Chapter 528 484: Xiaoxuan... Why is There a Shadow of Shang Miaoyan About Her?

"Ah Han… can you stay with me tonight?"

His Dao Companion pleaded like a puppy afraid of being abandoned, and Pei Yuhang fell silent.

Outside, snow fell with a soft rustle. The candlelight swayed in the draft, casting their shadows onto the wall where they merged into a blurry, dark shape.

After a long moment, Pei Yuhang slowly sat back down on the edge of the bed.

Knowing Pei Yuhang was staying, a smile immediately blossomed on Ye Liyuan's lips, like a flower finally greeting the sun.

She snuggled obediently under the covers but refused to let go of his hand, hugging his arm tightly to her chest.

Her cheek rested against the back of Pei Yuhang's hand. Her breathing steadied, and the anxiety in her features slowly faded.

Pei Yuhang's gaze was heavy as he looked down at Ye Liyuan's peaceful, sleeping face.

The wavering candlelight cast flickering shadows across her pale cheeks. Her lips held a faint, contented smile, as if simply holding his hand was enough to ward off all the world's darkness.

But at that moment, it felt as if a block of ice was pressed against Pei Yuhang's chest, a chill spreading through his veins.

'Liyuan… are you putting on an act for me?'

'Using your weakness and blindness to hold me hostage…'

'Do you even… really love me?'

The "truth" about his Dao Companion that Nangong Jin had revealed had left an irreparable crack in Pei Yuhang's heart.

So now, whenever he looked at his delicate Dao Companion begging for his protection, Pei Yuhang couldn't help but wonder…

'Liyuan, do you truly need my protection, or are you just using it to hold me hostage?'

He let out a quiet sigh. Looking at the tranquil smile on his Dao Companion's face, his heart was a tangle of complicated emotions.

'Liyuan… which one is the real you? I… I find it so hard to trust you completely anymore.'

TAP—

An impossibly light footstep sounded on the wooden floor.

Pei Yuhang's pupils constricted. He snapped his head around.

The door had slid open a crack without a sound. In the dim candlelight, "Fan Xuan" was leaning against the frame, watching him with a wide smile.

Seeing that Pei Yuhang had noticed her, she pressed a forefinger to her lips. They parted, revealing a flash of pearly white teeth.

"Shh~"

The color drained from Pei Yuhang's face.

'What is she doing here?!'

"Hee hee~"

Seeing the look on Pei Yuhang's face, "Fan Xuan"—or rather, Shang Miaoyan in Fan Xuan's guise—burst out laughing.

"Yuhang, don't worry. I've already put up a barrier. She can't hear us~"

Shang Miaoyan teased, her smile radiant. With steps as light as a cat's, she came up behind him. Right in front of the sleeping Ye Liyuan, she wrapped her arms around Pei Yuhang's waist.

"My, Young Master Pei is so tense~"

Her warm whisper tickled his ear, and Pei Yuhang could clearly feel the soft, full press of her body against his back.

Right in front of the sleeping Ye Liyuan, Shang Miaoyan's slender fingers traced a path up Pei Yuhang's waist before drawing suggestive circles on his chest.

He could feel her cool fingernails through his robes, lightly scraping over his heart, inch by inch.

Pei Yuhang's breath caught, and a surge of anger rose within him.

He never imagined Fan Xuan could be so bold!

'How could this be… I remember Xiaoxuan never being like this.'

But one of his hands was still held fast by Ye Liyuan, so he couldn't fight back without his Dao Companion noticing.

Pei Yuhang could only turn his head, glare at Shang Miaoyan, and say coldly:

"Xiaoxuan! This is no time for games. Get out!"

Shang Miaoyan shook her head.

She rested her head on Pei Yuhang's shoulder, continuing to trace patterns on his chest with her fingertip.

"I don't want to~ I missed you."

"Besides, I overheard you talking with Lu Ruoxi just now. Ye Liyuan… she's blind, isn't she?~"

"Which means… we could do anything we want in front of her, and she'd never know~"

"What are you trying to do?! Xiaoxuan, this isn't the place for this! I'm getting angry. Now, get out!"

Shang Miaoyan acted as if she hadn't heard a word Pei Yuhang said.

She tilted her head, eyeing the oblivious Ye Liyuan on the bed, then slowly ran the tip of her tongue over her upper lip.

The suggestive gesture made a vein in Pei Yuhang's temple throb.

A familiar, dreadful premonition rose in his heart.

'Why… is Xiaoxuan acting so much like that woman?'

'Did spending so much time with that woman… taint her?'

Before Pei Yuhang could process the thought, her fingertips suddenly slid downward, pressing firmly against his hard abs.

Pei Yuhang's breath caught in his throat.

He was like a moth caught in a spider's web—in front of him, his peacefully sleeping Dao Companion; behind him, a wantonly mischievous Demoness.

But the most terrifying part was the secret thrill of excitement he felt rising through his shivers.

'What have I become?!'

'This is depraved!'

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. Pei Yuhang took a deep breath, about to wrench himself free from Shang Miaoyan's grasp.

"Calm down, Young Master Pei."

Shang Miaoyan's voice rang out, and Pei Yuhang subconsciously thought, 'You're the one who needs to calm down!'

He shook his head and said coldly, "Stop playing around. Get out!"

But Shang Miaoyan ignored him. She pressed close, murmuring against his earlobe, her gaze locked on Ye Liyuan's face.

"Young Master Pei, haven't you ever thought about getting revenge on Ye Liyuan?"

'Revenge?'

Pei Yuhang froze.

He instinctively glanced at the sleeping Ye Liyuan. A faint, barely-there smile graced her lips, as if she were lost in a pleasant dream.

Shang Miaoyan, meanwhile, stared at how Ye Liyuan was clutching Pei Yuhang's arm, and flames of jealousy ignited in her eyes.

She suddenly leaned in, her red lips almost brushing against Pei Yuhang's earlobe: