Chapter 130: Don’t Tell

“Huh?”

“What’s that expression? Looks like you don’t believe me?”

Su Ling lowered his head, his eyes reddened, tears falling drop by drop onto his hand. He thought, he thought those words were all lies!

Sister, it’s not like that…

But now this collar was put on him by Sister. So were the other things true too? Were his legs and throat really broken and silenced by Sister?

Su Ling didn’t want to believe it, but all the evidence showed that it really seemed to be Sister’s doing.

Why?!

He bit his lips hard, the delicate skin breaking. He felt no pain, only a bitter emotion welling up in his heart. Slowly, he curled up, burying his head deep in his knees, trying to escape everything, to escape the possible answer.

But the woman beside him didn’t care about his feelings!

“Honestly, crying for no reason, acting like you’re so hurt!” The woman rubbed her temples impatiently, then waved her hand to signal someone at the door.

Two tall figures walked from the doorway. They were dressed in black clothes with black masks on their faces. Standing in the darkness of the entrance, they were completely hidden in the shadows, hard to spot.

“Find a place to lock him up. Starve him for now.”

When Su Ling was dragged up, his face still full of pain. Only after being locked in a narrow iron cage did he gradually realize his current situation. He wanted to do something, but after looking around, he gave up that idea.

He curled back into the cage, hugging himself tightly, only leaving a pair of eyes staring nervously at his surroundings. Everything was pitch black, and he could vaguely see many cages like his own nearby, seemingly containing people like him?

Su Ling shrank into a corner of the cage, staring blankly at the bars. The cage was so narrow he could barely turn over, only by curling up could he manage a little space.

He didn’t like this kind of environment… He couldn’t help but fantasize, hoping she would appear. As soon as she showed up, he would tell her that he would behave. He hated the woman who sent him here, but he couldn’t help thinking: if he behaved, would she take him out?

She would, right?

All she wanted was for him to be obedient. As long as he behaved, everything would be fine. Thinking this, Su Ling closed his eyes heavily.

When Su Ling woke again, it was because of hunger. He subconsciously swallowed saliva, but doing so didn’t relieve the hunger—it only made him feel hungrier.

Su Ling licked his dry lips, staring blankly around. Everything around was still dark, nothing visible. His stomach growled loudly from hunger.

Just then, a small hand reached out from the cage next to him. The hand was fair and tender, holding half a dirty steamed bun. A pleasant voice came: “Eat. Eating something will make you feel better. They’ll give you food tomorrow.”

“We all go through this. No food on the first day.”

Su Ling took the half bun with trembling hands. He opened his mouth, wanting to say thank you, but then realized—he couldn’t speak anymore.

There was a moment of silence, then a somewhat cold voice came: “Bai Ruo, put away your saintly heart. He took your bun and didn’t even say thank you. Besides, if they find out, you know what will happen to you.”

“It’s… it’s okay, Brother Lin Feng. At least he won’t starve. That’s good enough. I don’t need a thank you.”

Su Ling listened, his hand gripping the bun tightening slightly. He really wanted to say it wasn’t that he didn’t want to say thanks, but that he couldn’t. But he couldn’t speak, and he didn’t dare do anything to attract those people, so he could only remain silent.

Still, being misunderstood made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

With mixed feelings, Su Ling opened his mouth and bit into the bun. The bun was hard and difficult to chew. He ate small bite by small bite, so absorbed that he didn’t notice someone standing in front of his cage.

“Where did you get this?”

Su Ling’s body trembled, and the remaining piece of bun nearly fell. He swallowed nervously, staring at the other person.

“Tell me, who gave it to you?”

Su Ling bit his lips and slowly shook his head.

“Not talking?”

Su Ling lowered his head.

The woman let out a cold laugh from the corner of her mouth, waved her hand for someone to open the cage, and dragged the little cripple out!

“Tell me, who gave you the bun in your hand?” The woman paused, then thought for a moment, trying to make her voice gentle. “Tell me, it’s okay. I promise nothing will happen. It’s just a bit of food. I’m not a mental case like your master. I won’t fly into a rage over a bite to eat. I’m reasonable. I’m just curious, curious where you got it. So, tell me, alright?”

Her gentle tone gradually eased Su Ling’s nervous guard. He looked up, dazed, at the face before him. The woman wore a warm smile, her long golden hair flowing over her shoulders, making her look like an angel.

He bit his lips and slowly raised his hand.

“Don’t, don’t tell!”

“She’s, she’s lying to you!”

“If you have any conscience, don’t say it!”

Su Ling turned his head toward the source of the voice—it was the one who had said he wouldn’t say thank you earlier. He was puzzled. Why shouldn’t he tell? Was the woman really lying to him? But it was just food, nothing important. What would happen if he told?

The woman looked up at the darkness in that direction and gestured. Two people walked over, dragged out the cage from that darkness, revealing the person inside.

The boy was thin. He huddled tightly in the cage, his red eyes staring at the woman with fear and hatred. His white hair made him look especially frail, his skin sickly pale.

“What’s your name?” The woman asked, then turned to order, “Go check this kid’s name and how long he’s been here.”

She didn’t care much about such insignificant people. Although the boy was good-looking, he was far inferior to Su Ling. Su Ling was her “main course,” and the boy could be a dessert after she finished the main meal.

“Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you. Now, tell me who gave you the food?”

Su Ling looked at her, his white teeth lightly biting his lips, then shook his head. He didn’t know what would happen if he told, but the boy just now told him not to say it, so he decided to listen to him.

Lin Feng saw his answer and silently breathed a sigh of relief.

The woman noticed this. She reached out a hand and lightly tapped the little cripple’s head. “You think if you don’t tell me, I can’t find out? Since this guy could come out to stop you, it means he knows who gave you the food. I just need to follow the clues to find them! And when I do, I’ll be very angry. Do you know the consequences of my anger? If you want to find out, then stay silent. I believe you’ll see that side!”

Her movements were gentle, her fingers lightly tracing the little fellow’s cheek, then sliding down along his neck. Su Ling watched her fingers nervously, but thankfully, she didn’t go any further—she stopped at his collarbone and tapped twice.