I didn’t even have to ask around. Tần Triết’s hard-partying friends called to curse me out and tell me what had happened on the other end.
After receiving those things—especially after seeing the video of my engagement to Tần Triết—Hứa Lê flew into a rage at him and eventually ran off in tears.
When I finished listening, I calmly hung up, blocked the number, and turned off my phone.
The corners of my mouth curled with amusement.
This was only the beginning.
Before, no matter how angry and wronged I felt, I wouldn’t have done this, because I wasn’t in a position to go up against Tần Triết.
But things were different now.
Sure enough, after dinner, Tần Triết stormed over to my house, furious.
He’d brought a few burly underlings with him. One look at them told me they were there to intimidate me.
He kicked my door open and shouted angrily, “Lộc Linh, what do you think you’re doing?!”
I’d warned my parents beforehand and told them to stay in their room.
Now, the small living room was packed with people.
They glared at me menacingly, making me feel more alone and helpless than ever.
Standing in front of me, Tần Triết looked down at me with an air of superiority. “Lộc Linh, I’ll give you one chance. Post a correction online, apologize to Hứa Lê, and explain yourself. Otherwise, don’t blame me for forgetting our past.”
I laughed coldly. “Correct what? Isn’t this the truth?”
Tần Triết was so angry he laughed. “Fine. Looks like you still don’t know your place. If that’s how it is, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
He swung his hand, and the men behind him immediately charged forward, their eyes full of menace.
Just then, slow footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a lazy yet commanding voice.
“Oh? And how exactly are you planning to be ruthless?”
07
He strolled in, and everyone in the room instinctively stepped aside to make way. Even Tần Triết shifted slightly out of his path.
When Tần Triết saw him approach, he seemed to remember something, and his face suddenly went pale.
Tần Mục reached out and gently tucked the loose strand of hair behind my ear. His voice was low. “I’m late. Were you scared?”
I shook my head slightly.
The metal of his prosthetic arm brushed my ear, cold and ticklish.
Tần Triết stammered, “Uncle, you two…”
Tần Mục slipped an arm around my waist and looked at Tần Triết.
A single glance from him was enough to send a chill through the room.
“How were you planning to mistreat her?”
Tần Triết’s legs shook, and he nearly collapsed.
“Uncle, it was… it was a misunderstanding.”
He stammered, unable to explain himself.
Tần Mục clicked his tongue, hooked a foot around a chair, and pulled it over before sitting down with effortless elegance. Then he pulled me onto his lap.
Leaning against his chest, with his strong arm around my waist, I could feel the unmistakable presence of his metal prosthetic arm even through my clothes.
He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger and said casually, “Last time it was a joke; this time it’s a misunderstanding. Tần Triết, do you think I’m too easygoing?”
With just that mild rebuke, Tần Triết dropped to his knees with a thud.
“Uncle, I know I was wrong. Please let me off this time.”
He was shaking with fear. His earlier arrogance was gone, along with the carefree swagger of a rich young heir.
I couldn’t help wondering what kind of standing Tần Mục had in the Tần family.
I couldn’t help glancing at him.
Tần Mục chuckled. “Want me to get revenge for you?”
He snapped his fingers, and the door opened. Several men dragged in a few people and forced them to their knees. It was Chu Khởi and his accomplices.
Their faces were bruised and swollen. They’d clearly already been given a beating.
As soon as they saw me, they dropped to their knees and bowed their heads, begging for mercy.
“Miss Lộc, I was blind and blinded by greed. Tần Triết ordered me to do it all. Please forgive me, please!”
The other two hurriedly bowed their heads again and again.
Tần Triết panicked when he heard that. “Chu Khởi, don’t talk nonsense!”
“When did I ever… I never ordered you to do anything!”
“Uncle, you have to believe me! I never ordered them to do anything. They acted on their own.”
Chu Khởi raised his head and glared at Tần Triết. “If you hadn’t said that, how could we have misunderstood?”
“Miss Lộc was devoted to you, and you threw her away. You’ve humiliated her again and again. You’re worse than an animal!”
Tần Mục clicked his tongue in displeasure, and the two noisy men immediately fell silent, trembling in fear.
He looked at me. “How do you want to punish them?”
I glanced at Chu Khởi and the other two, then smiled faintly. “Call the police.”
Tần Mục laughed aloud. “That’s all?”
I looked at him in confusion. What else could I do?
We live under the rule of law. Other than calling the police and having them arrested, what else could I do?
Tần Mục smiled with amusement. “All right. Whatever you say.”
“What about him?”
Tần Triết’s whole body stiffened as he watched me nervously.
I pretended to think it over. “He is your nephew, after all. Just give him a mild warning.”
Tần Triết let out a sigh of relief. “Lộc Linh, I knew you—”
Tần Mục’s icy gaze swept over him, and he immediately shut his mouth.
Tần Mục waved his hand, and everyone in the room quickly filed out.
Still holding me, he asked softly, “What do you want to do?”
He knew I wouldn’t let Tần Triết off easily.
I smiled. “A slow, painful death is the way to go.”
Wasn’t Hứa Lê the person he loved most?
08
The next day, rumors about Tần Mục and me had spread everywhere.
Someone scolded me for failing to marry Tần Triết and then turning around to seduce his uncle, calling me shameless.
Tần Mục’s legal team promptly sued that person.
After that happened a few times, no one dared say anything about me anymore. Even the people at the company became far more respectful and friendly whenever they saw me, and my superiors kept promoting me.
I’d known this would happen, but I still found it a little amusing.
Today, I arranged to meet Hứa Lê.
I’d had someone look into Tần Triết and Hứa Lê’s history. They’d been high school classmates, and Tần Triết had secretly liked her. But after graduation, she went abroad, and they lost touch.
After that, Tần Triết met me…
Forget it. There’s no need to bring that up.
Before long, Hứa Lê arrived, looking displeased. “What do you want with me?”
I gestured for her to sit down before speaking. “Did you know Tần Triết found a replacement for you?”
Hứa Lê pressed her lips together, her tone displeased. “I didn’t know. I’ve been overseas all these years. We kept in touch regularly, but I had no idea what he’d been doing.”
“I know you’ve got Tần Mục backing you now, so you want to settle the score with me, right? But Lộc Linh, I won’t take responsibility for something I never did!”
I chuckled softly. “Don’t be in such a hurry. I never said I was going to do anything to you.”
The shock and panic on Hứa Lê’s face when she first saw me hadn’t looked feigned.
“Then why did you ask to see me? After I received what you sent that day, I cut ties with Tần Triết completely.”
I looked at her. “I just wanted to confirm something, that’s all.”
Hứa Lê had been kept in the dark, just like me. That meant Tần Triết was the one who deserved to die most.
“Hứa Lê, let’s work together.”
Hứa Lê looked surprised at that.
We sat in the café for a long time. It wasn’t until Tần Mục’s car pulled up outside and honked impatiently that I walked Hứa Lê out.
After she left in a taxi, I got into Tần Mục’s car.
That morning, he’d said he wanted to take me somewhere. He’d been rather mysterious about it.
He asked, “What did you two talk about?”
I thought for a moment. I didn’t hide anything from Tần Mục; after all, I was relying on his influence.
After hearing me out, he chuckled. “Psychological torture. Not bad.”
“Tần Mục, where are you taking me?”
He turned his head to glance at me. “You’ll find out soon.”
Ten minutes later, when I saw the civil affairs bureau in front of us, I froze.
“You… I…”
For a moment, I didn’t know what to say.
This was all happening too fast.
But it seemed I was the one who’d agreed to it in the first place.
“Isn’t this… a little too soon?”
“Besides, I didn’t bring my household registration booklet.”
Tần Mục reached into the back seat and took out two household registration booklets. “I brought them. Any other questions?”
I pressed my lips together and shook my head.
“Then let’s go.”
Tần Mục got out of the car, then pulled me into the civil affairs bureau.
I felt a little awkward throughout the marriage registration process, as if my mind still hadn’t caught up with what was happening.
It wasn’t until Tần Mục took the two marriage certificates and drove me home that it finally sank in.
In the car, I stared at the red booklet in my hand, slowly realizing that something seemed off, though I couldn’t put it into words.
“We’re here.”
I came to my senses and turned to look out the window, realizing this wasn’t my home.
“Where are we?”
“My place. We’ve got our marriage certificates now, so of course we’ll live together from now on. I’ll also have someone arrange care for your parents.”
Tần Mục opened the car door and led me into the villa.
I still hadn’t gotten used to it.
As soon as the door closed, he suddenly turned and pulled me into his arms. His burning kiss came down like a torrential rain.
His metal prosthetic arm tightened around my waist. Its chill seeped through my clothes and into my skin, making me shiver, while his chest was so hot it felt like it could burn me.
“You… don’t…”
Tần Mục’s low voice sounded by my ear. “I took medicine ahead of time for my heat. I can keep it under control.”
“Don’t be afraid, okay?”
As he spoke, a pair of soft, fluffy black animal ears appeared on his head.
I stared at them, dumbfounded.