The room was damp and dark. In the corner, a few cockroaches skittered past, leaving an unsettling rustling sound in their wake.
Lilia huddled at the edge of the bed, hugging her knees to her chest with her back pressed against the cold wall.
’Xiao... When is Xiao Bei coming back...?’
’I... I’m starting to understand how she feels.’
’This room is so gloomy and damp, and it reeks of the acrid stench of waste. I... I want to leave this place, too...’
She bit her lip, her fingers digging deep into her flesh as her body trembled in fear.
’But she probably won’t be back this soon. I still hope she can walk around and see things for a while. After all, she hasn’t set foot outside this place in over ten years...’
Lilia kept reassuring herself, trying to suppress the unease in her heart.
Ti passed with agonizing slowness, every second a tornt.
Before she knew it, Lilia had fallen asleep.
When she woke again, four hours had passed.
Hou Xiaobei hadn’t returned!
’That’s strange. Did Xiao Bei run into danger? I...’
She reached out, intending to touch the opening in the wall, but snatched her hand back before her fingertips could even brush the wooden plank.
’No, no, I can’t leave. If I go, they’ll definitely beat Xiao Bei when she returns!’
Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps suddenly ca from outside.
Imdiately after, a string of muffled but strange-sounding conversation drifted into Lilia’s ears from under the door.
’No! This is bad! That man is here! But... but Xiao Bei isn’t back!’
The footsteps drew closer and closer, finally stopping just outside the door.
Lilia instinctively held her breath, her palms slick with cold sweat as she tried to breathe as quietly as possible.
At that very mont, Hou Xiaobei ca scurrying back from outside.
Lilia whispered excitedly, "Xiao Bei!"
But Hou Xiaobei grabbed Lilia by the head and roughly shoved her under the bed. "Hide under here! Don’t you dare co out, no matter what you hear or see!"
"O-okay..."
There was a foul sll under the bed, but Lilia, who was normally so particular about cleanliness, had no ti to be concerned with it.
She stared with wide, innocent eyes as a man walked in.
Hou Xiaobei resisted, but she was quickly overpowered.
Soon, the bedfra began to creak.
Lilia didn’t dare to imagine what was happening on the bed above.
A long while later, the man gathered his clothes and left, looking utterly satisfied.
Lilia struggled to crawl out from under the bed. She stared blankly at Hou Xiaobei, her warm tears soaking the other girl’s shoulder.
Lilia said through her sobs, "I’m sorry. I swear I’ll get you out of this place!"
"It’s okay. The fact that you ca to take my place so I could go out for a bit of air... I’m already so grateful for that..."
Hou Xiaobei lifted her head. There was an unusual flush on her cheeks and a slightly bashful expression on her face. "Can you co back tomorrow? I want to go out one more ti. I t soone today! He... he’s so gentle. I want to see him again. Please, I’m begging you, just let see him one more ti!"
Lilia agreed with almost no hesitation.
After they arranged a ti, Lilia crawled out through the opening.
Late the next night, Lilia returned to Hou Xiaobei’s room as promised.
She knocked nervously on the window, her voice trembling. "Xiao Bei, are you in there?"
"You’re here! Quick, co in so we can switch!" Hou Xiaobei’s voice was tinged with impatience.
Lilia hesitated before saying ekly, "I don’t think we can today... You’re not the only one trapped here. Did you talk to soone when you were out yesterday? Sobody snitched. The Priest knows soone left their room..."
Hou Xiaobei’s expression instantly turned cold, her tone sharp. "Don’t give that nonsense! You just don’t want to switch, so you’re making up excuses!"
"N-no, that’s not it..." Lilia protested weakly, feeling hurt.
She didn’t understand why Hou Xiaobei had beco so hostile; she hadn’t been like this at all yesterday.
But Hou Xiaobei retorted confidently, "Aren’t you the Goddess? So what if you get caught? They wouldn’t dare touch you!"
"But... but..."
"Enough with the buts!"
Hou Xiaobei cut her off, gripping her hand tightly as her voice suddenly softened. "You know, I’ve been locked in here for over ten years, with practically no friends.
Last night, I t a really wonderful boy. He was so kind to . I don’t want him to know I’m so... filthy person who’s locked up in here!
Please switch with one more ti... Just this once. I won’t be greedy ever again, I promise..."
Lilia shook her head, her tone firm. "It doesn’t matter if I get caught, but if you do, what they’ll do to you will be terrible!"
Hou Xiaobei was silent for a few seconds, then she suddenly started slamming her fists against the iron bars of the window like a madwoman. Her right hand was quickly scraped raw and bloody, the blood dripping down the bars, but she showed no sign of stopping. Her eyes were filled with madness.
She grabbed Lilia’s hand, tears mixing with the gri on her face as she wailed, "Lilia! Lilia! I really don’t have any other choice! Don’t you understand?
The boy I t last night is truly wonderful; he’s the best person I’ve ever t.
I’ve been locked in here for more than ten years, but he didn’t mind at all. He even said I was special!
We talked for so long... Please, I’m begging you, let go out to see him just one more ti..."
She grabbed Lilia’s hand and pressed it against her own sallow, rough cheek.
The two girls were of a similar age. One’s face was gaunt and weathered, the other’s skin was delicate and pure.
Hou Xiaobei’s voice was almost a choked whisper as she begged again and again, "Please... let go out... I truly see you as a friend, I’m begging you, please help ..."
Lilia couldn’t bear to see her in such agony.
She bit her lip, gently stroking Hou Xiaobei’s thin face and forcing a smile.
Lilia looked down at her new dress and said, looking troubled, "I... I really consider you a friend, too. I never had any friends growing up; the Priest raised . If it’s possible... I’ll do my best to help you..."
"The Priest raised you?" Hou Xiaobei’s eyes suddenly lit up, a flicker of greed flashing within them. Thankfully, Lilia didn’t notice.
Lilia nodded, looking slightly ashad. "Yes."
Hou Xiaobei looked completely crazed. "The Priest raised you, so he definitely won’t touch you! The one coming tonight is the Priest! Please, co in and take my place. Let out...!"
Seeing Hou Xiaobei’s crazed state, Lilia felt a pit in her stomach, but she finally gave in. "Alright, then..."
The two of them switched places.
Hou Xiaobei patted the dust from her clothes, smoothed her ssy hair, and looked at Lilia through the iron bars, a strange smile curling her lips. "Lilia, you really are a good person. Don’t worry, I’ll be back before the Priest gets here, I promise!"
Lilia’s tone was firm. "I believe you!"
Hou Xiaobei gave her a deep look, then subtly shifted her feet.
Lilia didn’t notice.
Hou Xiaobei breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave.
Just as she was about to disappear into the darkness, Lilia suddenly called out to her.
Hou Xiaobei turned back impatiently, growling, "What is it now?"
Lilia was startled by her ferocious expression. She hesitated, clutching the hem of her dress as she asked in a small voice, "That... that boy, what’s his na? You seem to really like him..."
"His na is Ya Lun."
Hou Xiaobei threw the na over her shoulder and ran off without looking back, ignoring Lilia no matter how many tis she called after her.
Lilia sat in the sa spot she had yesterday, her expression vacant.
’Ya Lun... Ya Lun...’
The na was seared into her mind like a brand, and it was so familiar.
He was the companion she had grown up with!
In her mory, he had always been so charming, gentle, sunny, and handso.
A wave of intense unease suddenly washed over her—Hou Xiaobei wasn’t coming back!
She prayed in her heart that Hou Xiaobei would return, and before she knew it, she had dozed off.
She didn’t know how long she had been asleep when she was suddenly jolted awake by the sound of heavy footsteps...
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