For a moment, the room went quiet. Not even the sound of wind could be heard at that point.
Ever so slowly, Anning's lips curled stretched into a small smile before she burst out laughing.
It wasn't like a small chuckle or something she even made an effort to hide. She let it out of her before she could stop, loud and unrestrained. The sound of her laughter echoed slightly within the quiet room.
Her shoulders shook slightly as she tilted her head backwards, one hand coming up to press lightly on her stomach. Why? Because she found this whole situation amusing.
"Are you being serious here?" She asked while taking in deep breaths. Due to how hard she laughed, she had a few droplets of tears running down her cheeks and she calmly reached up to wipe them away.
However, the moment she stopped laughing. She finally noticed something.
Wanqing wasn't laughing. Even the corner of her lips hadn't curved a bit.
The smile on Anning's lips faltered, the feeling of amusement disappeared along with it as she studied the woman in front of her.
She found it hard to breathe as she stared. The atmosphere around them felt different now and it made Anning's stomach churn.
Wanqing shook her head slightly with a look of disappointment. "It seems as though you've forgotten my instructions."
Anning frowned as Wanqing's words from earlier suddenly came rushing back.
She was to speak only when spoken to, never look anyone in the eyes, kneel in the presence of wanqing and follow her orders without complaining.
Lin Anning played with the hem of her dress, the reality of her situation made her feel annoyed in a way.
She knew she was supposed to obey. Obey whatever this woman told her to do without questioning it.
But how could she? Undress... in front of someone else?
No matter where she was or what had happened today, she still had some sense of dignity left. She wasn't about to throw that away so easily.
Anning let out a small barely audible sigh, running a hand through her slightly tangled hair before standing up from the floor. Then, she crossed her arms under her chest and stared at Wanqing.
"Even if I'm supposed to follow your orders," she began, her voice steadier now. "Why exactly do you want me to take my clothes off?"
Wanqing did not respond to her. She simply turned away, walking towards the slight large mirror placed at the corner of the room. As though she hadn't just been asked a question.
"You are not entitled to explanations," she said calmly, staring at her reflection in the mirror. "You are meant to follow orders. Like, A. Good. Little. Pet."
Her emphasis on her last few words had the room going silent once more and something in Anning snapped at that point.
The irritation and anger she had been holding back since earlier flared up again, this time she had no plans to back out.
She found herself closing the distance between them, her steps quick and uneven as her heart raced against her chest. With each step she took, she could literally hear her heart pounding until she found herself standing right beside Anning.
Up close, Wanqing didn't seem too annoying. The faint scent wafting from Wanqing had Anning relaxing slightly.
The way Wanqing didn't even flinch as she stopped beside her and that annoying indifference that wouldn't disappear. Even though it was for a brief second.
Wanqing's fingers moved slowly as she applied something to her skin, her expression didn't change as if Anning's presence didn't affect her at all.
And Anning, she didn't speak. She just kept watching her and then, without warning, Wanqing turned.
Before Anning could react or at least say what she had in mind. Wanqing shot a hand out, grabbing Anning by the hair as she yanked her closer.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips at the sudden move.
"I never asked you to stand," Wanqing stated, her voice low and the calmness from earlier was now mixed with something Anning couldn't quite identify.
As she finished speaking, she tightened her grip.
"Who gave you permission to move as you please? Did you forget that I bought you?" She added.
Anning winced slightly, her hand reaching up instinctively to pry Wanqing's fingers away, but the more she tried, the tighter her grip became.
"But I never asked to be bought," she shot back, her voice strained but she still refused to back down.
Her breathing was uneven now, not just from the pain, but from how close they were. It seemed like the room was getting hot and with how Wanqing stared intensely at her. She felt uncomfortable.
Instead of pulling away, Anning decided to stop struggling. Her hand fell back to her side slowly as she lifted her gaze to meet Wanqing's eyes, despite the warning she had received earlier.
"Why did you buy me?" She asked, her voice turning soft.
She wasn't backing down, she just wanted to know. She needed an answer but as always, Wanqing didn't respond immediately.
For a few seconds, nothing happened and then, Anning flinched.
Why? Because she felt an arm slowly slip around her waist. At that point, she suddenly forgot how to breathe.
Her body was almost pressed to that of Wanqing. The movement had been so smooth, almost deliberate as if Wanqing had always wanted to do this.
Anning frowned. She was still dirty, she probably smelt awful. She had dust, mud and even sweat on her. Yet, Wanqing didn't hesitate.
She didn't even seem to care.
Wanqing then leaned closer. One minute Anning was lost in thoughts and the next, she saw Wanqing's face inching towards her.
She was so close that Anning could feel her warm breath brushing just above her lips making her heart skip a beat.
Wanqing then spoke slowly, sounding almost thoughtful.
"The reason I bought you..."
She paused.
The space between them felt impossibly little now and Anning had to remain still. She didn't even breathe!
"Because you remind me of a tiger."