Chapter 120: A Tainted Heart
It seemed that everything was fine after all.
Liang Hui's reassurance brought some peace to Ye Tianlin's anxious heart. As long as Liang Xiaoluo was safe and happy, nothing else mattered.
"Dad, Tianlin, come out and have some fruit!" Liang Xiaoluo called out as she and Lin Xue returned with their purchases.
"Coming!"
Ye Tianlin and Liang Hui quickly composed themselves, putting away the photo they'd been discussing, and walked out.
"Dad, what were you two talking about so enthusiastically?" Liang Xiaoluo asked playfully.
Liang Hui froze, unsure how to respond.
Ye Tianlin smoothly replied, "It's a secret between men."
"Hmph, fine, keep your secrets. I don't want to know anyway," she teased, letting it drop.
Suddenly, Ye Tianlin reached out and took her hand. His expression turned unusually serious, making her cheeks flush. "What are you doing?" she stammered.
Holding her gaze, he turned to Liang Hui and said, "Dad, I promise to take good care of Xiaoluo. Will you allow me to marry her?"
It was the first time Ye Tianlin had formally sought approval from someone else. His usual arrogance would never permit such humility, but he wanted to put Liang Xiaoluo at ease.
Liang Hui nodded solemnly. "Take care of her, and if she ever suffers, I won't forgive you."
"Don't worry," Ye Tianlin promised firmly.
Liang Xiaoluo's eyes brimmed with emotion. The sincerity in Ye Tianlin's actions touched her deeply. He was changing—was it all for her?
"All right, it's getting late. You two should head back before your grandfather starts to worry," Liang Hui urged, hiding his tears behind a warm smile.
Reluctantly, Ye Tianlin took Liang Xiaoluo's hand and led her away.
Liang Xiaoluo kept glancing back at her childhood home, her heart heavy. It had been so long since she'd been back.
"Stop looking. We can come every week if you want," Ye Tianlin said, reading her thoughts.
"Really?" Her eyes lit up with excitement.
"That depends on how well you behave tonight," he teased with a wicked grin.
Her face turned crimson. "Ye Tianlin, you're such a scoundrel!"
"Thank you for noticing."
They had been driving for a while when Liang Xiaoluo realized they weren't heading back to the Ye family estate. Instead, they were en route to Ye Tianlin's old villa.
"Where are we going? Aren't we heading home?" she asked, confused.
"We're not going back," he replied.
"Then where are we going?" she pressed.
"To enjoy some time alone together," he said, his voice dripping with mischief.
She lowered her head, flustered. "But the doctor said… your body isn't…"
Before she could finish, he silenced her with a kiss, smirking against her lips.
When he pulled away, she tried to protest again. "I-I wasn't finished…"
He kissed her once more, cutting her off each time she tried to speak until she finally gave up.
"Dad has entrusted you to me, so you're mine now. No more arguing. Got it?" he declared smugly.
"But… what about Grandpa? He'll worry if we don't go home…" She quickly covered her mouth, anticipating another kiss attack. "Seriously, he'll worry," she said through her fingers.
"I'll call him," Ye Tianlin said casually, leaving her no room to argue.
With no valid excuses left, Liang Xiaoluo reluctantly let him take her to his villa.
The house was pristine despite being unoccupied for some time, thanks to occasional visits from cleaning staff. Its quiet, secluded atmosphere was exactly what Ye Tianlin wanted.
"This place feels so empty. Let's go back," Liang Xiaoluo suggested, uneasy in the silence.
"Who said it's empty? I'm here," he replied with a smirk.
She gave him a pointed look. "And you call yourself human?"
"Oh? If I'm not human, then what am I? A beast ready to devour you, little lamb?" he teased, mimicking a predator stalking its prey.
"Stop it!" she shrieked, laughing as she ran.
Their playful chase filled the house with laughter until Ye Tianlin finally caught her and pinned her down on the sofa. His heavy breaths fanned her face.
"Ye Tianlin!" she protested, her hands feebly pushing against him. "I'm not ready."
Sensing her hesitation, he sighed and pulled back, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. I'll go take a shower. You can watch TV."
Relieved, she nodded and sat down, trying to calm her racing heart.
Moments later, his voice echoed from the bathroom. "Liang Xiaoluo, bring me a towel!"
Familiar with the house, she quickly found a towel but hesitated at the bathroom door, her cheeks burning.
"Liang Xiaoluo, the towel!" he called again, exasperated.
Before she could knock, the door swung open, revealing a very naked Ye Tianlin. Steam billowed around him as water droplets traced his sculpted frame.
She froze, her eyes widening. Three seconds later, she yelped and covered her face. "Ye Tianlin, what are you doing?!"
Snatching the towel from her trembling hands, he scoffed. "What do you mean? You took so long, I thought you wanted a free show."
"Shameless!" she snapped, shoving the towel into his hands and slamming the door shut.
Fuming, she retreated to the couch, but her thoughts refused to calm. His image lingered in her mind, making her heart race all over again.
When Ye Tianlin finally emerged, his hair damp, he casually asked, "Are you going to shower?"
"Of course!" she blurted, rushing into the bathroom without a second thought—only to realize too late that she had no clothes to change into.
Embarrassed, she stayed in the bathroom until Ye Tianlin knocked on the door. "Liang Xiaoluo, are you asleep in there?"
"I-I don't have anything to wear," she admitted sheepishly.
Rolling his eyes, he fetched one of his oversized shirts and handed it to her. "Here, dummy."
Dressed in his shirt, which dwarfed her petite frame, she finally emerged. The loose fabric hung off her shoulders, making her look even more delicate—and utterly captivating.
Ye Tianlin stared, stunned. The sight was almost too much to handle. She was clearly trying to kill him.
Blushing under his gaze, she quickly wrapped herself in a blanket and turned on the TV, pretending nothing had happened.
He sat down beside her, but the show failed to capture his attention. His mind was consumed by her presence, her scent, her warmth.
As the hours ticked by, Ye Tianlin grew restless. All he wanted was to hold her, to remind himself that she was his.