Chapter 1320

The man on the balcony finally made a move.

When Baili Xia’s slender fingers fell upon the bracelet, he turned around to face her, reaching out to part the floor-to-ceiling curtains.

Baili Xia’s fingertips tensed, every inch of her fingertips strained with force.

Yet, in the instant his hand touched the curtains, that familiar aura surged entirely into her heart.

This bastard!

She bit her lip, her fingers pulling away as she stared incredulously at the man stepping in from the balcony.

Long legs entering, he brought with him traces of icy cold air and the scent of the night.

For some reason, she found him particularly suited to the night.

It seemed as though only in the darkness could he live recklessly, unapologetically free.

A man drawn to shadow…

“Why are you here?” she demanded.

When she left, he had been mingling with the Old Madam at the venue, deep in amicable conversation.

And yet, within mere moments, he was already here.

Mu Xiaojiu didn’t reply, but upon entering, he casually shut the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Without hesitation, he also drew the curtains tightly, sealing them shut.

The gesture sent a sudden wave of unease through Baili Xia.

This wasn’t the first time.

Every time he attempted something with her, it was always in this exact scenario.

But he had already pushed her away from his side.

What right did he have to attempt anything with her now?

“Don’t come closer.” Seeing him begin to stride into the room, she instinctively stepped back with vigilance.

Mu Xiaojiu paused slightly, his gaze falling on the bracelet around her wrist.

“Planning to use that against me?” His brows arched sharply, a glint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

“Are you going to make a move on me?”

Baili Xia bit down on her lip.

She hadn’t originally planned to attack him, even though she knew his presence here likely carried an unreasonably brazen motive.

And yet, she still couldn’t bring herself to use the bracelet against him.

Moments ago, her slender fingers had instinctively reached toward the bracelet only because she hadn’t seen clearly who it was outside.

Once she realized it was him, her fingers had already released their hold.

But now, hearing his taunting words, her defiance surged.

Her fingers once again rested atop the bracelet.

She wasn’t someone he could toy with as he pleased.

If he had discarded her, then he had no right to come looking for her again.

She didn’t want to see him—at all!

“Do you think this trinket alone can deal with me?”

Mu Xiaojiu barely lingered.

Seeing her fingers poised atop the bracelet, he quickened his steps toward her instead.

“Don’t come any closer! Don’t think I’m afraid to strike you.” Baili Xia’s trembling fingertips betrayed her nerves.

Still, unwilling to let him see the uncertainty in her heart, she forced herself to appear calm.

“Then try me. I’d like to see exactly how formidable your weapon is.”

Mu Xiaojiu’s strides were unwavering, his broad steps steadily closing the distance.

The gap from the balcony entrance to her was around twenty to thirty paces, yet within seconds, he was already alarmingly close.

The overwhelming force of his domineering presence came crashing toward her.

Baili Xia knew she couldn’t evade him, yet she was unwilling to allow herself to be at his mercy, time and again.

Fingers trembling slightly, she gritted her teeth and pressed down.

A silver needle shot out, but—it was a normal one, just like the one that injured Nangong Yun before.

No anesthetic mixed in.

For most opponents, it could only serve as a warning.

Last time, Nangong Yun had been grazed by this very kind of silver needle.

The speed of the needle was incredibly swift.

If Baili Xia hadn’t deliberately held back last time, Nangong Yun’s face might truly have been ruined.

This time, the needle was aimed at Mu Xiaojiu’s arm—purely to intimidate him!