Zhu Zhuyun's cry of realization was choked off before it could fully form. Ye Yin's kiss descended, silencing her completely. At that same instant, the disguise of Dai Weisi melted away from his face like a receding tide, revealing Ye Yin's true features and a playful, triumphant smile.
Zhu Zhuyun's mind buzzed and went completely blank. Her eyes widened in a mixture of extreme shock, disbelief, shame, and fury. Beneath it all was a strange, forbidden thrill that came from being so thoroughly deceived and toyed with. She had actually made those sounds under his massage. She had actually anticipated a kiss from the man she thought was her fiancé, only for it to be him. It was the man who had humiliated her on the arena, made her a laughingstock, and whom she hated to her very core.
The sheer amount of information and the emotional impact of the revelation made her freeze on the spot, forgetting even to resist.
[Resentment from Zhu Zhuyun +99!]
Ye Yin's deep voice sounded in her ear, "You don't want others to know what happened here tonight, do you?"
The words snapped her out of her trance. She shoved Ye Yin away with all her might, stumbling backward until her back hit the cold wall. She panted heavily, her normally perfect hair now disheveled and clinging to her flushed cheeks. The lapels of her nightgown had been pulled slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbone and a patch of smooth skin. She looked both alarmed and disheveled, yet possessed a breathtaking allure.
"Ye! Yin!" The two words were squeezed through her gritted teeth, filled with immense hatred and a tremor she couldn't control. "How dare you?! How dare you disguise yourself as Dai Weisi and sneak into my family's home! What did you do to me?!"
Her voice was sharp with emotion as she stared at the man before her, who remained perfectly composed, a hint of a playful smile still on his lips. Ye Yin casually wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand as if savoring the brief kiss. To Zhu Zhuyun, his gentle and harmless appearance was now the most detestable sight in the world.
"What did I do?" Ye Yin spread his hands, his tone as light as if he were discussing the weather. "As you can see, I simply gave the exhausted Miss Zhu a deep relaxation therapy. The results seem quite good; your complexion is much rosier now."
He let his gaze sweep deliberately over her flushed cheeks and slightly open collar with undisguised appreciation. Zhu Zhuyun trembled with rage and instinctively pulled her nightgown tighter, wishing the ground would swallow her whole.
"You're shameless! A pig! I'll kill you!"
Her spirit power erupted. Four spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple—shone around her as the phantom of a Hell Civet appeared at her back. Razor-sharp claws slashed through the air, aimed directly at Ye Yin's throat. However, her attack was fueled by pure rage. Her spirit power was unfocused, and her movements were stiff and sluggish from the intense emotional turmoil.
Ye Yin didn't even bother to release his own spirit. He simply shifted his feet slightly, evading her attack as easily as if he were taking a stroll in a garden. At the same time, he made a regretful clicking sound with his tongue.
"Tsk, tsk. I just helped you clear your meridians and calm your mind, so why is your temper still so fiery? It seems one therapy session isn't enough. We'll need regular follow-ups to consolidate the effects."
His words were like pouring oil on a fire. Missing her attack only increased Zhu Zhuyun's shame and anger. She lunged again, her claws moving with even more ferocity. But Ye Yin's movements were like a ghost's. He always managed to evade her by a hair's breadth, occasionally letting his fingers "accidentally" brush against her wrist or waist, sending shivers down her spine. He was toying with her, as if teasing a ruffled cat.
"Oh, by the way," Ye Yin said while still dodging, as if he had just remembered something. "When I was massaging you earlier, Miss Zhuyun seemed… to be enjoying it very much? Did I hear you telling me not to stop?"
He then had the audacity to imitate the soft, unconscious moans she had made.
"You—shut up!" Zhu Zhuyun shrieked, her attacks becoming more frantic and, as a result, filled with even more openings.
She felt like she was going crazy. Her body's honest reaction and her mind's rational resistance were at war inside her, pushing her to the brink of collapse.
[Resentment from Zhu Zhuyun +99!]
Ye Yin felt the continuous surge of her intense resentment, and the smile on his face grew wider. He knew the timing was just right. If he continued to play with her, he would truly enrage the leopardess, and things could get difficult if the Zhu family guards were alerted.
Spotting an opening, his figure suddenly blurred. He was no longer dodging. Instead, he shot forward and expertly caught Zhu Zhuyun's attacking wrist. His strength was immense. She felt a numbness travel up her arm as her spirit power was instantly suppressed by a cold aura, making it impossible for her to break free.
"Let go of me!" she snarled, trying to strike with her other hand.
But Ye Yin was faster. His other hand clamped around her waist like an iron vise, pulling her sharply against him. Once again, their bodies were pressed tightly together. Zhu Zhuyun could feel the warmth of his chest and the strong, steady beat of his heart. She could smell that lingering, unsettling, strangely familiar scent on him.
"Shh—"
Ye Yin lowered his head, his warm breath fanning across her sensitive earlobe. His voice was deep, filled with an undeniable magnetism. "Stop making trouble. If you draw everyone here and they see the eldest daughter of the Zhu family, disheveled in her bedroom with a man… 'practicing spirit abilities'… what do you think tomorrow's rumors will be like?"
Zhu Zhuyun's body went rigid. Her struggles ceased instantly. Ye Yin's words were like a basin of ice water, extinguishing the flames of her anger and leaving only cold fear and humiliation in their place. He was right. She absolutely could not let anyone see this. She especially couldn't let Dai Weisi find out. She couldn't even begin to imagine the consequences.
Seeing the fear flash in her eyes, Ye Yin knew he had won. The initiative was now completely in his hands. He loosened his grip slightly but still held her in his arms. His fingertips began to trace light, intentional circles on the smooth skin of her lower back, sending shivers and a tingling sensation down her spine.
"Actually," he murmured, "we don't need to be so confrontational, do we?"
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