Plaything

Yun Tangli came from an ordinary family and had ordinary luck. Her college years passed quietly, without a ripple, and she thought her life would continue to be just as ordinary.

The year she entered her senior year, an older student she knew found her a part-time job tutoring a student about to start her third year of high school.

The older student described her: “She’s clever and usually very well-behaved, just a little too playful. Her parents mainly want someone to keep her company while she studies. The pay is excellent.”

Nervous but looking forward to the generous pay, Yun Tangli went to give a trial lesson.

Just as the older student had said, the girl was clever and well-behaved. Her bright eyes were as clear as gemstones, her skin was fair, and her soft little curls made her look absolutely adorable.

The trial lesson went smoothly, and Yun Tangli got the job.

But it didn’t take long for her to realize that Pei Zhaolu, despite her angelic appearance, was a little demon.

She would say, in a way that was hard to read, “You’re so pretty, sis. Are you dating anyone?” Then she would laugh wickedly when Yun Tangli fled in embarrassment.

She would reach out and touch her eyes, saying, “I bet you look beautiful when you cry, sis,” in a tone so eager it was frightening.

She would threaten and manipulate her, smiling as she said, “If you don’t say yes, sis, I’ll tell everyone.”

Yun Tangli was terrified. Her heart raced, and she couldn’t tell whether it was from fear or something else.

In the end, all she could do was cover her mouth and stare at Pei Zhaolu in panic and fear as the girl pressed a moist kiss to the back of her hand.

“Don’t do that again, or I’ll be mad.” The girl’s voice was gentle and sweet, but her eyes held Yun Tangli fast, like she was prey caught helplessly in a net.

This was absurd. Utterly absurd.

But Yun Tangli, who had always been so proper and restrained, found her heart tightening and her cheeks flushing under Pei Zhaolu’s relentless advances. At last, she couldn’t resist making a promise with her about their future.

Then a conversation she overheard by accident shattered her dreams of that future.

“How could that be? She’s several years older than me. We’re just having fun. Studying is so boring, so I have to find a little entertainment for myself, right?”

Yun Tangli felt as if she’d plunged into an icy lake.

Entertainment.

In a daze, Yun Tangli remembered what the older student had once said: “Just a little too playful.”

Their eyes met. Her face went pale, and she turned and ran.

-

Eighteen-year-old Pei Zhaolu had always thought she was only fooling around with Yun Tangli.

Until Yun Tangli vanished from her life completely, nowhere to be found.

Years later, they unexpectedly met again.

Yun Tangli said, “Miss Pei, please behave yourself. I don’t like you. Stop bothering me.”

Theme: Love requires sincerity.