The Quagmire of Desire: From Gambling Addict and Village Flower to Movie Queen

We wandered around for another half a day.

The noise from the market faded into the distance as Meiling, carrying ribs and fish, followed Xiaohui home.

It was almost dark when I got home. The last rays of the setting sun shone through the window, turning the living room floor orange-yellow.

Meiling put the vegetables in the kitchen, washed her hands and came out, only to see Xiaohui sitting on the sofa holding his phone.

Xiao Hui didn't even look up: "Sis, I invited Liu Yue over for dinner today."

Meiling paused for a moment, but didn't ask any further questions: "Oh, okay, I just bought some spare ribs."

Not long after, the doorbell rang.

Liu Yue stood at the door, head down, her hair a little messy, wearing a loose white T-shirt and ordinary trousers.

When she came in, she didn't chatter and call out to Xiaohui like before; she just quietly said, "I'm here."

Meiling poked her head out from the kitchen: "You're here! Perfect, you can help me out."

Liu Yue quickly changed her shoes, went into the kitchen, tied on an apron, and helped wash and chop the vegetables.

The two chatted casually, and Liu Yue was not as talkative as before. She worked quickly with her hands, but her eyes would occasionally glance into the living room.

Xiao Hui sat on the sofa playing on his phone the whole time, without glancing at the kitchen.

Xiao Hui stood up and sat down at the table when the food was served.

The four people sat at the dining table, and the clinking of bowls and chopsticks was particularly clear in the quiet living room.

Xiao Hui ate with his head down, picked up a piece of green vegetable with his chopsticks, and chewed it twice.

Liu Yue carefully picked up a piece of pork rib from her bowl and placed it in Xiao Hui's bowl: "Xiao Hui, try this pork rib. I added a little extra sugar, and it tastes alright."

Xiao Hui glanced at the ribs in the bowl, picked them up, and put them on the empty plate next to him.

Liu Yue's hand froze in mid-air, her lips moved, but in the end she said nothing and lowered her head to eat her rice.

Meiling glanced at the scene, sighed inwardly, and said nothing. She picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks and put it in her bowl to eat slowly.

Xiaoyan didn't say a word, ate two bowls of rice, and then put down her chopsticks.

"I'm done eating." Xiaoyan stood up and stretched. "There was so much going on at the chess and card shop today, and Meiling, you weren't here. I was running around all by myself, and I'm exhausted."

Meiling, with a cigarette dangling from her lips, smiled and reached out to hug Xiaoyan from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder: "Oh, oh, oh, thank you so much, my dear sister."

Xiaoyan shoved Meiling away, saying, "Get lost, don't give me that crap." Then she kicked off her slippers and went into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

The atmosphere became even more awkward among the remaining three people in the living room.

After finishing his meal, Xiao Hui pushed his bowl onto the table and glanced at Liu Yue: "You, come here."

Liu Yue quickly put down her chopsticks, stood up, and walked over to Xiao Hui.

Xiao Hui stood up, walked to his room door, took out a white, tight-fitting short-sleeved T-shirt from inside, and threw it directly at Liu Yue's face: "Change into this, bare legs, no pants allowed."

Liu Yue took the T-shirt, her face flushing instantly. She bit her lip and said, "Xiao Hui, I..."

"Didn't you hear me?" Xiao Hui's voice wasn't loud, but it was as cold as a knife.

Liu Yue lowered her head, her fingers pinching the edge of her T-shirt. She hesitated for a few seconds, then slowly took off her white T-shirt and trousers and put on the tight-fitting short T-shirt.

The T-shirt was so short that it barely covered her upper body, revealing her white belly button and waistline. Her lower body was bare, with only her long legs exposed.

Liu Yue stood there, her hands crossed over her stomach, not daring to look up.

Meiling leaned against the wall, smoking, watching this scene without saying a word, only exhaling a puff of smoke.

Liu Yue awkwardly turned around to get her pants, but as soon as she turned around, Xiao Hui slapped her on the butt.

The sound of the slap was particularly loud in the quiet living room.

Liu Yue staggered forward after being hit, clutching her buttocks, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Who told you to wear pants?" Xiao Hui's voice remained cold. "Remember your bitch identity."

Liu Yue grabbed Xiao Hui's wrist, crying, "Xiao Hui, I didn't mean to... I really didn't mean to..."

Xiao Hui shook off her hand, his voice so calm it sent chills down your spine: "Remember your bitch identity."

Liu Yue's tears fell instantly. She stood there, bare-legged and bare-bottomed, wearing a T-shirt so short it exposed her navel, her whole body trembling.

Xiao Hui turned around and walked up to Mei Ling, his voice suddenly softening: "Sister, I'll teach you how to learn for the driving test's first subject. I'll teach you step by step, and I guarantee you'll pass on your first try."

Meiling paused for a moment, looked at Xiaohui, then at Liu Yue standing in the middle of the living room with bare legs, and suddenly understood something.

She stubbed out her cigarette, smiled, and said, "Okay, thank you for your help."

Xiao Hui took Mei Ling's hand, turned around, went into the room, and closed the door.

Liu Yue stood alone in the living room, staring at the closed door, tears streaming silently down her face.

She bit her lip, not daring to make a sound.

Inside the room, Xiao Hui did indeed take out his phone, opened the driving test preparation app, and pointed to the questions on the screen, saying, "Sis, look, these are questions from the theory test, like this one: traffic lights, red light stop, green light go..."

Meiling sat on the edge of the bed, leaning on Xiaohui's shoulder, watching the screen.

About five minutes later, Xiaohui suddenly put down his phone, turned around and hugged Meiling, his voice a little muffled: "Sis, I want you again."

Meiling was stunned, but quickly recovered. She turned her head and glanced at the door of the room, where Liu Yue was standing with her bare legs.

She realized it was intentional.

Meiling didn't say anything, but simply reached out and hugged Xiaohui's neck.

Xiao Hui moved quickly, grabbing Mei Ling's shoulder with such force that Mei Ling couldn't help but gasp.

He tore open Meiling's clothes and pressed his entire body against hers.

Meiling bit her lip, trying not to make a sound.

But Xiao Hui's movements became increasingly forceful, and his hands gripped Mei Ling's waist, leaving red marks.

Meiling cried out in pain.

The sounds grew louder and louder, emanating from the room, passing through the crack in the door, and clearly reaching Liu Yue's ears as she stood in the living room.

Liu Yue stood there, bare-legged and wearing a T-shirt that was so short it couldn't be shorter, listening to the sounds coming from the room, completely frozen in place.

She bit her lip, her nails digging into her palms, tears streaming down her face, but she dared not cry out loud.

She knew that Xiaohui was doing it on purpose.

He knew he was standing in the living room, knew how loud he was shouting, and knew he would be heard.

That's how Xiao Hui saw her back then.

She and Liu Sheng were on the bed in the hotel room when Xiao Hui opened the door and she was naked.

Now, the roles have been reversed.

The noise in the room lasted for more than half an hour before it stopped.

Xiao Hui, panting heavily, rolled off Mei Ling and pulled the blanket over them.

Meiling lay naked in bed, her hair a mess, with several red marks on her body.

Xiao Hui rolled over and suddenly shouted towards the door, "Liu Yue, get in here!"

The door opened, and Liu Yue walked in, bare-legged and wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt, her head down. Her eyes were red and swollen, and the tear stains on her face were still wet.

Xiao Hui pointed to the bed sheet that was already soaked: "Change this one, wash it clean by hand, and come back to report after you're done."

Liu Yue glanced at the wet sheets on the bed, then at Meiling lying naked in the blankets. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.

She lowered her head, walked over, pulled off the wet sheet, hugged it to her arms, and turned to leave the room.

Meiling watched her walk away carrying the bed sheet, took a drag of her cigarette, exhaled a cloud of smoke, shook her head, and said nothing.

Liu Yue carried the bed sheet into the bathroom, placed it in the sink, and turned on the tap.

She poured cold water onto her hands, lathered them with soap, and scrubbed the sheets vigorously.

There was a blush-inducing smell about it, and she knew what it was.

She bent over and scrubbed the sheets vigorously, over and over again, until her hands were red, before wringing them dry and taking them out to dry on the balcony.

When she returned to the living room, Xiaohui and Meiling had already changed the sheets and were lying on the new bed.

Xiao Hui glanced at her and said, "Alright, go sleep on the sofa."

Liu Yue nodded, turned around and walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind her.

She walked to the sofa in the living room, lay down on it, and curled up into a ball.

The living room lights were off, and only moonlight shone in through the window, casting a silvery-white glow on the floor.

Liu Yue was lying on the sofa, still wearing that short T-shirt, with bare legs and bare buttocks.

She lay on her side, hugging her knees, curling herself up into a ball.

Xiao Hui and Mei Ling's laughter came from the bedroom. Although the sound was soft, it still reached her ears clearly in the quiet night.

Liu Yue bit the corner of the blanket, tears streaming silently down her face.

The phone screen suddenly lit up.

She picked it up and saw that it was a message from Liu Sheng.

"Honey, are you asleep? Why didn't you reply to my messages today?"

"I miss you so much, don't you miss me?"

"When will you come see me again?"

Liu Yue stared at the messages, her finger hovering over the screen for a long time, wanting to reply but not daring to.

She wanted to go back because she was truly lonely and really needed a hug.

She didn't dare reply because she was afraid Xiao Hui would find out.

Finally, she turned off her phone, put it aside, buried her face in the blanket, and cried silently.

As night deepened, Liu Yue was left alone in the living room, curled up on the sofa, listening to the occasional sound of cars in the distance, staring at the ceiling with her eyes open, unable to sleep all night.