Lord Xiao's Tender Tears for His Beloved (13)

Host! Host! Host!!! The system sprang to life—it was alert! It was working again!

“Ah?” Hua Mi was utterly confused by the sudden outburst.

Yan Jiu had no patience to wait for her reply. With a swift tug, he tore all the tattered cloth from her body.

The already ragged garment was ripped open at the shoulder; the barely connected fabric shattered like fragile spiderwebs, losing all ability to cover her.

“Wait!” Hua Mi didn’t even have time to stop him.

“Wah! Why are you tearing my clothes!” She disregarded her exposed body, flustered and scrambling to grab at the fabric.

“It’s already ruined. Why keep it? I’ll buy you new ones later.” Yan Jiu showed no sympathy and quickly stripped her bare.

He casually tossed the shredded cloth into a corner. His large hand traced over her skin as he turned on the shower, holding her close while rinsing her body.

The man’s burning palms brushed every inch of her, stirring wave after wave of shivers.

Hua Mi barely managed to cover her intimate parts with both hands, her ears and cheeks flushed red.

She trembled in Yan Jiu’s embrace. “Master Jiu, I—I’ll handle it myself…”

But Yan Jiu leisurely explored every inch of her body. “Too late.”

When he finished washing her and lifted her out, her entire body was flushed red. She buried her face in his chest, refusing to look up no matter what he said.

Yan Jiu placed her on the bed and found one of his own shirts to put on her.

Kneeling by the bed, he pinched her chin, lifting her face. “Can you sleep now?”

Hua Mi blushed and avoided his gaze, shaking her head.

“What else do you want?” He frowned, clearly annoyed yet restraining himself as he asked.

“Can’t sleep…” she murmured softly, but in the quiet room, he easily heard her.

“I told you, no more having children with you…” She turned her face away, refusing to meet his eyes again.

Yan Jiu was momentarily stunned.

“My dear host!!!” The system’s wails were deafening.

Hua Mi shuddered, almost frightened to tears by the system’s shrill cries.

Yan Jiu looked at her with a complicated expression. “I won’t touch you. You can sleep.”

With that, he tucked her into the blanket and left the room.

Hua Mi peeked one eye, watching him leave, her fingers clutching the edge of the quilt tightly.

Silence returned to the room, leaving her alone.

Yan Jiu’s room was dimly lit, furnished in dark tones, exuding a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

She turned to the bedside table and spotted something familiar.

A pair of black cufflinks.

She stared blankly at them, the system’s echoes of sobbing still lingering in her ears.

After an unknown length of time, she closed her eyes. “Jiu, I’m so tired. I want to sleep now.”

“Wuwuwu, host, you sleep! I’ll mute myself and cry for a while, wuwuwu!” The system lamented, lamenting the missed opportunity because the host wasn’t doing the mission.

***

Outside the room, the man leaned against the door, smoking. The ember at the cigarette’s tip flickered, smoke swirling before his eyes.

After a while, someone hurried over, lowering their voice under his gaze.

“Master Jiu, we caught several, but Old Zhao escaped.”

“Hmm.” Yan Jiu stubbed out his cigarette and headed towards the basement.

***

The next day.

When Hua Mi woke, she was disoriented about the time, sitting blankly in bed for a while.

The door opened punctually, as if the visitor knew she was awake.

Yan Jiu entered carrying a bag filled with new clothes.

He came to her side. “Want me to help you change?”

“I’ll do it myself!” Hua Mi quickly snatched the bag and rushed to the bathroom. Her slightly flustered silhouette revealed her flushed ears.

When she came out dressed, she saw Yan Jiu sitting on the bed, playing with something in his hands.

She handed him back the shirt she had changed out of, still clutching the tattered garments from yesterday.

“Why are you still holding that rag?” Yan Jiu frowned, noticing her cradling the torn cloth like a treasured relic.

“It’s not a rag! It’s a battle robe! I want to give it a proper farewell!” Hua Mi retorted.

Yan Jiu gave her a strange look.

“Forget it, do as you please. Come here.” He commanded.

“What for?” She hesitated, twisting in place before reluctantly approaching.

Yan Jiu spread out the objects he had been fiddling with—it was the pair of cufflinks. “Put these on me.”

She looked at him curiously but did not hesitate this time. Sitting beside him, she lowered her head obediently and fastened the cufflinks for him.

[Ding! Male lead’s darkness level decreased by 1%. Current darkness level: 99%. Keep it up!]

“Huh?” Hua Mi heard the system’s alert and instinctively looked up at the man, meeting his dark eyes fixed on her.

[What!?] The system, still muted and wailing, was abruptly interrupted by the data update. Dizzy, it stared at the decreased darkness value.

“Wuwu, host, I think I’ve caught a virus. Why else would the male lead’s darkness level drop?”

Hua Mi: “…” How does it know?!

The timing of the darkness drop was delicate, and Hua Mi felt somewhat distracted.

She had already resigned herself to failing the mission.

Yan Jiu adjusted his cuffs and stood. “Let’s go. I’ll see you home.”

“Oh…” She followed behind him.

She never had a blindfold on after leaving the room.

Curiously, she glanced at him.

Yan Jiu turned his head. “What’s wrong?”

She pointed to her eyes. “No need for the blindfold anymore?”

***

“Mm.” Yan Jiu replied coldly and continued walking.

His strides were long; Hua Mi had to trot to keep up but deliberately kept just a step behind him.

Suddenly, Yan Jiu stopped.

He looked back at the little girl trailing him.

Hua Mi looked at him in confusion, noticing the displeasure on his face.

Suddenly, Yan Jiu came over, his burning hand forcing its way through her fingers, gripping her firmly so she couldn’t break free, then pulling her forward with long strides.

“Too slow,” he said.

Hua Mi stumbled several steps, barely keeping pace with a quick trot.

Not long after, she couldn’t keep up anymore.

She ran a few steps faster and clung tightly with her free arm around the man’s elbow, almost hanging on him.

“Master Jiu, please slow down! I can’t keep up, wuwu.”

Only then did Yan Jiu finally slow down.

Hua Mi held onto his arm tightly, afraid he’d drag her along again.

She didn’t see the faint curve that appeared at the corner of the man’s mouth.

Yan Jiu escorted her to her doorstep and handed her a bag.

Inside were her discarded clothes.

Also, her phone and identification.

When Old Zhao kidnapped her yesterday, all her belongings were taken away, but Yan Jiu had returned them now.

“Thank you, Master Jiu…” Her grip on the bag tightened and loosened repeatedly.

“Master Jiu, will you come see me tonight?” She cautiously looked up and asked.

It was a test.

Her heart fluttered nervously, her eyes shimmering with unease.

If Yan Jiu came to her, it wouldn’t seem like she was clinging to him.

All her anxious expressions were caught in the man’s eyes.

Yan Jiu lifted her chin, his fingertips caressing her cheek, his dark eyes flickering with an indistinct light.

In the end, he said nothing about whether he would come.

It wasn’t exactly disappointment—just a final attempt before giving up completely.

Hua Mi watched his departing figure, lost in thought.