The Abyss

Dong Qin silently followed the maid, without saying a word, nor given a chance to speak. Zuo Shaoqing seemed in a good mood, but evidently, her good mood did not extend to her daughter. The room arranged for her on the second floor, to the right, had been simply refurbished. The walls were painted white, the furniture was new, and there was a distinct smell of unused items in the air. The curtains were inky blue, and her bed was large, placed against the wall. The bed sheets and quilt were all in the same inky blue, and even more surprisingly, the carpet on the floor was also inky blue! The entire room looked extremely cold, almost like a detention cell. Xiao Ai placed her small suitcase on the floor and asked, looking down, “Does the lady have any other instructions?” She glanced around, “I don’t like the carpet. Remove it.” Xiao Ai, evidently well-trained, didn’t change her expression, responded with a simple “Yes,” and went downstairs to call the male servants to remove the carpet. After half an hour of fuss, the carpet was removed, revealing the bare wooden floor below, which Xiao Ai mopped three times before she was satisfied. After closing the door, she placed a few changes of clothes from her suitcase into the wardrobe, leaving her with nothing else to do. Zuo Shaoqin didn’t seem to want to see her anytime soon. Dong Qin went to the bathroom in the inner room to take a bath and changed into a large shirt. She felt overwhelmingly tired, not just physically but also mentally. This fatigue was bone-deep, occasionally overwhelming her to the point where she could barely keep her eyes open. If she could sleep forever, how wonderful that would be. She desperately needed a complete, quiet sleep; she hadn’t had a restful night in three years. If the past environment had caused her discomfort, perhaps changing the setting would help. With this thought, she unconsciously drew the curtains and lay down on the bed. The sheets were clean, also carrying the scent of “new product.” Strangely, this smell gave her a sense of security, and she soon drifted into sleep.