Chapter 59 Purgatory “Piao Yao, may I?”

Chapter 59: Asura

"Piao Yao, may I?"

When Xue Yubai caught up, he found Yue Rongrong crouched beneath a tree, weeping. The earlier euphoria of their carefree dash through the streets now twisted into a chaotic knot. Watching her shoulders tremble and tears fall incessantly, he suddenly felt a suffocating tightness. He turned his face away, exhaled once, then again, before stepping towards her.

He knelt, gently dabbing the tears from her cheeks with a handkerchief, his voice feigning a casual lightness: "So heartbroken, so furious—shall I go beat him up for you?"

"No. He's still injured," she choked out, looking up.

Xue Yubai offered a bitter smile. He now understood why Qu Lieshan had resorted to such despicable manipulation, using gratitude to bind Yue Rongrong, and even felt a flicker of empathy. Without the constraints of her concern for Shen Jichen, Yue Rongrong’s eyes held no room for anyone else.

"You're angry he stood with Meng Jiayan, so why care about his injuries?" A hint of pique escaped him unintentionally.

Yue Rongrong pouted, burying her face in her arms, her voice muffled: "I’m not angry he stood with Meng Jiayan. I’m scared—scared it’s too late... scared he’s still angry with me, and in his anger, he’ll turn to someone else."

Hearing this, Xue Yubai nearly choked. He retorted irritably, "Don’t worry, Shen Jichen is not so irrational." *Except when it comes to you.* He kept that thought to himself, unwilling to boost Shen Jichen’s ego.

Her heart fluttered, a mix of relief and renewed anxiety. She looked up, her eyes glistening and pleading, her voice thick with tears: "But don’t you nobles always prioritize marrying within your social class? The Grand Princess is very fond of Meng Jiayan."

Truthfully, Xue Yubai wasn't sure how far Shen Jichen would go for Yue Rongrong. He couldn't help but voice his concern: "What if Piao Yao ultimately has to marry Meng Jiayan? What would you do then?" He held his breath.

Yue Rongrong’s heart seized. She lowered her gaze, silent, biting her lip until her pearly teeth left a row of indentations.

"Would you become a concubine?" he asked with extreme caution.

After a long silence, Yue Rongrong pressed a hand to her chest, as if contemplating something unbearable, and shook her head.

Xue Yubai relaxed for a moment. He lowered his head, chuckled, then looked up again. Did that mean he still had a chance? Noticing the fine sweat on her temples from crying, he helped her to her feet: "Let me take you somewhere else."

As she stood abruptly, Yue Rongrong’s vision blurred. She steadied herself on his arm: "Let me catch my breath—I’m dizzy."

Xue Yubai laughed indulgently, allowing her to lean on him.

Just as Shen Jichen was leaving the Dragon King's Temple, he witnessed this scene. His gaze turned instantly frigid. Meng Jiayan also saw them, murmuring in slight surprise, "It's Yu Bai and Miss Yue." She was about to call out, but then saw them walk away side by side.

Meng Jiayan looked at Shen Jichen, whose face was dark, his eyes seemingly glazed with frost. She fell silent, her gaze lingering on Yue Rongrong’s retreating figure, lost in thought.

Xue Yubai took Yue Rongrong to the city’s largest jewelry store, Linlang Fang.

The shopkeeper spotted Xue Yubai at once and hurried over, fawning obsequiously: "You've arrived!"

"Is the neckpiece I commissioned ready?" Xue Yubai inquired.

The shopkeeper eagerly replied, "It's finished! We were planning to deliver it to your residence today, but you've come yourself!" As he spoke, he glanced at Yue Rongrong, realizing the piece was for her, and ushered them to the west hall.

A maid promptly arrived, carrying an engraved tray draped with red silk. On it lay a neckpiece crafted from green-white jade beads, adorned with a spreading yellow-winged butterfly—exquisitely beautiful.

Xue Yubai picked it up and approached Yue Rongrong: "Try it on?"

Though she had half-expected it, Yue Rongrong was still surprised: "For me?"

"The scar on your neck hasn't faded, and the weather is warming. Isn't it hot wearing a scarf all day? Be careful not to get a rash," Xue Yubai said gently.

Yue Rongrong touched the silk around her neck. Though light, it was indeed a bit warm. But seeing the neckpiece’s obvious value, she demurred, "I don't deserve this."

Xue Yubai had anticipated her refusal, though his heart still sank for a moment. He forced a smile: "You are now the master's closed-door disciple. Your future paintings will be priceless, so I won't be at a loss."

Having cried earlier, Yue Rongrong was indeed uncomfortably warm. She cheerfully agreed: "Alright, when I make it big, I'll repay you double." She thought she sounded magnanimous, but missed Xue Yubai’s bitter smile.

Xue Yubai stood behind her and personally fastened the neckpiece. The cool touch against her skin made Yue Rongrong sigh in comfort. Looking into the mirror the maid held up, she saw her square-necked dress revealed a expanse of snow-white neck. The yellow-winged butterfly shimmered brilliantly on her right side, and her smile reached the corners of her eyes.

"The young lady is truly a beauty beyond compare," the shopkeeper exclaimed in awe.

Yue Rongrong giggled and whispered to Xue Yubai, "The shopkeeper wants to drain my purse dry."

Xue Yubai couldn’t help but laugh: "Indeed, a fairy's beauty."

Yue Rongrong shot him a wary glance and turned away, not engaging.

The maid carrying the tray left the west hall but was suddenly called into another room by guests—none other than Zhen Xi and Ren Hanzhen, both looking rather grim.

Zhen Xi asked, "Were the guests next door Mr. Xue?"

The maid replied, "Yes, Madam."

Ren Hanzhen forced a strained smile: "The neckpiece you brought in earlier looked expensive. Can that Mr. Xue afford it?"

The maid was taken aback, then chuckled awkwardly: "You jest, Miss. The Xue family of Wangjingmen can certainly afford it."

Ren Hanzhen’s face turned deathly pale. Her voice rose sharply, almost shrill: "The Xue family of Wangjingmen?"

The maid froze at her reaction. Zhen Xi quickly interjected, "You may go."

After the maid left, Zhen Xi looked at Ren Hanzhen, whose expression had grown increasingly dark and ominous. Zhen Xi felt a chill run down her spine and whispered, "Sister Hanzhen?"

Ren Hanzhen looked up abruptly, her gaze vicious: "Didn't she leave the capital? Didn't she elope with a death row inmate? Shouldn't she have died under Marquis Shen’s sword, torn to pieces? How is she still in the capital? Xue Yubai—Xue Yubai is actually from the Wangjingmen Xue family! Yue Rongrong, that wretch!" Her clenched teeth ached with fury, her eyes blazing with such hatred and jealousy that she wanted to tear Yue Rongrong apart and trample her!

Zhen Xi had never seen Ren Hanzhen like this and stood frozen in fear, trembling as she called, "Sister Hanzhen..."

Ren Hanzhen snapped back to awareness, instantly adopting a gentle, sorrowful expression: "I just hate Yue Rongrong so much. She ruined me, ruined you. I have no place in society now, and you suffer in the Cai household, treated like dirt—all because of her. Yet she rises higher and higher, cherished by Marquis Shen or Mr. Xue as if she’s a treasure."

She suddenly burst into tears, grasping Zhen Xi’s hands: "Are our lives so cheap? Are we meant to be crushed beneath her feet?"

Zhen Xi’s mind reeled, Ren Hanzhen’s words echoing again and again, along with the humiliation and torment she’d endured. Her trembling gaze gradually stilled, then turned ruthless.

Just then, the shopkeeper’s obsequious voice came from outside: "Mr. Xue, Miss Yue, take care. Please visit again soon."

Both women looked towards the door and saw Xue Yubai completely focused on Yue Rongrong, even worrying she might trip over the threshold.

"Watch your step."

Yue Rongrong stepped out firmly and flashed him a radiant, playful smile.

At that moment, a carriage pulled up slowly and stopped before them. Yue Rongrong instantly recognized it as the Marquis's carriage. Her hands clenched her skirt tightly, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the carriage, forgetting to breathe.

Xue Yubai watched her, a weight settling in his heart.

The carriage door opened. Yue Rongrong’s heart raced, but she saw Meng Jiayan step down gracefully, smiling as she approached.

Yue Rongrong’s hopes plummeted, sinking into an abyss. Meng Jiayan’s smile was too bright, stinging her eyes. She forced a strained smile: "Miss Meng."

Meng Jiayan said kindly, "I saw you from afar and thought I might be mistaken. Where are you headed? Yu Bai, did you come without your carriage? Have you eaten? We were just going to Qingyang Restaurant—Zi Xian and the others are there. Would you like to join us?"

Yue Rongrong didn’t answer, her eyes unconsciously drifting toward the carriage. Was Shen Jichen inside? Was he there? Or had he just lent the carriage to Miss Meng? She selfishly hoped it was the latter, but Meng Jiayan’s use of "we" and her turn toward the carriage shattered that hope.

"Piao Yao, may I?" Meng Jiayan asked softly.

The window opened, revealing Shen Jichen’s sharply sculpted jawline. He glanced over, his cold gaze devoid of emotion, sweeping past Yue Rongrong to settle on Xue Yubai. His casual indifference made Yue Rongrong’s heart clench with anger. "I’m afraid they have other matters to attend to," he said lightly, his tone cool and unreadable, yet unmistakably sarcastic.

Xue Yubai offered a faint smile and retorted, "Indeed, Rong Rong and I still need to go to the pleasure boat to fulfill a past promise." He felt a sense of satisfaction seeing Shen Jichen's gaze darken.

Yue Rongrong beamed and said cheerfully, "I happen to be hungry too. Yu Bai, let's go together."

Her use of "Yu Bai" caused both Xue Yubai's and Shen Jichen's expressions to change.

Meng Jiayan seemed not to have expected Yue Rongrong to accept the invitation either and was slow to respond, "Then let's get in the carriage."

Yue Rongrong looked down, waiting for Xue Yubai to board first, then followed behind. Shen Jichen's gaze never left her until Xue Yubai took the right seat and she sat beside him. His eyes grew even darker.

Meng Jiayan sat across from them.

Wen Song, seated on the driver's seat, turned toward the carriage compartment and asked, "Marquis, is your hand injury okay?" His eyes kept darting toward Yue Rongrong.

Only then did Yue Rongrong remember that his hand had been cut earlier. She immediately looked up, meeting his inscrutable gaze. Meng Jiayan sat to his left, watching him with concern. Yue Rongrong felt a pang and forced herself to turn away.

Shen Jichen, with a displeased look, averted his eyes.

The atmosphere inside the carriage grew so stifling that Yue Rongrong felt like she was suffocating. She suddenly regretted getting into this carriage, but the thought that if she hadn't, only Shen Jichen and Meng Jiayan would be inside made her even more uncomfortable.

Then she noticed Meng Jiayan staring at her choker necklace. She self-consciously touched the butterfly pendant. Only then did Meng Jiayan realize her rudeness. She lowered her eyes and bowed her head slightly. "Sorry, Miss Rongrong, that was presumptuous of me."

She was so polite that Yue Rongrong couldn't bring herself to blame her. She could only smile and say, "It's fine."

Meng Jiayan explained with a smile, "I just thought this choker looked familiar, as if I'd seen a similar design at Yu Bai's place..."

Hearing this, Yue Rongrong looked at Xue Yubai in surprise. "You made this?"

Xue Yubai smiled. "I only drew the design and had the craftsmen at Linlang Workshop make it."

His gaze held a subtle but deep tenderness as he looked at Yue Rongrong. Her heart fluttered, and she hurriedly glanced toward the main seat. Shen Jichen's face was tense, his expression frosty as he stared at her.

Suddenly, Shen Jichen stood up and headed toward the door. The carriage happened to have arrived at Qingyang Tower and came to an abrupt halt. Everyone inside lurched with the sudden stop. Shen Jichen lost his balance, stumbling backward. Yue Rongrong quickly rose to support him.

His hand instinctively covered hers. His eyes lowered, meeting her anxious gaze, and the fierceness in his eyes softened.

Meng Jiayan also came over. "Piao Yao, is your injury alright?"

Shen Jichen continued to look at Yue Rongrong. She withdrew her hand and turned away, feeling a surge of defiance.

As soon as Wen Song opened the door, he sensed the tense atmosphere inside. He stiffly reminded, "Marquis, we've arrived at Qingyang Tower."

Shen Jichen got out of the carriage with a cold expression. The others followed. The manager of Qingyang Tower, already informed of their arrival, was waiting at the entrance. He saw Marquis Shen, Miss Meng, Mr. Xue, and Miss Yue arriving together, though the way these four were positioned was somewhat odd. The last time Marquis Shen and Miss Yue came, their hands were clasped tightly. Why wasn't Miss Yue walking with Marquis Shen today?

His heart filled with surprise and doubt, his eyes already darting back and forth between the two. It wasn't until he met Shen Jichen's icy glare that he fearfully averted his gaze and hurried forward obsequiously to greet them.