Chapter 66: Care
Dragging her heavy steps, Liang Xiaoluo reached the second floor. As she walked along the long corridor, heading toward her room, she noticed something unusual. Near the door to Ye Tianlin's room, she could vaguely make out a shadow.
The figure seemed to be peering through a narrow crack in the door, as if spying on something inside.
What is she looking at? Liang Xiaoluo's curiosity piqued as she cautiously moved closer. Step by step, she approached, and just as she was about to clearly see who it was, the person suddenly turned their head. Startled, Liang Xiaoluo instinctively ducked behind a large vase, her heart pounding wildly.
Why is it her…?
After leaving Liang Xiaoluo's room, Ye Tianlin dragged Gu Lingzi toward his own. Something she had said earlier—"When we were children…"—had unsettled him deeply.
Gu Lingzi was enjoying the moment. Being pulled along by Ye Tianlin felt like a fairy tale, as though her prince was taking her on a romantic escape.
For the first time in her life, she felt cared for.
"Brother Tianlin, there's no need to rush. We have all the time in the world to talk," she said softly, clinging shyly to his arm.
Her touch sent a jolt of irritation through him. Ye Tianlin yanked his arm away with visible disgust, glaring at her. "Who are you really?" he demanded.
Gu Lingzi's name was vaguely familiar to him, but this woman before him sparked no recognition. In his memory, the young Gu Lingzi had been ordinary, timid, and overshadowed—known only for her wealthy father.
Gu Lingzi smiled sweetly and sat on Ye Tianlin's bed, her eyes brimming with allure. "Brother Tianlin, you wound me with such words," she said with feigned sorrow.
Her pitiful expression might have moved others, but not Ye Tianlin. His fists clenched at his sides. If she weren't a woman, he would have punched her already.
When he didn't respond, Gu Lingzi stood and wrapped herself around him like glue. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, "Brother Tianlin, it's me, Gu Lingzi—the same one. I've just grown more beautiful."
Ye Tianlin turned slightly, meeting her gaze. Her eyes reflected a fierce hunger for beauty and perfection. Suddenly, he understood. Medical science had advanced significantly. Plastic surgery could transform anyone's appearance.
Gu Lingzi had abandoned her plain looks and chosen beauty instead.
"When I was little, people mocked me behind my back while pretending to be friendly because of my family's wealth," she began, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Only you… only you played with me sincerely. But as I grew older and prettier, the jealousy grew. Now, everyone envies me, and I love it. I love being admired, adored…"
She didn't care that Ye Tianlin now knew her secret. After all, her current beauty was undeniable, and suitors lined up for miles. Yet, despite all the attention, her heart yearned for only one man—the perfect, untouchable Ye Tianlin.
"You're crazy," Ye Tianlin muttered, his patience wearing thin. He didn't want anything to do with this woman anymore.
As he turned to leave, Gu Lingzi swiftly moved behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She buried her face against his back, inhaling his scent through the fabric of his shirt.
"You won't even let me finish?" she asked softly.
"Gu Lingzi, do you know what happens when you cross my line? You won't even know how you died," Ye Tianlin warned coldly.
But Gu Lingzi, seemingly fearless, held him tighter. "Cross your line? Is this your line? Then what about that stepmother of yours?"
Her words struck a nerve. A wave of fury and shame surged through Ye Tianlin, but he suppressed it. So, she still remembers…
It had been years ago when Gu Lingzi had stayed at his house briefly. One day, she had innocently walked in on him and Hua Lin in a compromising position. At the time, she had asked, "Brother Tianlin, what game are you and Auntie playing? Can I join? Will you teach me?"
Her childish question had haunted him for years, a dark memory he wished to forget. But now, standing before Gu Lingzi, it all came rushing back.
Gu Lingzi moved to face him, her hands caressing his chiseled face. "Such a perfect man," she murmured, "ruined by that woman…"
Rage flared in Ye Tianlin's eyes. For a moment, he wanted to kill her.
Sensing his murderous intent, Gu Lingzi remained unfazed. "Angry? Thinking about killing me?" she teased with a sly smile. "Don't bother. If anything happens to me, your secret will become public knowledge."
"Are you threatening me?" His voice was as cold as death.
"No," she replied, leaning in closer. "I'm saving you."
Ye Tianlin frowned, his mind racing.
"Brother Tianlin, don't you see? We're meant to be together," Gu Lingzi continued, her tone seductive. "No one else in this world will accept your past the way I do…"
As she leaned in to kiss him, Ye Tianlin's icy words stopped her in her tracks. "Gu Lingzi, I suggest you learn your place."
She froze, her confidence momentarily shaken. Without hesitation, Ye Tianlin pushed her away, his actions devoid of any gentleness.
"My past is none of your concern," he said curtly. "Take care of your own affairs."
He turned to leave, but her desperate cry stopped him. "Does she know?"
The question froze him mid-step.
Gu Lingzi smiled knowingly. "Aren't you afraid she'll find out? And you still plan to marry her?"
Her words struck a chord. For reasons he couldn't explain, the idea of Liang Xiaoluo learning about his past unsettled him. But why? Liang Xiaoluo was nothing more than a pawn in his game.
Even as he denied it, the truth gnawed at him.
Meanwhile, Hua Lin stood outside the door. What had begun as mere curiosity had turned into something far more shocking. She had stumbled upon Ye Tianlin and Gu Lingzi in a compromising position.
This was the second time she had seen him with another woman—first Liang Xiaoluo, now Gu Lingzi. Worse, Gu Lingzi knew all their secrets.
Her entire body trembled with rage, but she held her breath, refusing to let her emotions expose her presence. Slowly, she retreated into the shadows.