Chapter 22: Yu Mo Yuan Isn’t That Unreasonable

“I didn’t throw myself at you! Y-you let go of me…”

Tang Liyue tried to push herself up from the sofa, but the cushion was too soft, offering no support. She couldn’t get up at all.

The close proximity made her body burn with embarrassment, and her mind kept flashing back to that night of their “wedding.”

Let her go?

Instead of releasing her, Yu Mo Yuan tightened his arm around her waist.

With his other hand, he lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You’re quite unreasonable. You threw yourself into my arms, and now you want me to let you go?”

“I tripped! I fell!”

Yu Mo Yuan had seen that. But did it matter?

He smirked. “An adult still trips over nothing?”

Tang Liyue was so mortified that tears welled up in her eyes. In desperation, she pressed against his shoulders and pushed herself up.

Even though she was still in his embrace, at least her upper body wasn’t plastered against his anymore.

“Please, let me go,” she pleaded, her voice softening, her eyes filled with entreaty.

Her eyes were truly captivating, round, clear, and watery, as pure as a crystal-clear lake. Yu Mo Yuan could even see his own reflection in them.

He had to admit, he had a weakness for people who begged.

So, he let her go.

But then, he casually added, “Why don’t you just follow me instead? Whatever Zhao Zhiliu is paying your Tang family, I’ll give you ten times that.”

The moment Yu Mo Yuan released her, Tang Liyue had just managed to climb off him.

But his words startled her so much that her hand slipped, and she fell right back onto him.

Yu Mo Yuan laughed again.

His deep, muffled laughter rumbled through his chest, and Tang Liyue, pressed against him, could feel the vibrations echoing through her body.

Not because of attraction!

Because of sheer disbelief!

“This time, you didn’t trip, did you?”

Tang Liyue immediately jumped off him, scrambling to the other end of the sofa. She grabbed a cushion and clutched it tightly to her chest, eyeing Yu Mo Yuan warily.

“Second Master! Second Uncle! Please don’t joke like that! It’s not funny!”

Seeing how guarded she was, the amusement in Yu Mo Yuan’s eyes dimmed slightly.

He raised an eyebrow. “What? Being with me wouldn’t be better than being with Minchuan?”

“I’m just friends with Minchuan! He wouldn’t lay a hand on me!”

Although she had been sold to the Yu family with the task of bearing Yu Minchuan’s child, Yu Minchuan respected her and never forced her to fulfill that duty.

Not only that, but he treated her as a friend, repeatedly protecting her and standing up for her.

By Yu Minchuan’s side, she could at least breathe a little easier.

She could be herself, focus on finding a job, earn money, and save up for the future.

But if she ended up with Yu Mo Yuan, she might never escape the deep abyss that was the Yu family.

That thought terrified her even more.

With a trembling voice, Tang Liyue asked, “Mr. Yu, Second Master Yu, whatever it is you like about me, can I change it?”

“Like you?” Yu Mo Yuan’s eyes flickered with surprise.

Tang Liyue quickly shook her head. “No, no, I’m not that narcissistic! I mean, whatever it is about me that makes you think teasing me is fun, I’ll change it. Please, just treat me like I’m invisible.”

Suddenly, Yu Mo Yuan lost interest.

Before, teasing Tang Liyue had been amusing, she was like a little kitten, timid yet occasionally baring her teeth in defiance.

But now, her face was full of rejection and wariness. That wasn’t fun at all.

So, should he stop just because it wasn’t fun anymore?

That wasn’t Yu Mo Yuan’s style.

If he wanted something, if he wanted to play, it was never up to others to say no.

The corner of his lips curled, but his eyes remained cold.

He stepped toward the end of the sofa, closing in on Tang Liyue. Then, he leaned down, pressing one knee between her legs, trapping her in the narrow space.

His voice was domineering as he spoke. “Catching my interest is the greatest fortune of your life. Since you’ve already been in my bed, you have to pay the price. Nothing in this world comes for free.”

Tang Liyue’s voice trembled, tears welling up. “How did I take advantage? I was a virgin too! It wasn’t even my choice!”

“Who was the one who entered the wrong room?”

Tang Liyue fell silent and turned her head away.

“Who was the one who threw herself onto my bed, completely naked?”

“My clothes were stripped off by Aunt Wang! I tripped over a wine bottle and fell onto the bed!”

Finally, she couldn’t hold back her tears. They spilled down her cheeks as she stubbornly wiped them away with the back of her hand. “And I struggled! You were just too strong, I couldn’t escape…”

She had fought until she had no more strength left… and then she had succumbed.

She knew exactly why, she had already suspected that the soup Aunt Wang forced her to drink had been drugged.

That was why she never blamed Yu Mo Yuan for that night. She had simply accepted it as bad luck.

But that didn’t mean Yu Mo Yuan could keep using that night’s misunderstanding as an excuse to torment her!

She had endured everything in fear that Yu Mo Yuan would reveal what had happened that night.

But now, she had endured to the point where she was about to lose herself to him again, and Tang Liyue finally broke down in tears.

Once the first tear fell, it was like a floodgate had opened, her tears poured out uncontrollably, soaking a patch of the pillow she was hugging.

Yu Mo Yuan suddenly felt a wave of helplessness, even a rare sense of self-reproach.

For the first time, he thought that his actions toward Tang Liyue were cruel, even beastly.

He took a deep breath, stepped back, and straightened up, creating distance between them.

Then he spoke. “Stop crying.”

Tang Liyue sniffled, but when she saw Yu Mo Yuan’s dark expression, she burst into even louder sobs.

Yu Mo Yuan massaged his temple, his patience running thin. Then, suppressing his temper, he said, “I apologize.”

Apologize? Yu Mo Yuan was apologizing to her?

Tang Liyue was so shocked that she stopped crying.

Yu Mo Yuan continued, “As long as you don’t throw yourself at me again, I won’t lay a finger on you.”

“R-really?”

Yu Mo Yuan’s face darkened. “I don’t like repeating myself.”

For him, lowering himself to coax Tang Liyue was already unprecedented. How could he possibly say it twice?

He turned to leave, but Tang Liyue tugged at his sleeve.

Yu Mo Yuan looked back.

Tang Liyue sniffled and shook his hand slightly in a pleading manner.

“Can you promise not to tell anyone about that night? I just want to stay here peacefully for a while…”

“As soon as I save enough money, I’ll leave the Yu family immediately and never be a bother to you again. Please.”

Yu Mo Yuan withdrew his hand, his face expressionless, and gave a curt “Mm” before turning and heading upstairs.

Did that mean he agreed?

So he wasn’t entirely unreasonable after all…

Yu Mo Yuan had personally promised not to touch her again and not to reveal what had happened that night.

With the problem that had been weighing on her finally resolved, Tang Liyue let out a deep breath, feeling completely relieved.

She buried her face in the pillow, sobbing softly.

It took a while before her tears finally stopped. She lifted her head and patted her cheeks, then whispered to herself, “It’s over, it’s over… I guess this was a blessing in disguise.”