Chapter 172: Fever, Sleepless Vigil
"You're mine. You can't escape..." Ye Tianlin whispered near Liang Xiaoluo's ear.
"Mmph... mmph..." Liang Xiaoluo struggled, yanking his intrusive hands off her and turning her head sharply. "Get away from me! Don't touch me!"
"Get away? Do you think that's possible?" Ye Tianlin sneered, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity.
Liang Xiaoluo's mind was a mess. How had things spiraled to this point again?
"Leave me alone! Don't touch me!" she screamed, thrashing violently, desperate to break free.
"Don't forget our wager. You've already lost!" Ye Tianlin said coldly, his face a mask of impassivity. His dark eyes gleamed with an unyielding determination.
"I never agreed to any wager with you!" Liang Xiaoluo cried, pounding her fists against his chest and kicking at him with all her might. Her emotions boiled over, spiraling out of control. "You bastard! What gives you the right to control me, to dictate my life? I said no! Get away from me!"
Ye Tianlin didn't react to her fury, merely holding her waist firmly, letting her vent her rage. His expression softened, transitioning from the icy demeanor he showed to others to the tender vulnerability he reserved only for her.
Caught up in her fury, Liang Xiaoluo didn't notice the shift in his expression. She slapped at his chest in frustration. "Leave me alone!"
Her trembling hands pushed at his, her voice cracking as she shouted, "I'm not your possession! I have the right to control my own body, to pursue my freedom!"
"Freedom..." Ye Tianlin repeated. His voice carried an edge that sent chills down her spine. Liang Xiaoluo froze under his penetrating gaze, his earlier tenderness now replaced by a suffocating dominance.
"You don't have the right to freedom anymore," he said coldly, his voice as sharp as the blade of a guillotine.
Fear gripped Liang Xiaoluo as her headache grew unbearable, her body trembling under the pressure of his words. Overwhelmed by terror, she felt her strength fading as a feverish heat enveloped her.
Ye Tianlin pressed closer, his body heat mingling with hers. His brow furrowed as he noticed her rising temperature. "You're burning up," he muttered to himself.
Liang Xiaoluo whimpered weakly, her small hands feebly pushing against his chest. Her lips trembled as she murmured over and over, "Don't touch me... don't touch me..."
Realizing her condition, Ye Tianlin pulled away and stood, looking down at her. "Rest up and prepare yourself. Your life as a servant begins tomorrow," he said curtly before leaving the room.
Once he was gone, Liang Xiaoluo's tense nerves finally eased, her exhausted body succumbing to unconsciousness. She sank into a restless sleep, plagued by nightmares of demons chasing her through endless darkness. Each time she thought she had escaped, Ye Tianlin would appear before her.
The morning light filtered through the window, scattering like shards of gold across the room. Liang Xiaoluo stirred, her brows furrowing as she slowly opened her eyes. Weak and disoriented, she scanned her surroundings, the purple-and-white decor simultaneously alien and familiar.
The sound of rapid typing filled the room. Turning her heavy head, she saw Ye Tianlin seated on a sofa, his chiseled features illuminated by the soft glow of his laptop screen. His sharp brows furrowed as his long fingers danced across the keyboard. His cold, focused demeanor was tinged with an air of indifference.
Liang Xiaoluo watched him silently, her heart inexplicably fluttering. She felt a strange pang as if something deep within her had been stirred.
Abruptly, Ye Tianlin stopped typing and looked up, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. Startled, Liang Xiaoluo quickly averted her eyes, her lashes fluttering as she pretended to sleep.
A faint smirk played on Ye Tianlin's lips. "You're awake," he said.
His voice, cold and teasing, made her heart race. She reluctantly opened her eyes, her hoarse voice breaking the silence. "What do you want?"
Ye Tianlin chuckled darkly. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"
Liang Xiaoluo attempted to retort but winced as her throat burned with pain. Her hand instinctively reached for her neck. "What's wrong with me?"
Without answering, Ye Tianlin shut his laptop and walked over to her. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he pressed his hand to her forehead. "You're still alive. That fever didn't kill you after all," he remarked dryly.
Liang Xiaoluo glared at him, her frustration mounting. His smirk only deepened, fanning her irritation. She wanted to slap his hand away but refrained, wary of provoking him further.
Suddenly, a low rumbling broke the tense silence. Liang Xiaoluo's cheeks flushed as her stomach growled audibly. Mortified, she clutched her abdomen, avoiding Ye Tianlin's amused gaze. "What are you staring at? Haven't you ever seen someone hungry before?" she snapped.
"Not like this," he replied with a sly grin.
Before Liang Xiaoluo could respond, a knock at the door interrupted them. Ye Tianlin answered, and Hua Lin entered, carrying a bowl of porridge.
The aroma wafted through the room, making Liang Xiaoluo's empty stomach churn with hunger. Hua Lin smiled as she approached. "Tianlin, the kitchen prepared this porridge. I brought it for you."
She extended the bowl toward Liang Xiaoluo, but Ye Tianlin intercepted it. Startled, Hua Lin hesitated as Ye Tianlin scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and held it to Liang Xiaoluo's lips.
"Eat. You're hungry, aren't you?" he said impatiently.
Liang Xiaoluo hesitated, then reluctantly opened her mouth. Spoonful by spoonful, she ate in silence, her gaze lowered. When the bowl was empty, Ye Tianlin handed it back to Hua Lin without sparing her a glance.
Hua Lin stood frozen, jealousy flashing in her eyes. She forced a smile and left, but not before shooting Liang Xiaoluo a venomous look.
As the door closed, Liang Xiaoluo remained in a daze. Ye Tianlin leaned closer, his lips brushing hers. Startled, she looked up just as he smirked.
"Relax," he said, his voice low and teasing. "You had a bit of porridge on your lips."
Her cheeks turned crimson as her heart raced uncontrollably.