Chapter 69: Tearing Off the Mask of Tenderness

Gu Qingyuan licked her lips and aimed for the little thing’s charming, lovely mouth.

Su Ling jerked his head to the side, barely dodging the kiss, but her lips still brushed against the delicate skin below his ear, leaving a burning and conspicuous red mark.

A tingling, nauseating sensation spread instantly. Su Ling trembled violently, and tears finally rolled down uncontrollably.

He bit his lip hard, not daring to cry too loudly. He could only huddle into the deepest corner of the bed, his hands shielding his chest, his eyes filled with desperate terror.

“Why are you hiding?”

Gu Qingyuan’s interest was piqued even further. Instead of backing off, she reached out to grab his chin, trying to force him to look up at her. Her tone carried a flirtatious sense of certainty.

“You look so seductive—who are you playing innocent for? Just be good and listen to me; I won’t treat you poorly.”

The moment her fingertips were about to touch Su Ling’s skin, the door was suddenly kicked open by a violent force!

The wooden door slammed heavily against the wall with a deafening crash, instantly shattering the atmosphere of coercion and panic.

Ye Moran stood at the doorway, surrounded by a bone-chilling aura. Her usually indifferent eyes were completely consumed by a torrential, murderous rage. Her gaze was pinned firmly on Gu Qingyuan.

When she saw the glaring red mark below Su Ling’s ear and the pale, trembling state of the boy, the killing intent in her eyes nearly burned the entire room to ashes.

‘I was only gone for a few minutes, only a few steps away, and the little fellow actually seduced someone else!’

“Are you… Ye Moran?”

Gu Qingyuan searched her memory for a moment before recalling the other woman’s identity. Ye Moran—the current Head of the Ye Family and the protagonist of this banquet?

But why was she here?

“Let go of him!”

Ye Moran’s voice was low, and her entire body radiated an overbearing pressure.

“Waa, Sister…”

“Sister?”

Hearing this title, Gu Qingyuan turned to carefully examine the boy. He was very handsome, and his pale, pink face was covered in tear stains.

The more she looked, the more familiar he seemed.

“Mm?!”

“What are you doing?”

Gu Qingyuan felt a sharp pain in her wrist and frowned at Ye Moran.

“Get out!”

Ye Moran twisted her wrist. Before Gu Qingyuan could react, she was yanked by a massive force and sent rolling off the bed.

“Ye Moran, are you crazy!”

“Get out!”

Ye Moran’s icy words sent a shiver through Gu Qingyuan’s heart.

‘This woman!’

She looked down at her wrist; it was completely red, and a faint numbness was spreading from it.

‘Such strength… is this person even human???’

She took another look at the person on the bed. Although this little thing was beautiful, it wasn’t worth it. There was no need to fall out with someone like Ye Moran over a little toy!

“Hah, fine, you win!”

“I’m leaving.”

Gu Qingyuan brushed off non-existent dust from her clothes and picked up her suitcase, pretending to be unbothered.

As soon as she stepped out of the room, she immediately clutched her wrist.

“Damn it, she’s a total lunatic. Is a man really worth all that?!”

“It hurts so much!”

“Damn it!”

While Gu Qingyuan cursed under her breath, her mind was focused on that boy. She had to admit, that little thing was truly beautiful—prettier than any man she had ever seen.

That tender, pink face… she really wanted to take a bite…

She licked her lips, her body reacting involuntarily.

However, why did that little thing call Ye Moran “Sister”? Regarding that title, there was only one person she could think of—Ye Jin.

But wasn’t Ye Jin dead?

‘Could it be…?’

***

“Sister?”

Ye Moran did not respond. She just stared quietly at Su Ling, or more accurately, at the red mark on his neck!

“Waa, Sister…”

Su Ling’s clothes were disheveled, and tears clung to the corners of his eyes. He looked so pitiful that it made Ye Moran want to tear him apart completely, leaving nothing behind!

“Come here!”

Su Ling’s body flinched. He looked at his sister in confusion.

‘Is Sister angry again?’

But this time, he hadn’t done anything. That person had suddenly broken in and done those things to him. He… he wasn’t in the wrong…

“You’re not coming over?”

“Hah, it’s always like this. You make a mistake and then refuse to be obedient!”

“I… I didn’t… I didn’t make a mistake…”

Su Ling bit his lower lip, his gaze aggrieved and pitiful as he looked at her.

“You didn’t?”

“Then tell me, why is it that as soon as I leave for a moment, you’re rolling around on the bed with another woman!”

“I didn’t, I really didn’t. It was her; she suddenly broke in…”

Su Ling couldn’t help but defend himself loudly. He felt even more wronged and hurt. He was clearly the victim, so why was Sister saying such things about him?

She was being so cruel!

“She broke in, so couldn’t you have kicked her out? Why did you get on the bed with her!”

As Ye Moran spoke, the coldness in her eyes grew deeper.

She didn’t believe Su Ling’s explanation at all. When facing her, he clearly knew how to resist—he had even run away once before.

Did he not know how to resist when facing others?

Or was it that anyone was fine except for her!

Her fingers gently stroked Su Ling’s cheek. Su Ling frowned and tilted his head to avoid it; he did not like being touched like this.

Ye Moran lowered her gaze and let out a cold laugh. As expected, he was so resistant toward her. His previous initiative had only been to avoid more severe punishment!

Suddenly, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, and she violently grabbed the little fellow’s chin!

“Little fellow, I have been restraining myself this whole time. I’ve been wearing a mask, acting like a tender sister in front of you. But it’s useless. I didn’t want to hurt you; I wanted to make you fall in love with me. Yet you never did. Instead, you keep hurting me. Why?!”

“Is it because you are the one being loved that you feel so emboldened?”

“I can’t take it anymore. Playing the role of a good sister is so exhausting, especially when I’m constantly treated like this by you. I really… I really don’t want to pretend anymore!”

“Mgh!—”

Su Ling’s chin was squeezed so hard it pained him, and tears flowed uncontrollably. He didn’t just feel wronged; he felt a spark of anger.

When had he ever hurt her? Wasn’t he the one who was always being hurt?

She confined him, forced him, and was now treating him so violently. How could she say she “didn’t want to hurt him”?

But with his chin pinned, he couldn’t speak, let alone argue!

“Little fellow, is your illness also fake?”

Su Ling’s pupils constricted. What illness? Was he sick?

Seeing the little fellow’s reaction, Ye Moran’s heart turned cold. As expected, it was all a lie!

Just like the first time she had confined the little fellow in the basement. He had pretended to have mental issues and acted obedient, but in reality, that was just his way of tricking her!

His goal was only to make her heart soften so she would let him out!

It was the same now. He was faking his depression so she wouldn’t dare lay a hand on him. Ha!

“Little fellow, your acting is getting better and better. Should I give you an award?”

“Ah!—”

Ye Moran bit down on Su Ling’s tender collarbone. Her sharp canine teeth easily pierced the skin!

“Little fellow, your blood has become delicious!”

Ye Moran lifted her head. A drop of blood slowly slid from the corner of her mouth, landing squarely on the little fellow’s lips!

“Waaa… waaa…”

“Don’t cry!”

“Wait a moment. I won’t be holding back. If you cry now, you won’t have the strength to cry later.”

She withdrew her hand and began to unbutton her clothes.

“Waa, no… you can’t do this… waa…”

“I’ll die… please… don’t!”

“You won’t. How could I have the heart to let you die?”