CHAPTER FIFTEEN — HIS FACE WAS FAR TOO THICK
Tang Ke Xin could not see through this man—this beautiful, dangerous creature who seemed to act entirely according to his own whims. That was precisely what frightened her. She could not predict him. She could not anticipate him. And she certainly could not guarantee what he might do next.
If he suddenly seized her arm and pulled back her sleeve…
If he caught even the faintest glimpse of her left shoulder…
Even with the wax and powder concealing the wound, she doubted she could hide it from his eyes.
And if he truly was the man from that night—
If he recognised the mark he had left—
She would likely be reduced to dust before she could even scream.
So she dared not meet his gaze now.
Not when her life might hinge on a single flicker of recognition.
"That would not be wise," she said suddenly, forcing her voice into a steady, serious tone. "The mountain road is far too steep. I fear I might… misjudge the distance."
She blinked up at him with earnest sincerity.
The effect was immediate.
Nangong Yi's movements stilled. His enchanting eyes widened ever so slightly, the smile freezing on his lips. For a heartbeat, he simply stared at her—astonished.
The mountain road is too steep… she might misjudge the distance?
Was this truly something a young lady should say?
And with such solemn seriousness?
This woman…
He found her increasingly fascinating.
"Then," he murmured, lips curving into a brilliant smile, "shall we try again once we reach the foot of the mountain?"
Tang Ke Xin felt her soul leave her body.
When did I ever say we would try again?
This man could twist any sentence into whatever meaning pleased him.
She had never, in her entire life, been so thoroughly suppressed in a conversation.
She made a decision on the spot.
From this moment forward, she would say nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
No matter what he said, no matter what he did—she would ignore him.
But before she could enact her vow of silence, he suddenly lifted her arm.
The bruise Mu Shaoyi had left was stark and ugly, darkening further under the light.
"Does it hurt?"
His voice was low, magnetic, deceptively gentle. His eyes, however, had grown cold.
Tang Ke Xin's heart jolted.
What was he planning now?
This softness—this dangerous tenderness—could topple kingdoms.
"It hurts," she admitted despite herself. Her bones had nearly been crushed; she would have been lying to deny it.
Nangong Yi blinked.
Then—
"Pfft."
He burst into laughter.
He laughed.
At her pain.
Tang Ke Xin's heart sank.
Wonderful. I am suffering, and he finds it amusing.
She said nothing.
He seemed in an excellent mood, leaning lazily against the carriage wall, watching her with a smile that made her skin prickle.
Thankfully, the mountain path was short. Before long, they reached the foot of the mountain.
"Now that we've descended," Tang Ke Xin said pointedly, "the Mayor may—"
"Are you reminding me," he interrupted smoothly, leaning close, "that the matter we could not complete on the mountain path may now continue?"
Tang Ke Xin stared at him.
She had no words.
None.
Nothing she said made sense in front of this man.
He could twist even the most innocent sentence into something outrageous.
She exhaled slowly.
Then again.
She needed to think of a way—any way—to rid herself of him.
"What is it?" he asked lightly. "Thinking of escaping?"
His smile deepened, teasing and wicked.
"Why don't we make a wager? If you manage to escape me for even a single day…"
Tang Ke Xin's head snapped up.
"…then I shall temporarily stop pursuing you."
His smile was radiant—beautiful enough to blind, dangerous enough to kill.
Tang Ke Xin clenched her fists.
She understood perfectly what he meant.
Right now, she did not want to escape.
She wanted to hit him.
But she also knew she had no chance of winning.
So she endured.
"Mayor," she said tightly, "this is the road to my home."
The implication was clear:
Once she reached home, she would be rid of him.
There would be no need to run.
Surely he would not follow her into her own residence.
But his next words struck her like a bolt of lightning.
A single sentence—
and Tang Ke Xin felt her heart stop.