Chapter 73: A Direct Hit
He had asked himself the same question a thousand times, and now, in this moment, he had found his answer.
He cared about her. When she wasn't in sight, an inexplicable unease crept over him. Seeing her with another man made his blood boil. Watching her be mistreated filled him with the urge to protect her. These emotions could only mean one thing: she was in his heart. Did he… love her?
Did he love Liang Xiaoluo?
Could it really be?
"You two… what are you doing?" Liang Xiaoluo's voice suddenly broke the silence. She had been unable to sleep and had wandered into the middle of Ye Tianlin and Ye Tianqing's conversation, shattering the quiet atmosphere.
Ye Tianqing looked up first, flashing her a warm smile. "Xiaoluo, you're awake. Breakfast is ready. Why don't you and Tianlin come down and eat?"
With that, Ye Tianqing tactfully excused himself, leaving the two of them alone. As he passed, he patted Ye Tianlin on the shoulder and cast Liang Xiaoluo a knowing glance before disappearing down the corridor.
Now, the long hallway was silent, with only the two of them standing there. Neither spoke, and the atmosphere grew unbearably awkward. Liang Xiaoluo forced a laugh, trying to diffuse the tension. "Grandfather is probably waiting. We should go downstairs."
She took a step forward, but Ye Tianlin caught her wrist, pulling her back against the wall. His sharp, captivating eyes locked onto hers, radiating an intensity that made her heart race.
"What are you…" she stammered, her pulse quickening. What was this man planning to do now?
Without waiting for her to finish the thought, he pulled her into his arms. The gesture wasn't new, but this time, it felt different—softer, almost tender.
"Ye Tianlin…" she called his name cautiously.
Something about him felt off today. The domineering sharpness in his eyes was tempered with warmth and… something else she couldn't name.
"Don't speak. Just listen," he said hoarsely, holding her tightly. His deep, gravelly voice sent shivers down her spine.
Liang Xiaoluo obediently fell silent, though her heart pounded so loudly she thought he might hear it.
Ye Tianlin took a deep breath. "Do you remember the first time we met? You had just been dumped. You were drinking to numb the pain, but someone spiked your drink. You came to me. That night was our first… and your first. For me, it was the first time I truly felt something, too."
Her cheeks flushed crimson at his words. Her mind raced. Why was he suddenly bringing up the past? Had he gone mad?
"After that night, you ran away," he continued, his eyes locking onto hers. "You're the first woman who ever dared to leave me. And you left me fifty cents, like I was cheap."
Liang Xiaoluo's face turned even redder. "I-I didn't!" she protested, utterly mortified. How could he remember something so petty?
Ye Tianlin silenced her with a finger pressed to her lips. "You have no idea. It was your absurd behavior that intrigued me. It made me want you, made me unable to let go. I didn't want you to love anyone else. I wanted to be the only man in your eyes."
Liang Xiaoluo froze. His expression was so serious, so unlike anything she had ever seen from him. What was he trying to say? She felt a mixture of hope and fear building inside her.
"At first," he admitted, his voice softer now, "I thought my obsession with you was just my pride at work. I've always believed that what I want, I get, no matter what. But…"
"But what, Ye Tianlin?" she interrupted, her emotions swirling. Why was he saying all this? Why was he explaining himself?
She felt a sharp pain in her chest, a familiar ache. Why did his words affect her so much? Why did she suddenly care so much about what he thought?
"I realized…" His voice trembled slightly. "I realized that from the moment we met, you were mine. You were always meant to be mine."
Liang Xiaoluo's eyes widened. She stared at him, unable to process his words.
"Enough," she said, her voice trembling. "Stop saying these things." She pushed him away, tears welling up in her eyes. "I know my place. You don't need to explain so much. Once you've had enough of me, I'll leave quietly. I won't use the child to trap you. You don't need to worry."
"Idiot!" Ye Tianlin snapped, his frustration spilling over. He wasn't good at expressing himself, but he thought he had made his feelings clear.
Before she could react, he grabbed her waist and kissed her fiercely. The kiss was quick but punishing, his way of chastising her for misunderstanding him.
"Ye Tianlin, you—" she began, clutching her lips, which were still tingling from his kiss.
"That's your punishment for twisting my words," he said, his voice low as he gently traced her lips with his finger. "This belongs to me now. No one else."
"What?" she asked, confused.
He pinched her cheek affectionately. "Dummy, don't you get it? I'm going to marry you."
"I know that already. What's your point?" she said, still bewildered.
"The point is…" He grabbed her hand and placed it over his chest. "Can you feel that? I've already fallen for you."
Time seemed to stand still. Liang Xiaoluo stared at him, her mind repeating his words over and over: I've already fallen for you.
"What did you just say?" she whispered. "You… love me?"
The idea was so absurd that she couldn't fully believe it. Was this devil of a man actually confessing to her?
Ye Tianlin sighed. "Liang Xiaoluo, my confessions are rare and priceless. How dare you not listen carefully?"
"You said you love me?" she repeated, her voice shaky. She didn't know whether to feel happy or terrified. She had never imagined this moment—never thought it was even possible.
Her silence made Ye Tianlin's mood darken. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Sorry," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I just… never thought you'd fall for me."
"So what?" he demanded, his frustration building. He had expected joy, not hesitation.
"I thought you'd get tired of me eventually," she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. "That you'd let me go."
"So that's what you think?" His voice was laced with bitterness.
Her lack of response only fueled his growing rage. Was she still thinking about Nan Shaojie?
"Don't tell me you're still in love with Nan Shaojie!" he snapped, his jealousy flaring. "Is that why you don't care about my love?"
Liang Xiaoluo blinked, startled. She wasn't expecting him to bring up Nan Shaojie.
Yes, she had once loved him—deeply. But that love had died the moment she learned about his identity as the young master of the Dragon Empire. They belonged to two different worlds.
She sighed. "Ye Tianlin, I don't have feelings for anyone right now. I just… don't know what I feel for you."
His eyes softened slightly. But deep down, he knew that the answer he sought was something only time could reveal.