Master Xiao Makes His Little Darling Cry (23)

The incense was the latest aphrodisiac from the black market. Although the person who used it had already been thrown out, the scent had still been inhaled.

Yan Jiu had not paid much attention to it at first. He had been drugged with aphrodisiacs in the past, but perhaps due to his constitution, they had never had any effect on him; he had never once reacted.

But this time, it was different.

Amidst the curling wisps of blue smoke, the image of the young girl swirled repeatedly in his mind, unsettling his spirit and leaving his entire body burning with heat.

Yan Jiu suddenly stood up, grabbed his coat, and strode out the door. The woman who had been pinned to the floor outside was still writhing and preening in agony, yet Yan Jiu did not even spare her a glance. That sight did not sway him in the slightest; it only filled him with disgust.

The dim, yellow light flickered in the stairwell, casting mottled shadows and illuminating a tall figure. The shadow stopped before a certain door, his fingertips tapping against it. In the profound silence, the sound seemed to be amplified several times over.

A rustling sound emerged from within, and a moment later, the door creaked open just a sliver. The pretty young girl poked her head out, curious to see who was knocking at such an hour.

The man’s face was hidden in the shadows, his frame like a towering mountain. As he appeared at the doorway, he blocked out the only bit of light in the hall, and the intimidating aura radiating from him instantly engulfed her entirely.

"Master Jiu?"

Sensing the familiar presence, Hua Mi opened the door fully. "Why are you here to see me at this hour?" Sensing that something was off with his state, she reached out to take his hand, worried that he might have been injured again, and intended to pull him inside to check on him.

However, the man stood as immovable as a rock, showing no intention of crossing the threshold into her home.

Hua Mi failed to budge him and looked up, puzzled. "Master Jiu?"

In the dim light, she finally noticed sweat trickling down his forehead. His eyes seemed to be holding back some kind of storm, his breathing was heavy, and he appeared to be enduring great pain.

She was startled. She stood on her tiptoes, leaned in close, and cupped his face in her hands. "What's wrong? Are you unwell?"

From beginning to end, the man did not cross the line of her threshold; instead, it was she who had stepped out out of concern. Yan Jiu’s hand came to rest on her face, stroking it gently as he looked down at her.

His voice was hoarse and strained. "Mi Mi."

"Yes?" Hua Mi responded.

"I’ve been drugged."

*Host, the male lead has been drugged.*

Yan Jiu’s voice and the system's voice sounded simultaneously.

"Drugged?" Hua Mi froze for a moment.

*The male lead has taken an aphrodisiac. You know, the kind with that effect,* the system explained to its innocent host.

The man finally moved. He took a slight step forward, his toes touching the line of the threshold, but he did not step over it. He leaned down slightly, wrapped his arms around her waist, and whispered, strained, into her ear: "Mi Mi, I’m in so much pain."

Hua Mi immediately hugged him, her anxiety visible. "What should I do? Should I take you to the hospital? Or why don't you come inside and rest for a moment?" As she spoke, she tried to pull him into her home.

But he wouldn't budge. It was as if his feet had taken root; he stood at the entrance, refusing to enter.

Hua Mi heard the man sigh against her ear. His grip on her waist tightened, his voice filled with endurance and restraint. "Mi Mi, you cannot invite me in right now."

Hua Mi: "?"

"Why?" she asked, bewildered.

"If you invite me in, you will have to be the one to provide the antidote. Do you understand?"

Yan Jiu raised his head. His dark, deep eyes were murky and obscure, finally revealing the predatory nature hidden beneath, making him appear all the more dangerous. He knew she was naive and innocent, so he needed her to understand the consequences before making a decision.

It was the first time she had been stared at by Yan Jiu with such a dangerous, predatory gaze. Hua Mi’s heart trembled, and she dared not move, as if paralyzed by fear.

The two of them remained deadlocked at the doorway. Yan Jiu stared at her intensely, observing every expression and reaction. He continued slowly, "Are you willing to give yourself to me?"

Hua Mi was stunned by the question.

Give herself to him, and then what? If she were lucky, she could complete her task and leave immediately, but what about Yan Jiu? What would they be to each other?

She seemed to have only just begun to truly think about the nature of their relationship. It wasn't just Yan Jiu who hadn't properly defined their status; she hadn't either. She hadn't forced him to clarify, but Yan Jiu was now forcing her to decide. He needed to be certain of her stance.

A flash of confusion and... hesitation flickered in Hua Mi’s eyes.

Yan Jiu did not miss the hesitation in her eyes. In that instant, it felt as if a basin of ice water had been poured over him, dousing the heat in his heart and mind. He slowly let go of her, stood up straight, and his foot, which had been pressing against the threshold, retreated almost imperceptibly.

He knew she had her own motives, but he had believed her affection was, at least, genuine.

The fire in his eyes was extinguished, and a chill returned to his dark, heavy gaze. Even the rising tide of the drug seemed to vanish in that moment. The man took a step backward.

"Master Jiu..." the young girl called out suddenly, just as he had turned to leave.

She caught his hand gently. The girl looked up, and tears began to fall silently.

"I don't know."

"I don't know, *sob*."

She didn't know if she should give herself to him, didn't know what they were to each other, and didn't even know what she was supposed to do. She wanted to complete her mission, but she didn't want it to just be about the mission. She wanted to have children with him, but she didn't want it to just be about having children. What kind of ending would she even be satisfied with? She didn't even know herself.

Yan Jiu’s retreating footsteps halted. He leaned down to wipe the tears from her face. "Why are you crying? If you don't know, then just reject me."

"*Sob*," Hua Mi shook her head while crying. "I don't want to reject you."

The feverish heat was reignited, slowly burning up once more. The young girl looked at him through tear-filled eyes, her lashes trembling with unease. "If I agree, what will we be?"

"A one-night stand? Friends with benefits?"

"A mistress? A lover? A concubine?"

"Am I going to get pregnant and run away with the child?"

Yan Jiu was stunned by her words.

"Where did you learn these terms?" He couldn't help but flick her forehead with his finger, feeling nothing but helpless resignation. He took her trembling hand into his palm, looking down at her.

She was truly anxious.

Yan Jiu didn't know why she had formed such an image of him as an irresponsible scoundrel; she seemed to genuinely believe he would toy with her and discard her. The disappointment he had felt earlier due to her hesitation was dissolved. His hand brushed away the tears on her face.

She was truly the only one who could give him such a headache time and again.

He sighed and finally stated his position: "If you agree, you will be my woman."

Hua Mi blinked, and two more tears fell. "Will you have other women, then?"

Yan Jiu was so exasperated he laughed. "Have you ever seen any other woman around me besides you?"

*Host, although I don't know what you've been overthinking every day, the latest intelligence shows that the male lead came specifically to find you after being drugged! He hasn't paid attention to a single other woman; this shows the male lead only wants to do 'that' with you! The melodramatic plots you're worried about won't happen! I don't think the male lead is that kind of person.*

Hua Mi’s eyes flickered.

Both the system's and Yan Jiu's words were effective, each one striking at the root of her anxiety. In the end, it was Yan Jiu's fault; although he treated her specially, he had never made her feel secure in their relationship. She didn't even feel like she had truly entered his heart.

She was terrified of getting hurt, terrified of being sad and heartbroken! If she were hurt deeply enough, she might just lash out violently while crying!