Lin Huanhuan had been sitting there from the very beginning, watching as Ye Jinxiu walked in and confronted the people from Baihu Hall up to now.
‘So now you finally notice me? Hmph, time to give you a good scare.’
Lin Huanhuan deliberately put on an air of calm composure, as if everything was firmly in her grasp.
“Lin Huanhuan, why are you here?” Ye Jinxiu was instantly shocked, her face turning pale in a flash.
Lin Huanhuan replied coolly, “Why am I here? Haven’t you more or less figured it out by now? Of course I’m here for you. Why bother asking?”
“For me?” A hint of confusion flickered across Ye Jinxiu’s face, but in the next moment she understood.
‘So that’s it. I went through so much trouble to avoid being caught, but yesterday they let me go so easily. Turns out they were waiting for me here.’
‘Yesterday, it would’ve been against the rules to catch me, but today, with these people, it’s just about settling debts. With the Lin family’s background, no one will say anything. Damn it.’
Thinking this, Ye Jinxiu felt even more desperate. If it were just the mysterious people in front of her, things wouldn’t be so serious. But with Lin Huanhuan involved, things became much worse.
Seeing this, Lin Huanhuan instantly realized that Ye Jinxiu had been frightened by her, and she smiled knowingly.
‘Thinking of running?’
The thought flashed through Ye Jinxiu’s mind. She glanced around—the people from Baihu Hall were glaring at her like wolves, Lin Huanhuan eyed her like a hungry tiger, and her parents were firmly held by their hands.
‘If I run away, my parents will definitely be cruelly tortured. They’re old and wouldn’t survive it. What if something happened to them?’
‘I can’t leave them behind, and I might not even be able to escape.’
Ye Jinxiu sighed quietly in her heart, already making her decision.
Ye Jinxiu clenched her fists. “What do you want from me? I don’t have any strange treasures or family heirlooms.”
Huang Luochen slowly smiled. “You don’t have to worry about that. When the time comes, we’ll take what we need. Don’t worry.”
Huang Luochen waved at his subordinates. “Since you’re not planning to run, then come with us. Go tie her up.”
Ye Jinxiu lowered her gaze in silence, her face full of pain. The people from Baihu Hall sneered as they approached her.
At that moment, Lin Huanhuan spoke up calmly.
“Wait.”
Everyone stopped and looked at her in confusion.
Lin Huanhuan placed her teacup onto Dong Yun’er’s tray. “We agreed that Ye Jinxiu would belong to me in the end. You know my tastes—she’s mine. I don’t like others touching her.”
Ye Jinxiu’s face instantly turned red, and she glared at Lin Huanhuan in anger and shame, cursing inwardly, ‘What a lecher! Who’s yours? Shameless!’
Huang Luochen frowned. “So what does Miss Lin suggest? We can’t just not tie her up. If Ye Jinxiu runs away in the chaos, you won’t get your person.”
His words sounded like he was negotiating, but there was a threat hidden in them.
Lin Huanhuan ignored him and smiled. “Simple. I’ll do the tying. I’ll be the one taking her over anyway. Isn’t that fine?”
Huang Luochen thought for a few seconds and agreed.
“Fine.”
It was a reasonable request; he couldn’t find a reason to refuse. Besides, Lin Huanhuan would have to handle the aftermath, so he dared not offend her now.
With a mischievous grin, Lin Huanhuan stepped forward. Ye Jinxiu looked terrified, shutting her eyes tightly, her long eyelashes trembling.
Just before Lin Huanhuan laid hands on her, Ye Jinxiu shouted, “I’ve agreed to your demands and will go with you, but let my parents go first! Otherwise, I won’t cooperate!”
Huang Luochen sneered, “Let your parents go now so you can run away later? Do you think we’re idiots?”
He changed his tone and said, “Don’t worry. Soon you’ll be in Miss Lin’s hands. With how much she likes you, she’ll definitely let your parents go, right, Miss Lin?”
With a few simple words, he tossed the ball to Lin Huanhuan.
‘Damn sissy, you dare use me like this? Just wait, I’ll kill you later.’
Lin Huanhuan cursed inwardly, but on the surface she looked as carefree as ever. “That depends on you, Ye Jinxiu. Be good, and of course I won’t make things hard for your parents.”
Ye Jinxiu clenched her fists and forced out a “Thank you” through gritted teeth.
Then, Lin Huanhuan tied Ye Jinxiu up in her own special way.
Just before leaving the courtyard, Lin Huanhuan exchanged a glance with Dong Yun’er, who nodded and left the group.
The people from Baihu Hall focused on leading the way, while Huang Luochen looked excited, completely oblivious to the exchange.
*****
As dusk deepened and twilight fell, the streets grew busier. Vendors shouted loudly, and storytellers’ slapping tables echoed through the teahouses, painting a lively scene.
Weiyang City had no curfew, so people could walk the streets even in the middle of the night. Because of this, commerce thrived here, and all kinds of citizens could make a living.
The group from Baihu Hall walked down the street without the slightest restraint. Anyone or anything in their way was rudely shoved aside or kicked away, their arrogance unrestrained.
Passersby avoided them, all wearing looks of anger they dared not voice.
Ye Jinxiu said angrily, “To think cultivators bully ordinary people with their strength—how vile!”
Lin Huanhuan glanced at her lazily. “There’s a lot of this going on. What can you do about it? The weak just have to bear it. This is a world where the strong rule. Worry about yourself first.”
She understood well that she was just a villain and had no ability to care about so much, nor did she have the saintly courage to sacrifice herself for the world.
She simply watched, silently making a mental note against Baihu Hall, planning to go harder on them later.
Ye Jinxiu snorted coldly, “To justify bullying the weak so righteously, and not even attempt to uphold justice—you’re unworthy of the righteous path!”
Lin Huanhuan couldn’t be bothered with the justice-preaching girl.
After a while, Ye Jinxiu twisted around uncomfortably, pain on her face. “This rope hurts. Can you loosen it a bit? I really can’t escape, don’t worry. Just a little is fine.”
“Why are you so troublesome?” Lin Huanhuan grumbled, “Already tied up and you’re still making demands. Careful or I’ll kick you.”
Even as she said this, Lin Huanhuan loosened Ye Jinxiu’s ropes a little.
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