Chapter 113: Death on the Edge
"Regret? Ha! Ye Tianlin doesn't know the meaning of those words." He cast a disdainful glance at Gu Lingzi.
Gu Lingzi trembled with rage. This was the greatest humiliation of her life. She liked Ye Tianlin—so much that she was willing to endure insult after insult, discarding her self-respect just to be with him.
But her love was nothing more than a trivial nuisance to him.
"Get out!" Ye Tianlin issued the ultimatum once again.
Gu Lingzi clenched her fists tightly, her heart consumed with hatred. Ye Tianlin, you forced my hand. Don't blame me if I drag your Ye family's reputation through the mud. Let's see if you come crawling back to me then.
Her face hardened as she turned and stormed out.
Watching her retreat, Ye Tianlin called out to Butler Lin. "From now on, don't let her set foot in the Ye family home again. If she shows up, you're out."
"Yes, sir," Butler Lin said nervously. He couldn't afford to lose his job over someone like Gu Lingzi.
In the living room, the atmosphere was split—Ye Lao radiated a strained joy, while Liang Xiaoluo exuded discomfort and unease.
Liang Xiaoluo kept her head lowered, debating whether she should leave. Just as she made up her mind, Ye Tianlin grabbed her hand again.
Startled, she looked up to find him standing in front of her. He had returned.
"Grandpa, we're going upstairs," Ye Tianlin said dismissively, pulling Liang Xiaoluo along before anyone could react.
Behind them, Ye Lao shouted, "Tianlin! What happened to Lingzi? Tianlin!"
But Ye Tianlin ignored him completely, leading Liang Xiaoluo up to his room.
Inside the room, Liang Xiaoluo stood awkwardly. Ye Tianlin took off his jacket, stretched, and sighed deeply. "Finally home. I thought I'd suffocate in that hospital."
"You…" Liang Xiaoluo began, trying to gather her thoughts.
He had left with Gu Lingzi. Why was he back?
Ye Tianlin pouted. "Liang Xiaoluo, don't think I've forgiven you. I'm still mad and don't want to talk to you."
He hadn't forgotten the way Shiloh had whispered to her, and how she had blushed.
Liang Xiaoluo blinked, realizing belatedly that Ye Tianlin was still hung up on that. It took her a moment to process his petty sulk, and she couldn't help but chuckle.
What a small-minded man.
She stepped forward and hugged him from behind, pressing her cheek to his back. "You left with Gu Lingzi. Why did you come back?"
"Who said I wasn't coming back? I couldn't stand that woman's shamelessness. She kept clinging to me, so I went out to kick her out myself," Ye Tianlin replied righteously.
"You kicked her out?" Liang Xiaoluo asked, astonished.
"Of course. The Ye family doesn't feed freeloaders," he said nonchalantly.
"But what about the company?" Liang Xiaoluo hesitated, recalling Ye Lao's earlier words about needing Gu Lingzi for the family business.
Ye Tianlin paused, narrowing his eyes. "What did Grandpa tell you?"
Realizing her slip, Liang Xiaoluo quickly backtracked. "N-nothing. I'm going to my room."
But before she could leave, Ye Tianlin caught her and pulled her into a tight embrace. His breath tickled her collarbone as he smirked mischievously. "You're already my woman. What room? From now on, we're sharing one."
"I-I don't want to!" Liang Xiaoluo stammered, her face burning.
"You don't? Fine, then tell me why you left. Was it because of something Grandpa said?" Ye Tianlin pressed.
"No! I left because I was upset. That's all!" Liang Xiaoluo insisted, stubbornly guarding her secret.
"Oh?" His eyes gleamed like a wolf's as he closed in on her. "Alright, forget about leaving. Let's stay here, and I'll help you shower."
"Ye Tianlin! Put me down!" she shrieked as he scooped her up and carried her toward the bathroom.
Ye Tianlin ignored her protests, locked the bathroom door, and grinned devilishly. "Now, tell me—what did Shiloh say to you that day?"
Seeing how persistent he was, Liang Xiaoluo sighed in defeat. "Fine, I'll tell you… if you tell me what you and Gu Lingzi did that night."
Ye Tianlin froze, then his lips curled into a knowing smile. "Oh, so you were jealous."
Liang Xiaoluo's face turned crimson as she stammered, "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"Really? Don't you want to know what happened between me and Gu Lingzi?" He leaned closer, his voice a teasing whisper.
Her heart raced. She knew she shouldn't care, but the thought of what might have happened gnawed at her.
"I don't care! I don't want to know!" she said, covering her ears.
But Ye Tianlin wasn't about to let her off the hook. "Too late. You deserve to know the truth. That night—"
Liang Xiaoluo squeezed her eyes shut, her mind racing with all the worst possibilities.
When she dared to peek, she saw him smirking like a mischievous boy who had caught her in a lie.
"W-why are you looking at me like that?" she asked nervously.
"Admit it—you think I did something with Gu Lingzi that night," he teased, his grin widening.
"I don't!" she said, turning away, her heart pounding.
Ye Tianlin held her firmly. "For the record, Liang Xiaoluo, I've only ever done those things with you. No one else."
Her face turned scarlet. "You… you're impossible!"
Pulling her into his arms, he rested his chin on her head and sighed deeply. "Relax. Nothing happened with Gu Lingzi that night."
"You're lying! I saw—" she began but stopped herself too late.
"Fool," he chuckled. "I only acted that way to make you jealous. I wanted you to care."
"You wanted to make me jealous?" she echoed, bewildered.
"Of course. You kept talking about your precious Shaojie. Do you know how annoying that was?"
"What about Grandpa saying you'd marry Gu Lingzi?" she asked hesitantly.
Ye Tianlin snorted. "You really believed that? I'd rather gouge my eyes out than marry her."
Liang Xiaoluo felt tears prick her eyes. "You're such a jerk! Do you know how much I—"
"Shh," he murmured, silencing her with a kiss. His lips claimed hers, stealing away her anger and leaving her breathless.
"Ye Tianlin, you're incorrigible," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Hmm," he murmured against her lips, tightening his embrace. "But you love me anyway."