Chapter 105: Waiting to Devour You
This was just too audacious.
Silo sighed, knowing Ye Tianlin too well. Once Ye Tianlin set his mind to something, no one could stop him.
Still, this was the first time Silo had seen Ye Tianlin act so humbly. It seemed Ye Tianlin genuinely loved Liang Xiaoluo, but he simply didn't know how to express it.
With another sigh, Silo decided to turn a blind eye and let things play out.
Meanwhile, Ye Tianlin spent the night in Liang Xiaoluo's room, silently guarding her in the darkness.
By the time she woke in the morning, Ye Tianlin was gone. She assumed he was sulking, but when she entered the kitchen, she saw him busily preparing breakfast. When he noticed her, he gave her a gentle smile. "Xiaoluo, you're awake. Breakfast will be ready soon."
Liang Xiaoluo was dumbfounded. She glanced at Silo, who had also just woken up, but his confused expression mirrored her own.
A sudden idea flashed through her mind. She grabbed Silo's arm and said, "Silo, let's go out for breakfast. We can have dinner out and take a walk too, okay?"
Silo, understanding her intent, hesitated briefly before nodding. "Alright, let's go."
Right in front of Ye Tianlin, Liang Xiaoluo playfully led Silo out the door.
Ye Tianlin watched them leave, his anger flaring up inside him. But he quickly suppressed it, forcing a smile. "Xiaoluo, take care out there." Then, with a cold tone directed at Silo, he added, "Make sure you take good care of her. If anything happens to her, I won't let you off."
Despite his seething rage, Ye Tianlin didn't lash out. He reminded himself of his promise to Liang Xiaoluo.
Liang Xiaoluo clung to Silo's arm as they walked away, her heart pounding. Based on her understanding of Ye Tianlin, he would usually explode in fury or even resort to violence.
But as they left Silo's villa and ventured further away, Ye Tianlin did nothing to stop them. Surprised, she finally let go of Silo's arm and muttered, "I'm sorry… and thank you for helping me."
"Huh? Xiaoluo, what are you talking about? I only agreed because I'm hungry too," Silo replied casually, not wanting her to feel awkward.
After all, he knew she was only using him to provoke Ye Tianlin. But deep down, he appreciated her company. Perhaps this would be the last day they spent together, and they might never meet again.
Liang Xiaoluo paused, then nodded. "Alright, let's find something to eat."
"Are you really going out, sir?" Ryan asked cautiously.
"Of course. You're not coming with us," Silo said with a hint of irritation.
Ryan frowned, wanting to protest, but Silo glared at him. "If you insist on tagging along, don't blame me for ditching you."
Ryan, understanding Silo's warning, fell silent and lowered his head.
Liang Xiaoluo watched their interaction, puzzled. She couldn't make sense of their cryptic exchange, but she sensed there was more to their relationship than met the eye.
"Let's go," Silo said, pulling Liang Xiaoluo along.
They walked down a quiet path, with no other people in sight. Liang Xiaoluo frowned and asked, "Are there any restaurants here?"
Her goal had been to escape Ye Tianlin and irritate him, but his lack of reaction had thrown her off.
"We're almost there," Silo replied.
To Silo, Liang Xiaoluo's presence was a rare comfort. After years of isolation, meeting her was like a balm to his lonely heart.
If only he could have someone by his side forever.
But his status as an exiled prince made such companionship impossible. He believed himself to be a bringer of misfortune, incapable of providing anyone with happiness.
Liang Xiaoluo didn't press further and followed him quietly. For reasons she couldn't explain, she felt a natural trust toward Silo, as if it were instinctual.
After a long walk, they arrived at a rustic wooden house surrounded by a small, charming farm.
"This is the place," Silo said.
The house belonged to a farmer who ran a small restaurant. It was a hidden gem, known only to regulars.
Silo often came here, drawn by the homely dishes the owner prepared. On those visits, Ryan always accompanied him, tasting every dish first to ensure it was safe.
Silo didn't like this arrangement, nor the restrictions on how much he could eat.
"Madam, the usual," Silo said warmly to the owner.
The farmer's wife smiled at him. "Alright." She glanced at Liang Xiaoluo, her smile deepening. "Oh, you brought a girl this time. That's rare."
Silo chuckled but said nothing, leading Liang Xiaoluo to his favorite spot in the courtyard. The view was serene, overlooking a picturesque landscape.
"Do you come here often?" Liang Xiaoluo asked, noticing how familiar Silo seemed with the place.
"Only with Ryan," he replied, his tone tinged with melancholy.
Liang Xiaoluo sensed an undercurrent of sadness in him—a loneliness he couldn't hide.
What had happened to him? Why did someone so young seem so burdened?
"Your food is ready," the owner said, bringing the last dish to the table.
"Thank you," Silo said politely.
The owner's smile lingered as she glanced at Silo and Liang Xiaoluo. But her eyes, once kind, briefly flashed with malice before returning to their usual warmth.
Silo caught the change in her expression. He froze for a moment, his pupils contracting. But when he looked again, her face was as gentle as ever.
"Enjoy your meal," she said, her voice steady as she retreated.
Liang Xiaoluo didn't notice anything unusual. Her growling stomach distracted her as she reached for her chopsticks.
But Silo grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"Don't eat," Silo said in a low voice.
"Why?" Liang Xiaoluo stared at him, baffled.
"Trust me," he said firmly.
Though perplexed, she obeyed. Silo instructed her to pretend to eat and then fake collapsing onto the table as if she'd been drugged.
Liang Xiaoluo felt ridiculous but followed his lead. Though her acting was terrible, she slumped forward, feigning unconsciousness.
"Xiaoluo! Xiaoluo!" Silo cried out, his performance flawless. He shook her body and shouted, "What's wrong?!"
His loud cries soon drew out the owner and several men. Seeing them, Silo whipped around and growled, "It's you!"
The owner's kind facade vanished. "Prince Silo, we've waited far too long for this moment."
She had been lying in wait for nearly a year, hoping for an opportunity to assassinate him. But Ryan's constant presence had made it impossible. She knew Ryan's reputation as a deadly former special forces soldier who never went anywhere unarmed.
Now, finally, Silo was alone.
Silo's eyes darkened. Ryan had been right—there was no one in this world he could trust.
"Who sent you?" Silo asked, his voice cold.
Though he already had an answer in mind, he couldn't help but hope he was wrong.