Chapter 5 Chapter 5

Chapter 5

1

Lin Chenxin's heart pounded violently in her chest, screaming inside her.

Run!

Run now!

But her frozen, leaden legs refused to move.

She stood frozen, breath caught in her throat, staring directly into those eyes. After what felt like an eternity, her remaining shred of reason took control, compelling her stiff legs to carry her inside.

She couldn't run.

If she didn't run, there might still be room for maneuver.

If she ran, it was all over.

The moment she stepped over the threshold, the door swung shut on its own with a loud "bang" behind her, with no wind to cause it.

Her heart clenched painfully, and she stood there, face pale.

She regretted it.

She should run.

She took two steps back, pressing herself tightly against the cold door, clinging to it for a sliver of security.

Her gaze remained fixed on the shadowy figure ahead, not daring to look away for even a second.

It felt as if the moment she lost sight of it, that eerie figure would vanish to some unseen place, only to materialize right in front of her.

Just the thought sent chills down her spine. Her eyes were wide open, daring not to blink.

Under her unwavering stare, the person sitting in the chair stood up.

Lin Chenxin instinctively stepped back, her foot hitting the threshold with a "thud." The sound was jarringly loud in the silence, echoing right into her heart.

Her hands and feet turned icy cold; she wished she could melt into the door.

She was now in a state of high alert, like a cat ready to bristle at the slightest scare.

Seeing the figure approach, she immediately hunched her shoulders and closed her eyes, shouting, "Wait!"

The sound of chains stopped.

Lin Chenxin opened her mouth, gasping for air, her chest heaving violently.

Her voice trembled as she tried her best to steady her emotions. "I know the rules, but isn't this too fast? We only just met today. Shouldn't we get to know each other better first, build some feelings..."

She swallowed hard, her heart pounding so fiercely it felt like it would leap out of her throat.

The figure remained silent. The air was still for a moment. Lin Chenxin cautiously opened her eyes, but the once-halted sound of chains started again, moving directly toward her.

"Wait!"

"I said wait!"

The sound of chains grew closer, carrying an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Lin Chenxin, frantic and terrified, broke into a cold sweat and blurted out without thinking, "Are you even reasonable? Are you in that much of a hurry?!"

In a fit of desperation, she opened her eyes and came face-to-face with a pale face and those eyes looking down at her.

In that instant, her heart seemed to stop. The air felt so thin she could barely breathe.

The person standing before her was more than a head taller than her, easily over six feet tall.

Lin Chenxin's ordinary frame seemed minuscule in comparison, like a blade of grass.

Tilting her head back, her pupils trembling, she looked at the figure now mere inches away. Her blank mind couldn't form a clear picture of its features.

Only those deep, dark eyes, like soul-snatching black holes, were etched into her mind.

She swallowed with difficulty.

She should have run before she ever stepped inside.

It raised a bony hand toward her. The crimson symbols, pale skin, and sharp black nails were especially horrifying in the dim shadows.

Lin Chenxin immediately hunched her shoulders, squeezing her eyes shut tightly like a frightened little animal, her face deathly pale.

But there was no touch on her skin. Instead, she heard a creak as the door opened.

With her back suddenly unsupported, she stumbled and tripped over the threshold. She quickly groped behind her, grabbing the doorframe to barely steady herself.

Holding her breath, she remained motionless, eyes closed, clinging to the doorframe in this ridiculous posture. She listened as the heavy, slow sound of chains passed by her.

A strand of hair drifted past her shoulder, light as a feather, yet it made Lin Chenxin's body tense up involuntarily.

The clanking of chains continued down the long corridor until it faded into the depths of the darkness.

A good while later, Lin Chenxin finally opened her eyes. Her legs gave way, and she slumped to the floor.

She gasped for breath as if she had just escaped death, the hand that had been on the doorframe dropping limply to the ground.

So, it had just come over to open the door.

Then why close it in the first place?

Just to scare her?!

After the extreme fear came a surge of anger.

She raised a hand to wipe her slightly damp eyes, sniffled, and glared furiously out the door.

After a moment, gritting her teeth, she pushed herself up on weak arms and legs.

Then she saw the stack of brand-new clothes on the chair ahead.

She was stunned for a second. A moment later, she glanced back at the deep, dark corridor outside. Her thick eyelashes fluttered slightly. She reached out and pulled the door shut.

Hmph.

—

Elsewhere, the messy floor had been cleaned up, but the oil stains splattered on their clothes still glaringly displayed the unbelievable scene from earlier, completely shredding the trio's dignified facade.

"This is outrageous! She has no respect for the rules!"

The Second Young Miss let out a piercing shriek, her face twisted with fury.

"What does she think she is? I'll teach her a lesson!"

Her voice was shrill and piercing. Just as she was about to rush out, Ms. Liang shot her a cold look.

"Enough!"

The Second Young Miss whirled around, only to see Mr. Chen's face, particularly grim and icy in the shadows.

The air immediately fell silent. The Second Young Miss pressed her lips together tightly and walked back in silence.

Ms. Liang turned to Mr. Chen and said, "I will teach her what a daughter-in-law should and should not do."

But Mr. Chen replied, "She's a smart one. No need to push too hard. Give her some sweetness first."

Under the ghastly pale light, Mr. Chen's eyes were cold and gloomy. His voice was unhurried, yet it exuded a sinister chill.

The Second Young Miss, standing in place with her head lowered, seemed to think of something, her body trembling almost imperceptibly.

Meanwhile, Ms. Liang's face remained expressionless, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

—

Lin Chenxin slept in until late morning, suddenly jolting awake from a dream and sitting up.

She glanced around the room, sighed in relief, and raised a hand to rub her temples.

After a moment, she lifted her head and turned to look at the window beside her.

Golden slivers of light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating her face, flashing across her eyes, and reflecting an amber glow.

She hadn't seen clearly the night before, but now she realized the room was quite large, blending antique charm with modern features.

Hmm, quite fascinating.

While soaking in the bathtub yesterday, she had felt a sense of dissonance, a clash between modern technology and traditional architecture.

But at least it reassured her she was still living in the modern world.

She turned and picked up her phone. Seeing the date, she sighed.

Only last night had she learned how long she had been unconscious—no wonder she had been so hungry upon waking.

The screen displayed various notifications of successful repayments and a message from Doctor Jiang.

Reading Doctor Jiang's note that a suitable kidney match wasn't easy to find, she lowered her eyes and fell silent for a moment.

Then she lowered her head, wiped her face, took a deep breath, and got out of bed.

She pushed open the bedroom door. The late spring air was still cool, but the bright sunlight washing over her elicited a contented sigh. The flood of light instantly dispelled the lingering chill from the previous night.

She looked out at the spacious courtyard ahead, the stone table and chairs covered with fallen leaves, and the tree branches casting shadows, exhaling a heavy breath.

Though desolate, this place held a unique tranquility.

She stood there for a moment before stepping out.

A long corridor stretched past many rooms, all unoccupied and locked.

Even the locks themselves were rusted, having been abandoned for who knows how many years.

Recalling the direction where the sound of chains had faded yesterday, she searched, room by room.

She didn't believe the Chen family's motive was simply to find a wife for the lonely, isolated Eldest Young Master Chen.

There must be other plans involved.

Though she didn't yet know what those plans were, they were certainly related to the Eldest Young Master.

She couldn't just sit back and wait.

Otherwise, when the day came for her to pay the price, she'd be finished.

Spotting an unlocked door, she paused and peered through the latticed, carved window.

Inside the dim room, several beams of light streamed through the window, swirling with fine dust and illuminating rows of bookshelves. But before she could see clearly, a voice sounded beside her.

"Young Mistress, it's time for lunch."

Lin Chenxin snapped back to attention with a start.

Do people here walk without making any sound?

She looked at the middle-aged woman standing before her, head bowed and expressionless—the same one who had guided her that day. Calming her breathing, she lifted her chin and asked, "Will it be in the main hall?"

The woman raised her eyes to look at her. "No, in Young Mistress's own courtyard."

Hearing this form of address, Lin Chenxin felt deeply uncomfortable, as if she had traveled through time into a repressive, gloomy mansion.

"Understood."

Perhaps she wasn't dressed warmly enough; she kept feeling a chill down her back.

As she turned to leave, she glanced once more at the latticed window.

Seeing nothing, she frowned and withdrew her gaze.

After she left, a figure seated in the shadows lifted its eyes to look out the window, staring intently at Lin Chenxin's retreating back.

By the time Lin Chenxin finished washing up and came out, the table was already set with numerous exquisite dishes.

Seeing the elaborate presentation, she couldn't help but marvel in admiration.

Even when her family was well-off, they had never been this particular.

As the woman finished serving and was about to leave, Lin Chenxin spoke up, "Shouldn't we invite the Eldest Young Master to join the meal?"

The middle-aged woman turned around, looking at her expressionlessly.

"The Eldest Young Master does not take meals."

Lin Chenxin looked directly at the woman's doll-like face, her gaze clear and penetrating, and asked bluntly, "Does he never eat, or is it just today?"

The middle-aged woman revealed a strange smile.

"Never does."

Lin Chenxin's breath caught.

How do you live if you don't eat?

Her heart raced, but she quickly reined it in.

The middle-aged woman stood in the doorway, fixing her with a direct stare.

"Since the Young Mistress has entered the Chen family, she must abide by its rules. From now on, do not leave the Junzi Courtyard unless necessary."

Junzi Courtyard, where she was staying, was Eldest Young Master Chen's courtyard.

Hearing this, Lin Chenxin's eyebrow twitched. She looked directly at the woman and said, "What if I don't listen?"

The middle-aged woman's face fell, but before she could speak, Lin Chenxin added, "I understand."

"However..." She fiddled with the teacup on the table and said softly, "My younger sister is still in the hospital, and I'm really worried. I don't know if her medical bills are covered or if the caregivers are diligent. I also have a younger brother staying with another family. I can't just do nothing. Whenever I think of these things, it eats me up inside—I can't sleep or eat. When I can't eat, it grates on me to see others eat well. When I can't sleep, I can't stand seeing others sleep soundly..."

Her calculating look made the middle-aged woman frown.

"Young Mistress need not worry about such matters. Just focus on being with the Young Master."

A flash of irritation crossed the woman's eyes before she turned and strode away.

"If only you had said so earlier, we wouldn't have wasted a table of good dishes last night. It seems even wealthy families aren't so well-versed in etiquette."

Lin Chenxin's voice rang out unhurriedly from behind.

The middle-aged woman paused, her face quickly darkening.

Once the woman's figure disappeared, the shrewd, calculating look on Lin Chenxin's face vanished, replaced by her usual calm.

She couldn't let the Chen family think she was easy to manipulate, but she also couldn't go too far.

It was better for her to have ulterior motives than to stubbornly resist to the death.

She picked up her chopsticks again, but after a moment, she tutted in frustration.

If only she had known earlier, she might as well have just asked the Chen family for a kidney.