Chapter 44: Try Another Way

The woman watched Zhou Ting’s devastated expression, a thrill of vengeance coursing through her.

Without lingering, she brushed past him, ready to leave for good.

Zhou Ting gritted his teeth, grabbing her hand. “Who is it?”

Xin Rou paused, sneering. “What?”

“You went through all this to ruin the company. Who’s helping you?”

She couldn’t have done it alone—he was certain someone was behind her.

She clicked her tongue. “Want to know? Beg me. Maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll tell you.”

With her revenge complete, telling him didn’t matter.

His face darkened. “Xin Rou, must you be so ruthless?”

She tilted her head. “What? Mad? Why not kill me then?”

His lips trembled, helpless before her indifferent gaze. Finally, he let go. “Leave. Don’t come back to Yuncheng.”

Her mocking laughter faltered at his desolate words, and she fell silent.

After a moment, she scoffed, about to speak.

But then, a faint sound rang out, and Zhou Ting’s pupils constricted.

A bloody hole appeared on her forehead. With a look of disbelief, she collapsed.

He caught her, preventing her fall, staring in shock. He looked around—nothing.

His thoughts returned. Raindrops began to fall.

Zhou Ting stood before the gravestone, his expression unreadable, then let out a mocking chuckle before turning away.

Was the mockery for her or himself?

Some things, long abandoned, should stay that way.

The rain grew heavier, thunder rumbling as if to split the sky.

Lin Xiaoxiao was cooking when she heard the door. Setting down her spatula, she peeked from the kitchen.

Zhou Ting stood there, drenched, his usual commanding presence slightly disheveled.

She blinked, turned off the stove, and handed him a towel. “No umbrella?”

He wiped his hair, glancing at her concerned eyes, and shook his head. “It’s fine. Summer rain’s refreshing.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’ll catch a cold. Go take a hot shower. You’re not young anymore—stop acting reckless.”

She spoke without thinking, unaware of the sudden drop in the room’s atmosphere. Too late, she realized her mistake.

“I-I didn’t mean you’re old…” she stammered, swallowing as his intense gaze pinned her.

She turned to flee, but he grabbed her collar like a chick, pulling her back to face him.

“I am old, aren’t I? You call me ‘Daddy’ every night, don’t you?” he teased.

Her mind flashed with embarrassing memories, her face burning. “I’m sorry, I’ve got to cook—let me go…”

She blinked her big eyes, pouting, hoping to charm her way out.

But Zhou Ting was set on some “discipline,” and her look wasn’t cute—it was alluring.

With that, he scooped her up in a princess carry. “Cook later. You’re right, so come shower with me.”

Her face paled, and she struggled. “No, I can’t—my period’s not over…”

“Doesn’t matter. Scrubbing my back has nothing to do with that.”

She flailed as he carried her to the bathroom. “My stomach hurts, I can’t scrub—let me down!”

In his room, he set her down.

She blinked, surprised. Had he actually listened? Was his conscience finally waking up?

Her hopes were premature. He tossed a skimpy outfit at her, smirking. “Change and come in, or come in as is?”

She stared at the maid costume, wanting to cry. Could she choose neither?

In the end, she was dragged into the bathroom. To her relief, he kept his word—only making her scrub his back.

She sighed in relief, but a strange sense of disappointment crept in. An illusion, surely.

You can dodge the first, but not the fifteenth. She escaped that afternoon, but not that night.

After dinner, in the kitchen, while washing dishes, Zhou Ting pinned her to her knees.

Her dark eyes, misty and pleading, met his abyss-like gaze, drawing her in.

Panting, she protested, “N-no more… why isn’t it over?”

He raised an eyebrow, ruffling her hair. “Want to try something else?”

Confused, she frowned. Something else?

He lifted her onto the counter, and she still didn’t grasp his meaning.

Then he took her bare foot, his warm hands cradling it, making her face flush. “T-this is too much!”

He was patient, watching her calmly.

Unable to bear it, worried Zhou Yang might see, she whispered, “I-I don’t know how…”