Mute Beauty

Chapter 6: Frustration

Old Master Yu issued a final ultimatum to Yu Ting.

His meaning was very clear: it didn't matter what Ran Xue did right or wrong; what mattered was that the marriage alliance with the Ran family had to go ahead. Even if it meant marrying someone like Yu Hao, who had no emotional foundation with her and whose sexual orientation was incompatible, there had to be a marriage connection with the Ran family.

In the end, feelings were unimportant. Old Master Yu didn't care much for Ran Xue; all he valued was his own face and the alliance itself.

So Yu Ting's feelings were of no consequence. Yu Ting was just a tool for marrying into the Ran family. Is that how it is?

Old Master Yu, who appeared affable, was actually colder than anyone else inside. Fine, Yu Ting admitted, she had indeed inherited this trait from him.

He suggested they have dinner together, but Yu Ting had no appetite at all. Old Master Yu stopped paying her attention, clearly in a stance of not wanting to waste more words and wanting her to think it over. Yu Ting left the old house early.

As dusk descended upon Yun City, the night thickened, awakening the beasts hidden in every corner, gathering the crowds. The city plunged into a different kind of boiling, simmering slowly on low heat, bound to reach a boiling point at some moment, evaporating everything that could be let go.

Yu Ting sent a message in the group: "Free? Let's go for a drink."

Hear had created a group just for Yu Ting, making it easier to call people out, but it was rarely used. She usually waited for others to invite her, appearing mysteriously at someone's gathering, a surprise when encountered, rarely taking the initiative to ask others out.

People in the group quickly responded:

"What time?"

"Send the location."

"Looks like we're going to have some fun tonight."

...

"What's up? Feeling down?" Qi Min knew Yu Ting best and could instantly tell her mood, asking with concern. Yu Ting couldn't be bothered to respond.

Qi Min sighed, "Oh."

Several women had arrived, perhaps not needing to work the next day or simply not needing sleep, all dressed in exquisite makeup, each with a unique and fashionable style. Yu Ting's sexual orientation was public, and Hear was a bar—a great place for encounters and desires. Who could not have a little thought or cunning?

Tonight's live performer was a bright girl, wearing a T-shirt and long pants, full of youthful energy. Smiling as she sang, her eyes were unbelievably beautiful. Not long after taking a seat, someone asked Yu Ting for the girl's name. Yu Ting knew their intentions and lazily replied, "She's still a student and has a girlfriend."

"Of course, with looks like that, how could she not have a girlfriend? If only I'd discovered her sooner," one woman sighed, her eyes still lingering on the girl with regret and admiration. "With my skills, I could have hooked her in no time."

"Is that the same method your ex-girlfriend used to argue for a breakup every few days?" Qi Min teased.

"Hey, we just got bored of each other after so long. It's not like that with fresh veggies; I wouldn't be so impatient," the woman replied.

"So you're that trashy? Trashy in such a blatant way," Qi Min remarked.

"Just don't spill it. I can be trashy in front of you guys; it's not like any of you are dating me," the woman replied nonchalantly, glancing at Yu Ting. "But, Ah Ting, I really care about you... I heard you and Xiao Xue broke up? What's the situation now? Single again? Why didn't you say anything?"