Chapter 19: Taking the Bait
Liang Xiaoluo and Su Xin boarded the vehicle sent to fetch them. Liang Xiaoluo sat quietly, her mind racing with unease.
Not far from the pickup spot, inside a sleek silver car, Ye Tianlin reclined in his seat, gazing through the tinted window at the petite figure of Liang Xiaoluo. A smirk spread across his lips, a mix of amusement and calculation.
"The fish has taken the bait," he muttered to himself.
"Sir," his secretary interrupted cautiously, "Madam and Third Young Master have returned from abroad. Should we head to the airport to greet them?"
Instantly, Ye Tianlin's playful expression vanished, replaced by a frosty demeanor. It was as though an icy torrent had extinguished all warmth in his blood.
"Go back," he ordered curtly.
The secretary hesitated. "But—"
A sharp glance silenced any further objections. The car turned around, heading back toward Ye Tianlin's villa. The secretary, now bewildered, could only wonder what had caused the young master's sudden irritation. He dared not ask.
Meanwhile, Liang Xiaoluo arrived at the villa first. She was relieved not to encounter Ye Tianlin immediately. The head housekeeper, Liu Jie, handed her and Su Xin identical uniforms—a traditional maid's attire. After they changed, Liu Jie began assigning tasks.
"Su Xin," she barked, "you'll clean the main hall daily. Be careful not to break any of the porcelain or vases—each piece costs more than your life. You'll also be responsible for trimming the garden."
"Yes, ma'am!" Su Xin answered eagerly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Liu Jie turned to Liang Xiaoluo. "You'll be in charge of cleaning the young master's bedroom. Everything must remain precisely as it is—no misplaced decorations, no rearranged furniture. He has a severe case of OCD, and if you anger him, even I won't be able to save you."
Su Xin looked at Liang Xiaoluo with envy. "You're so lucky, Xiaoluo! You get to work in the young master's room."
"Liu Jie, I—" Liang Xiaoluo began to object, her anxiety mounting.
"Enough talk! Get to work!" Liu Jie snapped, giving her no opportunity to refuse.
Resigned, Liang Xiaoluo climbed the stairs with cleaning supplies in hand, silently praying she could finish the task and leave before Ye Tianlin returned. As she pushed open the door to his bedroom, her breath hitched.
The room was vast, its cool-toned decor both intimidating and stylish. Every detail screamed Ye Tianlin's meticulous and imposing personality. It was as though his essence pervaded every corner of the space.
To avoid making any mistakes, Liang Xiaoluo carefully studied the placement of every item before beginning her work. She decided to start with the bathroom, scrubbing and wiping diligently, her thoughts wholly absorbed in the task.
So focused was she that she failed to notice the figure standing behind her until she turned and found herself face-to-face with Ye Tianlin. Startled, she stumbled back and fell directly into the filled bathtub, water splashing everywhere.
Coughing and sputtering, she clumsily attempted to right herself. When she finally looked up, she was met with Ye Tianlin's piercing gaze. He stood above her, his lips curving into a devilish smile.
"Excited to see me?" he teased, his tone dripping with amusement.
"Y-you…" Flustered and embarrassed, Liang Xiaoluo scrambled out of the tub, bowing her head. "I'm sorry, Young Master. I didn't know you had returned early. I'll clean this up right away."
Instead of answering, Ye Tianlin crouched, tilting her chin up to force her to meet his eyes. His voice was low, almost a purr. "No need to rush. Why don't we play a little game first?"
Her body stiffened as she felt the intensity of his gaze. Instinctively, she crossed her arms over her chest, her cheeks flaming. "I-I don't understand what you mean, Young Master."
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, his expression mockingly curious. "Think harder."
Liang Xiaoluo froze, unsure of how to respond. She tried to steel herself, determined not to give him the reaction he wanted. "Please, Young Master. Behave yourself."
"Behave?" Ye Tianlin chuckled darkly. "Liang Xiaoluo, you came to me of your own accord. What makes you think you're in a position to lecture me?"
His fingers brushed against her cheek, tracing its curve with a mix of possessiveness and curiosity. His voice lowered. "You know what I want."
Before she could respond, he stepped into the tub, his clothes soaking instantly. With one swift motion, he pulled her close, his arms encircling her waist.
Panic gripped Liang Xiaoluo as she struggled to push him away, but his grip was unrelenting. Her mind screamed at her to fight, yet a small, treacherous voice whispered that resistance was futile. Tears welled up, spilling down her cheeks.
Ye Tianlin paused, his lips catching the saltiness of her tears. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—an unfamiliar pang of emotion he couldn't quite place. He released her abruptly, stepping back with a frustrated sigh.
"If you're that unwilling," he muttered, "then leave. But don't come crawling back."
Liang Xiaoluo remained frozen in the tub, her tears mixing with the water. Ye Tianlin's departure gave her a momentary reprieve, but her heart felt heavy. What was she to do?
Father… I can't fail you, she thought bitterly.
She climbed out of the tub and dried herself, her resolve hardening. After taking a moment to steady her breath, she walked out and found Ye Tianlin seated in the study, his expression unreadable.
"I want to talk," she said quietly.
His eyebrows rose in mild surprise. "Talk?"
She nodded. "About the five million."
Ye Tianlin smirked, leaning back in his chair. "You've finally come around."
Liang Xiaoluo clenched her fists, bracing herself. This was the beginning of a deal she would come to regret, but she had no choice. For her father's sake, she would endure.