Chapter 85: Why Treat Him This Way?

Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Why Treat Him This Way?

Cui Lingyao dropped the pretense and laid her cards on the table. "You’re right about everything. I did it on purpose. You’ve already barged into my room unannounced to take liberties with me, so am I not allowed to come up with a way to handle you?"

Her admission was brazenly frank.

Xie Jinbai’s body went rigid, and he froze on the spot.

After a long, stunned silence, his lips trembled as he asked again in disbelief, "You... you really knew I was here?"

’So her pushing her hand into Shen Tingyu’s, resting her head on his shoulder, even allowing him into her private chambers... it was all because she knew I was watching.’

’She wanted to dispel my doubts, to draw a clear line between us for good.’

’That’s why she was deliberately intimate with another man, putting on an act just for me to see.’

’But did she ever stop to think how much it would hurt? How much pain it would cause me to witness all that?’

Was she that desperate to be free of him?

A sharp, staggering pain left Xie Jinbai feeling cold.

He felt no anger or disgust at being played by her.

There was only a bone-deep chill.

The chill drained the color from his face and lips, leaving him with a stunned expression.

He stood as motionless as a statue.

Unfortunately, the room was pitch-black, so Cui Lingyao was completely unaware of his state. Hearing his question, her mind was set on laying everything bare, so she nodded decisively. "That’s right. I knew you were here the moment you arrived last night."

’So she really did do it on purpose.’

Xie Jinbai suppressed the staggering pain in his heart and tightened his arms, pulling her closer.

He took a deep breath, his words coming out strained. "Why would you do this?"

’Why would you do this to me?’

"Don’t ask such questions. Did I really do something so outrageous?"

Cui Lingyao laughed. "I’m far more dignified than you. At least I didn’t make you raise a toast to him in celebration of our wedding."

...

As her voice faded, the room fell silent.

Xie Jinbai’s voice finally broke the dead silence.

"Are you trying to get revenge on me?"

His tone was surprisingly calm.

Cui Lingyao hummed in agreement. "A little, maybe. But more than revenge, I’m just tired of it all."

’Tired of it all...’

Xie Jinbai clenched his jaw and said coldly, "Back then, you were the one—"

"You don’t need to remind me. I remember it perfectly well. I was the one who pursued you back then, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m tired of you now."

Now that it was all out in the open, Cui Lingyao didn’t hold back. "When I woke up yesterday morning, my lips were swollen. You know exactly what you did. How could you act like that toward a young woman whose identity you hadn’t even confirmed? And you expect me not to be disgusted?"

She spat out the last few words with particular venom.

Xie Jinbai instantly understood what she was upset about and rushed to explain. "It wasn’t like that. I had already confirmed that you were—"

"So what?"

Cui Lingyao cut him off. "I was tired of your improper advances and worried you’d come again. That’s why I accepted the engagement to Shen Tingyu and deliberately asked him over to admire the moon. If you hadn’t shown up last night, I wouldn’t have initiated any intimacy with him."

This was the real reason she had agreed to marry Shen Tingyu, just a few short days after her soul had returned.

He had forced her hand.

For a moment, Xie Jinbai didn’t know whether to be happy or sad.

He should have been furious, resentful even, that she had treated him this way.

And yet...

She didn’t like Shen Tingyu.

If all that "intimacy" was just an act for his benefit, then it was highly likely that she and Shen Tingyu hadn’t developed the feelings he’d imagined.

Her affections hadn’t shifted to another man.

That was what mattered most to him—that there was no one else between them.

Xie Jinbai couldn’t help but rejoice at this conclusion.

The thick gloom shrouding his heart was mostly scattered by her few words.

In just a few short moments, his emotions had been on a violent rollercoaster.

Amid the profound, biting pain, Xie Jinbai could actually taste faint wisps of sweetness.

He let out a bitter laugh. "You’re going to be the death of me."

No one had ever been able to put him through such an emotional wringer with just a few words.

Cui Lingyao said nothing.

She placed a hand on his shoulder and gave a slight push.

This girl held a serious grudge, and Xie Jinbai didn’t dare provoke her. He hesitantly relaxed his grip a little and asked, "What if I had flown into a rage and gone on a killing spree last night?"

Cui Lingyao froze. "You wouldn’t have."

’Breaking into the Super Duke Mansion in the middle of the night and slaughtering a high-ranking court official for no reason... If he dared to do such a thing, he could kiss any chance of ascending the throne goodbye, unless he was planning to rebel and usurp it entirely.’

Xie Jinbai chuckled. "Don’t be so certain. If he’d come out one second later, I would have gone in there to kill him."

The woman he loved was alone in a room with another man; his self-control had been stretched to its breaking point.

More than any political gain, he had been consumed by one question: what in the world was she trying to do?

He spoke of murder with an unnerving nonchalance.

Cui Lingyao frowned. "Now that you know there’s nothing between Shen Tingyu and me, you are not to go looking for trouble with him."

’It’s been three years. She was genuinely afraid this madman’s murderous streak had grown so strong that he’d find some opportunity to just get Shen Tingyu killed.’

’The man he was three years ago might not have done such a thing.’

’But now...’

At that, Xie Jinbai finally remembered the purpose of his visit.

He didn’t answer her, asking instead, "When, exactly, are you going to break off this engagement?"

’She had agreed so readily this afternoon, but then Mrs. Shen had to die.’

’And right before dying, she had solidified their engagement in front of the entire Shen family.’

The image of her kneeling beside another man flashed in his mind, and Xie Jinbai found he still couldn’t suppress his murderous urges.

In just a few short days, his murderous desire toward Shen Tingyu had grown so intense he could barely wait to eliminate him.

He simply couldn’t remain calm.

Cui Lingyao, completely oblivious to his murderous thoughts, said calmly, "Breaking the engagement will have to wait until I’ve handled my mother’s funeral arrangements. The priority right now is escorting her coffin back to Pingzhou."

’Anyway, during the mourning period, marriages are off the table. There’s a whole year to break the engagement; there’s no rush.’

Xie Jinbai narrowed his eyes. He knew, of course, that she was right.

Laying Mrs. Shen to rest was, indeed, the most important thing at the moment.

But he could hardly stand the thought of her being engaged to another man.

Cui Lingyao started to say something else, but he pressed his index finger to her lips.

She frowned just as she heard footsteps approaching.

Soon, a knock sounded at the door, and Zhiqiu’s voice came from outside. "Miss, the hot water is ready."

"Alright," Cui Lingyao pulled his hand from her lips and called out, "Move the tub to the washroom, then have everyone go rest. I won’t need any attendance."

"...Yes."

Zhiqiu glanced into the unlit room, her eyes filled with worry. She hesitated, looking as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just gave a respectful assent and withdrew.

As the footsteps faded, Cui Lingyao turned back to him. "You should go. I’m going to bathe and get some rest."

Xie Jinbai didn’t move. "Promise me," he said. "As soon as your mother is buried, you will break off the engagement immediately. Don’t let it drag on."

Cui Lingyao gave a hum of assent.

’Now that her identity had been exposed, she had no intention of marrying Shen Tingyu anyway.’

Seeing her agree so readily, Xie Jinbai made a promise of his own. "As long as you stay away from him and stop being so intimate, I swear I won’t cause him any trouble."

Cui Lingyao glanced at him. "Fine."

A wave of relief washed over Xie Jinbai. He patted her on the head. "If you want to torment me, find another way. Just don’t use another man to provoke me again."