The Abyss

Lu Tuo cursed a few more times, wrapped her in a bedsheet, and carried her downstairs to his room. “Is your brain made of stone? Is your body made of stone too?” he continued to curse, occasionally pressing on her wounds. “Do you feel the pain now?” Dong Qin said nothing, letting him fuss over her. “Are you scared mute?” Lu Tuo lifted her chin, “Can you speak?” After a while, Dong Qin said, “What do you want me to say? …Thank you?” Lu Tuo, enraged, raised his hand reflexively to slap her, but for some reason, the slap never came. His hand slowly withdrew, and he pushed her away. “Get out of here! You look like you’ve been gang-raped by a dozen men, it’s disgusting to look at!” Dong Qin thought, his mouth was as venomous as ever, but his actions contradicted his words. Could a person really say one thing and do another? She obediently moved aside, standing by the window in silence. Suddenly, Lu Tuo rushed over, grabbed her hand, and led her to the bathroom. “Clean yourself up! You reek of that bastard! It makes me sick!” He pulled off the bedsheet, pushing her into the filled bathtub. With a splash, water spilled out as Dong Qin slipped, letting out a scream, and Lu Tuo laughed. “Like a cat that’s fallen into water.” He sat down next to her, watching her casually, “Hurry up and wash, I’m watching.” Dong Qin hesitated, then started to wash, wincing with each touch to her wounds, shivering as she splashed water over them. Lu Tuo was unusually quiet, this silence making her feel a sense of shame for the first time, acutely aware of her nudity and his presence as a man. This shouldn’t happen; before, she seemed to be completely oblivious to this fact. Lu Tuo watched her pale back, where a tattoo in the misty air looked like a giant centipede crawling on her. She suddenly stood up, water droplets cascading down her slender, white curves. Lu Tuo’s throat tightened, something deep within his soul ignited, burning his eyes and breath. She didn’t turn around, just hugged her shoulders and said softly, “Give me a towel.” He was stunned for a moment before throwing a large towel to her. Dong Qin dried her hair, wrapped the towel around herself, and then turned around. “You don’t need to worry about me, I can just sleep on the floor.” She said indifferently, her cheeks flushed from the steam. Lu Tuo didn’t speak, grabbed her warm shoulders, and carried her out. “I won’t touch you, I have no interest in a woman like you. Rest assured.” He said coldly, unsure if the words were for her or himself. He fetched a new set of bedding, spread it on the bed, and patted it, “The bed is big, I’m not that cruel to let a woman sleep on the floor. You sleep on the side.” He turned off the bedside lamp and climbed into bed. “Don’t worry, Lu Jinghao wouldn’t dare to come here.” He closed his eyes, trying not to think about her slender body. After a while, he heard Dongqin getting into bed, and her scent spread over immediately. She was far away, curled up in the corner, almost pressed against the wall, her breathing very faint. Yet, he felt that even her breathing was seductive, brushing against his ears and penetrating his heart, tickling him. After a long time, she remained still, and just as Lu Tuo was about to turn over, she suddenly moved, seemingly pulling the covers over herself. He sighed inwardly; he wasn’t calm enough to ignore a woman sleeping beside him. Lu Tuo turned abruptly, burrowed into her blanket, half-pinning her down. “Let’s do it,” he said, then lowered his head to kiss her lips. She was only wearing one of his large shirts, nothing underneath. He easily removed it, his tongue and teeth substituting for his hands, caressing her body. Dongqin made no sound, nor did she resist; she only trembled slightly when he gently bit her breast. “Make some noise, I don’t want to have sex with a corpse,” he murmured, sliding his hand from her waist to her legs, his fingers exploring the warm, moist secret place. She let out a sharp cry and suddenly grabbed his shoulders, curling up. Lu Tuo felt a sudden surge of frustration, unable to pinpoint the source of his dissatisfaction. No, it wasn’t enough; what he wanted was more than this. He suddenly pulled Dongqin up, pressing her against the wall, kissing her as if he wanted to devour her. He hastily shed his clothes, spread her legs, and wrapped them around his waist. He held her tightly, Dongqin feeling almost suffocated, her heart racing for the first time. His kisses were far from gentle, even a bit savage, yet they carried a different sensation… What was it? What? Lu Tuo’s kisses were like flames, pressing hard against her chest and neck, leaving marks. Dongqin gasped heavily, her back sweating slightly, the sweat quickly absorbed by the cold wall. Suddenly, he thrust forcefully, and Dongqin let out a loud cry; his actions, like himself, were fiery and fierce, leaving no room for gentleness, yet there were rare moments of tenderness. “Wait… wait…” she trembled, grabbing his hair, “You didn’t… didn’t use protection…” Lu Tuo grabbed her hand, biting it gently, sending tingles through her. He pressed her against the wall, her legs wide open around his waist, thrusting upwards, making lascivious sounds. “You’re saying such a buzzkill at a time like this!” He bent down to kiss her, his movements suddenly becoming tender, as if the storm had finally subsided, gradually invading her senses. Dongqin was drenched in sweat, unaware of who she was or where her voice was coming from. His waist was so strong, making her feel almost crazy for the first time. “Dongqin… Dongqin, call my name!” he pleaded eagerly, increasing his force, his sweat-soaked hand gripping her waist, pressing her down as if wanting to merge with her. Dongqin felt like she was being pushed into the heavens, dizzy, as if her entire existence was occupied by him, leaving no space or gap. She bit into his shoulder, emitting a choked moan, his name on her lips, calling out indistinctly. He embraced her completely, unwilling to let anyone else intrude, pouring all his passion and heartfelt emotions into kissing her. He thought that at this moment, even if he were to melt into her body, he would be willing. For her, for someone who confuses his heart. Making love is only interesting with someone you love. He suddenly remembered this saying, which he had once pompously advised Zuo Dongqin. Now, he found it absurd; he couldn’t even deceive himself. Why her? Why her? He couldn’t understand, could only exert more and more force, wanting to hear his name called out by her at this moment. He was chasing something unknown, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t catch a piece of it. It was as if flames were falling from the sky, as if waves were crashing at the end of the earth, he was being burned, being beaten, his soul roaring with hunger—Not enough! What he wanted was more than this! Not enough! “Dongqin!” he shouted, almost in pain, his eyes hot with emotion, not knowing why he was so stirred. The world seemed to collapse around them. He collapsed onto her, panting heavily. He had exhausted all the strength in his life; he thought he could do no more. Her rapid breathing filled his ears, softening his heart. He held her, laying back on the bed, their sweat-soaked bodies entwined, not wanting to part. She was like a rose that had wilted too soon, yet he still picked her, keeping her close. “Dongqin…” he pressed his forehead against hers, whispering, “Talk to me… say anything.” She remained silent for a long time, so long that he thought she wouldn’t speak, but then she suddenly murmured, “I don’t know… what you want to ask?” Lu Tuo shrugged, “Anything… Tell me about the tattoo on your back. Who did it? Could it be your first man?” His fingers traced the smooth, delicate skin of her back, outlining the tattoo’s curves. “Yes, it was my first man,” she said quietly, seemingly not willing to elaborate. Lu Tuo patted her, “Be cooperative now, I’m asking you. Who was your first man?” Dongqin was silent for even longer this time. “…My father.” “What?!” Lu Tuo turned to stare at her, Dongqin closed her eyes, “My father.” “…Your biological father?” She nodded. “My God, that’s quite the thrill,” he murmured, “Absolutely unbelievable…” “He did the tattoo the night after he first did it. He said this way, I would be his alone.” She smiled faintly, “Seems his wish didn’t come true.” Lu Tuo grabbed her shoulders, “Where is your father now? When did he rape you? Why didn’t you report him?” Dongqin spoke softly, “He kept me locked at home, I couldn’t go anywhere. He locked me up for half a year, then let me go back to school when they sent out an expulsion notice. That was when I was in seventh grade.” Lu Tuo looked at her in shock, speechless. Dongqin continued, “He’s a pervert, only capable of loving his own kin. Zuo Shaoxin was his sister, I am the result of their incest… Of course, I was lucky not to be born an idiot or a monster.” “Where is he now? How did he allow Zuo Shaoxin to take you away?” Lu Tuo asked. Dong Qin’s eyes dimmed, “I killed him.” “What?!” “I killed him,” Dong Qin said slowly, “I killed him with my own hands, with a dagger, I slit his throat.” She turned back to see Lu Tuo’s shocked expression, smiled slightly, her gaze hollow. “So, you should also be careful. If you push someone too far, she will inevitably find an opportunity to retaliate.” Lu Tuo shook her angrily, “You’re lying! If you killed him, you wouldn’t be able to go to school like nothing happened! You’re lying!” Dong Qin said firmly, “No, I’m not lying. That day, a thief broke into our house, threatening us with a dagger. Zuo Shao’an fought with him and was already injured. Later, the thief was knocked out by him, but he was also in bad shape. I put on gloves and used the thief’s dagger to slit his throat… The police ruled it as a home invasion murder, and I was the victim.” She smiled faintly, “You see, isn’t this world absurd? The real murderer lives freely, while the wronged are shot in the head. At that moment, I realized there is no truth in this world.”