Chapter 83: True Feelings, A Confession
The tension in the Ye mansion thickened like an impenetrable fog. Each member harbored secrets, and each relationship grew increasingly entangled. In this environment of manipulation and mistrust, true feelings struggled to find their place.
A Night of Restlessness
Ye Tianlin sat silently by Liang Xiaoluo's side, his hand gently holding hers. Despite her exhaustion, her face twisted occasionally, as if plagued by troubled dreams. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his heart heavy with guilt and affection he could no longer deny.
"Xiaoluo," he murmured softly, his voice trembling, "what can I do to protect you?"
Liang Xiaoluo stirred slightly but did not wake. She remained unaware of the storm brewing within him—the battle between his duty to his family and his growing feelings for her.
The Dinner Table Divide
Downstairs, dinner was a tense affair. The Ye family patriarch sat at the head of the table, his sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered members.
"Where's Xiaoluo?" Ye Lao asked, his voice gruff with concern.
"She's resting," Ye Tianlin answered quickly as he entered the dining room. "She's been through a lot today."
The room fell silent. Even Gu Lingzi, who thrived on chaos, refrained from her usual barbs. Her eyes, however, glinted with mischief as they landed on Ye Tianlin.
"Of course," Gu Lingzi finally said, breaking the silence. Her voice dripped with mock sweetness. "Poor Xiaoluo must be exhausted from all the attention she's been getting."
Ye Tianlin shot her a warning glance, but she merely smirked, unbothered.
Gu Lingzi's Web of Intrigue
After dinner, Gu Lingzi retreated to her room, where she found herself cornered by Hua Lin. The older woman's expression was calm but carried an edge of steel.
"Lingzi," Hua Lin began, her voice deceptively gentle, "I think it's time you stop playing your games. This family doesn't need your chaos."
Gu Lingzi laughed, a sound that was both amused and sharp. "Games? Oh, Auntie Hua, you think too highly of me."
Hua Lin's eyes narrowed. "Don't underestimate me, Lingzi. I know what you're trying to do. Stay away from Tianlin. Stay away from Xiaoluo."
Gu Lingzi leaned in close, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "And if I don't? What will you do? Because I assure you, dear aunt, you don't have the leverage you think you do."
Hua Lin's composure cracked ever so slightly, but she quickly recovered, leaving with a quiet warning. "You'll regret this."
The Confession
Later that night, Ye Tianlin returned to Liang Xiaoluo's room, a bowl of soup in hand. He placed it on the bedside table and sat down, watching her as she slowly woke.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked, his voice soft but filled with concern.
Liang Xiaoluo blinked up at him, her eyes clouded with confusion and lingering pain. "Why are you here?"
"Because I care," he said simply. He took a deep breath, as though steeling himself, and added, "Xiaoluo, I... I need to tell you something."
She looked at him warily but said nothing, allowing him to continue.
"I know I've failed to protect you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I've stood by while others have hurt you, and for that, I'm sorry. But I promise you, from now on, I won't let anyone harm you—not Gu Lingzi, not anyone."
Liang Xiaoluo's eyes softened slightly, but she remained guarded. "Why? Why do you care so much?"
Ye Tianlin hesitated. Then, as if a dam had broken, the words spilled out. "Because I love you, Xiaoluo. I've loved you for longer than I care to admit. And I know I don't deserve you, but I can't keep this inside anymore."
The room fell silent, the weight of his confession hanging in the air. Liang Xiaoluo stared at him, her expression unreadable.
"Tianlin," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll let me protect you," he pleaded. "Say you'll let me make up for all the times I've let you down."
She looked away, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Could she trust him? Could she allow herself to lean on someone else after everything she'd endured?
"I need time," she said finally. "I can't give you an answer right now."
Ye Tianlin nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and sorrow. "Take all the time you need. I'll be here, no matter what."
A Storm on the Horizon
As Ye Tianlin left the room, his heart lighter despite the uncertainty of Liang Xiaoluo's response, Gu Lingzi watched from the shadows, her eyes narrowing.
"Love, is it?" she muttered to herself. "How quaint. Let's see how long that lasts."
In her mind, plans began to form. Plans that would ensure no one stood in the way of her ambitions—not Liang Xiaoluo, not Hua Lin, and certainly not Ye Tianlin.
The Ye mansion, already a house of secrets, was about to become a battleground. And in the midst of it all, Liang Xiaoluo would have to find the strength to fight for her own happiness—whatever that might mean.