Time seemed to stand still as the air froze between the two of them.
Lěng Yè stood frozen in place, and Xiong Yujiao was equally rooted to the spot. The two stared at each other in silence, not saying a word.
Finally, Xiong Yujiao broke the silence, a playful hint playing at the corners of her lips: "Do you think I'm beautiful?"
Captivated by the flawless figure before him, Lěng Yè found it hard to look away. He nodded instinctively, his voice somewhat flustered: "Beautiful... very beautiful..."
Xiong Yujiao arched an eyebrow, not expecting him to answer so directly, and then teased, "Why don't you come over and find out for yourself?"
Lěng Yè's throat tightened. He averted his gaze and asked hesitantly, "Is this... appropriate?"
Even as composed as Xiong Yujiao was, she could hardly hide the flush creeping across her face. She snapped angrily, "What do you think!"
Lěng Yè realized his mistake in a flash. He hurriedly turned his back to Xiong Yujiao and apologized profusely, "I'm sorry, I lost my head for a moment. Sister, please don't be mad."
Xiong Yujiao chuckled softly: "Sister? You certainly have a way with words."
Lěng Yè awkwardly scratched his head, trying to steer the conversation back on track: "Sister, can you tell me why I'm here? And also, how should I address you?"
Xiong Yujiao casually picked up a bathrobe from nearby, slipped it on with effortless poise, and answered nonchalantly, "My name is Xiong Yujiao, everyone calls me Sister Jiāo. As for you..."
Hearing the name "Xiong Yujiao," Lěng Yè felt a violent jolt in his chest, and his expression instantly darkened. He had long since heard that Xiong Yujiao was not only one of the four great beauties of Longcheng, but also Long Aotian's mistress! This meant he might have fallen right into Long Aotian's sphere of influence!
Before Xiong Yujiao could finish, Lěng Yè spun around abruptly, lunged forward, and yanked the towel from her hand. Then, with lightning speed, he grabbed her by the throat, pulled her close, and glared at her with guarded eyes: "Did you bring me here on Long Aotian's orders? What do you people want? Are there any other people lying in ambush in this house?"
Xiong Yujiao frowned, looking rather helpless: "Are you out of your mind?"
Lěng Yè gave a cold snort: "Not talking? Then I'll... I always follow through on what I say!"
He hesitated for a moment, then reached out to touch Xiong Yujiao's shoulder as a token gesture to prove he was not just making empty threats.
Xiong Yujiao shuddered slightly, gritting her teeth: "Gāo Yán is the one who asked me to save you! Can't you even let me finish my sentence?"
Lěng Yè froze instantly: "Gāo Yán? But you're Long Aotian's mistress, aren't you?"
Xiong Yujiao hurried to explain: "I am his woman, true, but that doesn't mean we're on the same side. If Long Aotian really wanted to capture you, given your relationship with Gāo Yán, would you even have had a chance to stand here and talk to me?"
Lěng Yè understood in a flash that he had wronged Xiong Yujiao. He apologized awkwardly: "I... I'm sorry, I was just too impulsive."
Xiong Yujiao cast a sideways glance at him with a half-smile: "Thrilling?"
Lěng Yè quickly let go, picked up the bath towel to hand to her, and bowed deeply: "I'm sorry!"
After that, he fled the bathroom as if running for his life. He called Gāo Yán to confirm Xiong Yujiao's story, thanked Gāo Yán, and promised to repay the favor in the future. Hanging up the phone, he began to ponder how to win back Xiong Yujiao's forgiveness.
Before long, Xiong Yujiao walked out draped in her bathrobe, a complex look in her eyes.
Lěng Yè hurried over and bowed his head in remorse: "Sister Jiāo, I was wrong. I asked Gāo Yán about it—I misunderstood you. You saved me, and yet I..."
Xiong Yujiao waved a hand: "You didn't know, so a strong reaction is normal. I won't hold it against you."
Her tone suddenly shifted, a teasing glint in her eyes: "However, aside from Long Aotian, you're the first man who has ever dared to lay hands on me."
Lěng Yè's cheeks flushed, and he avoided her gaze.
Stepping closer, Xiong Yujiao laughed, "You said you were vicious and ruthless—I'd like to see if I can handle it."
With a shifting gaze, her hand slowly slid downward, causing Lěng Yè to recoil in a hurry: "Sister Jiāo, I was just joking, stop that."
Xiong Yujiao chuckled lightly: "Long Aotian's son stole your fiancée. Don't you want a little payback?"
Lěng Yè said with a serious expression: "I will challenge Long Aotian head-on, not take revenge through such means."
Xiong Yujiao was taken aback for a moment, then let out a self-deprecating laugh: "Naive. No one in Longcheng can defeat Long Aotian."
Her favorability toward Lěng Yè had grown quietly; she had merely been testing him just now. If Lěng Yè had harbored any improper intentions, she would have contacted Long Aotian long ago.
With a resolute attitude, Lěng Yè declared, "That was in the past. Soon, I will make him kneel before me! Sister Jiāo, you saved me, which means you must have been forced to become Long Aotian's mistress. Don't worry, once I become strong, I will definitely take you away from this bitter sea."
Xiong Yujiao remained silent for a long time before finally breaking into a smile: "What a naive fool. No wonder Gāo Yán told you to come find me."
"Your injuries haven't fully healed yet, go back to your room and rest. You can stay here as long as you like; I have things to attend to and won't keep you company for now."
Putting on a string of prayer beads from nearby, she turned and went back to her room to change. Lěng Yè noticed the beads radiating an aura of evil, but being anxious to relieve his bodily urges, he didn't dwell on it and headed straight to the restroom.
After washing up, Lěng Yè saw from the second-floor terrace that Xiong Yujiao was already down in the living room on the first floor. She was surrounded by a white-haired elderly man and several young men holding Compasses, inspecting the villa back and forth.
Curious, Lěng Yè walked downstairs and asked Xiong Yujiao, "Sister Jiāo, what are they doing?"
Xiong Yujiao explained in a low voice: "Lately, there have been strange noises in the villa at night. I can even hear whispering in my ear, and I've been dreaming of a woman in red. I've suffered from insomnia for many days in a row now, and I suspect there's something unclean here. This is Zēng Shàotán, a famous Feng Shui master from Longcheng whom I invited to take a look."
Lěng Yè's gaze fell once more upon the prayer beads, and he nodded thoughtfully.
Zēng Shàotán and his group walked toward Xiong Yujiao. With a smile, he said, "Ms. Xiong, I've already figured out the problem in your home. Many of the antique paintings and calligraphy pieces here carry the malignant qi of tombs, which easily attracts wandering ghosts and spirits. That's the reason why you keep having nightmares and hearing strange noises."
"I will help you clear away this malignant qi and give you a few protective talismans for the house, and the problem will be easily resolved."
Xiong Yujiao nodded gratefully.
At that moment, however, Lěng Yè suddenly spoke up with a challenge: "Master Zēng, are you sure you didn't misjudge? I'm afraid things aren't that simple."