Chapter 154: A Terrifying Secret
She didn't want their relationship to become fleeting or complicated. A simple friendship was far better than the chaos of love.
"Why do you think I'm joking? If he can love you, why can't I?" Xiluo's voice carried the pain of rejection.
Was his sincerity nothing more than a joke?
Why couldn't she give him a chance? Why did she always kill any hope he offered?
"Xiluo…"
"What is it now? Does knowing I'm serious make you uncomfortable? Does it leave you at a loss?" he asked bitterly.
Was he really that laughable?
His status, his sincerity, his admiration—did it make him appear so pitiful? Why did no one ever truly see his heart, a heart long scarred and weary?
He longed for a warm family, friends to confide in, and a woman to love deeply. Were these dreams really so unattainable?
Faced with Xiluo's heartfelt confession, Liang Xiaoluo was utterly lost. She had never considered him in such a serious light before.
Pulling her hand free from his grip, she said, "We shouldn't continue this conversation. Let's pretend I never heard what you said. We're good friends, and we can still…"
Before she could finish, Xiluo silenced her words with a sudden, fierce kiss. His lips captured hers, swallowing her startled cries.
The kiss was forceful and passionate, leaving Xiaoluo breathless. The intensity of his possession seemed to declare his claim over her. His lips and tongue ravaged her defenses, giving her no chance to resist.
Breathing heavily, her face flushed red. "No, stop…" she protested weakly.
But her words were drowned in his unrelenting kiss. She glared at Xiluo, her eyes blazing with defiance.
Xiluo's narrowed eyes burned with deep intensity. The hunger in his gaze seemed endless. He kissed her desperately, tasting her sweetness for the first time. It was intoxicating—fresh and irresistible.
"You taste so sweet, Xiaoluo," he murmured huskily, pulling her closer. He pinned her against the wall, his lips greedily seeking hers again.
"Ah! Let me go… no…" Xiaoluo cried, struggling frantically. Her hands, pinned behind her, wriggled in vain. "Let me go! Tianlin, save me, save me…"
In her panic, Xiaoluo called out Ye Tianlin's name, her instincts betraying the man she unconsciously held dearest in her heart.
Hearing that name ignited a dangerous glint in Xiluo's eyes. His possessiveness flared like a fire. He stared at her coldly. "Xiaoluo, this is not the time to say his name."
With a sharp rip, her collar was torn, the chill of exposed skin sending shivers down her spine.
"Ah!" Xiaoluo screamed. "Xiluo, you're not like this! Let me go! We're friends—why? Why do all of you treat me like this? What did I do to deserve this?"
Her anguished cries echoed through the narrow alley, her tears streaming unchecked.
Hearing her sobs, Xiluo froze. His hands, which had been poised to cross an irreversible line, fell limply to his sides.
"What am I doing?" he murmured, horrified. "How could I… to you…"
As his sanity returned, Xiluo was overcome with guilt and disbelief. His trembling eyes stared at Xiaoluo, who was weeping in fear and humiliation.
Xiaoluo clutched at her torn clothing, the lingering heat of his touch making her shudder. Her gaze, brimming with tears, met his, causing his heart to twist in agony.
She forced herself to hold her head high, trying to suppress her sobs. Her hands clenched tightly, nails digging into her palms as she fought to steady herself.
"Xiaoluo…" Xiluo's voice trembled as he reached for her, desperate to wipe away her tears.
Slap!
The crisp sound echoed in the alley, sharp and unyielding.
"We're no longer friends," Xiaoluo declared coldly. Her words carried the finality of a broken bond. The warmth she once felt for him had been shattered by his betrayal.
Without a backward glance, Xiaoluo walked away, leaving Xiluo rooted in place.
He watched her retreating figure, his hand raised as if to call her back. But the words caught in his throat, their sharp edges cutting painfully.
The pain was unbearable.
Xiaoluo, do you know what I fear most? It's not losing you—it's your cold, indifferent gaze and your resolute departure.
Why do you give Tianlin chance after chance but refuse to offer me even one opportunity to explain?
Memories of his past flooded Xiluo's mind. He recalled the day the king had brought him home, only to hide him away like a shameful secret. He was kept in a dark room, never allowed to see sunlight. Meals were delivered, and tutors came to teach him, but he was forbidden from stepping outside.
He thought those days of isolation would last forever. Then, one day, the king told him that with effort, he could rise to a position of great power and earn the love of the people.
Young and naive, Xiluo didn't understand the king's words. It was only when he grew older that he realized their meaning—and by then, it was too late. His beloved brother had exiled him under the pretense of sending him abroad to study.
Xiluo knew the truth. His brother saw him as a threat, banishing him to ensure he could never return to England, never see his father, never see his mother.
Those memories, etched deep into his soul, had left him scarred. Xiaoluo's appearance had brought light into his dark world, a glimpse of hope. But perhaps he had been too greedy, and now his world was darkening once more.
As Xiluo wandered aimlessly, several men who had been shadowing him for some time decided to act.
"Our chance has finally come," one of them whispered with a grin. "We need to take him out before the king recalls him."
"Right, let's do it!"
Each man gripped a sturdy baton as they crept closer. When they were near enough, they exchanged glances and raised their weapons, aiming for Xiluo's head.
Lost in thought, Xiluo didn't notice them until the last moment. He turned just in time to avoid a direct hit but was still struck hard on the side of his head.
"Damn it, he noticed!" one attacker growled.
Clutching his throbbing head, Xiluo staggered but managed to stand. His eyes blazed with fury as he glared at his assailants. "Who sent you?"
"Does it matter?" the leader sneered. "You'll be dead soon. Accept your fate."
"Was it my brother?" Xiluo hissed, already knowing the answer.
"Shut up! You won't live long enough to worry about that," the leader replied, signaling for the others to attack.
Though injured and outnumbered, Xiluo refused to yield. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he fought back, his cold gaze fixed on the men.
"Brother, you'll regret this decision," he vowed, his voice eerily calm.
The chilling words sent shivers through his attackers, but they pressed on, determined to finish the job.