Chapter 35: A Killing Intent
In her sleep, Liang Xiaoluo murmured softly, "Brother Shaojie…"
The sound of her dream-talk ignited a firestorm within Ye Tianlin, a volcano teetering on the brink of eruption.
Damn this woman!
His fists clenched involuntarily as he fought to suppress the rage boiling inside him. He cast a long, intense stare at Liang Xiaoluo, his gaze filled with a cold, murderous intent.
Liang Xiaoluo, you're pushing me to the edge…
The next morning, the chirping of birds filled the air, their melodious songs blending with the scent of blooming flowers. Liang Xiaoluo was lost in peaceful slumber, the fatigue from the day before leaving her too exhausted to dream of the chaos awaiting her.
A sharp, commanding voice shattered her tranquility. "Hey! Wake up! The sun's almost burning your back!"
Blinking her sleepy eyes, Liang Xiaoluo gradually focused on the stout woman standing before her, hands on her hips, her expression as fierce as a battle-hardened general.
"Hey, wake up already!" the woman barked again, her patience clearly running thin.
As Liang Xiaoluo's senses returned, she finally registered the stranger. But before she could react, a wave of soreness swept over her body. She let out a low groan, her brows knitting in discomfort.
"Stop pretending and get up already!" the woman snapped with a look of disdain.
Confused and disoriented, Liang Xiaoluo vaguely recalled the events of the previous night—her fever, the ice pack Ye Tianlin had gently placed on her forehead, the medicine he'd given her, and then the blissful escape of sleep.
But this morning, the remnants of the fever left her body aching all over. The side effects of the medication were more potent than she had anticipated.
Suppressing her discomfort, Liang Xiaoluo slowly got out of bed, only to realize she was no longer in Ye Tianlin's luxurious bedroom. Instead, she was in a dilapidated, sparsely furnished room that bore no resemblance to where she had fallen asleep.
"What… what's going on?" she muttered.
"Stop dawdling. Put these on and follow me!" The stout woman threw a tattered maid's uniform at her with a scowl.
"Uh… okay," Liang Xiaoluo mumbled, still puzzled.
She hesitated but quickly changed into the shabby outfit, her cheeks flushing as she recalled the events of the previous night. Once dressed, she was unceremoniously yanked out of the room by the woman's powerful grip.
"Where are you taking me?" Liang Xiaoluo asked, wincing from the woman's iron grasp.
"Shut up and follow me," the woman growled, not bothering to explain. She treated Liang Xiaoluo as though she were an object, dragging her through long, unfamiliar hallways.
As they walked, Liang Xiaoluo noticed several maids casting her mocking glances, their eyes filled with derision, as though she were some amusing spectacle.
Something wasn't right.
She couldn't see Su Xin anywhere among the staff. Her heart clenched as she remembered the horrific beating her friend had endured the night before. The thought made her shiver.
"I just want to know—" she began hesitantly.
"Shut your mouth!" the woman barked, her voice laced with irritation.
Liang Xiaoluo bit her lip and remained silent, resigned to following the woman.
Eventually, they arrived at a sprawling backyard garden. The lush, verdant space was filled with exquisite, exotic plants, radiating an almost ethereal beauty. It was unlike anything she had ever seen, not even in her family's estate before bankruptcy.
But her awe was short-lived. The stout woman shoved her forward roughly, nearly causing her to trip. "One hour," the woman barked, throwing a pair of rusty shears at her feet. "Clean up this entire garden. If it's not done when I return, you'll regret it."
Liang Xiaoluo stared at the massive garden, then at the woman's menacing expression. There was no way she could finish such an enormous task in an hour. This wasn't an order—it was punishment.
Her lips curled into a bitter smile. So, this is Ye Tianlin's doing. One moment he was gentle and considerate; the next, he revealed his true, demonic nature.
She crouched, picked up the shears, and began working in the scorching sun. Her body ached, and every movement sent jolts of pain through her, but she refused to cry or complain. If I survived last night, I can endure this too.
An hour passed.
When the stout woman returned, she was furious to find the garden only partially trimmed. "You lazy wretch!" she bellowed, storming toward Liang Xiaoluo. "Did you really think you could slack off just because the young master favors you? Let me tell you—you'll never be anything more than a lowly maid!"
Before Liang Xiaoluo could respond, the woman grabbed her hair and yanked hard. Pain seared across her scalp, but she gritted her teeth and refused to cry out.
When she didn't react, the woman's rage intensified. She raised her hand and slapped Liang Xiaoluo across the face, sending her sprawling to the ground. Blood trickled from her scraped elbow, but she still didn't make a sound.
"You think you're better than me?" the woman sneered, raising her hand again.
"Stop right there," a smooth male voice rang out.
The woman froze. Her angry scowl morphed into an awkward smile as she turned toward the voice. "Doctor Zhiye…" she murmured shyly, her demeanor instantly changing.
Zhiye was renowned for his charm and good looks—second only to Ye Tianlin himself.
"Is this how you treat the young master's guests?" Zhiye asked coolly, his gaze shifting between Liang Xiaoluo and the stout woman.
"I—I was just…" The woman stammered, her bravado completely deflated.
Zhiye ignored her excuses and turned to Liang Xiaoluo. "Miss Liang, how are you feeling today? Did the medicine help?"
Despite her pain, Liang Xiaoluo managed a polite nod. "Thank you for your help last night."
"You're welcome," he replied with a faint smile. "But I didn't expect to find you here. Has the young master… assigned you this task?"
The stout woman quickly interjected, "Yes! Of course! It's the young master's orders."
Zhiye's sharp eyes narrowed. "Oh? Interesting. I wasn't aware the young master condoned such treatment."
The woman's face turned pale as Zhiye added, "You know, he despises people who misuse his name for personal vendettas."
Satisfied with her panicked reaction, Zhiye walked away, leaving the woman trembling.
Liang Xiaoluo watched him go, her emotions conflicted. She still had to endure whatever came next.
No matter how much it hurt, she couldn't give up—not while her father still needed her.