“How come I never realized before just how shameless you are?”
“I never imagined, either, that one day you, Senior Sister, would use something as despicable as faking your own death to trick me.”
“I was—”
Chu You had just started to speak, but now found herself at a loss for words.
Transmigrating into a novel, turning from a man into a woman, and dying at his hands—these things, even if she confessed, he would probably just think she was making it up.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Faced with Chu You’s silence, Lin Mo wasn’t about to let it go, pressing on, “Senior Sister, why not be honest with me? I’ll listen patiently.”
“Think whatever you want. I’m going to sleep,” Chu You said, attempting to push Lin Mo away.
Lin Mo let her push him, but just as she was about to get up and head back to her room, he suddenly grabbed her wrist from behind.
He didn’t use much force, but there was a determination that brooked no resistance.
With a gentle tug, he pulled her back into his embrace, holding her tightly.
Chu You shuddered all over, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
She immediately struggled fiercely, driving her elbow backward, trying to break free from this suffocating restraint.
“What’s wrong with you now?!”
She turned her head, growling angrily, her voice tinged with a barely perceptible tremor.
“Why don’t you just stay at the Northern Manor and be the universally admired genius Swordbearer?! I’ve… I’ve been trying so hard, so hard to avoid you…”
Her struggles gradually weakened, her anger melting into exhaustion, confusion, and even a hint of despair.
“Why… why can’t you just leave me alone?”
Chu You’s outburst hadn’t come out of nowhere; it was the release of emotions she had suppressed for so long.
Even faking her death couldn’t really help her escape from the male lead, Lin Mo, or the ever-looming shadow of death that followed him like the sword of Damocles…
These days, every one of Lin Mo’s high-handed orders, every relentless question, made her feel a nearly suffocating helplessness.
Hearing Chu You’s words, full of despair and accusation, Lin Mo’s usual calm and composed expression finally cracked, the emotions in his eyes churning, no longer concealed.
He was silent for a moment, then spoke again in a low, hoarse voice, restrained as if wounded: “Senior Sister… do you really want to get rid of me that badly?”
At that moment, Chu You was lost in her own emotions and didn’t notice Lin Mo’s unusual state.
She took a deep breath, as if mustering all her strength, and answered resolutely, “That’s right! I want to get rid of you even more than you could imagine!”
As soon as the words left her lips, days of fear, grievance, and unwillingness surged up, overwhelming her reason.
She almost blurted out, “You don’t understand anything! I… I’ll die, you know?!”
The moment her words fell, the emotions in Lin Mo’s eyes suddenly froze, as if struck by something, a shadow of sorrow quietly settling there.
He fell silent again.
In the spacious living room, only their breathing could be heard, oppressive enough to make one’s heart race.
No one knew how long the silence lasted before Lin Mo finally spoke, his voice so soft it seemed about to dissolve into the air:
“So… Senior Sister has always hated me this much.”
After speaking, he let go of her hand, not sparing Chu You another glance, turning away and heading straight for his room.
His back carried a rare air of desolation.
Chu You stood frozen, watching his retreating figure, her lips pressed tight.
The violent sense of grievance and agitation in her heart, upon hearing his self-mocking, wounded words, suddenly dissipated by more than half, leaving only a strange sense of regret.
She opened her mouth, as if wanting to call him back or say something, but her throat was blocked, not a sound coming out.
Just then, Lin Mo, who had already reached the hallway, suddenly stopped.
He slowly turned back, his gaze falling on Chu You once again.
Lin Mo seemed to have regained his composure, but his eyes now held emotions even more inscrutable.
Their eyes met, a long silence spreading between them.
In the end, Lin Mo looked away first, speaking softly, his tone oddly calm: “Get some rest, Senior Sister.”
He paused, then added, “What you said… I’ll give it some thought.”
With that, he didn’t wait for Chu You to respond, turning once more and disappearing completely into the shadowed hallway.
As the door closed with a soft click, the living room was left in utter silence.
Chu You didn’t return to her room immediately.
Instead, like a young animal seeking shelter, she curled up again in the corner of the sofa.
She hugged her knees, burying her face in the crook of her arms, unmoving for a long time.
Only when her breath had warmed the fabric did she slowly lift her head.
Why?
Lin Mo had always forced her, used her, even threatened her with the faked death, making her do this and that…
But after finally venting all these pent-up frustrations and fears, why… did she not feel relieved, but rather empty, even more unhappy?
This question twisted inside her, with no answer in sight.
She slowly stood up and walked, somewhat unsteadily, to Lin Mo’s door.
Lifting her hand, she hovered her fingertips over the cold door, hesitating for a long while.
In her mind flashed his last desolate figure and the words, “So Senior Sister has always hated me this much.”
Her heart ached with mingled annoyance and bitterness.
In the end, she slowly lowered her hand, letting it fall limply to her side.
Turning away, she dragged her heavy steps back to her own room and gently closed the door.
At the very same moment that Chu You’s door shut.
On the other side, separated by a single door, Lin Mo leaned back against the door and let out a nearly inaudible sigh.
He slowly walked to his desk, opened a drawer, and took something out—a bandage, already yellowed with age, yet still unopened.
His fingertips gently stroked the rough edge of the bandage, his eyes deep and unreadable.
Moonlight fell softly, like a gauzy veil, but could not soothe the restless night.
That night, Chu You, for once, couldn’t sleep.
Since crossing over, she’d long been used to this body’s tendency to grow groggy the moment her head hit the pillow, but tonight her thoughts were a tangled mess.
Lin Mo’s sorrowful gaze and his low words replayed over and over in her mind.
It wasn’t until the first light of dawn crept across the sky that she managed to doze off for a little while.
The next morning, Chu You, with two obvious dark circles under her eyes, yawned continuously as she opened her door.
Just stepping into the living room, her steps suddenly halted.
The scent of food filled the air—she’d assumed that after last night’s near falling out, her relationship with Lin Mo would have dropped to freezing point.
She expected either a cold, empty kitchen or open indifference.
But Lin Mo, that guy…
At the dining table, he was just setting down a plate of fragrant, beautifully cooked food.
Hearing movement, Lin Mo slowly raised his gaze, his eyes naturally falling on Chu You.
Being looked at like that for no reason made Chu You nervous, her fingers curling up unconsciously, not knowing what to do with them.
She even avoided his gaze instinctively.
The silence stretched on for a while in the morning light, until Lin Mo finally spoke first, his tone steady and unreadable: “Go wash up and eat.”
He paused, then added, “We should get ready to deal with the Investigation Group later.”
“…Mm.”
Chu You responded softly, her voice still hoarse from just waking up.
She turned to head to the bathroom, but as soon as she took a step, she stopped again.
After a moment of inner struggle, she turned her head, looking at Lin Mo already sitting at the table, and hesitantly began, “About yesterday, I—”
But Lin Mo cut her off.
He didn’t look up, only continued calmly setting out two sets of bowls and chopsticks, his voice bland: “No need to explain to me, Senior Sister.”
Chu You pressed her lips together, staring for a few seconds at his lowered profile.
The eyes that always brimmed with teasing or dominance were now hidden beneath long lashes, giving away nothing of his real feelings.
In the end, she couldn’t say anything else, turning back and quietly walking into the bathroom.
In front of the mirror.
The sleepy girl’s brows furrowed, showing a hint of irritation.
Chu You deftly squeezed some toothpaste onto her brush, shoved it in her mouth, and grumbled—
“Damn jerk, won’t even let me explain…”
“Stingy blockhead!”