Chapter 56: The Devil's Hand
Liang Xiaoluo was on the verge of exploding.
She had never met a man as shameless as Ye Tianlin. Every nerve in her body screamed to punch him into the next century.
But she swallowed her anger.
All she had to do was endure until he finished eating. Then, she'd finally be free.
But the man, annoyingly, ordered bowl after bowl. Finally, unable to hold back, she snapped, "Are you not full yet?"
Leaning in close to her ear, Ye Tianlin murmured with a teasing smile, "Not yet."
Of course, Ye Tianlin wasn't interested in the food—it was Liang Xiaoluo who fascinated him. This little show he was putting on? It was all for her, a performance crafted to keep her by his side.
After what felt like an eternity, Ye Tianlin finally declared he was full.
"Are you done now? Can we go back?" Liang Xiaoluo urged anxiously.
The crowd gathering around them was growing larger by the second. She couldn't help but worry—was he still around?
"So eager to leave? But I'm not done shopping," Ye Tianlin said, deliberately prolonging her torment.
How could he leave now? The real drama had yet to unfold.
"You've already eaten, and there's nothing interesting here. Let's just go back," Liang Xiaoluo pleaded, her nervousness apparent.
Her desperation only fueled Ye Tianlin's amusement. "What's the rush? The fun hasn't even started yet."
"What do you mean by that?" she asked suspiciously, her gut telling her there was more to his words.
"Nothing. Let's go," he said, wrapping an arm tightly around her waist and pulling her close.
There was something strange about Ye Tianlin today—something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
"Ye Tianlin, what exactly are you trying to do?" Liang Xiaoluo finally blurted out, unable to suppress her frustration.
He feigned an exaggerated pout. "Do you really want to go back so badly?"
"Fine," he said with mock disappointment. "I'll agree to leave—but only if you fulfill one condition."
"What condition?" she asked warily, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"Give me a kiss, and we'll go," he said, his grin mischievous.
She froze.
"What? Are you too shy?" he teased, leaning closer.
"Just one kiss?" she asked cautiously.
"Just one," he affirmed.
After hesitating, she reluctantly nodded.
Ye Tianlin smiled victoriously and bent down, waiting expectantly.
Taking a deep breath, Liang Xiaoluo leaned up on tiptoes and planted a brief, feather-light kiss on his lips.
As she pulled away, however, Ye Tianlin's arm tightened around her waist, preventing her escape.
Before she could protest, he deepened the kiss.
He lied—again.
It was never about just one kiss. This man was simply using every opportunity to take advantage of her.
Ye Tianlin smirked as he intensified the kiss. But just then, a familiar voice, tinged with pain, shattered the moment.
"Xiaoluo…"
The sound of that voice sent a chill down Liang Xiaoluo's spine. Her blood ran cold, and her body stiffened. She knew that voice too well.
It was him.
Standing a mere three steps away, Nan Shaojie stared at the scene before him, his face pale as paper. His usually composed demeanor was now shadowed by heartbreak and disbelief.
Nan Shaojie had been in the area visiting a friend when, from the corner of his eye, he noticed a figure resembling Liang Xiaoluo. Curiosity piqued, he descended to search for her.
From the shopping center to the food street, he scoured every corner, only to find nothing.
He had been about to leave when, by chance, he turned and saw her—Liang Xiaoluo locked in a passionate embrace with another man.
The sight was a dagger to his heart. It was as if a thousand arrows had pierced his chest, leaving him bleeding and gasping for air.
Nan Shaojie stood frozen, struggling to reconcile the Liang Xiaoluo he had known with the woman now entwined with a stranger. For years, she had only had eyes for him, shying away from other men.
Why was this happening? Was it because he had pushed her away too many times? Had he hurt her so deeply that she finally sought comfort elsewhere?
Desperate to stop her from slipping further away, Nan Shaojie took a step forward, his hand reaching out to pull her back.
But Ye Tianlin anticipated his move, tightening his hold on Liang Xiaoluo and pulling her closer.
Ye Tianlin had noticed Nan Shaojie from the start. He knew that Liang Xiaoluo had too—that's why she had been so eager to leave.
Her lingering feelings for Nan Shaojie were obvious. But Ye Tianlin was determined to erase every trace of him from her heart.
Caught between the two men, Liang Xiaoluo's heart raced wildly. Seeing Nan Shaojie standing there, witnessing everything, was a blow she wasn't prepared for.
Her chest heaved as emotions threatened to overwhelm her.
Nan Shaojie's gaze burned with jealousy and determination as he fixed it on Ye Tianlin. "Xiaoluo, come with me."
Liang Xiaoluo didn't move. She was frozen in place, her face ashen.
"And who are you?" Ye Tianlin's voice was icy, his dark eyes narrowing as he glared at Nan Shaojie.
Nan Shaojie squared his shoulders and answered evenly, "I'm her fiancé. Let her go."
Those three words—"her fiancé"—hung heavy in the air.
Ye Tianlin's smirk faltered for a brief moment before his expression darkened. Nan Shaojie had thrown down the gauntlet.
But it wasn't just Ye Tianlin who was stunned. Liang Xiaoluo's mind went blank at those words.
Fiancé?
Nan Shaojie's declaration was like a jolt of electricity, snapping her out of her daze.