In her mind, Su Ye was trying her best to recall whatever she knew about the gigolo named Cheng Huan. However, she couldn't remember anything as he did not even amount to a side character.
Rubbing the spot between her brows, she asked blankly, "Don't you like Su Ruoruo?"
Cheng Huan's eyes widened at her words, tears welling up in them as if he had just been slandered. "Junior governor, how could you say such a thing? I love you with all my heart!"
Su Ye lifted a brow slowly. "What if I told you that Su Ruoruo has genuinely taken a liking to you?"
Cheng Huan hesitated briefly, but quickly schooled his expression into a look of utter sincerity and murmured, "Even if my body doesn't completely belong to you, my heart will always be yours."
Su Ye said nothing to that.
Still, Cheng Huan kept going, his eyes red and teary. "Junior governor, I know how nice you've been to me… you don't even care that I've served other men before!"
Seeing no reaction, he leaned upwards to whisper into Su Ye's ear seductively, "I wouldn't mind serving both of you at the same time, junior governor."
Su Ye raised her foot and kicked him away in response. She took offense to that even if he did not.
Still, she seemed to have used too much force—with a resounding thud, the gigolo flew back a few dozen meters, then collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Su Ye herself winced a little at the sound.
Right after that, the dozen or so servants dropped down to their knees, and cried out, "Mercy, junior governor!" They were afraid that Su Ye would get so angry that she would decide to punish them as well.
Su Ye was taken aback by their cries. She was not quite used to her superstrength, and had accidentally used too much power in that single burst. When she looked up, the thick makeup she had worn to go to the brothel was now a mess since she had been rubbing her own face.
In fact, she looked uncannily like a ghost.
Su Ye glanced at the unconscious gigolo on the ground, then waved her hand and said dismissively, "Take him away."
"Yes, milady!" Two guards quickly took the unconscious Cheng Huan away.
It was only as Su Ye watched the gigolo being carried away that she suddenly remembered something: Su Ruoruo, her sister, was still bound to that pillar.
This very incident had been the catalyst for her own tragic demise.
Su Ye quickly turned towards a handmaiden standing nearby and snapped, "Free Su Ruoruo and have a doctor examine her now!"
The handmaiden was stunned by her words. Why would the young governor suddenly have a change of heart? Was she not so furious that she wanted to kill Su Ruoruo?
Since the handmaiden was frozen to the spot, Su Ye rose from her seat and waved her off. "It's alright, I'll go and free her myself."
Su Ye took a deep breath. No need to panic; she could still come up with something and make amends. Everything could still be changed since the male lead had yet to show up.
With that in mind, she hiked up her skirts and rushed towards the pillar at the center of the yard. As she got closer, the metallic scent of blood hit her. When she reached the pillar, Su Ye saw that Su Ruoruo had started bleeding as she struggled against the rope binding her to the pillar.
It was a terrible sight, as the blood had soaked her clothes and dripped everywhere.
Reaching out, Su Ye tore off the rope with a single pull, and the dainty Su Ruoruo fell into her arms. Su Ruoruo was already unconscious after being left under the scorching sun for so long.
Su Ye studied her sister, who appeared small and frail—a clear contrast to her own boorish demeanor. Putting Su Ruoruo over her shoulder, she headed towards the manor and barked, "Get a doctor."
Frightened by Su Ye's fierce tone, the young handmaiden trembled as she nodded vigorously and squeaked, "Y-Yes, milady!" With that, she quickly dashed away.
Su Ye hurried into the manor, and put Su Ruoruo on a bed after getting inside.
Su Ruoruo woke up just as Su Ye was laying her down.