Is my roommate a caged bird? I'm stealing her away.

Zhou Suisui opened the dark blue paper bag next to the trash can in the fire escape of the mall.

She carefully tore up and threw away all the packaging, leaving only the pair of pearl earrings, which she clutched in her palm. The earring posts dug into her palm, causing a slight pain.

She put them in her pocket, pushed open the door, and headed towards the subway station.

In her pocket, an earring tapped lightly against her thigh with each step.

When I opened the door, there was only one floor lamp on in the living room.

In the dim light, Lin Xiao sat on the sofa with her back to her, a thick sketchbook lying open on her lap. Hearing the door open, Lin Xiao didn't turn around, but only slightly raised her hand.

The hand was almost transparently white under the light, with slender wrist bones and an extremely thin bracelet that she had never seen before, but which was very sparkly.

Lin Xiao's hand remained raised, her fingertips lightly tracing the pages of the picture book. Then, in an extremely natural tone, as if it were just a casual remark, she softly said:

"Sui Sui, Mr. Chen had someone bring me some things, including a new box of face masks on the shelf. They're a bit irritating to me, but your skin is more tolerant, so you should be able to use them."

Zhou Suisui stopped in her tracks.

She looked at Lin Xiao. She didn't even look up at her.

He spoke in a condescending tone.

Zhou Suisui's fingers suddenly tightened in her pocket.

The needle of the pearl earring pierced her fingertip.

pain.

But she didn't let go.

"Thank you." She heard her own voice, eerily calm. "But it's alright, my skin has been a bit sensitive lately."

Lin Xiao finally looked up.

She glanced at Zhou Suisui. Her gaze was indifferent, sliding from Zhou's face to her clothes, and then to her empty hands.

Then, she chuckled very softly.

It's not mockery, nor is it smugness.

"Whatever you want." Lin Xiao lowered her head and continued looking at the picture book. "It's a waste to just leave it there."

Zhou Suisui stood still and gave her a deep look.

I slowly walked back to my room and closed the door.

Leaning against the door, she finally let go. In her palm lay the pair of earrings, the blood from the needles already spreading into a small, dark red patch.

She walked to the mirror and looked at herself.

His face was pale, but his eyes were frighteningly bright.

She picked up the earrings and put them on one by one.

The luster of the pearls made her earlobes appear even whiter.

She looked in the mirror for a long time.

Then, she raised her hand and gently touched the pearl on her earlobe with her blood-stained fingertips.

It's cold.

Just like the look in Lin Xiao's eyes just now.

It's like the ever-burning fire in her heart right now—cold, but enough to burn everything, including her last bit of ridiculous self-esteem.

"Zhou Suisui," she said very softly to herself in the mirror, "you have to make her remember today."

"Remember how she rewarded you."

"And then one day..."

"You should deprive her of even the right to a reward."

---

On Friday evening, Zhou Suisui closed the door with her bulging backpack on.

The corridor lights weren't on yet; only the green light from the emergency exit illuminated the wall. Leaning against the fire door, she could faintly hear Lin Xiao turning pages inside.

The conversation just now was excessively simplistic.

Lin Xiao asked, "Are we going out?"

She said, "I'm meeting up with my college classmates, and I might stay overnight."

Lin Xiao hummed in response, without looking up.

that's it.

Zhou Suisui looked down at her backpack. It was dark blue, faded slightly from washing, and the zipper was bulging from being stuffed too full. Inside were her black velvet dress, high heels, toiletry bag, and a T-shirt that she had carefully wrapped in a dust bag.

Everything made sense. It was a college student gathering, an overnight stay, and they brought a change of clothes. Lin Xiao had no reason to doubt it, and indeed, she didn't ask any further questions.

But Zhou Suisui still felt a tightness in her chest.

It wasn't because she was lying; that reason was half true and half false. Li Ting had indeed made an appointment with her, just not tonight.

It was because of that... nonchalant feeling. In Lin Xiao's eyes, the fact that she went out with her bag was so ordinary that it wasn't even worth a second glance.

Zhou Suisui took a deep breath and walked towards the elevator.

At 7:00 a.m., she stood in the restroom of a chain coffee shop across from the hotel.

The cubicle was narrow, and the exhaust fan overhead hummed loudly. She changed into a black velvet dress; the zipper at the back got stuck, and she had to use her hand to pull it up. The skirt was so long that she had to lift the hem to reach her high heels.

Finally, she put on the pearl earrings, holding them up to the reflection of her phone screen.

The person in the mirror has completely changed.

She stuffed her hoodie and jeans back into her backpack and went to the counter to store them. The clerk glanced at her a couple more times as she handed her the storage card.

Zhou Suisui didn't pay attention. She pushed open the door of the coffee shop, and the evening breeze blew in her face. The velvet fabric clung to her skin, feeling a little cool.

The hotel is just across the street. Warm yellow light shines through the revolving door, and you can see shadowy figures moving under the crystal chandelier.

She gripped her handbag tightly.

The green light is on.

Zhou Suisui crossed the road, her high heels clicking crisply on the asphalt. Each sound seemed to remind her: there was no turning back.

The revolving door slowly turned, and she stepped inside.

The warmth of the heating system, mingled with the scents of perfume, alcohol, and food, instantly enveloped her. The sound of a piano drifted faintly from the direction of the banquet hall. People moved about in the hall; men in sharp suits, women in elegant gowns, all speaking in hushed tones, their laughter restrained as if rehearsed.

Zhou Suisui stood still for two seconds.

Then she saw Senior Wang walking briskly from the entrance of the banquet hall, a smile on his face, his eyes scanning her up and down.

"Sui Sui!" He walked up to her. "You've finally arrived—"

Before he could finish speaking, the banquet hall door behind him opened again.

Several people came out, talking in hushed tones as they walked. The man in the lead, wearing a black silk shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, was talking to the person next to him.

This is a preface by Chen Bo.

Zhou Suisui's breath hitched for a moment.

He saw her too.

His gaze swept over her, like a cold searchlight, lingering on her for less than a second.

Then it was moved.

It was as if she were just an insignificant decoration in the background.

Chen Boxu and the group walked towards the elevator, their footsteps echoing on the marble floor as they walked away.

Senior Wang was still speaking: "...We have some important clients here tonight, let me introduce you..."

Zhou Suisui stared in the direction where Chen Boxu disappeared, her fingers tightening on the strap of her handbag.

The pearl earring is digging into my earlobe and it hurts a little.

She turned back and gave Wang a practiced smile.

"Okay," she said, "thank you for your help, senior."