The Fierce Lord’s Tender Tears for His Beloved (2)

"Master Jiu." She called out softly, "It's Hua Mi." Each word seemed to gently prod at the man's heart.

He smoked silently, ignoring her as if he hadn’t heard, yet he made no move to harm her further.

“He doesn’t seem to want to kill me anymore,” Hua Mi whispered to the system.

[Host, you’re amazing! You’ve done what others couldn’t! Here’s a beginner’s gift pack as a reward!] The system hurried to comfort its host.

Even the system favored such a beautiful, fragile, delicate young lady!

Hua Mi curved her lips into a faint smile. Her tears were subsiding quickly; she was easy to soothe. Now not even a trace of tears remained on her face.

Master Yan Jiu truly seemed to have lost the desire to kill her. He stomped out his cigarette underfoot, turned away without another glance, and headed toward the exit of the alley. “Before I change my mind, you’d better scram.”

Left alone in the pitch-black alley, Hua Mi felt the thick darkness around her creeping forward like a living thing.

She shivered, terrified, and hurriedly followed after the man who was walking away.

“Master Jiu, wait, please don’t leave me here all alone! It’s so dark and scary, boohoo!”

Catching up to him, she clasped his arm with her small hand, tears falling freely now.

Her tone was pitiful and fragile, as if truly frightened.

She cried so beautifully, like blossoms drenched in spring rain, each frame perfectly tragic, her expression hauntingly exquisite.

Just as Hua Mi was striking a pose and crying earnestly, her chin was suddenly grasped and lifted.

The man studied her face as if admiring something fascinating, a strange pleasure flickering in his deep eyes.

A cruel smile tugged at his lips. “You look quite good when you cry.”

Obediently, she lifted her head for him to see, adjusting her brows and expression with his movements to ensure every angle was flawless.

Hearing this, she squeezed out two more tears, delighting him greatly.

Without any gentleness, he pushed her into the car. With one long-legged step, he cornered her in the back seat.

The petite girl had hardly any space to sit.

The car started moving; the man smoked, staring out the window.

Hua Mi peeked at him, feeling safer now, and quietly edged closer.

Her hand lightly clutched his arm again—a gesture full of dependence and trust.

“Master Jiu, are you taking me away to have children with me?”

The only response was a puff of smoke from the man.

“Cough, cough!” She choked, eyes reddening, looking pitiful.

“Hah, how could that be?” The man laughed darkly, his meaning unclear.

The girl waved her hand wildly, trying to disperse the smoke blowing in her face. “It smells awful, don’t blow it at me, boohoo, it stinks.”

“Dirty before, now it’s stinky, huh?” Yan Jiu looked at her leisurely. When the smoke cleared, he blew another puff at her, savoring her tearful reaction.

She really seemed overwhelmed by the smoke and stopped holding on, scrambling to avoid it.

“Boohoo, stop blowing that! It stinks! You’re so mean! You don’t want to have kids with me and you bully me too!”

Even after retreating, she was still dissatisfied and lifted her foot to kick his leg again.

But this time she failed; the man caught her slender ankle, pinning her to the backseat.

His towering figure loomed over her, leaving no escape.

“Still dare to kick?” He rubbed his thumb over her ankle.

“Boohoo, don’t come closer! I smell nice, don’t pollute me!”

“Nice? I don’t smell it. Not as strong as the smoke.” He sneered and blew smoke at her again, enveloping her completely.

The girl stared at him incredulously, her big watery eyes full of grievance as tears fell once more.

Yan Jiu’s gaze grew hotter.

Her crying face was truly a sight to behold.

“Impossible! Let me go! Boohoo!” Hua Mi seemed hurt by his words and struggled. Perhaps cramped for space, she surprisingly broke free.

Yan Jiu didn’t pursue. Since she had entertained him so much, he let it go.

He leaned back in his seat, smoking disinterestedly, his impassive eyes reflecting only the glow outside.

Suddenly, the cigarette was snatched from his mouth.

The girl straddled his lap, grabbing the cigarette and tossing it out the window.

Yan Jiu glared at her with clear displeasure.

Most would cower before such a look, yet the girl appeared blissfully unaware of the danger, utterly innocent.

He couldn’t tell if she was brave or reckless—speaking boldly, acting without fear.

A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes, but before he could reprimand the disobedient girl, she leaned forward defiantly, protesting, “How could I smell worse than smoke? I don’t believe it!”

His vision was suddenly filled with a pale blur, soft flesh pressed against his nose, fragrant and warm.

He froze.

“Well? Am I fragrant or not? Surely I’m more fragrant than you?”

The softness of her skin brushed against his face, and his expression darkened.

“Get down.”

Hua Mi trembled, standing by the roadside as the man kicked her out of the car.

The little girl shivered in the cold night wind, wiping away tears.

“Boohoo, he’s so mean—so fierce and always bullying me. He even dislikes me. I don’t want to have his children anymore, boohoo!”

The system dared not utter a word.

Its host seemed utterly clueless about what she was doing!

A temptress unaware of her own charm—women who seduced the male lead like her had long since been killed hundreds of times over. The fact she was only kicked out of the car was a miracle in itself!

Hua Mi curled up on the roadside, tears falling like raindrops. “Boohoo, it’s so cold, Jiu Jiu. Am I going to sleep on the street? How miserable, boohoo.”

[...]

[No, host, look at the navigation. The original owner’s rented apartment is just behind. We can walk back in five minutes!]

“Really?” Hua Mi’s tears had only just begun to fall when she stifled her sobs, feeling a bit reassured.

The little girl wiped her tears unhappily and started walking toward the original owner’s home.

As soon as she returned, Hua Mi headed straight for the full-length mirror in the living room.

Her body was still hers, but her attire had changed.

She was an orphan, living on meager subsidies and scholarships to barely get through university, working part-time to make ends meet.

In the mirror was a delicate, pretty girl, dressed simply but worn-out: a plain black T-shirt paired with a black skirt, clothes prepared for working at a bar but clearly ill-fitting on her.

The T-shirt stretched tightly over her excellent figure, exposing much pale skin, while the skirt had become a nearly ankle-length piece, looking awkward and mismatched.

She puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction! But now she was a poor little thing with no money.

No money to buy clothes—how sad.

[A new beginner’s gift pack is available to open!] The system popped up once more.