Chapter 34: Don't Challenge the Bottom Line
Liang Xiaoluo clenched her fists tightly, her body trembling faintly. How could there be such a devilish man in this world? Did he see human life as something so trivial that it could be toyed with?
"You did this on purpose." She stared at him, her voice trembling with rage. "You're using Su Xin to torture me."
Ye Tianlin didn't answer. Instead, a faint smile played on his lips, a smile that confirmed everything.
Liang Xiaoluo fell silent for a few seconds. Slowly, she raised her head, meeting his cold and sharp eyes. "What do you want? Tell me, and I'll do it. Just let her go."
She understood clearly—what he wanted was her surrender, her obedience like a lamb to the slaughter.
"Don't you think it's a bit late to negotiate now?" Ye Tianlin replied in an even tone. His words, though calm, carried a chill that sent shivers down her spine.
Liang Xiaoluo's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean?"
Wasn't the entire point of this ordeal to scare her into submission? As long as she yielded, wouldn't he let Su Xin go?
Ye Tianlin turned his gaze toward the television on the right. Following his line of sight, Liang Xiaoluo looked as well—and what she saw left her stunned.
The screen displayed a dark, damp storeroom. Su Xin was hanging by her arms from a thick iron chain, suspended in the middle of the room. A hulking man stood in front of her, holding a leather whip. With each merciless crack, the whip lashed across Su Xin's body, producing an ear-splitting snap and leaving deep, crimson welts on her skin.
The squeaking of the storeroom's rusty door blended with the sound of the whip. The violent, oppressive atmosphere seemed to seep through the screen.
Liang Xiaoluo clamped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with terror. She had never witnessed such a gruesome scene before. To make matters worse, the one enduring this horror was her best friend, Su Xin.
Meanwhile, Ye Tianlin sat on a luxurious leather sofa, a faintly mocking smile on his lips as he gazed at the screen. He looked every bit the ruthless king, overseeing his domain with unshaken composure.
Liang Xiaoluo was paralyzed, unable to comprehend the horror unfolding before her. Ye Tianlin had truly resorted to such violent means. What he was doing was illegal—it was beyond cruel.
"Help… Help me… Xiaoluo…" Su Xin's faint, desperate pleas pierced through the room.
Liang Xiaoluo's body stiffened, and she turned to Ye Tianlin, her voice trembling as she forced out the words. "Let… her… go…"
Ye Tianlin didn't respond, as though he hadn't heard her at all.
"I said, let her go!" Liang Xiaoluo's voice cracked, rising in volume until it became a desperate scream. "Let her go, Ye Tianlin!"
She threw herself off the bed, collapsing onto the floor with a dull thud. Her weak body cried out in pain, but she didn't care. Her only thought was to save Su Xin.
Ye Tianlin remained motionless, his expression unreadable. A dark gleam flickered in his eyes as he watched her struggle. There was something almost tender in the way he refrained from helping her up, as though he was waiting for her to break completely.
Dragging herself to his feet, Liang Xiaoluo gripped his leg tightly, her voice breaking as she begged, "Your target is me. Why must you involve her? Do whatever you want to me—just let her go…"
Ye Tianlin finally moved, grabbing her chin and lifting her face to meet his gaze. "Liang Xiaoluo," he said softly, his voice low and dangerous, "don't think too highly of yourself."
His tone sent chills through her. He leaned closer, his lips brushing against her ear. "Kiss me," he ordered.
Liang Xiaoluo froze in place. "What… What did you say?"
"Kiss me," Ye Tianlin repeated, his voice as calm as ever, but his gaze sharp enough to cut through her.
Liang Xiaoluo's hands clenched tightly. She bit her lip hard, drawing blood, but the crack of the whip on the television brought her back to reality. She couldn't hesitate any longer.
Closing her eyes, she leaned forward and pressed her lips lightly against his. It was a brief, fleeting touch—barely more than a brush.
Ye Tianlin pulled back, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Is that all you've got? Was that even a kiss? Or was it because I'm not Nan Shaojie?"
The name Nan Shaojie hit her like a slap to the face. Liang Xiaoluo's body stiffened, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Ye Tianlin tilted his head, his expression almost playful. "I'm losing my patience."
Trembling, Liang Xiaoluo stepped closer again. This time, she kissed him deeply, her lips lingering on his with a mix of humiliation and desperation. She fought back the tears threatening to spill over as she forced herself to continue.
But just as she thought she had done enough, Ye Tianlin pushed her away. She stumbled back, her legs weak beneath her.
"That's enough," he said simply, his tone calm, as though nothing had happened.
The Night's Quiet
After leaving Liang Xiaoluo to rest, Ye Tianlin returned in the dead of night. He stood by her bedside, his gaze softening as he watched her sleep.
"Why do you have to be so stubborn?" he murmured, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
His expression was unreadable, his emotions hidden beneath layers of complexity. He knew he couldn't stop himself from wanting her—yet he couldn't understand why she had become so deeply embedded in his heart.
As the moonlight filtered into the room, Ye Tianlin leaned closer, whispering so softly that even the air seemed not to carry his words. "How can I make you mine, completely?"
Her peaceful, tear-streaked face was his only answer.
With a long sigh, he turned and left the room, leaving behind only the faint scent of his cologne and a lingering tension in the air.