Chapter 5: She could have endured the darkness if she had never seen the light.

“You are the hope of our old Chen family. The Chen Group will rely on you to carry the banner in the future!”

“Xiao Yu, Mommy knows you’re tired, but if you don’t work hard now, the road ahead will only be harder.”

“We’ve given you such excellent material conditions not for you to do things unrelated to the company. Study properly!”

“I fought for the student council president position for you. Xiao Yu, you must do well—it’ll teach you a lot about management.”

…

The whispers of parents and relatives haunted Chen Siyu like a nightmare, echoing in her ears.

She bolted upright, cold sweat soaking her nightgown, chest heaving violently.

The whispers in the dream were like a giant hand choking her throat. In the darkness, only her runaway heartbeat remained.

“Why am I having this dream again?”

Chen Siyu struggled to calm her emotions.

She hadn’t had such nightmares in a long time since meeting Song Yao.

Was it because Yao Yao had cruelly abandoned her today?

That was probably the main reason.

But it didn’t matter anymore.

Her Yao Yao would be by her side forever.

Chen Siyu sat up on her three-meter-wide bed and casually draped on a jacket, but it couldn’t hide her dazzling figure.

She stepped barefoot onto the cool floor. Thin straps slipped from her collarbones. The misty nightgown barely reached her thighs, swaying lightly with her breaths—like a epiphyllum flower about to fall.

“Miss, it’s only six in the morning. You can rest a bit more.”

As soon as Chen Siyu pushed open the door, her personal butler Han Lin approached.

The butler stood straight, hands folded over her abdomen, sleeves ironed without a wrinkle. Her voice was soft yet commanding, as if even the air was quietly disciplined by her.

If Song Yao were here, she’d immediately recognize her as the mature woman who delivered money—and knocked her out.

“No need. I want to see my Yao Yao.”

Chen Siyu shook her head. “Is she awake?”

“Not yet, but I’ve treated her wound as per your instructions. No lasting effects.”

“Have the money and gold bars been moved?”

Chen Siyu continued.

Han Lin looked troubled. “We’ve paved the basement with cash as ordered, Miss. But gold bars are only accessible by the master and madam. We could only get a few under your name.”

Chen Siyu narrowed her eyes but said nothing.

“Then move all my gold, silver, and jewelry there.”

“That might not be appropriate, Miss. Those were gifts from the master and madam—special meaning.”

Han Lin advised.

She didn’t know what ecstasy Song Yao had fed the miss. Not only binding her at home but paving the basement with bills and gold.

Even willing to give away the master and madam’s precious gifts. Wasn’t she afraid Song Yao’s vulgarity would taint them?

“To me, they’re just trash.”

Chen Siyu glanced coldly at Han Lin and headed to the basement without looking back.

Han Lin was bitter inside.

The master had ordered her to keep Song Yao away from the miss. Who knew Song Yao would follow professional ethics and distance herself—only for the miss to have her knocked out and bound…

The basement was large but sparsely furnished—just a moldy bed.

The rest was junk.

Dark and damp should define the space, but the crimson on the floor seemed to set it ablaze.

A few gleaming gold bars on the bed turned the ordinary basement luxurious.

But none of it entered Chen Siyu’s eyes.

At that moment, her gaze held only the girl bound hand and foot to the bed, still asleep.

“Yao Yao…”

A rare, sickly smile appeared on her usually expressionless beautiful face.

She lay by the bed, scrutinizing every inch of the girl’s skin, as if etching everything about her into her mind.

Song Yao was her sun.

The sun that illuminated her dark life.

She hated the expectations her family forced on her.

She hated the responsibilities thrust upon her.

She hated the hypocrisy of those who approached her.

Once, she had thought of ending it all.

Until that day, a girl walked into the student council office and approached her.

“President Chen, the counselor sent me to get signatures from the presidium.”

She hadn’t paid Song Yao much mind then, signing quickly and ignoring her.

Others were busy, so Song Yao had to wait.

But instead of waiting aside, Song Yao chatted enthusiastically with her, who happened to be free.

Even without response, Song Yao’s warmth didn’t fade.

Annoyed, she turned to tell her to shut up.

But met Song Yao’s eyes.

“What’s wrong, President?”

Song Yao smiled.

In that moment, the world muted. Only her heartbeat thundered in her chest—bang, bang, bang—louder each time.

Song Yao’s smile was like summer sun, instantly banishing her inner darkness.

No hypocrisy, no expectations, no awe of her status.

A feeling she’d never known.

But Song Yao soon finished signing and left.

She thought their story ended there. Yet the next day, Song Yao returned as a student council cadre to help.

Their story began.

Everything felt like a dream—unreal.

But dreams end.

She couldn’t accept that.

She could endure darkness if she’d never seen light.

“Weird… What’s wrong with me…”

Song Yao slowly opened her eyes.

Her memory was fuzzy. She remembered being ambushed; her head still ached faintly.

She instinctively reached for her head, but a tug brought the clank of chains.

Then it hit her.

She had been ambushed by Chen Siyu!

Where was this?

Moldy ceiling. A strange mix of mold and fragrance in her nose.

Wait, had she been taken to the border for organ harvesting?!

“Yao Yao, you’re finally awake~”

Chen Siyu’s voice banished her drowsiness.

She turned and saw Chen Siyu lying by the bed, watching her.

Good news: no organ harvesting.

Bad news: caught by a yandere.

“Miss, I’ve brought all the gold, silver, and jewelry from your room.”

Han Lin entered the basement carrying a small chest.

Inside: priceless treasures.

Seeing the familiar face, Song Yao cried out.

“It’s you…”

Before she finished, Han Lin glared.

A chill ran through her. Song Yao swallowed the rest.

“You know each other?”

Chen Siyu tilted her head. Her voice was sickly sweet, like a dull knife scraping glass.

Song Yao shuddered.

Miss, aren’t you a bit too sensitive!