Chapter 171: Escape, Helplessness
Liang Xiaoluo did not respond.
"If you want to escape, there's no need to make it so complicated," Hualin said again.
Liang Xiaoluo looked at Hualin in confusion, pondering the meaning behind her words.
"If you truly wish to leave here, I can help you," Hualin offered.
"Help me?" Liang Xiaoluo stared at Hualin as though she were an alien.
She couldn't discern if Hualin was sincere or just pretending.
"But there's a condition," Hualin added.
"A condition?" Ever since she had met Hualin, Liang Xiaoluo had felt something was off about her—whether it was the way she looked at her or the subtle undertones in her words.
Especially after what Hualin had said to Ye Tianlin at the hospital, Liang Xiaoluo's unease deepened. Hualin's schemes ran far deeper than they appeared.
"If you agree to my condition, I can ensure that you'll never have to suffer in Lin'er's grasp again," Hualin promised.
Liang Xiaoluo's eyes darkened. "Why should I trust you?"
"Do you have any other choice? Haven't you already reached a dead end?" Hualin retorted.
Liang Xiaoluo paused for a long time before finally asking, "What's your condition if you help me leave here?"
A glint of malice flashed in Hualin's eyes as she replied, "It's simple. All you have to do is leave this city forever and promise never to return. I'll guarantee your safe departure."
Hualin had calculated everything. Since Ye Tianlin's amnesia after Old Master Ye's death, and with Ye Tianqing's diminished influence within the family, the entire situation was under her control. Whatever she desired, she could seize with her own hands—no one could stop her.
Liang Xiaoluo stared blankly at Hualin for a long time, so long that she nearly forgot the words Hualin had just spoken.
"What's wrong? Reluctant to leave?" Hualin sneered.
Lowering her head, Liang Xiaoluo murmured, "If you can truly help me leave, I will leave this city forever and never come back."
Hualin smirked. "Good, very good."
With that, Hualin turned to leave. Liang Xiaoluo quickly blocked her path. "Aren't you going to help me leave now?"
Hualin glanced back coldly. "Don't be impatient. Rushing won't help."
With those words, Hualin walked away.
Watching Hualin's retreating figure, Liang Xiaoluo felt a gnawing sense of foreboding. But at this point, what other choice did she have but to trust Hualin?
She tried to calm herself, convincing herself that Hualin would keep her word and help her leave.
Half a day passed, but there was no movement from Hualin.
Liang Xiaoluo grew restless, finally banging on the door. "Is anyone there? Someone, please let me out! Let me leave this place!"
No one responded.
Her heart sank. Hualin had deceived her.
At that moment, the door opened, and a servant entered. "Miss Liang, please come with me."
Liang Xiaoluo hesitated for a moment before reluctantly following. The servant led her through a long hallway to a back door in the garden. Stepping outside, the servant said, "Miss Liang, follow this path down the hill. At the fork, turn right. Someone will be waiting there to take you away."
"Huh?" Liang Xiaoluo found it hard to believe.
The servant gave her no time to process before closing the door behind her with a heavy thud.
Standing outside, Liang Xiaoluo could still hear the sound of the door shutting. She glanced down the long path ahead, pinching her cheek to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Could it be true? Had she really left the Ye family?
True or not, she knew she had to hurry. There was no time to waste.
Liang Xiaoluo hurried down the path. She had barely taken a few steps when she froze. Standing before her was Ye Tianqing.
"Big Brother?" she gasped.
It was as if he had known all along she would take this route and had been waiting for her.
Seeing him, Liang Xiaoluo turned pale. "Big Brother, w-why are you here?"
Taking a small step forward, Ye Tianqing studied her. "Xiaoluo, are you trying to leave?"
Liang Xiaoluo hesitated before lowering her gaze. "This is my only chance to escape him. Big Brother, please don't tell him. If I miss this opportunity, I'll never be able to leave his side."
"Do you hate him?" Ye Tianqing asked.
"He's not the person he used to be. It's over between us," Liang Xiaoluo replied, haunted by memories of Ye Tianlin's cold, indifferent eyes.
"But if you leave like this, you might regret it," Ye Tianqing said.
"No, I won't," Liang Xiaoluo answered firmly.
She looked up at him, her eyes pleading. "Big Brother, please let me go."
With that, she bypassed him and continued down the path.
Ye Tianqing watched her retreating figure and murmured, "Xiaoluo, is it really that easy to end things with him?"
At some point, Ye Tianqing took out his phone and dialed Ye Tianlin.
Liang Xiaoluo, assuming Ye Tianqing had let her go, quickened her pace. Reaching the fork in the road, she saw a car waiting. She hurried over, opened the door, and climbed in. "Please, get me out of here as fast as you can."
Her gaze remained fixed on the road behind her. Her heart raced, fearing that if they lingered even a moment longer, Ye Tianlin would appear.
The car began moving, and she felt a sliver of relief.
But as the car traveled further, something felt off. "Wait, aren't we going the wrong way? This isn't the right direction," she said, her voice tinged with panic.
Turning to look at the driver, her heart sank when she recognized the familiar profile. Her voice trembled. "Ye Tianlin!"
Through the rearview mirror, Ye Tianlin's lips curled into a smirk. "Liang Xiaoluo, I told you—you'll never escape me."
"Why? Why is it you?" she whispered, disbelief etched on her face.
The car sped toward the Ye family estate, its gates already open. There was no chance for escape.
Back at the mansion, Liang Xiaoluo was dragged from the car. Her frantic struggles drew the attention of everyone, including Hualin and Ye Tianqing.
Hualin's eyes widened in shock upon seeing her return.
Liang Xiaoluo glanced at Ye Tianqing, his evasive gaze giving her all the answers she needed. It was him. He had betrayed her.
As the onlookers gawked, Ye Tianlin pulled her into the house without hesitation, slamming the door shut behind them.
"Ye Tianlin, you're a monster! Let me go!" Liang Xiaoluo screamed, thrashing against him.
Ye Tianlin strode forward, pinning her against the wall. His eyes gleamed with jealousy and fury. "Liang Xiaoluo, I gave you a day. Since you couldn't leave, you have no right to demand freedom."
"You have no right to imprison me!" she shouted, her voice breaking. "You can't take away my freedom!"
"You've forfeited that right," Ye Tianlin growled, his voice icy. He silenced her protests with a fierce kiss, refusing to let her utter another word that might anger him.
Liang Xiaoluo struggled, but in the chaos, she felt herself lifted off her feet.
Before she knew it, she was lying on a soft bed, her vision spinning.