Chapter 52: Rush In and Chop Him to Pieces

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Rush In and Chop Him to Pieces

A gust of night wind swept by, abruptly carrying a different scent through the clear air.

A scent that was exceptionally familiar.

Cui Lingyao’s body stiffened slightly.

They were sitting side by side, very close, and Shen Tingyu immediately noticed her change. He turned his head and asked, "Are you feeling cold?"

"..." Cui Lingyao managed to force a smile and nodded. "A little."

As she spoke, she hesitated for a moment before suddenly shoving her hand into his palm.

Shen Tingyu was surprised for a split second, but his reaction was swift. He instinctively closed his fingers around hers.

His broad palm firmly enveloped her hand.

It felt soft, almost boneless, and cool to the touch.

He gave it a gentle squeeze and said with concern, "If you’re cold, we should head back and rest."

The height of summer was ending, and the night winds already carried a chill.

The last thing she needed was to catch a cold.

But Cui Lingyao, who was now certain that Xie Jinbai was nearby, had no intention of going back inside.

She shook her head. "I don’t want to go back. Cousin, please stay with me a little longer."

Her voice carried a flirtatious tone.

As soon as she said this, Shen Tingyu immediately guessed what was happening.

He glanced sideways at the young woman beside him.

His eyes sought confirmation of his suspicions.

In Xie Jinbai’s eyes, however, this was a young couple gazing affectionately at each other.

His eyes narrowed slightly; he found the scene unbearably glaring.

Meanwhile, Shen Tingyu read the answer in Cui Lingyao’s gaze, and anger flared up in his heart as well.

The grand Duke Mansion, being trespassed as if it were public ground, and the girl he loved, living in his own courtyard, couldn’t even sleep in peace.

Because she was afraid of being taken advantage of.

It was... absurd!

Shen Tingyu forcibly suppressed his rage. Clenching his fingers, he tightened his grip on the hand in his palm, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "I can’t bear to part with you either, cousin. Once our marriage is settled, I will stay with you day and night."

His voice was very low, but Xie Jinbai had excellent hearing. In the silent night, every single word reached his ears.

This perfect couple before him really did seem to be cousins who had pledged their hearts to one another.

It seemed to have nothing to do with his Yaoyao.

One couldn’t bear to part from her lover, while the other patiently coaxed her.

And he himself, as if possessed, witnessed this scene without stepping forward to interrupt or turning to leave.

His feet seemed to have taken root, planting him in this corner, watching without blinking...

Watching them gaze affectionately at each other.

Watching them whisper sweet nothings.

In the cool, quiet night, the young woman’s head tilted to the side, resting on her lover’s shoulder.

Their hands were clasped together, the picture of sweetness.

Shen Tingyu didn’t mention going back to rest again.

They just leaned against each other like that, occasionally exchanging a few words.

For a long, long time...

So long that Cui Lingyao’s back began to ache from sitting on the hard rock. So long that the moon was high overhead, yet the familiar scent in the air still hadn’t dissipated.

So long that Cui Lingyao was almost ready to concede defeat.

’Isn’t his time supposed to be precious?’

’Why is he acting like he has nothing better to do?’

’Wasting so much time here in the middle of the night.’

’We knew each other for five years and were married for three, yet I never knew he had a fetish for watching other people’s secret trysts!’

’Or is it that I haven’t been obvious enough? That Shen Tingyu and I aren’t acting sweet enough?’

But this level of intimacy was the absolute most Cui Lingyao could manage right now.

Anything more...

Hugging, kissing, and the like—she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

As long as Xie Jinbai didn’t leave, Cui Lingyao certainly wouldn’t go back inside to sleep.

So they remained, sitting in a stalemate.

Soon, her biological clock began to take over. Her eyelids started to fight, and the head resting on Shen Tingyu’s shoulder began to nod, involuntarily dipping lower and lower.

The third time she dozed off and her little head dipped down again, Shen Tingyu reached out, caught her chin, then swiftly put an arm around her shoulders to support her. "Let me take you back to your room," he said with a helpless sigh.

’There’s no way we can just sit here until dawn.’

The night was growing deeper and the dew heavier; she could easily get sick.

Besides, not getting enough rest was bad for her health.

Shen Tingyu released her chin, helped her to her feet, and coaxed, "I’ll watch over you as you sleep. I’ll leave after you’ve drifted off."

"...Alright."

Cui Lingyao was out of ideas.

She was just too sleepy.

The two of them left the rockery, supporting each other.

Xie Jinbai stood rooted to the spot, stunned, as if he’d been struck stupid.

"...Prince?"

Behind him, Li Yong braced himself and whispered a reminder, "...They’ve gone back."

’They’ve gone back.’

’Shen Tingyu said he would watch over her as she slept.’

’A single man and a single woman, at night, together in one room...’

’If they dare close the door and be alone,’ Xie Jinbai thought, ’then I suppose I won’t need to worry about evidence anymore.’

He had ten thousand ways to interrogate her and make her tell the truth.

The only reason he was testing her so circuitously was that he wanted to understand what she was trying to do.

He wanted her to come to him willingly.

He didn’t want to scare her.

He had never wanted to scare her.

But she couldn’t do this to him.

Do this to him!

If she truly intended to move on to someone else, then he wouldn’t be able to hold back any longer.

Xie Jinbai closed his eyes, swallowing the coppery taste of blood in his throat, and turned to follow them.

Cui Lingyao’s courtyard wasn’t far. By the time he arrived, the two had already entered the room.

—The door was open.

But Xie Jinbai felt no joy. He stared at the open door, his expression blank, his gaze terrifyingly dark.

This man, usually decisive and never one to drag his feet, was now hesitating, even though he was certain the young woman inside was his beloved wife.

He knew perfectly well that she was alone with another man at this very moment, yet he didn’t dare make a single move, just stood rigidly in a dark corner, watching silently.

He was waiting.

Waiting to see if that man would come out first.

Or if his own patience would snap first, causing him to rush in and tear the man to pieces.

Soon, that question was answered.

Cui Lingyao was truly exhausted. The moment her head hit the pillow, she felt drowsy. She forced her eyes open and said to the man by her bed, "You should go back. Don’t stay and watch. You still have to attend the banquet at the Zhao Family’s home tomorrow."

Shen Tingyu looked down. "I’ll go after you’re asleep."

Cui Lingyao didn’t take the strict separation between men and women in this world very seriously. She didn’t feel uncomfortable having a man who wasn’t family in her boudoir.

But being watched while she slept was different.

She whispered, "With you here, I feel a little... uncomfortable."

"..."

Shen Tingyu was silent for a moment, then leaned down close to her ear and said in a voice only she could hear, "If I leave, what will you do if he comes to take advantage of you again?"

Cui Lingyao was struck speechless.

’How is he so clever? He even knew that Xie Jinbai had made a move on me.’

She mimicked his action, bringing her lips close to his ear and whispering, "Based on my understanding of him, he won’t come in tonight."

’He’s an incredibly proud man.’

’He was aloof and rebellious even as a youth. After witnessing my intimacy with another man, he’ll probably start to think he was mistaken.’

’Even if his suspicions haven’t completely vanished, he won’t try to take liberties again.’

’He would disdain taking advantage of a woman who has another man in her heart.’