Chapter 14: I Will Never Hurt You

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Xiao Ziyu’s gaze fell upon the candy in her hand, and in an instant, his expression darkened visibly.

Chen Xingmiao’s heart gave a jolt. Her scalp tingled, every hair on her body stood on end, and an overwhelming sense of unease washed over her like a tide.

No way. What was going on? She hadn’t done anything!

The next moment, an irresistible force abruptly yanked her forward. Before she could react, she was pulled tightly into Xiao Ziyu’s arms. His embrace was strong and solid, yet carried a bone-chilling coldness.

“You like me?” Xiao Ziyu murmured beside her ear. His voice was so cold it seemed laced with shards of ice, devoid of the slightest emotion.

Her lips trembled faintly. She could feel his warm breath brushing her ear, yet she hardly dared to breathe. Her heart had risen to her throat.

Chen Xingmiao was terrified.

Was this the pressure exerted by a villain? He was already suffocating before his descent into darkness. If he truly turned evil, she would certainly die!

Xiao Ziyu held her firmly against him. One hand slowly traveled down from her cheek, gentle yet imbued with a force she could not resist, until it stopped at her chin.

“Hmm?” He applied a little pressure, grasping her chin and forcing her to turn her head and meet his eyes.

Their gazes collided. Xiao Ziyu’s eyes were cold as frost, while Chen Xingmiao’s were filled with fear and panic.

“You’re my husband. I... of course I like you,” Chen Xingmiao stammered, a faint, barely perceptible tremor in her voice.

Hah...

A mocking, icy smile touched Xiao Ziyu’s lips as he released her.

He did not believe her at all. How could a young lady from a wealthy family possibly like someone like him? It was nothing short of a colossal joke.

Chen Xingmiao instantly felt relieved. She panted softly, then cautiously studied the man before her.

Could someone please tell her where the frail scholar she had been raising had gone?

Damn it, exactly which part had gone wrong?

Seeing her little face pale and her forehead covered in beads of cold sweat, Xiao Ziyu’s expression finally eased somewhat.

“I apologize,” he said indifferently, without much emotion in his voice.

“It’s all right!”

The words burst from her lips. She was afraid that if she hesitated even a moment longer, she would be done for.

Xiao Ziyu said nothing more. He quietly lay down on the couch and closed his eyes to rest. Chen Xingmiao walked unsteadily to the table, poured herself a cup of water, and gulped it down. Only after a long while did her wildly pounding heart gradually calm.

[Congratulations, Host, on completing the side mission. You have been awarded one hundred points. This reward will be issued at a later time.]

The announcement nearly made Chen Xingmiao spit out the water she was drinking.

Damn, this lousy system was actually withholding her wages!

Chen Xingmiao roared inwardly: Little Six, can you feel the ten thousand horses galloping through my heart?

Little Six pretended to be dead.

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Little Six chose to remain silent, for silence was golden.

Chen Xingmiao: ...

“Um, could you help me?” Xiao Ziyu turned his head aside and awkwardly removed his clothes once more.

The sight of horrifying scars and vivid red wounds came into view.

Chen Xingmiao could not help frowning.

She stepped closer and raised a hand, gently tracing the scars covering his body. It was as though she could see how he had survived the past dozen years.

Those people were worse than beasts.

Xiao Ziyu’s body trembled faintly. He turned his head toward her and gave her a teasing smile.

“What? Frightened?”

“How could I be? Stop moving around. I’m about to apply the medicine!”

The moment the medicinal powder touched his wounds, Xiao Ziyu shuddered all over.

Chen Xingmiao secretly glanced at his expression. His lips were pressed tightly together, and his brows were slightly furrowed.

She bent down and slowly leaned toward his wounds.

Xiao Ziyu felt her warm breath drawing closer and shifted uncomfortably.

“What are you doing?”

Chen Xingmiao gently blew across the wounds a few times before looking up at him.

“Does that make it feel any better?”

She felt a little sorry for him, but there was nothing she could do. Who could blame the ancient world for having no anesthetic?

Xiao Ziyu turned his head away, refusing to look at her.

“Thank you,” he said quietly.

“Husband, are you embarrassed?”

She cupped his face in her hands, a radiant smile spreading across her lips.

Good heavens, he was adorable—like a sweet little cake. She wanted to take a bite.

The thought had barely arisen when she hurriedly released him and shook her head vigorously.

Chen Xingmiao, have you lost your mind? You want to eat him?

She drew a deep breath, then opened the window to let in some air before she finally managed to steady herself.

She absolutely could not allow herself to be seduced by his beauty!

Xiao Ziyu put his clothes back on and sat on the edge of the bed, watching her curiously.

This woman was sometimes kind to him, yet at other times acted as though she feared him. Could it be that she had some hidden scheme and was behaving this way because she was afraid of being exposed?

With that thought, he rose and walked toward her step by step before suddenly seizing her wrist.

Chen Xingmiao jumped in fright. She looked at him with confusion and unease.

What was it now? How had she offended him this time?

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“Who sent you? What are you after?” he demanded, staring fixedly at her. His eyes were enveloped in suspicion.

So he still did not trust her.

Chen Xingmiao sighed inwardly. In this era, being a person was difficult; being a good person was even harder.

She tried to pull her hand free, but Xiao Ziyu’s grip was too tight. She could not move at all.

His brows drew together, and the icy light shooting from his cold eyes was enough to make both body and soul tremble.

“Speak!” he demanded, raising his voice as he pressed her again.

“I didn’t! This marriage was never something I pursued in the first place.”

Chen Xingmiao truly felt wronged.

What decent person was transported to another world only to marry a villain—and not just any villain, but the villain? She had no special cheat, and even though she had been handed the heroine’s role, she had not felt the slightest trace of a protagonist’s halo.

Every day, she had to outwit those cannon-fodder characters and protect him just to complete her mission. In the end, not only had she gained nothing, she was even being treated with suspicion. Was there any transmigrator more unfortunate than her?

“I hope that’s true.”

Xiao Ziyu flung her hand away. He glanced around the room, which had already begun to acquire the warmth of a home, and finally let his gaze settle on her face.

Chen Xingmiao hurriedly took a step back and hid her hands behind her.

What was this little villain planning now...?

“If someone sent you here, I advise you not to waste your efforts. I have nothing—only this worthless life.” As he spoke, he looked at the clothes he was wearing with a self-mocking expression.

What was wrong with him?

She hesitantly raised a hand, then lowered it again, unsure of what she should do.

Xiao Ziyu turned his gaze toward the window. In only a few short days, his life had undergone earth-shaking changes.

He did not know whether any of it was for the better or for the worse.

Then Xiao Ziyu looked at her again and continued, “I am nothing but a useless man. You will gain nothing from me. If you are willing, we can dissolve this marriage. Or... you may divorce me.”

Chen Xingmiao drew in a sharp breath.

Brother, don’t do anything reckless. If we get divorced, won’t I be done for? How will I complete my mission? How will I ever get home?

She stepped forward and raised a hand to touch his face.

“Although I don’t know why you’re saying this, I...”

Chen Xingmiao met his gaze. Her eyes were gentle yet resolute, and the corners of her lips slowly curved upward.

Then she continued, “Xiao Ziyu, I will never hurt you.”

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