Chapter 112: Intent to Kill
"What backup? Shiloh, how dare you joke like that…"
"Shiloh! Stop right there! Don't leave! What did you say to my woman? I'll kill you!" Ye Tianlin struggled to get out of bed, his face red with anger.
That damned Shiloh! Did he think Ye Tianlin was dead? How dare he flirt with his woman right in front of him! Did he have a death wish?
Damn it!
Ye Tianlin was seething with frustration.
"Stop moving! You still have injuries!" Liang Xiaoluo rushed over to stop him, trying to push him back onto the bed.
Was this man incapable of taking care of himself? Why did he always insist on aggravating his condition?
Ye Tianlin suddenly glared at her. "What did he say to you just now?"
"N-Nothing!" Liang Xiaoluo stammered.
There was no way she could admit that Shiloh had jokingly told her to seek him out if things didn't work out with Ye Tianlin.
She was sure that if she mentioned something like that, Ye Tianlin would absolutely lose it. He was like a tyrant—you couldn't predict his temper with any kind of normal reasoning.
"Nothing? Then why are you acting so flustered?" Ye Tianlin pressed on.
"I'm not!" Liang Xiaoluo gathered her courage to refute him.
"Not? Then why is your face red?" Ye Tianlin's frustration grew. This woman was here just to annoy him!
"It's not!" Liang Xiaoluo felt utterly defeated by him. "Alright, lie down and rest properly. You'll be discharged in a few days."
She changed the subject, unwilling to keep arguing with him.
"Liang Xiaoluo!" Ye Tianlin snapped her full name in anger.
What on earth had Shiloh said to her? Why had her face turned red like that?
Liang Xiaoluo ignored him. She knew Ye Tianlin too well—if she didn't react, he'd calm down eventually.
Ye Tianlin, seeing that she was truly ignoring him, huffed in irritation and pulled the blanket over his head, sulking silently.
The two had already been cold to each other, and Shiloh's appearance only made things worse.
For several days, they didn't speak to each other.
Finally, the Ye family came to take Ye Tianlin home. Ye Lao insisted that Liang Xiaoluo not return with them, but Ye Tianlin, still sulking, held onto her hand and declared, "If she doesn't come, neither will I!"
Ye Lao was at a loss.
"Fine, fine, whatever you want. Happy now?"
And so, Liang Xiaoluo returned to the Ye household. Everything seemed to return to normal.
However, as soon as they stepped into the villa and entered the living room, someone ran toward Ye Tianlin and grabbed his arm.
"Lin-gege, you're finally back! I was so worried about you!" Gu Lingzi's syrupy voice rang out, clinging to him shamelessly as always, oblivious to the situation.
"Lin-gege, are you feeling better? If there's anything you need, just let me know. I'll take care of you!" She acted as though she were already his wife.
Liang Xiaoluo froze. Although she and Ye Tianlin had reconciled, seeing Gu Lingzi cling to him like this still made her uncomfortable.
Ye Tianlin also froze. He had all but forgotten about Gu Lingzi over the past few days. Who would have thought she'd still be shamelessly hanging around the Ye household?
He shook off her hand coldly, casting her a withering glare. "Why are you still here?"
Gu Lingzi's eyes widened in shock. His question was like a slap in the face.
"Lin-gege, what are you saying? Where else would I be? We're getting married soon!" she said pitifully, her voice trembling with indignation.
"Married?" Ye Tianlin's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Married?" Liang Xiaoluo echoed, her voice trembling as well.
She turned her wide eyes to Ye Tianlin, disbelief etched across her face. She didn't want to doubt him, but the evidence was right in front of her.
Looking around at the Ye family members, it was clear that they all knew about this arrangement. She felt like a fool, completely in the dark.
Ye Tianlin, are you playing me for a fool again?
"I think I should leave," Liang Xiaoluo said quickly, realizing her place in all of this.
She turned to go, feeling like an outsider who didn't belong.
But Ye Tianlin grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace. "Silly woman, your man is here. Where are you planning to go?"
"You—" Liang Xiaoluo's mind was spinning, unable to process what had just happened.
Ignoring her bewilderment, Ye Tianlin turned his cold gaze to Gu Lingzi and said with icy disdain, "Gu Lingzi, I don't care why you're still here or what anyone told you, but let me make one thing clear: I, Ye Tianlin, will never marry you. Give up on that idea."
"Lin-gege…" Gu Lingzi's eyes brimmed with tears, her voice trembling with emotion.
She thought back to her parents' recent discussions with Ye Lao. The wedding was already planned for next month. Their union was practically a done deal, cemented by her parents' threats to the Ye family.
How could Lin-gege say this now?
Gu Lingzi turned to Ye Lao, running to his side like a spoiled child. "Grandpa, how can Lin-gege treat me like this? You have to say something!"
Ye Lao was equally troubled. When he had initially brought up the idea of an alliance with the Gu family to save Ye Corporation, Ye Tianlin hadn't objected. Ye Lao had assumed that was tacit approval.
But now…
"Lingzi, don't worry. Grandpa will handle this," Ye Lao said soothingly, desperate to avoid offending the Gu family while they still needed their help.
Gu Lingzi shot Liang Xiaoluo a triumphant look, as if to say, Even if I don't have his love, I'll still make him mine.
Liang Xiaoluo's heart sank. She had no leverage to fight back against someone like Gu Lingzi.
Ye Tianlin noticed her despair.
Suddenly, he let go of Liang Xiaoluo's hand and walked toward Gu Lingzi.
His actions shocked everyone. Gu Lingzi's face lit up with smug delight, her head held high like a queen.
But just as she thought she had won, Ye Tianlin grabbed her hand, walked her outside, and said coldly, "Don't let me see you again."
"Lin-gege, what are you saying?" Gu Lingzi asked, feigning ignorance.
"Gu Lingzi, this is your last warning. Stay out of my sight, or I won't care that you're a woman," Ye Tianlin said, his tone as cold as ice.
He turned to head back inside.
Behind him, Gu Lingzi shouted bitterly, "Ye Tianlin, you'll regret this!"