Hearing her words, Xiao Chizhan felt the gloom that had been in his heart for days about to explode.
His eyes were filled with resentment and rage, making his scarlet pupils look terrifyingly ghastly.
He slightly lowered his gaze, concealing his emotions, and when he looked up again, he seemed a little gentler.
“You’re so badly injured, where are you going?”
Ye Luan replied coldly, “Where I’m going is none of your business.”
She had long noticed his emotional changes, but after being by his side for so long, he no longer held much deterrent power over her; she was completely unafraid.
Xiao Chizhan remained silent. He exerted force on his hand, encircling her waist and pulling her into his embrace. His head rested on her shoulder, his voice chilling.
“To Shen Mansion or the Eastern Palace, do you think I don’t exist?”
Once again locked in his arms forcefully, Ye Luan took a deep breath.
This was exactly how he was: overbearing,病态 (bìngtài - pathological/sickly), despicable, forcibly confining people to his side, unable to tolerate her having the slightest interaction with anyone else.
The numerous life-and-death struggles that had once injured him to the bone had only changed him a little, making him less疯 (fēng - crazy), but he was still not completely sane. It was difficult to teach such a person to become normal.
Unless…
She… accepted this madman!
Actively tried to change him!!
At this thought, Ye Luan shivered all over and secretly spat, how could such an idea cross her mind?
He was an out-and-out lunatic.
Back then, he had secretly drugged her with佛心散 (fó xīn sàn - Buddhist Heart Powder) and dared to sneakily feed her abortifacients. Who knew when he might go mad and feed her love flowers.
Moreover, he was pathologically selfish, not even allowing her to see her own family, and possessed extreme control issues.
The thought of having to guard against him drugging her and constantly being wary of his madness for the rest of her life was a headache!
It was better to be free like this now.
Seeing that she had been keeping her head down and not speaking, Xiao Chizhan softened his tone.
“Luanluan, can you wait until your injuries are better before you leave?”
His voice had become a little gentler, and he was no longer pushing so aggressively.
But in her heart, she knew very well that this was all his superficial pretense.
Ye Luan couldn't help but sigh; being able to act was also a form of progress.
“Let go first.”
“Then are you still leaving?”
He lowered his eyes, gazing intently at her face, his tone carrying a hint of grievance, but his gaze was like that of a demon from hell, making one’s scalp tingle.
Ye Luan felt goosebumps erupt all over her back.
Suddenly, she seemed to remember something, a glint flashing in her eyes as she looked up at him.
“Are you the only one living here?”
Hearing her words, Xiao Chizhan narrowed his eyes slightly, a dark, inscrutable gleam surging within them.
Ye Luan said, “If you don’t speak, I’ll leave.”
He didn't let go, holding her and speaking with hidden meaning.
“Tantai Ye and the others are all here.”
So Mu Rou was here too.
Ye Luan’s heart rejoiced, but her expression remained unchanged. “Oh.”
Xiao Chizhan stared at her intently and carefully for a few moments, then suddenly reached out to touch her cheek, saying in a faint tone, “Shall I take you out for a walk?”
Ye Luan didn’t want to go for a walk with him, but seeing the situation, she couldn’t leave.
“Your Highness promised that once my injuries were almost healed, you would let me leave.”
She doubted the word of this crazy fellow.
Hearing that she had relented, the gloom in Xiao Chizhan’s eyes instantly dissipated, and a pleasant, numbing tremor emanated from the depths of his bones.
He tightened his grip on her waist, lifted her, lowered his head, and kissed her lips heavily, a beautiful, triumphant curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
“Everything is as you say.”
Ye Luan was so angry that she slapped his mouth. He was always pushing his luck.
“I’m staying here, not for Your Highness to take advantage of me anytime, anywhere.”
Xiao Chizhan shamelessly caught her hand and kissed it, laughing coyly.
“Don’t hurt yourself.”
Ye Luan: “---”
How could he be so thick-skinned?
Having been cooped up in the house all day, Ye Luan also wanted to go out for a walk.
After reaching a consensus, they left the room.
All the way, he was like a clingy big puppy, pulling her hand, then wrapping his arm around her waist, never ceasing.
Ye Luan crossed her arms, “Do you know you’re acting like a pervert?”
Pervert?
Xiao Chizhan raised an eyebrow, an irrepressible excitement flashing in his eyes.
He suddenly embraced her waist, lifted her, and pressed her against the wall behind them.
Ye Luan was startled, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist, her hands gripping his arms.
Before she could say anything, he suddenly lowered his head, his lips latching onto her earlobe, and whispered ambiguously, “Doing it here is perverse.”
Damn it.
Ye Luan was both shocked and speechless. Although this place was secluded, someone could still pass by, and he could actually think in that direction.
“I’m not a pervert, I won’t do that.”
He buried his face in her neck and shook his head, his voice tinged with suppressed, twisted excitement.
Ye Luan was utterly speechless and pinched him hard on the waist.
“Let me down.”
They were in a garden, and she was pressed against the wall of a covered walkway, only able to see the lotus pond not far away, where playful fish were poking their heads out.
“Luanluan, you’re so soft.”
Addicted.
He was like someone poisoned, wanting to hold her, kiss her, and be tightly pressed together.
What to do? He absolutely did not want to let her go.
Ye Luan pushed his head away, “Can’t you think about something proper for once?”
“I want to kiss you.” After saying that, he even asked politely, “Is that okay?”
Ye Luan rolled her eyes, “If I say no, will you not kiss me?”
Xiao Chizhan shook his head, “I can’t help myself.”
“Your Highness is a powerful noble of the court and is naturally accustomed to doing as you please. I am a weak woman with no power or influence, unable to resist, so I must accept my fate.”
She was being sarcastic!
Xiao Chizhan coughed lightly, releasing her somewhat reluctantly. Just as he was about to linger, he heard.
“What are you doing in broad daylight?”
Ye Luan was startled and turned her head.
Tantai Ye!
Crap.
How embarrassing.
“Quickly put me down.”
Xiao Chizhan glared unhappily at the two approaching figures, his brow furrowed over his eyes, his expression cold and filled with ferocity.
Tantai Ye was fearless, holding Lan Murou’s waist as he strode over, a arrogant smile on his handsome, uninhibited face.
His demeanor suggested he held nothing in contempt, making one’s teeth itch.
Ye Luan’s face was awkward, and she angrily nudged him with her knee.
“They’re here, put me down.”
He was holding her too tightly, and she couldn’t break free.
Xiao Chizhan’s expression was calm. He put her down gently, smoothing out the creases on her dress as he did so.
Ye Luan suppressed the shame and indignation in her heart, tugged at the corners of her lips, and looked at Lan Murou, “Murou.”
“Aluan.”
Lan Murou smiled and walked towards her, taking her hand.
Tantai Ye lowered his gaze to his empty palm, a hint of gloomy darkness flashing in his narrow phoenix eyes.
Seeing his expression, Xiao Chizhan let out a scoff and placed a pale, cold hand on his shoulder.
“Even rabbits bite sometimes.”
Tantai Ye raised an eyebrow, his handsome features exuding a noble and aloof air.
Setting aside his temperament, just looking at his face, his brows carried a hint of the charm of a refined rogue.
“Foxes not only bite, but they also kill.”
Killing the heart!