But who knew what he was thinking, and inexplicably brought her into the office, personally treating her wounds.
Feeling liberated, Lin Mian quickly got up from the chair, thanked him, and hastily left the office with her head down. There were too many familiar faces here, and she didn't want to stay any longer.
After leaving the hospital, Lin Mian took a day off from work after getting permission from the company and took the subway back home. She needed to adjust her mindset and continue working hard the next day.
On the way, Lin Mian received a call from her father. Lin Ping'an had been staying in the hospital, and only learned this morning about what happened when Lin Mian returned home. His tone was filled with deep guilt.
"Mian Mian, Dad's almost recovered. Even without continuing the medication, I can walk with a limp. I don't plan to continue treatment anymore. I want to transfer this money to you to use outside, don't send any more money to your mom."
"No, your leg must be treated." Lin Mian was resolute.
"But you..."
"Dad, don't worry about me. I'm really fine. Your leg is the hope I've been waiting for for over ten years. I dream of seeing you stand up and be like a normal person. Please, don't give up." Lin Mian's voice was choked with emotion, her nose tingling.
Lin Ping'an sighed and asked her, "Are you still feeling guilty, thinking that the accident years ago was your fault?"
Lin Mian pursed her lips and remained silent. Everyone called her a jinx, a harbinger of disaster, because of her, the backbone of the family collapsed, a perfectly good family was ruined and never recovered, which was a huge blow at that time.
Over time, even she herself started to believe it.
"Mian Mian, I've said it many times. You can't blame yourself for my accident, because I always felt that day that the car deliberately crashed into us, perhaps I was targeted by someone." Lin Ping'an explained helplessly.
"Father, please don't say that. I've already checked with the police station, it was just an accident. The driver fled, there's no hidden agenda. Just focus on your recovery," Lin Mian sniffed and tried to sound light-hearted. "Don't worry, I'll take care of myself."
Lin Ping'an knew her stubborn nature and strong self-esteem, he sighed guiltily. "Mian Mian, I'm sorry for letting you down." Lin Mian was taken aback, sensing that he had something on his mind. "Dad, is there something you're hiding from me?"
"Nothing, just feel that you've been through a lot. Take care of yourself out there, okay?" Lin Ping'an hesitated, avoiding her question.
Lin Mian nodded without thinking too much. "I understand."
Before Lin Ping'an could say more, he ended the call. He looked at the screen filled with frantic messages from Zhao Guilan, full of derogatory words like 'despicable', 'worthless', 'cheap' in a fit of anger.
He closed his eyes in pain, his aged face filled with guilt.
Mian Mian, I'm sorry.
The truth of that year, he could not reveal...