Chapter 19: This Guy Is Getting More and More Ferocious

Night Palace, Study.

Yu Tingye sat back in an intricately carved dragon-patterned grandmaster’s chair, arms crossed, eyes closed, resting.

Tang Xin’er entered quietly, carrying a bowl of nourishing medicinal soup.

Hearing footsteps, Yu Tingye slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Tang Xin’er, he straightened up. “Why have you come?”

Proudly, Tang Xin’er handed him the soup. “I just learned how to make this. Brother Tingye, please try it.”

Yu Tingye smiled and took the soup, setting it aside. “I’ll drink it later. Did you come to see Brother Tingye for something?”

Tang Xin’er nodded, her eyes suddenly welling with tears.

Yu Tingye was silent.

“Brother Tingye, do you not like Xin’er?” she asked, her face full of hurt.

“Why do you ask that?”

Looking at him, Tang Xin’er said, “Then why don’t you touch me? I want to be your woman, Brother Tingye. All you have to do is—”

“Wait, Xin’er.” Yu Tingye cut her off gently, “Whatever you want, Brother Tingye can give you—except for this one thing.”

“Why?” Tang Xin’er grasped his hands tightly. “Why not? As long as Brother Tingye likes me, isn’t that enough?”

“I can’t, Xin’er.”

Her hopeful gaze slowly dimmed, then hardened. “It’s because of that old witch, isn’t it? Does Brother Tingye really have feelings for her? Have you forgotten how Uncle and Aunt died?”

Seeing Yu Tingye’s face darken, Tang Xin’er realized she had said too much, but she was terrified that her Brother Tingye might fall for another woman—especially that shameless old hag. “I’m sorry, Brother Tingye. I shouldn’t have brought that up.”

“Go back now.”

Unwilling to leave, Tang Xin’er climbed onto Yu Tingye’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Brother Tingye, do you only like shameless women? Xin’er can be like that too—”

Before her lips could meet his, darkness suddenly overtook her; she lost consciousness.

Yu Tingye gazed at her sleeping face for a long moment, then raised his hand, palm aimed at her head, and thoroughly altered her memories.

When he finished, he lowered his hand and took a moment to regulate his breath.

“Come in,” Yu Tingye suddenly said.

Lin Xihe, standing outside the door, stiffened. He had been discovered.

Hesitating whether to enter, Yu Tingye’s voice came again, firmer this time, “I said, come in.”

Lin Xihe dared not delay any further and strode inside.

“How long have you been standing there?” Yu Tingye asked.

Lin Xihe answered obediently, “I came with Tang Xin’er.”

Yu Tingye fixed him with a stare. “So you heard everything I said to her?”

Lin Xihe nodded.

“Leave.”

Lin Xihe was speechless.

“I said, get out!”

Turning around, Lin Xihe left. This guy was growing more ferocious by the day.

It was better to keep a distance from him in the future.

After Lin Xihe stepped outside, a guard hurried into the study.

Curious, she followed him.

“Lord Tingye, the siblings Shuangyi and Shuangyu insist on seeing you,” the guard reported.

“Not seeing them.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the guard turned to leave, Lin Xihe stopped him. “Young man, Lord Tingye is in a bad mood today. Let me take care of those two siblings first.”

“Uh...”

Lin Xihe continued, “If they can’t see Lord Tingye, they’ll keep causing trouble. You must find it annoying too. Why not leave them with me for now?”

“Well... alright.” The guard found her suggestion reasonable.