He leaned back, the smirk never leaving his face. "I'm not playing, Aoi. This is very real. You help me, and I'll help you. It's as simple as that."
Aoi clenched her fists, her thoughts a whirlwind. The sheer coldness in Zhao Han's words, the steely glint in his eyes, cut deeper than she wanted to admit. But her mind kept returning to Aunty Li—her protector, her mother figure. She couldn't let anything happen to her. Not now, not ever.
"What do you want from me?" Aoi asked, her voice low, almost a whisper, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on her chest.
Zhao Han didn't flinch. His expression remained impassive, but the calculation in his eyes never wavered. "I need you to be my fiancée. It's simple. You get your aunty back, and I get what I need," he said, as though discussing the weather or the latest palace gossip.
The audacity of his words struck Aoi like a slap, but she fought to remain composed. He was using her, manipulating her—and she knew it. Yet she had no choice. Aunty Li's life was hanging in the balance. She couldn't afford to let pride or anger stand in her way.
Aoi took a deep breath, her mind clearing for a moment. "Fine," she said, her voice now steady, though every word felt like it came from a place deeper than she was willing to admit. "I'll do it. But if anything happens to her, I will never forgive you."
Zhao Han's smirk stretched into a grin, as though he'd won a small but significant victory. "Good. I knew you'd see reason." He reached into his coat and pulled out a jade pendant, identical to the one she'd noticed earlier. "Come to the palace tomorrow," he instructed, pressing the pendant into her hand. "Bring this with you. And don't keep me waiting."
Aoi's fingers trembled slightly as she grasped the pendant, her mind racing. "Why me?" she asked, her voice laced with frustration. "Why did you choose me for this?"
For a moment, Zhao Han's eyes softened, his usual mask slipping. "Because you're strong, Aoi. Stronger than you think. And because I trust you," he said quietly, a sincerity in his voice that made Aoi's heart skip a beat—before she quickly squashed the feeling.
She scoffed, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Trust? You have a funny way of showing it."
Zhao Han chuckled lightly, the sound rich with amusement but devoid of warmth. "I know this isn't ideal. But it's the best option we have. And when this is all over, you'll be free to go."
Aoi's resolve solidified. She had no choice but to play his game. But once it was over, she would make him regret using her. "I'll do it," she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "But remember, if anything happens to Aunty Li, I will never forgive you."
For the first time, Zhao Han's expression hardened slightly, a flicker of understanding passing between them. "I understand," he replied, his voice steady. "And I won't let anything happen to her. You have my word."
Aoi's jaw tightened. She didn't trust him. But for now, she had no choice but to take his word. She would find a way to make him pay if it was all a lie.
As the carriage rolled away, the air between them was thick with unspoken promises and looming dangers. Aoi's thoughts were consumed by one thing: getting Aunty Li back—whatever it took.