Chapter 80 Pain "Pierce, pierce deeper, it's not that you hate me..."
Shi Wan paused, pretending not to understand, and said, "You said you were going to bring it for me, but then you said I was greedy."
"That's really strange."
Jiang Xu said casually, "It was just a joke, yet it made you uneasy." Seeing Shi Wan's pale face and dark circles under her eyes, he softened his tone and said, "It's clear that it was my fault."
His dark eyes, unfathomable, remained fixed on her, while a strange, almost blissful tranquility graced his weary face.
Shi Wan held her breath and concentrated. At this moment, she was filled with suspicion, feeling that she had been seen through. But there was no turning back once the arrow was released. After she calmed her thoughts, she heard Jiang Xu call her again, "Come closer."
She was taken aback. "...What?"
Jiang Xu seemed to be making a harmless joke, opening his palm to look at her, "I'll help you put it on." As he spoke, he reached for the token.
Shi Wan's pupils contracted slightly, and her heart began to pound wildly. She had a feeling that something was wrong, but with such a bargaining chip right in front of her, no one could resist.
She pursed her lips, feigning modesty, and said, "No, thank you."
"To avoid you constantly doubting me, it's better not to."
"Oh?" Jiang Xu raised an eyebrow, his tone playful, like a cat toying with a mouse. "...Why don't you want it? Are you scared?"
He pretended to think for a moment and said, "Aren't you feeling uneasy and always wanting something for self-defense?"
Shi Wan suppressed her fear and tension, avoiding his piercing gaze. "I just feel... the timing is wrong." The two of them were now irreconcilable enemies; tonight was merely a temporary "peace."
As has happened many times before.
Shi Wan suppressed her desires and calmly said, "This is something you wear close to your body. It is too precious for me to accept."
After she said that, Jiang Xu fell silent for a while.
The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat suffocating. Although Shi Wan tried to avoid it, she could still sense that Jiang Xu was scrutinizing her, probably assessing the authenticity of her current "obedience".
After a moment, he spoke calmly, "What's there to be afraid of?" This made him seem pretentious and unwise.
His expression remained unchanged. "Since I'm giving it to you, you deserve it."
Jiang Xu's words felt like a thousand pounds of weight, carrying a sense of tangible inquiry, scraping across every inch of her skin, penetrating her heart bit by bit.
Upon hearing this, Shi Wan nodded calmly, obediently handed over the token, and lowered her head. After a moment, a familiar aura enveloped her, and she subconsciously tensed up until the other person stepped back.
Jiang Xu closed his eyes again, his voice filled with even more weariness, "It's late, go to sleep." His indifferent attitude made Shi Wan suspicious, but only for a moment before she immediately followed him to bed.
......
As night fell, all was quiet except for the occasional sound of the wind.
Jiang Xu was sleeping soundly. His handsome face had lost its usual sharpness and indifference, and a glance at him revealed a hint of gentleness. His chest rose and fell slightly with his breathing.
Shi Wan gazed quietly for a moment, a myriad of emotions condensing in her heart. She gently took out the hidden dagger, raised the blade, and held it at a distance, the tip pointing directly at Jiang Xu's heart.
However, for some reason, her hands were shaking violently.
The token on her chest pressed gently against her heart, like a brand, constantly disturbing her mind.
There's no turning back...
Jiang Xu was completely enraged. The people from Luoyang had come to discuss cooperation so gently and repeatedly, so it was clear that they were not in a favorable position.
Although Shi Wan was not skilled in politics, she knew that once Jiang Xu's power continued to grow, anything she wanted to do would be in vain. It was better to fight to the death now, so that she could at least gain some leverage for the future. In any case, with this token, she could use it as leverage to save her life.
On the other hand, she was also suspicious, feeling that everything was going too smoothly.
It's like...
Like her first escape.
Shi Wan couldn't help but slow her breathing, her eyes momentarily unfocused.
if......
If it weren't for Jiang Xu's people interfering, she should have been on that boat that night, sailing along the water, and escaped long ago.
It wasn't about going to Jichuan, or any place she didn't want to go but had to passively choose, and it wouldn't have... caused her all the torment that followed.
The next moment, Jiang Xu suddenly opened his eyes.
The man's dark eyes were no longer hazy from just waking up; instead, they were a deep, unfathomable darkness and coldness as he silently watched her, and in doing so, he also saw the sharp blade that was about to fall from her hand.
There was no surprise or anger, nor any intention to stop them.
Shi Wan's arm froze in mid-air, her blood seemed to freeze at that moment, and her mind went blank for a split second.
In the darkness, Jiang Xu's eyes were extremely cold. After a few breaths, seeing that Shi Wan did not move, the corner of his lips curled up almost imperceptibly, as if mocking, or perhaps more like...
A kind of expected indulgence.
Then, under Shi Wan's completely incomprehensible and unresponsive gaze, he grabbed her wrist and pulled it down hard.
In an instant, the sharp blade pierced the fabric and disappeared into flesh with a very faint thud. Warm blood seeped out, soaking the brocade quilt and staining their robes red.
As Jiang Xu gripped her, his body temperature was extremely high, and the sticky sensation of the blood pulled at her, assaulting her senses.
Shi Wan could barely hold onto the blade.
Across from her, Jiang Xu's face suddenly turned pale, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Shi Wan subconsciously wanted to drop the short blade, but due to this sudden change, she lost most of her strength and tried to get away, but almost immediately her wrist was grabbed by the other party.
His eyes were fixed on her, his expression calm.
Their eyes met, and a complex mix of emotions welled up within them that she couldn't decipher, making her afraid to look up. Her heart pounded, and after a long silence, a sharp pain returned to her chest.
It was as if Jiang Xu was in the same pain.
The air seemed to freeze. The man's face was pale, yet there was no trace of pain on his face. His lips were more distorted, and his tone was cheerful. Everything was extremely eerie.
"how?"
His voice carried a chilling mix of indulgence and encouragement, "...Not moving anymore?"
Shi Wan trembled all over, suddenly felt a soreness in her teeth, and couldn't say a word. She just lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Seeing this, Jiang Xu took her wrist and guided her soft, white palm toward the wound. His gaze was frighteningly bright as he continued to stare at her pale, frightened, yet still captivating face.
"Stick?" he urged, almost beckoning if you listened closely. "Why aren't you sticking your nose anymore?"
"It's best to pierce deeper."
"Don't you hate me?" After saying that, he grasped Shi Wan's hand and thrust the sharp blade deeper once more.
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Author's Note: My darlings, this is a major plot point that will be split into two chapters. Tomorrow's chapter will be a bit longer! [rose emoji]
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