Small plans were easier to execute. For example, she deliberately applied makeup that was either garish or bizarre—anything that would turn people's stomachs. The other day, she had covered her face with a riot of colors, looking like a walking paint palette. The day before, she had piled on thick powder to resemble a Japanese geisha, and today, she wore a smoky eye look that resembled a panda, with a hint of Gothic sadness... Tomorrow? She planned to dress as a vampire, too afraid to see the sunlight.
She watched with satisfaction as Chen Jin's face twisted in disgust, his expression as though he'd swallowed a fly, his face turning as dark as ink. But no matter how dramatic her transformation, the outcome was always the same—he would curse at her and drag her into the bathroom to wash it off with cold water. Although she endured the humiliation, his over-the-top reaction still amused her. Chen Jin had called her childish and ridiculous more than once, and she suspected she might have developed a masochistic streak.
For instance, Chen Jin had often shown a fondness for her long hair. She knew her hair, which she had kept for years and had a slight natural wave, was well-liked, including by Wang Xiao. But now, it held no value to her.
So, without hesitation, she rushed to a hair salon and demanded it be cut as short as possible. The stylist lamented, but complied. When Lin Wan saw herself in the mirror with her neat short hair, she felt a strange sense of disconnection. She muttered to herself, If it were even shorter, even uglier, that would be better. In the end, the furious stylist kicked her out.
Chen Jin returned in the middle of the night. When he climbed into bed, he was startled, thinking he had mistakenly gotten into the wrong bed due to the alcohol. After collecting himself, he roughly pulled Lin Wan from her deep sleep and shook her awake, his face dark with anger, "What's going on?"
Lin Wan knew exactly what was going on, but she yawned and feigned ignorance, "Oh, I just cut it because it was too hot."
Chen Jin gritted his teeth, "What the hell? It's still just a few months into the year, and you're already too hot? Trying to fool me?" He quickly understood her true intentions and, without saying another word, pushed her onto the bed and tore her nightgown apart in anger. His method of punishing her was always blunt and brutal—just ravaging her, mercilessly.
Previously, during their intimate moments, he liked to stroke Lin Wan's smooth, long hair, running his hand through it, twirling it around his fingers. He would watch her slightly curled hair spread across the pillow, with a few strands tangled around her pale neck and chest. The visual alone would set his blood racing far more effectively than any medication. Of course, that was just a metaphor—he never needed such things.
But now, with her hair cut short, he just yanked on it with force. It was short now, so he could pull it all out if he wanted to. However, he quickly discovered that short hair also excited him. Either he would mess it up just to satisfy his desire to destroy it, or he would grab it to force her head back and kiss her deeply. For him, this was an unexpected gain, but for Lin Wan, it was a failed move.
It's said that half of a man's heart is like that of a child. A man in his thirties, discovering a new toy, didn't even sleep, and it wasn't until dawn that Lin Wan was finally released. Her scalp was numb, but she didn't cry or shout. Instead, she coldly mocked him, "What else can you do besides bully women?"
Chen Jin, satisfied, smiled, not angry but amused. "I can do plenty of things. But this method with you is enough."
Lin Wan glared at him, then turned her back angrily.
Chen Jin had already been out socializing all night, and after another round of exertion, even his best endurance was drained. Yet, unlike before, where he would immediately fall into a deep sleep after indulging, tonight, perhaps because of the heightened intensity of their earlier encounter, he couldn't sleep at all. So, leaning against the headboard, he lit a post-coital cigarette, slowly blowing out rings of smoke.
Smoking has an important effect on clearing the mind. As his senses returned, the anger from earlier resurged. This woman was constantly opposing him. Today, she has cut her hair. Tomorrow, who knew what she would do? He still liked her soft chest, her curvy waist, and her long legs—did she want him to tear her apart? Damn, I've never met such a clueless woman.
His eyes drifted over to her smooth, slender neck. Hearing her breathing even out, he figured she had fallen asleep. Unable to contain his frustration, he yanked the blanket off her. Lin Wan, already exhausted and forced to inhale secondhand smoke, was seething with anger. Provoked, she immediately sat up, fuming, "Are you ever going to stop? Can I sleep in peace?"
"Why should you sleep so soundly?" Chen Jin calmly exhaled a puff of smoke, boldly countering.
Lin Wan, furious, suddenly grabbed a pillow and threw it hard at his face. She regretted not using a brick instead of a pillow. Looking at his smug, self-satisfied grin, she burned with frustration, wishing she could cover his face with a piece of paper—or, no, better yet, smear cement on his face to freeze him in place.
He easily snatched the pillow from her and tossed it aside. Then, with one long arm, he pulled her into his embrace, took another deep drag from his cigarette, and kissed her fiercely.
A strong, pungent smoke surged into her mouth and into her lungs, choking her into a violent coughing fit. Tears streamed down her face. She shoved him away and yelled, "You pervert!"
Chen Jin watched her reaction with satisfaction, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Just a small punishment. If I were truly a pervert, I would have pressed her." As he spoke, he tightened his arm around her, the cigarette still in hand, and pointed it toward her chest. Lin Wan, terrified, recoiled, but her movement was too large, causing his finger to actually touch her. She let out a soft gasp, and a red mark appeared on her pale skin.
Lin Wan quickly covered her chest, cursing, "You're crazy."
Chen Jin's eyes darkened, but he smiled indifferently, saying coldly, "If you keep causing trouble, I won't mind being a 'pervert' just once. There are plenty of women out there. If I ruin you, I'll just replace you."
Without waiting for her reaction, he extinguished the cigarette, got off the bed, and walked straight to the bathroom.
Lin Wan slumped against the bed, her right hand still pressed into her chest, her gaze blank as she stared at the crystal ashtray. As the last ember died, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, but she couldn't tell if it was from the burn on her skin or from her heart. Hadn't she become numb already? Why did it still hurt?