Chapter 42 Scare Should I hit you?

Chapter 42: Scared? Want Me to Hit You?

Zhong Yao often felt she was pretty unlucky—like being ambushed at the inn or having her reputation ruined—but when it came to life-or-death moments, she was also very fortunate.

—She had been captured by bandits, yet after days of ordeal, she made it back to the capital safe and sound; she thought her entire household would be executed, only for things to take a sudden turn for the better.

This time, when she opened her eyes and saw Shu Feng sitting by the bedside, Zhong Yao knew she had been blessed by the gods again.

"You're awake, miss?" Shu Feng said with a smile upon seeing her open her eyes. "I got here this morning. The young master went to the government office to interrogate the bandits and told me to stay and keep you company. Everything's been resolved, no need to worry."

Zhong Yao breathed a huge sigh of relief. When Shu Feng helped her sit up, she moved and felt a sharp ache in the back of her neck, as if she had been hit with a stick.

She frowned, rubbed her neck, and asked, "How did I..."

As soon as she spoke, her lips stung. Zhong Yao let out an "ah" and carefully touched her lower lip.

"I noticed it when I got here this morning, miss. You've got a small cut on your lower lip—did you bump it?" Shu Feng said as she brought over some tea. "It's not serious, though. Just stay away from spicy or really hot food for a few days, and it should heal."

Shu Feng was attentive, handing her cool tea. Zhong Yao took a few slow sips, recalling the events of the previous night.

Those bandits had too many insidious tricks, and no one knew which they would use. This time, they had set a fire in the neighboring shop.

If a normal person suddenly smelled something burning, they'd naturally open the window to check. But the moment they did, the knockout drug in the thick smoke drifted into the room on the wind.

Even the guards had fallen victim to the scheme.

But once the guards figured it out, they dunked their heads in water to counteract the drug's effects.

Zhong Yao was a step behind, but even if she went mad, she couldn't harm the guards much, so she let them deal with the bandits who had broken in.

After that... her mind went fuzzy...

Zhong Yao thought hard, then asked nervously, "I didn't hurt anyone last night, did I?"

"Probably not," Shu Feng said. "The guards said you were alone in your room until the young master got back. He wasn't injured, so you couldn't have hurt anyone."

Zhong Yao still couldn't relax. She sat there in a daze for a bit, then asked about the guards' injuries.

Whether the bandits used vicious dogs, hallucinogenic drugs, or lime powder, the guards were ready. Once they shook off those nasty tricks, the bandits' fighting ability was negligible. Besides those killed on the spot, three were captured alive.

On the guards' side, aside from one guy who got hit by the drug and slashed his buddy's shoulder, the rest only had minor injuries.

Shu Feng had only been there half a day and didn't know much else, so she told Zhong Yao to wait for Xie Chi to return and ask him.

Zhong Yao had been dozing on and off for most of the day. After she woke up and freshened up, she found the inn and the neighboring preserved fruit shop in disarray. The two shopkeepers, surprisingly, weren't upset at all and were happily telling the curious onlookers all about it.

Who didn't know about the infamous Misty Mountain Bandits?

In previous years, some prefectures had caught them, but catching over a dozen at once, like this time, was rare—especially in a small town like Changping County.

So the townsfolk were both scared and excited.

Zhong Yao listened for a while and learned that while she had been unconscious, the bandits' bodies had been hung at the city gate as a warning. The garrison commander from the prefecture showed up overnight with a hundred soldiers and was searching the whole city for any stragglers.

The two shopkeepers were only so cheerful and chatty because the authorities promised to cover all their losses, offer rewards, and report the matter to the court.

Zhong Yao had been out of it the night before, experiencing everything firsthand but unable to tell what was real and what wasn't.

It all felt unreal.

But listening to the noise outside, she decided that as long as the outcome was good, whatever she had done in her delirium didn't matter.

Zhong Yao gave up trying to make sense of those jumbled memories and joined the townsfolk in their excitement—even though no one knew she'd helped out.

To reward herself, she had the inn's cook make a big dinner, planning to wait for Xie Chi to eat together. But she waited until late at night, and by the time she'd washed up and was ready for bed, Xie Chi still wasn't back.

Since Shu Feng had arrived, she was naturally staying with Zhong Yao for the night.

Xie Chi didn't come to her, so Zhong Yao quickly threw on a robe and went to his room next door.

She knocked and went in, finding Xie Chi sitting at the desk, lost in thought. He glanced at her and said curtly, "Sit."

Thinking he was pondering the bandit matter, she hurriedly sat beside him and asked, "What did you find out?"

Xie Chi was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Is that all you care about?"

"What else should I care about?" Zhong Yao asked in confusion, only then noticing that Xie Chi seemed strange.

His expression revealed nothing—still that emotionless, deadpan look—but his gaze was fixed intently on her.

It was sharp, like a blade about to pierce through her, or like a fire, ready to flare up and consume her whole.

Zhong Yao had been a bit drowsy, but that stare sent a chill of danger through her.

She recalled fragments of her memories from the night before, hesitated, and slowly edged back, cautiously saying, "Last night..."

As soon as she uttered those two words, she saw a subtle change in Xie Chi's expression.

It was fleeting, too quick to catch, but she felt his gaze grow heavier and more complex than ever before.

This had never happened.

Zhong Yao prudently fell silent.

Her retreat was too obvious, and Xie Chi noticed.

His lips pressed downward slightly. He looked away from her face, picked up the teapot, and poured two cups of tea. Twirling one in his hand, he said, "No rush. You have the whole night to tell me slowly."

Xie Chi could offer a reasonable explanation for his actions the night before.

First, Zhong Yao had initiated it.

Second, he had been affected by the drug in the smoke.

In that moment of weakness, his desires had erupted violently, his reason shattered, leading him to do what he shouldn't have.

The sound of the cup shattering had snapped him back to reality just in time. He had managed to stop his actions, but he couldn't control his thoughts.

Holding Zhong Yao, his muscles taut and unmoving, he still saw himself continuing.

He pressed her down, kissing and caressing her fiercely, but it wasn't enough. So he picked her up and threw her onto the bed.

Then he pounced. The sound of tearing clothes, the softness beneath his palms, the sweet gasps—everything felt as if he had truly experienced it.

Xie Chi nearly went mad.

It was an illusion.

The beast within him tempted him to do it, and he struggled to restrain himself, reminding himself of reason. But as reason and emotion clashed, Zhong Yao chose that moment to whimper and rub against him.

Luckily, someone smashed through the window just then.

Xie Chi dragged himself out of the mire of desire again, knowing he couldn't hold out much longer. He grabbed the chance while his mind was clear, steeled himself, and knocked Zhong Yao out, then splashed cold tea on his face.

But no matter the reason, the fact was he'd lost control.

After thinking it over all day, Xie Chi finally realized that, no matter how well he pretended, he was no different from the crude, lowlife man his grandma had talked about.

But no matter how rotten his nature was, a man's gotta own up to what he does.

"Spit it out. Make it clear," Xie Chi said in a deep voice. "What do you want to do about it?"

Zhong Yao had a vague feeling she'd done something awful. She sifted through the crazy bits of her memory, glanced at Xie Chi's face, and tried to speak, but her throat was dry.

She stuck out a finger, pressed it on the table, and pointed at the teacup in front of Xie Chi, and whispered, "Can I have some water..."

Xie Chi nodded and pushed the cup toward her.

Under his stare, Zhong Yao awkwardly picked up the cup, turning over how to explain later while she took a slow sip.

The water was poured after Xie Chi got back, so it wasn't too hot. But Zhong Yao's lower lip was busted, and the warm tea stung the cut, making her yelp, "Ah!" She covered her mouth with the back of her hand.

The next second, her hand was pulled away, and Xie Chi leaned in close.

He came at her so fast, his handsome face filling her view, startling her. She instinctively tried to pull back, but Xie Chi caught on.

He glanced at her, then reached for her waist.

Too close. Zhong Yao twisted to the side on instinct and looked down, and saw Xie Chi's big hand grab the stool she was sitting on and spin it.

The stool scraped, making her body tilt, and he steadied her arm right away.

Zhong Yao quickly grabbed onto him.

Once she was settled, Zhong Yao realized the gap between them had suddenly closed. They were somehow face to face, with Xie Chi's long legs—one bent by hers, the other stretched out to block her other side.

It looked like... like Xie Chi had caged her in with his body and limbs.

Then Xie Chi raised his hands, one on the back of her neck, the other under her chin, and leaned in again.

Zhong Yao watched him get closer, her eyes wide with panic.

"Does that hurt?"

Xie Chi tilted her chin, his eyes locked on her lips, and asked softly.

His voice had suddenly gone soft, and his handsome face, lit by the candlelight, seemed wrapped in a gentle glow, making Zhong Yao feel dizzy.

She froze for a second until his beautiful, lowered eyes lifted their lashes to meet hers, their dark pupils locking onto her. Only then did Zhong Yao realize he was staring at the cut on her lip.

She turned bright red and pursed her lips awkwardly.

Her lips, wet from the tea, were rosy and shiny, catching Xie Chi's eye, reminding him of the taste he'd greedily savored the night before.

His eyes darkened, and he leaned in closer, his thumb on her chin moving up without him thinking.

Zhong Yao, tense under his gaze, stammered, "I was... I was drugged at the time, out of my head..."

Xie Chi's hand gently stroked her lip, and he said in a low voice, "Doesn't matter. Whatever the reason, since it happened, we gotta take responsibility."

"But, but..." Zhong Yao couldn't take it anymore, crying out in frustration, "But you already hit me for it! Do I get punished twice for one mistake?!"

"...?"

Xie Chi's hand, almost touching her lip, suddenly froze.

It was like Xie Chi had gone back to the day before. His mind was a mess, and after checking his senses over and over—making sure he wasn't under the influence of that mind-altering powder this time—he said, slowly and clearly, "What did you say?"

Zhong Yao was still trapped by him, no way out. She could only stare wide-eyed and say, almost crying, "Don't scare me again! I hit you last night when I was out of my head, and that was wrong, but you already got me back! The back of my neck still hurts!"

It was true that Xie Chi had struck her, but...

Xie Chi forced her head up with his hand, his voice almost through gritted teeth.

"I scared you?" Without waiting for her answer, he asked darkly, "You hit me?"

"I didn't mean to." Seeing she couldn't hide it anymore, Zhong Yao admitted through tears, "It's normal, you said yourself the drug makes people crazy and violent... My hits don't hurt, you weren't injured..."

She was even aggrieved, glancing at Xie Chi and quietly complaining, "You must have been angry that I hit you and wanted revenge, pushing me down and making me hit the back of my neck and bite my lip... I haven't even blamed you yet..."

After they had grown closer, Xie Chi's temper had improved somewhat.

But there was no way he would tolerate a woman laying hands on him.

Zhong Yao was sure of that—after all, back in the cave, she had only playfully pushed Xie Chi, and he had turned on her and scolded her harshly.

So when she woke up and felt the discomfort on her body, she suspected Xie Chi had retaliated. — Shu Feng had said that only Xie Chi had gone to her room at that time.

Zhong Yao muttered her grievances, while the Xie Chi opposite her, who had been full of tenderness moments before, was nearly furious.

"I retaliated against you?" Xie Chi repeated twice in anger, barely swallowing his frustration. His eyes sharpened, and he pinched Zhong Yao's cheek hard, making her cry out in pain as he said sternly, "Tell me everything that happened to you last night after you were drugged, without missing a single detail!"

Zhong Yao pulled his hand away, cupping her cheeks and rubbing them gently, and said mournfully, "I didn't want that either, but you turned into a dog spirit and bit everyone..."

Zhong Yao was most afraid of dogs. She hid in the wardrobe, but the dog-spirit Xie Chi dragged her out; she hid behind the door, and the dog-spirit Xie Chi tore it down. With no other choice, Zhong Yao had to throw things at him.

As she spoke, Zhong Yao felt a bit guilty, cautiously looking at Xie Chi and saying, "I remember I was so scared I grabbed whatever I could and threw it. I didn't really hurt you, did I?"

Xie Chi listened expressionlessly, then let out a "Ha," stared at Zhong Yao for a long moment, let out another "Ha," and stood up coldly.

The sudden movement made the stool behind him scrape loudly.

Xie Chi ignored it, strode to the door, opened it, and said coldly, "Get out."

Zhong Yao didn't want to leave and hesitated, "You haven't told me what you found out from the bandits..."

"I said," Xie Chi said, his face dark with anger, repeating, "Get out!"

Seeing that he was truly angry, Zhong Yao hesitated, then slowly walked out.

She thought Xie Chi was acting very strange today, but she couldn't figure out why.

Zhong Yao wondered if she had been incredibly strong while out of her mind, landing several punches on Xie Chi that hit his body but weren't visible, and he was too proud to admit it, which was why he was so angry.

It was possible.

No matter what, she had struck first, so she should sincerely apologize.

Zhong Yao stepped out of the room and turned to apologize, but "Bang!" The door slammed mercilessly in her face, shutting her out.

A few guards were stationed outside the room. They didn't dare say much, but Xue Fang did.

Xue Fang had spent the whole day following Xie Chi around the government office. The garrison soldiers sent by the prefect, seeing how young he was, called him "Little Master." The title was a bit odd, but since it praised his youthful achievements, Xue Fang really liked it.

After running around all day, he returned still full of energy. Just as he finished his late-night snack and was heading back to his room, he saw Zhong Yao coming out of Xie Chi's room with a worried look on her face. Curious, he asked, "What's up with you?"

Zhong Yao glanced at him and sighed heavily. "Is your elder brother acting a bit strange?"

"Strange?" Xue Fang had been too busy playing to notice anything off about Xie Chi.

But he bore the heavy expectations of his grandmother, who had tasked him with keeping a close watch on Xie Chi's feelings, to prevent his sincere heart from being trampled by that lowly woman, lest he fall into despair and one day resent his grandmother and her.

Xue Fang grew serious and asked earnestly, "How is he strange? Is he staring blankly into space, or silently crying?"

Zhong Yao: "...Neither."

Xue Fang let out an "Oh," relaxed, and waved his hand casually. "Then it's fine, no need to—"

Before he could finish, the tightly shut door suddenly swung open. Xie Chi's icy, piercing gaze swept over the two of them, sending a shiver down Zhong Yao's spine. She turned and bolted.

Xue Fang, unaware of his elder brother's mood, still meant to offer a word of concern. But before he could speak, he was grabbed by the scruff of the neck and hauled into the room. The next moment, a pitiful sound of confession rang out.