Chapter 43: Soul Under the Sword

The atmosphere became quiet and awkward. After Cen Yueze said those words, he too froze, realizing how shameless that sounded.

But since Lu Hui didn’t seem angry, despite the insult, Cen Yueze didn’t feel annoyed.

Ning Jiao gave Lu Hui a playful look and whispered in her ear, “If you and Young Master Cen really have something going on, that’s a blessing. He’s big and strong, too.”

Lu Hui’s expression was hard to read, “Have you seen it?”

Ning Jiao shook her head, “I don’t have that ability, I was just guessing.”

Lu Hui took a sip of warm water, “He’s relying on oysters for fuel, so he probably isn’t that good.”

Ning Jiao felt that Lu Hui had a point, “Then maybe you should sleep with another man.” She abruptly ended the topic, “But don’t fight me for Yan Zhao.”

“I have no interest in Yan Zhao whatsoever.”

Ning Jiao, seeing that Lu Hui wasn’t lying, dropped her guard and complained, “Yan Zhao is just a cold, hard rock. The other day, I bought him a phone, I got the 12 for myself and the 12 Pro Max for him. Then he just lost it! It drove me crazy.”

Lu Hui almost wanted to tell her that even if the God of Fire came, Yan Zhao’s heart wouldn’t warm up, “That’s his style, just give up, sis.”

Ning Jiao insisted, “No way, I’m definitely going to win him over.”

Lu Hui sighed, “You’ll regret it.”

Ning Jiao didn’t believe in this evil, “I already have a plan.”

Lu Hui perked up her ears, “What plan?”

The two of them leaned in and whispered conspiratorially. Ning Jiao said in a sultry tone, “They say love comes from sleeping together, you get it, right?”

A cold shiver went down Lu Hui’s spine. She stared at Ning Jiao with wide eyes, “You plan to sleep with him?”

Ning Jiao hesitated but then said confidently, “A one-night stand shouldn’t be hard. After that, he’ll have to take responsibility.”

Lu Hui had to warn her, “You need to think twice about this!”

Ning Jiao’s alarm bells went off, and she demanded, “Are you jealous?!”

Lu Hui denied it, “No.” She swallowed her saliva and gave a sympathetic glance to Ning Jiao’s face, “I’m just afraid he’ll kill you.”

The words were soft, but Ning Jiao didn’t catch them, “What? Speak louder.”

Lu Hui gritted her teeth, “Actually, he’s an irresponsible scumbag. The type who’ll make you pay for an abortion. Be careful!”

“Such a scumbag?”

“Yes, a real scumbag.”

Ning Jiao was skeptical, “He doesn’t seem like it.”

Lu Hui sighed deeply, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Ning Jiao’s firm resolve was shaken by Lu Hui’s words, but when she thought of Yan Zhao’s face, she couldn’t help but swallow her saliva, “I’ll observe him a bit longer.”

“Fine.” Lu Hui was confident—except for her being forced to play the tool-woman role in the drama, no normal person could tolerate Yan Zhao’s temper.

Sure enough, as soon as Yan Zhao arrived, almost everyone else showed up as well.

Yan Zhao, holding some pet that wasn’t immediately recognizable, made Ning Jiao rush to sit beside him, offering him warmth and kindness, being especially enthusiastic, “Yan Zhao, what’s hiding in your sleeve? Can I take a look?”

Yan Zhao answered coolly, “Nothing.”

Ning Jiao pouted and acted sweetly, “I just want to take a quick peek, okay?”

Yan Zhao kept his sleeve tightly closed, “Nothing.”

Ning Jiao stomped her foot, “Fine, if there’s nothing, then there’s nothing.”

Yan Zhao seemed ill, his cheeks flushed, and his coughing didn’t stop.

The director, being kind-hearted, advised, “You should stay home and rest if you’re sick.”

Yan Zhao hoarsely replied, “It’s no big deal.”

How is it no big deal when he sounds like that? His lips were so pale and his voice so raspy.

Yan Zhao seemed distracted the whole evening. The bird in his sleeve kept fidgeting. He pressed its tail down and muttered, “Stop messing around.”

Lu Hui watched this scene and admired Yan Zhao’s audacity. If anyone else had seen that flying fish, they would’ve taken them both away for research.

The dinner was awkward. The director’s intention to help foster better relationships between the guests failed miserably. It felt like everyone at the table was meeting for the first time.

Cen Yueze, who usually liked oysters, couldn’t bring himself to eat, unable to shake off Lu Hui’s earlier comment.

He ended up going hungry the entire night. Meanwhile, Lu Hui’s mouth never stopped.

After the dinner gathering ended, there was no plan for the next round. The director paid the bill and told everyone to disperse.

Lu Hui had drunk quite a bit of water tonight, so she grabbed her bag and went to the restroom. Out of nowhere, Cen Yueze followed her, standing at the restroom door, looking at the female symbol on it, feeling like a pervert and creepy.

When Lu Hui came out after washing her hands, she saw him lazily leaning against a wooden pillar by the door. She was startled and took a step back, accidentally splashing some water droplets on his face.

Cen Yueze pressed his lips together, “Sorry, the thing I said earlier tonight was offensive. I shouldn’t have made that joke in front of so many people.”

Lu Hui was a little surprised. With his polite tone, she didn’t want to push him too hard, so she responded awkwardly, “Oh, well, just be careful next time.”

Cen Yueze replied, “I’ll be more mindful in the future.”

He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, maybe offer to see her off. But at that moment, his phone rang abruptly. Glancing at the screen, he answered with a dark expression, “What is it?”

Lu Hui noticed his increasingly cold demeanor, his eyes like they could freeze, and his fingers clenched so tightly that they seemed to be changing shape. “I understand,” he said in a low voice.

Lu Hui had often seen Cen Yueze act like a big shot, but now, he seemed a little different. She didn’t ask him what was going on.

They walked downstairs together, and suddenly, a woman with long hair rushed out of the hotel, lunging at Cen Yueze. She grabbed his collar and started hitting and scratching him.

“Why are you avoiding me?!” The woman cried hysterically, “Why won’t you see me?”

Cen Yueze pushed her hands away in disgust. “Don’t touch me.”

The woman collapsed on the ground, crying and laughing like a madwoman. “My parents are dead, you have to take responsibility for me.”

Cen Yueze seemed tired of hearing this. He turned around and said coldly, “I didn’t kill your parents.”

The woman looked up, her eyes bloodshot, “It’s still your fault. You have to take responsibility. You need to marry me.”

Cen Yueze had had enough. He sneered, not willing to waste another word on her. He took out his phone and called the hospital. Less than two minutes later, someone rushed over, bent down apologetically, and said, “Mr. Cen, sorry, we failed to keep an eye on her. We’ll take Miss Wen back to the hospital now.”

Several people pulled her away, taking the delusional, mentally unstable Miss Wen back to the hospital.

Cen Yueze glanced at Lu Hui, who was frozen in shock, and dragged her away by the wrist.

Lu Hui pulled her hand away. “Who’s that girl?”

Cen Yueze replied curtly, “Doesn’t matter.”

Lu Hui cautiously asked, “Did you really kill her parents?”

Cen Yueze stopped and turned to face her. “I didn’t.”

His eyes were grave and serious, without a hint of joking.

“I believe you. If it really had something to do with you, the police would have arrested you by now,” Lu Hui replied, adding in a warning, “The most valuable thing in life is freedom. In a detention center, there’s no dignity or status. It’s hard to survive in prison, and hard to make connections there.”

Lu Hui had stayed in a detention center for several months. Only her legal aid lawyer had visited her twice, each time with her crying in front of him, tears flowing without stopping.

When she was sentenced and sent to prison, life there was actually more hopeful than in the detention center.

Once she got out, she had developed a habit of advocating for the rule of law. When young and ignorant, she didn’t realize how precious freedom was—by the time she did, it was too late.

Cen Yueze’s mood seemed a little lighter after hearing her words. “You seem to understand.”

Lu Hui replied, “A little bit.”

Cen Yueze shook the keys in his hand. “Should I give you a ride?”

Lu Hui wasn’t eager to take advantage. “Sorry, I’m now a well-known celebrity. I’m worried about rumors.”

“Really not going to ride?” he asked.

“No, thanks.”

Cen Yueze raised his chin. “You can call a ride, and I’ll go back after you leave.”

Lu Hui ordered a ride through an app. There were still eighteen customers waiting ahead of her. She squatted by the windbreak, resting her chin in her hands. After drinking, she was feeling a little tipsy and started dozing off while waiting.

Suddenly, Cen Yueze took off his black coat and tossed it over her head, covering her.

Lu Hui used his coat to block the wind. “Thanks.” She asked, “Aren’t you cold?”

Cen Yueze said, “I’m at the age where I’m full of energy. You understand?”

In ten-degree weather, he said this?

“Oh,” she said. She was too cold, and indeed needed a warm jacket.

Lu Hui nearly fell asleep when finally, Yan Zhao appeared behind the pillar outside the hotel.

The coat draped over her shoulders clearly wasn’t hers, and Yan Zhao, with his sharp senses, picked up on the unfamiliar smell. He couldn’t help but reevaluate this man he had previously underestimated.

Yan Zhao didn’t show any emotions, but his fingers curled into a fist, and in his palm, a long sword seemed to materialize. The sword was sleek and shining, a deadly weapon, yet the bloodshed unseen.

Lu Hui was startled awake by the killing intent. She opened her eyes and saw Yan Zhao walking toward her with the sword, and she thought he had gone crazy!

In a panic, Lu Hui quickly called out to the system for help. “Can you take this invisible criminal away?!”

Her heart was racing, unable to handle the sudden tension.

The system, unable to take action on anyone without a signed contract, replied, “Based on AI calculations, it’s suggested that you use the helpless female protagonist strategy with these highly emotional male leads. That increases the chance of sending them back.”

Lu Hui was furious. “F*ck off!”

Being soft would only make a pervert more perverse.

Lu Hui took a deep breath, leaning forward to block Yan Zhao’s sword-bearing hand.

Looking at the situation, their bodies were nearly pressed together. Cen Yueze, feeling uncomfortable, averted his gaze.

Yan Zhao’s gaze was off, his pupils a bottomless black, covered by a layer of chaotic dark energy, like a fallen god descending into the abyss.

Lu Hui shook off this unrealistic thought. How could Yan Zhao fall? He was a future immortal, elegant and aloof, seriously cultivating in his sect.

“Are you crazy?”

The man shook his head. “Take off your clothes.”

Lu Hui refused to comply. Why should she listen to him?

Yan Zhao furrowed his brows. “I won’t be able to stop myself from wanting to kill him.” His expression was troubled. “I can’t control it.”

Lu Hui asked, “Aren’t you afraid of anything?”

Yan Zhao pondered for a moment. “It’s like that.”

Lu Hui slightly curled her lips. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll die in front of you again?”

Her acting was flawless. “If you dare harm the person I love right now, I’ll slit my throat and become your ghost, lying under your sword.”

In an instant, Yan Zhao’s face turned pale and lifeless from her words.

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