Chapter 40: Farewell, Without Regret
In the dead of night, as always, Left Wheel entered Liang Xiaoluo's room quietly. Following Ye Tianlin's instructions, he waved a small bottle containing a faint, intoxicating mist under her nose. Tonight, however, he reduced the dosage. Once Liang Xiaoluo fell into a light, drowsy state, he pocketed the bottle and carefully carried her to Ye Tianlin's room.
"Master," Left Wheel whispered from outside the door, feeling the all-too-familiar tension of these nightly excursions.
Ye Tianlin opened the door, his face unreadable. He took Liang Xiaoluo from Left Wheel's arms, noting her half-conscious state. A satisfied smirk crossed his lips as he shut the door.
Inside, Liang Xiaoluo stirred, faintly aware of the shift in her surroundings. The surface beneath her felt softer than her usual bed, yet her body felt unnaturally warm.
"So hot…" she murmured in a half-dream state.
Ye Tianlin, having added a touch of aphrodisiac to the mist, noted her reaction with satisfaction. Shrugging off his collar, he leaned closer, his deep, husky voice whispering near her ear, "Liang Xiaoluo, you've come back to life for me."
Gently, he traced her jawline with his hand, his grip tightening as he thought of her earlier attempt to escape. "And yet, you still try to leave me…"
"Ah!" Even in her drowsy state, the sharpness of his grip elicited a small cry.
Before she could say more, Ye Tianlin silenced her with a kiss, claiming her lips. His icy touch seemed to soothe her feverish body, and her hand instinctively clung to his.
"That's better…" he murmured, a triumphant smirk curling his lips.
In her hazy dreams, Liang Xiaoluo felt as though she was being consumed by a strange fire. The sensations were too vivid, too real. In her semi-conscious state, she couldn't discern whether this was a nightmare or a cruel reality.
"No… stop…" she whimpered, her voice trembling with fear and confusion.
Her protest only fueled Ye Tianlin's dominance, his actions growing more deliberate and possessive. The night stretched long, filled with a tangled mix of anguish and longing.
By dawn, Left Wheel stood nervously outside the door, knocking softly. "Master… the sun is rising."
Typically, Ye Tianlin would ensure Liang Xiaoluo was returned to her room well before dawn, but today there was no sign of activity. Left Wheel's anxiety mounted—if Liang Xiaoluo woke up here, everything would unravel.
Inside, Ye Tianlin glanced at the gray light seeping through the curtains, a pang of reluctance stabbing his heart. Did he really have to send her back again?
After a long pause, he dressed Liang Xiaoluo and carried her to the door. Opening it, he handed her to Left Wheel, his expression unreadable. "Take her back. Tomorrow night, bring her again."
"Yes, Master." Left Wheel carried out the order, his unease growing as he returned Liang Xiaoluo to her room in silence.
As Left Wheel exited the room, the faint sound of the door closing stirred Liang Xiaoluo from her slumber. Her heavy eyelids fluttered open, and she caught a glimpse of a retreating figure. She blinked, trying to focus, but the person was gone.
Sitting up slowly, she felt an acute soreness spread through her body, far more intense than what could be attributed to her daily chores. She touched her lips and winced—a sharp pain stung her, as though they'd been bruised.
Confused, Liang Xiaoluo stumbled to the mirror. Her reflection revealed a small tear at the corner of her mouth, the skin raw and tender.
"When… did this happen?" she whispered, panic bubbling within her.
Faint memories of the previous nights surfaced in her mind—fragments of sensations that didn't feel like dreams.
"No…" she gasped, the realization hitting her like a cold wave. She stepped back from the mirror, covering her mouth with trembling hands. Could it be…?
Her heart raced as the pieces of the puzzle began falling into place. Each morning's soreness, the strange dreams, and now the bruised lips—it all felt too real to be mere coincidence.
Suddenly, her foot bumped against something on the floor. Looking down, she saw a small glass vial. Picking it up, she sniffed the faint residue inside, and her eyes widened in recognition.
The scent was all too familiar. She had smelled it before—always right before she fell into an unnaturally deep sleep.
Her thoughts spiraled as she clutched the vial tightly. "What… what is this?" she whispered.
A knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts. "Hey, Liang Xiaoluo! How lazy can you get? Always making me wake you up!"
The maid barged in, her voice dripping with contempt. Liang Xiaoluo hastily shoved the vial into her pocket, feigning composure.
"I'm up. I was just about to head out," she said calmly, her face betraying no emotion.
The maid huffed, glaring at her. "Pathetic," she muttered before storming off.
Left alone, Liang Xiaoluo took a deep breath, her mind racing. If her suspicions were true, then the life she had endured here was far darker than she ever imagined. Her fists clenched at the thought of what Ye Tianlin might have done to her.
As she left the room to begin her day, her resolve hardened. I will escape this place, she vowed silently. No matter what it takes.