The Transparent Glass Cage

Yun Huaizhu gripped her phone tightly, teeth clenched, her expression one of utter humiliation. “Fine, I understand. I need to wrap things up here; give me an hour.”

“You do need to wrap things up. After all, you sound awfully muffled over there. What's the matter—are you talking to me from onstage?”

Yun Huaizhu's brows knitted tightly at that.

“Forget it. Since you've been obedient today, I'll let you stay out a while longer. Remember, I want to see you at my place before midnight. Otherwise, you know what the consequences will be, don't you?”

Yun Huaizhu clenched her fist so hard it took everything she had not to smash the phone right then and there. She took a deep breath. “Yes, I understand.”

After the other person hung up, Yun Huaizhu's fury surged again. She raised the phone to hurl it—then a flash of light in the vanity mirror opposite caught her eye: the gleam of the earrings on her ears.

She calmed down, touched the earring on her left ear, and began to think about how she would get through this agonizing night.

...

In Jing City's most prosperous wealthy district, Su Yutang presented her newly crafted toy to the others like she was showing off a precious treasure. “Well? Isn't this glass cage beautiful?”

This was merely one of her least conspicuous properties. Over the years, her tastes had grown rather depraved, and her mother had strictly forbidden her from bringing all manner of filthy things into the manor. So she could only show off her new toys to them here.

Su Yutang's associates were from Jing City's most illustrious families as well, though their households still ranked slightly below the Su family.

Huo Yi looked at the cage assembled entirely from bulletproof glass and nodded. “It's beautiful, sure. But it's just a cage—was all this fuss really necessary?”

Su Yutang stepped forward and ran a hand over the transparent, icy glass. “If she's going to be my dog, of course she needs a beautiful cage. Soon, this cage will welcome its master—tonight.”

Huo Yi immediately understood who she meant. “She's just the young miss of a fallen family. If she's unwilling, why force her? What you did before was over the line, and your aunt is already quite displeased. Why not let it go this time?”

Su Yutang's face, so pleased a moment ago, darkened at once. She stepped up and slung an arm around Huo Yi's shoulders. “As long as you don't tell, no one will know what happens in this villa. Besides, she's selling herself to me willingly—a fair exchange. What's wrong with that?”

Huo Yi knew her temperament and didn't bother trying to persuade her further. “Then go easy on her. Yun Huaizhu is different from the others, after all; she has a temper. Don't push her too hard, or who knows what might happen.”

Su Yutang agreed, then studied Huo Yi again. “What, are you interested in her? I'm not stingy with my toys. If you want, you're welcome to join.”

Huo Yi's face twisted in disgust. “You're the only one who's so indiscriminate. I find it filthy.”

Huo Yi rarely showed such a vivid expression—she must have been genuinely disgusted. Seeing that she couldn't take a joke, Su Yutang went on, “Still can't take teasing, same as ever. How long has it been since you differentiated, and you're still surviving on suppressants? That's really quite boring.”

Huo Yi let out a mocking laugh. “And how is spending every day hunting for toys that suit your taste any better? As I recall, you hate omegas too. Have you ever actually touched one? I remember your cleanliness obsession is pretty severe.”

Su Yutang loved watching others lose their composure, but Huo Yi was different. Huo Yi's family background was comparable to hers; she was one of the few in their circle Su Yutang could call a friend. Huo Yi understood her better than most—so this time, Su Yutang failed to rattle her and ended up angry herself instead.

Su Yutang narrowed her eyes with a thin smile. “My little dog will be back soon, so would you please get the hell out of my villa now?”

Huo Yi laughed. “Of course. But there's a plot of land on the east side of the city I've taken a liking to—will you let me have it?”

Su Yutang said, “That depends on what you're offering in exchange.”

Huo Yi looked up at Su Yutang, who wouldn't give an inch. “My family has just developed an injection that suppresses an alpha's heat period. Once you use it, no matter how alluring the omega—no matter how high your compatibility—you won't be ruled by desire. But this stuff is for the Huo family's internal use only.”

Su Yutang heard her out. “Then my researchers will join yours, so you don't pull any more tricks.”

Huo Yi blinked, then looked at her with a mix of amusement and exasperation. “You really are getting sharper and sharper.”

“You flatter me.”

...

Lin Meng was genuinely hungry today, so she chose the braised pork and chicken cutlet rice bowl.

By the time she was nearly finished with her second bowl, she opened the app on her phone that received the audio and location data. Just as she was starting to feel full, the location on the app finally began to move.

She caught snatches of sound through her earbuds. “Zhuzhu, are you really going to throw all that stuff away?”

Yun Huaizhu's voice came through. “It's useless anyway. Throwing it out is fine—or if you like it, you can take it.”

“Then what about what comes after? What are you going to let her do?”

Yun Huaizhu said, “Can you stop bringing her up? Every time I see her now, I feel utterly disgusted. I don't love her!”

“Then are you really going to her place tonight?”

Yun Huaizhu's voice broke into sobs, as if she were collapsing. “What choice do I have? I can't escape anymore.”

Lin Meng didn't know who the woman talking to Yun Huaizhu was, but from the scattered fragments of their conversation, she could tell Yun Huaizhu was heading toward Su Yutang's home.

Lin Meng checked the location on her phone, quickly wiped her mouth, and ran outside. She stood by the roadside, hailed a taxi, and prepared to set her plan in motion.

...

Meanwhile, Yun Huaizhu sat in a black Maybach, her expression so dark it looked ready to drip water. “Well? Did you find out what's inside it?”

Aunt Fang's voice came through the phone. “Miss, I already had someone disassemble it right away. It's a man-made listening device; the other earring contains a tracker. To avoid alerting them, I followed your instructions and spliced together clips from your past dramas and interviews, then played them in front of the listening device.”

Yun Huaizhu gave a slight nod and continued, “Remove the listening device, but leave the tracker alone for now. Later, bring that pair of earrings to me—I'll have a use for them tonight.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Jing City's night glittered with lights, towers rising in golden splendor, while Yun Huaizhu leaned her head against the car window in disappointment, watching the nightscape stream backward.

She had thought there really was someone who approached her purely, without ulterior motives.

So it had only been her fantasy.

Lin Meng stared at the location on her phone, afraid to blink, directing the driver street by street.

She was afraid that following too closely would give her away—but strangely, the tracker had initially headed toward the city's outer ring, yet after half an hour the car turned back toward the inner ring.

It was as if Yun Huaizhu had circled the entire city and returned to where she'd started.