4 – Chapter 4
Too Fond of You to Be Afraid
A Tao suddenly froze, looking bewildered. Was this Second Young Miss Lin referring to her?
After the men in black left the room, A Tao pushed the door open and entered, ready to confront the man who wanted her dead.
“Who’s there?” The man was highly alert and quickly turned to face A Tao.
His profile had already been strikingly handsome, but his full face was even more captivating, making it impossible to look away.
His features were sharply defined yet harmonious, with a tall nose as if meticulously carved by nature’s masterful hand, and thin lips pressed together with corners slightly downturned, suggesting a foul mood.
“Just someone admiring your good looks.”
As soon as A Tao spoke these words, a silver needle shot straight toward her from the bed.
Fortunately, she had regained much of her alertness and dodged it, or it would have pierced right through her forehead!
“Get out…”
“Aren’t you happy when I say you’re good-looking?” A Tao had already closed the distance in a few steps, sitting lightly on the edge of the bed. “Why do you want me dead?”
“You’re from the Lin family?”
“Yes.”
“Then you deserve to die.”
“That makes no sense.” A Tao didn’t know what had come over her, but she instinctively wanted to get closer to this man, even though he was fierce.
The man ignored her. A Tao raised her hand, intending to touch the black silk ribbon tied over his eyes, but he grabbed her wrist.
Unaware that one end of the black silk ribbon was caught in his grip, he flung her mischievous hand away, and the ribbon fluttered down onto the bed.
The air grew terrifyingly still.
The eyes beneath the black silk ribbon were vastly different from those of ordinary people. His pupils were dark red, and upon closer inspection, bright red cracks were visible, as if bleeding endlessly…
Abandoning his cold and aloof demeanor, the man gripped the girl’s shoulders fiercely, veins trembling on his hands, the bulging blood vessels seeming ready to burst at any moment—truly frightening!
If he applied any more force, he might snap those slender shoulders.
But the man seemed somewhat frail. After a few seconds, he suddenly coughed up blood.
The blood splattered across the pure white bedsheets, eerily vivid and horrifying.
“Very beautiful,” A Tao said calmly, completely unfazed by the situation.
The man paused at her words: “Beautiful? Heh… Don’t you think I look like a ghost?”
“No, I said you’re beautiful, so you’re beautiful.” A Tao patted the man’s back as if comforting him.
“If it were truly as you say, so many people wouldn’t fear me.” The man released A Tao and laughed self-deprecatingly.
“People fear you because you’re too fierce, always resorting to violence.” A Tao earnestly summarized the issue for him.
The man inexplicably laughed. He realized he didn’t seem to dislike her proximity. Even though this girl had repeatedly crossed his boundaries—anyone else would have died countless times by now—he hadn’t laid a hand on her. Instead, he asked her, “Then are you afraid of me?”
“Afraid of you? How could I be? I’m too fond of you to be afraid.” Hearing someone call her from the corridor outside, A Tao stood up, pinched the man’s cheek, and swaggered off.
…
Duan Yuan brought his distinctly knuckled hand to the tip of his nose and gently inhaled, as if catching a whiff of a peach scent—fresh and sweet, yet carrying a strangely soothing magic.After the young girl in the room had left, Duan Zheng at the door timidly approached: “Y-Young Master, that was Second Young Miss Lin… Should we still eliminate…”
“Fool!”
Duan Zheng fearfully shut his mouth. When had he ever seen the young master like this? Having his face pinched, yet he could remain so calmly seated, even looking as if he was savoring the moment?
This was truly seeing a Ghost in broad daylight!
Duan Yuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly recalled the rumors circulating outside. They said Second Young Miss Lin was inherently promiscuous, capable of seducing any man, and recently she had even taken a fancy to that terrifying blind man of the Duan family…
Duan Yuan touched his own eyes, suddenly feeling that this rumor wasn’t so disgusting after all.