Shadows of Obsession

Tension

Ella's thoughts about Lauren were heavy and golden like a treasure, making her truly feel that for the sake of this affection, losing face and stealing love was not a big deal. For someone as crude and unsightly as her, only this concern, crystal clear, dared to be presented to others.

The sound of water on the second floor finally stopped after a long while.

Lauren splashed his face with cold water, gradually calming down.

He took down a towel, dried off the water, and changed into a jacket.

When he was about to leave for the company, he saw Ella's room door locked and stood quietly in front of it for a while.

When Lauren entered, the two people inside almost simultaneously stopped their conversation.

Lauren paused and handed over the project proposal. "The one you asked for." Shane gestured for him to put it on the table and waved to the other person, who then took their leave.

Lauren walked out, and the other person followed, stepping into the elevator and pressing a different floor button.

Lauren fastened his cufflinks and casually asked, "What were you talking about?" "Looking for someone."

"Looking for someone?"

Meeting Lauren's inquisitive gaze, the person just smiled. "The manager and Shane's daughter haven't broken up yet, have they?" Lauren's expression changed, and the expensive gem on his cufflinks glinted faintly between his fingers. "What do you mean?" The elevator doors slowly opened, and the person exited, waving a hand. "If they haven't broken up, I can't say it."

The brief confrontation with Lauren didn't give Ella much chance, and soon Jennifer returned with her music scores. When she wasn't around, Ella would always lie on the couch, turning the TV volume up to the maximum. But now, whenever Jennifer stepped out of her room, Ella would lock herself in.

Putting two people who were enemies in the same house, one was at ease while the other was on pins and needles. Jennifer liked to lie on the carpet with a basket of fries, watching TV, with Richie snuggled up to her, gently snoring. Inside and outside the room were two different worlds; no one could say whether Ella was asleep in there or if she stayed up all night, hunched over, sitting on the edge of the bed.

After enduring for a few days, Ella started going out. Coins were often left on the stereo, and Ella would take the money, going farther each time. One time, Lauren left the company and saw Ella wandering across the street with a straw from soy milk in her mouth. Lauren followed her, walking quite a distance until she disappeared into the crowd.

Lauren was restless that day, making several mistakes in his project proposal, and dreamed that night of Ella leaving, waking up breathless.

The next day, Ella reached for the money on the stereo but found it gone. She glanced at Lauren, who was following her, and scratched her head. "Wood, I'm going out for a walk." Lauren looked at her for a while and said quietly, "You're still not fully recovered. If you need anything, I'll bring it back." Ella was unwilling. "I just want to go out for a walk."

Lauren quietly watched her, then took out his wallet and handed over the coins. Ella happily pushed open the door and heard Lauren call her, "Ella." She turned her head, and Lauren gently touched the back of her head. "Come back early."

The day Dr.Cuis visited, he happened to catch Ella returning from outside. Her hair had grown and she had groomed herself, looking much more spirited. Seeing Dr.Cuis sitting on the sofa, she greeted him and went back to her room.

They exchanged a few words, but Lauren seemed distracted. Dr.Cuis, hearing Jennifer eating fries, smiled and said, "Congratulations, after worrying for so many years, you can finally let go." Lauren turned his head to look at him, and Jennifer also turned her head. Dr.Cuis was taken aback and raised his eyebrows with a smile. "What's wrong?" Jennifer sat up from the carpet. "You guys talk."

When she passed Lauren, her mouth twitched as if in a mocking smile.

Suddenly, the TV was filled with the roar of gunfire and explosions, the volume so loud it felt like the whole living room was shaking.

It was a while before Lauren said, "I don't want him to go out..."

Dr.Cuis, separated by the sofa, said, "What? Speak up." "I said, it's chaotic outside, I'm worried about him, I don't want to let go..." Dr.Cuis tilted his ear, the war movie still blaring, making it impossible to hear. Suddenly, he grabbed the remote and hit mute.

"What did you say?" Dr.Cuis asked, tossing the remote back onto the sofa.

The sudden silence made the sound of the old cat snoring almost audible.

Lauren picked up a book, opened it, and slowly smoothed out the creases on the pages. "Nothing."

Ella never expected Lauren to come looking for her. The road was chaotic and narrow, almost impassable for cars. Both sides were lined with barbershops decorated with dark blue neon lights, and black plastic bags piled up at the back door of the KTV. Ella and a few others squatted by the roadside, eating from steaming lunch boxes.

A cold rain had just fallen here, leaving puddles of water everywhere, greasy as it flowed into the sewers.

Ella, with her crisp white shirt collar standing up, saw the headlights of the luxury sedan in front of her dim and hesitated.

Lauren rolled down the car window and said to Ella, "Get in."

Ella didn't move. Lauren smiled, "Get in."

The people squatting with her stared wide-eyed as Ella slowly walked over and whispered, "I'm working." Seeing that Lauren had no intention of backing down, she hesitated and got into the car.

"How did you find me? I'm fine. My paycheck just came in this half month..." Ella said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a slightly deformed pack of cigarettes.

Lauren saw in the rearview mirror as she put a cigarette in her mouth, looking for a lighter. Without hesitation, Lauren snatched the pack of cigarettes and threw it out.

Ella was startled and instinctively stubbed out the cigarette in her mouth. "I just smoke occasionally, not addicted." Lauren frowned and said, "Who taught you that? Throw it away." Seeing Ella hesitate, he growled again, "Throw it away!" Ella angrily crushed the cigarette and threw it out.

Lauren was silent for a while, then leaned over to fasten her seatbelt before slowly reversing out. "Where did you get a fake ID? They're strict with checks lately. Wait until you get your ID reissued and then find a job. It's not too late." Ella looked out the window and laughed, "It's nothing... Staying inside the house is really boring. I've messed up this much, still expecting you to support me, what does that make me?"

The road had several broken streetlights in a row. The taillights ahead cast a dim red glow, making the license plates clearly visible, constantly changing as cars overtook and switched lanes. The closest license plate kept changing as someone cut in or changed lanes.