Lu Jin straightened up, shedding his coat. His bone-defined fingers fumbled with his tie, his gaze towards Shen Yue like a brewing pool of endless, sinister ill will, sending shivers down the spine.
It was akin to a predator stalking a defenseless prey.
His eyes never once strayed from Shen Yue’s pale, beautiful face as he spoke slowly, with a hint of gentleness.
“Shen Yue, don't always oppose me. It does you no good.”
Shen Yue’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, her dark, moist eyes locking onto the man, her vibrant lips pressed into a pale line.
It was a silent defiance.
The cold, hateful expression was like a sharp blade, piercing Lu Jin’s eyes.
He felt he shouldn't be hurting.
He only loved the superficial appearance; as for what Shen Yue thought, whether she liked him or hated him, it made no difference to him.
Love—
The word seemed particularly foolish.
The tie was tossed onto the floor.
“Hate me?” Lu Jin suddenly let out a silent laugh, his gaze chilling as he looked at Shen Yue. “Then it won’t matter if you hate me even more.”
Shen Yue’s shoulders hitched backward, her eyelashes now adorned with clear, crystalline tears. Her beautiful, pale face displayed a bewildered sorrow, a naive sadness.
As if she couldn’t understand why she was being treated so excessively when she had done nothing wrong.
She was retreating, shrinking back, truly afraid.
Afraid of the man before her who smiled with such gloom. A sharp pain throbbed in her head as black and white images flashed repeatedly. She tried desperately to grasp them, but like a rusted television, they flickered past.
The more Shen Yue shrank back, the more furious Lu Jin became. Veins bulged on his forehead, and he gritted his teeth, “Dare to take another step back, see what happens.”
“Shen Yue, just try.”
The cruel threat was like a wolf’s venomous fangs sinking into Shen Yue’s neck.
Why did everyone have to force her?
Shen Yue thought in confusion, her light red eyelids lowering slightly. Her lips murmured, “What did I do wrong?”
She racked her brain but couldn’t understand why she had provoked this lunatic.
Pressing her lips together, Shen Yue seemed to taste a hint of bitterness and salt.
It was a simple question, not an accusation.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
As if a sore spot had been prodded, or perhaps to conceal something, Lu Jin’s eyes turned violently red. He let out a scornful laugh, his tone icy.
“Am I not good enough for you? Back then, when you climbed into Xie Jiangsheng’s bed, wasn't it all for money? I can give you more. You’re just someone who’s been played by fire around Xie Jiangsheng; stop pretending to be pure in front of me!”
“If you were obedient, it would be good for both of us. But you always seem to enjoy testing my limits. I have no patience, Shen Yue, I am not a patient man!”
Towards the end, he couldn’t help but roar, his face flushing with emotion. Those malicious, harsh words hadn't been thought through, but they surprisingly soothed his fiercely beating heart and masked the thunderous pounding of his pulse.
The reason he was so angry was simply that Shen Yue was too disobedient.
Her long, thick eyelashes cast faint shadows on her pale cheeks, making her look sad.
For some reason, Lu Jin’s heart clenched instantly.
He clenched his fingers, his voice hoarse.
His mind was now chaotic, feeling strange, and filled with an inexplicable panic.
Lu Jin ran a hand through his hair forcefully, the veins on his forehead throbbing.
“I…”
After uttering that one word, Lu Jin didn’t know what else to say.
He had said all sorts of unpleasant things, losing control of his emotions whenever he got angry, even snapping at passing dogs, but he had never felt so guilty as he did now.
His original intention was just for Shen Yue to be more obedient.
If she were just a little more obedient, he could dote on her more, like her… a little more.
But Shen Yue always gave him a cold shoulder. When had Lu Jin ever swallowed such humiliation?
The atmosphere suddenly became oppressive, chillingly dreadful.
Lu Jin felt his blood surge backward, his skin burning, his temples throbbing. He wanted to say a few words to ease the tension, but Shen Yue had already climbed off the bed.
Lu Jin initially wanted to stop her, but he forcefully restrained himself.
Yet, as Shen Yue prepared to leave the room, Lu Jin still rushed forward, grabbing her slender wrist. Shen Yue automatically turned around, and Lu Jin froze for a moment.
The next second, his shoulder felt a chill.
Then, a heavy scent of blood assailed his nostrils.
At that instant, time seemed to slow down to an extreme. Lu Jin stood motionless, as if struck dumb, his eyes glazed over as he stared at the fruit knife embedded in his chest.
An icy coldness spread through him, freezing him. After a few seconds of rigidity, he suddenly trembled with an explosive surge of emotion.
His breathing was heavy, as if in disbelief, and he whispered, “You… want to kill me?”
Shen Yue wanted to kill him.
Wanted him dead.
The thought felt like a heavy blow to Lu Jin’s heart, and an inexplicable chill gripped his entire body.
Shen Yue raised her head, and only then did Lu Jin notice how extremely pale her face was, her body trembling slightly. The color had drained from her lips, losing their usual vibrancy, like a rain curtain veiled in mist.
Fragile, gloomy.
Radiating an aura of silent despair.
Lu Jin didn’t notice. At this moment, his reason was completely blinded by rage. His vision darkened, his heart spasmed with pain, and his bloodshot eyes glared intently at the person before him. Veins of furious horror bulged on his arms and neck, his face so dark it was almost distorted.
He still wore a smile, but it was laced with madness. His Adam’s apple tightened, and his eyes held a terrifying, burning heat.
“You think killing me will make me let you go?”
“Shen Yue, don’t worry, I won’t let you go even as a ghost.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the fingers gripping the knife’s hilt tightened forcefully. The sound of the blade piercing flesh seemed to be magnified infinitely in the silent space.
Her eyes remained as gentle and clean as ever, as if she were doing the most normal thing imaginable.
She wasn't killing him, but luring him with those dark, beautiful eyes.
“Don’t worry, we’ll meet again soon.”
The woman’s voice was still soft and gentle, reminding Lu Jin of the mild spring breeze.
She was unexpectedly calm. The clear eyes reflected Lu Jin’s face, as if looking at the person she loved most in the world.
Deep affection, sadness, reluctance.
Those were eyes that often shed tears.
The air was thick with the smell of blood, sickening.
As her eyes blinked, tears rolled down.
Shen Yue felt as if she were trapped in an airtight coffin, with decaying, damp air exuding rot, and she herself was slowly decaying in such an environment.