"You’re only figuring this out today?" Gu Xinuo glanced at him sideways, her voice muffled as she spoke through the bread in her mouth.

"You better keep your distance when we’re at Mo Lingling’s. If you get hurt, don’t blame me or Ajiu."

Thinking about the beating he was going to get, the smile on Chu Chen’s face stiffened.

Ajiu was brutal when it came to fighting, and besides, she was currently carrying a child. What else could he do but yield?

He leaned his body to one side, resting against her, "Anuo, can’t you protect me for a bit?"

Gu Xinuo narrowed her eyes with a smile. "Do you need protection?"

"It’s two against one. Isn’t it normal for me to need protection?" Chu Chen said.

Especially since he was the type who couldn’t fight back, he was really at a disadvantage.

"Ajiu said we need to see some blood this time to make it look real." Gu Xinuo took the coffee cup he had drunk from, brought it to her lips, and sipped lightly, "I’m afraid you’ll just have to suffer a bit." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Chu Chen, "..."

See some blood?

Why hadn’t they mentioned this detail before? And what’s this about adding a new scene on the fly?

He thought at most he was going to be kicked around or punched, but now, listening to her, it felt like they were gearing up to beat him to a pulp.

Ajiu really enjoyed finding reasons to mess with him, didn’t he?

The person next to him suddenly fell silent. Gu Xinuo turned to look at him, "Achen, why aren’t you talking?"

She laughed a little as if thinking of something, "Don’t worry, Ajiu definitely won’t seriously injure you. There’s no need to fret, haha."

Chu Chen narrowed his dark pupils, his tone ominously saying, "You seem pretty happy about the prospect of me getting injured?"

"Not at all." Gu Xinuo raised her voice, but the smile at the bottom of her eyes was genuinely there.

"I’d be heartbroken if you were hurt. Don’t wrong me."

Chu Chen leaned in closer, "Really?"

"Of course, it’s true," she said with a sheepish grin.

"At least you two have some conscience, knowing to buy breakfast and bring it back." Ji Mingqian’s voice came from outside.

Gu Xinuo hastily pushed him away, "It must be Ajiu and the others back. I’ll go out and see if there’s anything tasty."

With that, she dashed off, as if afraid that even a moment’s delay would result in Chu Chen dealing with her.

**

The mist was thick in the air, and Xiaoyu came down fast and dense.

Ever since Chu Chen’s visit that day, Mo Lingling had been eagerly anticipating his return.

In fear that Chu Chen could show up at any moment, she would do her makeup first thing in the morning and change into a pretty dress, wanting to show Chu Chen her best side.

And now, after breakfast, she stayed in her room waiting, the book in her hands barely read, her ears constantly alert for any sound from downstairs.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

The sound of the door echoed, and a look of joy crossed Mo Lingling’s face.

It must be Chu Chen. It had to be him.

She raised her hand to fix her hair and then hurried to open the door.

"Chu..."

As the door swung open, she froze on the spot, and her tensed back betrayed her nerves.

Her hand on the doorknob trembled slightly, her complexion turning pale.

Damn it, why was it her?

Mo Lingling stepped back, fear twinkling in her eyes.

The person outside stepped in, one appearing rakish and the other indifferent.

Gu Xinuo looked at Mo Lingling’s panicked expression and let out a mocking laugh.

It seemed that Ajiu’s deterrent effect was still strong.

Ye Jiuliang stopped in his tracks, lifting his eyelids to cast a detached glance at the person opposite him.

She wore a pink dress, had even applied makeup, and her hair was tidied up.

Her lips curled into a smile that did not reach her eyes, "It seems you’re quite comfortable living here."

Her cold voice fell on Mo Lingling’s ears, sending a shiver through her body and making her palms sweat.

"The island was set on fire, the master’s tomb was destroyed, the gravestone was smashed, Mo Lingling, which would you like to explain first?" Ye Jiuliang walked towards her slowly, hands in his pockets.

"I... I..."

Mo Lingling shrank her neck, her eyes darting about as she dared not to meet her gaze.

Ye Jiuliang stopped in front of her.

"Speak." Her voice was low and carried a terrifying chill.

Mo Lingling hung her head, her voice trembling as she spoke, "It wasn’t intentional, I was forced, I really didn’t know they would do something like that, I truly didn’t know."

"What a phrase, ’forced with no other choice.’" Ye Jiuliang’s gaze was like cold stars as she looked at Mo Lingling, lips curled in a thin, cold smile.

"Mo Lingling, for all these years, out of respect for the master, we tolerated you time and again. It seems we were wrong from the start."

The temperature around them plummeted sharply.

A chill struck Mo Lingling’s heart, and she suddenly looked up, meeting Ye Jiuliang’s chilling gaze, her face pale as paper and tinged with alarm.

"You... you can’t kill me. My grandfather has shown you kindness; you can’t lay a hand on me."

Even now, she still used the master as a shield.

Gu Xinuo showed a look of displeasure, and before she could speak, the person in front took action first.

The movement was decisive and rough.

Ye Jiuliang grabbed Mo Lingling by the throat, her lips twisted into a bloodthirsty smile.

"Don’t mention the master. You’re not worthy."

With her throat seized, Mo Lingling’s pupils constricted.

"Cough, cough..."

She raised her hand, trying to pull away Ye Jiuliang’s hand, "Let go, let go."

Before she could touch Ye Jiuliang’s hand, her wrist was suddenly seized.

Ye Jiuliang frowned slightly, her fingertips brushing over a slightly raised area on Mo Lingling’s wrist.

Something was not right.

She glanced at Mo Lingling, her gaze dark and unreadable.

Suddenly letting go, Mo Lingling fell backwards.

Without a carpet, her back hit the floor hard, and the pain contorted her face.

Ye Jiuliang looked down on her from above, her gaze indifferent.

The protrusion on Mo Lingling’s wrist, along with the sewing marks, surely hid something abnormal.

After a moment, Mo Lingling staggered to her feet, holding in her anger but not daring to show the slightest bit of it.

Without Chu Chen here, if Ye Jiuliang impulsively struck her, no one would help her.

Ye Jiuliang took a small dagger from her pocket, and as it was unsheathed, the blade’s tip gleamed coldly.

"Mo Lingling, I heard from Anuo that you’re with Chu Chen now, and that he’s only with Anuo for the sake of k organization. I’m quite curious about that as well, why don’t you tell me about it?"

Mo Lingling eyed the cold glint of the dagger, swallowed hard, and mustered the courage to say, "That’s the truth. Chu Chen has been hiding this from you all for the sake of k organization, and because of this, he even had to act cold towards me in front of you."

"Now that you all know, there’s no point in hiding it from you. Chu Chen and I have been together for a long time; he even gave me the Star of the Sea."

As she spoke, she suddenly looked at Gu Xinuo, a smug smile on her face, "Gu Xinuo, you recognize the Star of the Sea, don’t you?"

Gu Xinuo’s face darkened, her hands at her sides clenching tighter.

"You say Chu Chen gave you the Star of the Sea, where is the item?" Ye Jiuliang asked in a cold voice.

"The item is in a safety deposit box at the bank," Mo Lingling replied methodically.

"If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to go and see."