Chapter 173: Action Begins
"You…" Liang Xiaoluo pressed her lips tightly, glaring at Ye Tianlin. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
"What's this? I took care of you for a day, and now you're treating me with such hostility as soon as you wake up?" Ye Tianlin's voice carried a mocking edge, though there was no real anger.
His sharp gaze locked on Liang Xiaoluo. His defined features remained cold, but the faint curve of his lips betrayed a trace of devilish amusement.
Liang Xiaoluo studied him, her eyes flicking over his face. Suppressing her frustration, she finally asked, "Ye Tianlin, are you really suffering from amnesia, or is this an act? Or maybe… you really have a split personality?"
Since Ye Tianlin woke up a few days ago, his demeanor had swung unpredictably between violent ruthlessness and tender charm. He was like an endless desert, calm one moment and whipped into a sandstorm the next. Or a deep ocean, its tranquil surface concealing unfathomable depths.
"What do you think?" Ye Tianlin countered, not giving her a direct answer.
He found it amusing to tease her. Just moments ago, his mood had been weighed down by darker thoughts, but her questioning of his supposed "split personality" brought a smirk to his face, sweeping away his gloom.
Liang Xiaoluo eyed him warily. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously ventured, "If you're in a bad mood next time… can you at least give me a warning?"
For some reason, the exchange reminded her of the days when they had lowered their guard around each other, speaking more openly.
Ye Tianlin chuckled coldly. "And then what?" he asked.
Though his tone was calm, Liang Xiaoluo felt an invisible threat hanging over her, as if any wrong answer might provoke him. After some thought, she carefully replied, "I know… No matter what I say, you won't believe me. You'll always think I'm the one who killed your grandfather."
She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "If that's what you believe, and you insist on keeping me trapped here as a form of punishment, then I have nothing more to say. I'll stay here… but I hope that one day, when you discover the truth, you'll let me go."
Though her words began with a hint of placation, they carried genuine emotion by the end. Slumping against the headboard, she lowered her gaze. Her pale face, still recovering from illness, reflected her weariness.
"Ye Tianlin, I don't know how much power you have in Mengchuan, or how capable you are. I'm just someone insignificant, a person who's been ground into the dust by life. I've long forgotten what I once loved or wanted to pursue."
Ye Tianlin's gaze deepened, his dark eyes narrowing.
Liang Xiaoluo smiled bitterly, her dry lips tugging into a faint curve. "Sometimes, I wonder why you don't remember our past… and yet you still keep me by your side. Is it really just because you hate me?"
Her voice softened, almost a whisper, as she looked up and met his steady gaze. His eyes, usually as dark and turbulent as spilled ink, were strangely calm at that moment, carrying an elegance that made her heart skip a beat.
"Or… do you have some other motive?" she asked quietly. "I don't know what it is, but I can tell that your tenderness and cruelty toward me are not simple. It's not just because you think I killed your grandfather."
Her voice grew faint as her strength waned, the fever and recent illness taking their toll. Swallowing dryly, she added, "But your motives… I don't want to know. I owe you. Whatever you do to me, I'll repay you."
She bit her lip, her head bowed. "I'll play the role you want me to. Whatever it is… whatever you want from me…"
Her cheeks flushed red as she spoke, her words requiring more courage than she could muster.
Suddenly, Ye Tianlin's arm encircled her, pulling her into his embrace. Liang Xiaoluo froze in his arms, her body stiff. Ye Tianlin frowned slightly, as if puzzled by his own actions.
His deep gaze lingered on her flushed face, her mix of anger and vulnerability tugging at something within him. He wasn't a man prone to pity, yet Liang Xiaoluo's quiet resilience and candid words stirred an unfamiliar discomfort in his chest.
Frowning, Ye Tianlin abruptly pushed her away and stood up, striding out of the room without looking back.
The door slammed shut with a resounding "bang," leaving Liang Xiaoluo staring at it in confusion. "He really does have a split personality," she muttered under her breath.
Ye Tianlin descended the stairs, his expression dark. Butler Lin, who had just entered from outside, hesitated at the oppressive air surrounding him.
"Second Young Master, Mr. Zuo Lun is here," Butler Lin announced respectfully.
Without a word, Ye Tianlin strode toward the study, his steps steady but his aura unapproachable.
Zuo Lun watched him enter the study, noting his sharp, isolated demeanor. Following him inside, Zuo Lun couldn't help but think, Is he like this because of Miss Xiaoluo?
"Second Young Master," Zuo Lun greeted with measured deference. Though he was older, he couldn't help but respect Ye Tianlin's intellect and audacity.
"Hmm," Ye Tianlin acknowledged curtly, taking a seat opposite Zuo Lun. "What's the situation in the U.S.?"
"As expected, everyone's scrambling," Zuo Lun replied with a smirk. "Unfortunately, we can't completely topple them this time."
Ye Tianlin didn't respond, his attention fixed on a photo frame on the desk. It held a picture of his late grandfather, smiling warmly—a sight that struck a deep chord within him.
"Investigate Gu Lingzi's car accident," Ye Tianlin said abruptly, his voice low.
Startled, Zuo Lun furrowed his brows. "Gu Lingzi? Her accident was ruled an incident…"
"Investigate it again," Ye Tianlin ordered firmly.
"Understood," Zuo Lun replied, sensing the weight behind the command.
Ye Tianlin's gaze darkened as he stared at the photo of his grandfather. Memories of Liang Xiaoluo's pale face flitted through his mind. His lips pressed into a thin line before he murmured, "I won't wait any longer. I have to bring them back to a peaceful life… one where they can truly be happy."
Zuo Lun, startled by the revelation, nodded resolutely. "I won't disappoint you, Second Young Master."
With that, Zuo Lun left. Outside, he ran into Ye Tianqing, who stood at the door. Zuo Lun greeted him briefly before departing.
Inside the study, Ye Tianqing locked the door behind him, staring at his brother's back. His voice carried a hint of realization.
"Tianlin… you never lost your memory, did you?"