Mute Beauty

Chapter 73: Deceiver

The pressure inside the car was somewhat low.

Yu Ting frequently glanced at Ran Ling through the rearview mirror. She saw her turned away, gazing out the window with a calm expression. Her skin was too pale, giving her a cold hue, making her look like a butterfly wilting in the winter.

"Where did Aunt Song go? Has Ling Jie had dinner?"

Ran Ling didn't respond.

She was probably still angry.

A few minutes later, they arrived home. Yu Ting got out of the car, returned to the back seat, and opened the door to carry her inside. Ran Ling didn't resist, and grasping Yu Ting's shoulder, she was lifted into the living room.

Gently placing her on the sofa, Yu Ting turned to find the first aid kit. Two cats approached in the living room, looking up at Ran Ling for a while before jumping onto the sofa. One little cat, still too clingy, rubbed its chin against Ran Ling after a brief absence. She turned to look at them, her heart softening as she petted their heads, pulling both into her embrace and stroking their fur.

When Yu Ting returned with the first aid kit and saw this scene, her heart softened a little. Seeing that Ran Ling wasn't sulking by herself, she thought she must have calmed down and couldn't help but smile.

Squatting down to check her feet for injuries, Ran Ling didn't pull away. Yu Ting discovered a two-centimeter cut on the sole of her foot, as if scratched by a stone, still seeping blood.

Yu Ting frowned and turned to rummage for wet wipes and a band-aid.

She had anticipated that Ran Ling would be heartbroken when she saw the messages, that she would cry and throw a tantrum. Perhaps she would even run away again, like last time. What she hadn't expected was for her to go barefoot, deliberately causing Yu Ting this heartache.

Yu Ting realized that Ran Ling was not only fragile and sentimental but also somewhat obsessive.

Obsessively unable to stand even a hint of someone else's scent on her, obsessively neglecting herself, as if she truly would harm herself.

If she hadn't looked for her a little later, if she had ignored her longer, what else might she do?

Recalling how Ran Ling had walked along the riverside, Yu Ting now felt a twinge of fear.

There was a bit of annoyance and anger, but also an inexplicable sense of satisfaction and fondness.

She had long known that Ran Ling's delicate temperament stemmed from her love for her.

A little coaxing would fix it.

"Even if you're really angry, next time you run away, remember to wear shoes. Don't hurt yourself; you're already bleeding and still walking. Doesn't Ling Jie feel any pain?"

As she spoke, Yu Ting took out the wet wipes and, avoiding the wound, helped clean the dirt off Ran Ling's foot. She prepared to spray alcohol on the cut and said, "It might sting a little. Hang in there, baby."

But Ran Ling didn't look at her, only lowering her gaze to the cat in her arms.

When the alcohol was sprayed, it was impossible to avoid the sharp sting, causing Yu Ting to gasp. She tried to soothe her, but the usually delicate woman didn't cling to Yu Ting as she used to at the slightest pain; it was as if she hadn't heard her words.

She was still angry.

A sudden wave of frustration surged within Yu Ting.

"Are you still mad at me?" After cleaning up the mess, Yu Ting stood up and sat beside her.