The Birth of a Villainess

Ever since that day when Lin Xiaofei told him of her past, as if he was running into a loop of nightmares, Qu Xing Xu would always wake up with his forehead wet with sweat.

In his dreams, he could see the endless darkness that swallowed up the cage that kept her from the outside world, from the living, and every second drove a thorn straight to his heart. Seeing her wretched fate and figure on the floor, with torn flesh and bleeding buckets of blood, it was always the dream he would soon wake up to.

Qu Xing Xu grew up being told of how cruel the world could be. His elders prepared him and he even taught himself on how to be ruthless. And it wasn't surprising to know that some, let alone most of the royal family would engage in cruelty.

Yu Fangzhu was no exception.

However, it didn't bode well for him when he imagined the time when Lin Xiaofei was under the dungeon and held there for months only to be tortured like an animal.

He didn't like it one bit.

Although he was a stranger and nobody to her past, he was now her husband. He couldn't accept that someone could harm this woman who was worth sacrificing his life to.

"I know Chu Chu didn't want to feel like a burden and didn't want to owe me anything." Lin Xiaofei whispered. "But putting her life into danger won't give me any peace of mind at all."

Even to this day, Lin Xiaofei regretted pulling her friend to the mess she created. She selfishly chased after Yu Fangzhu and disregarded everyone else who warned her about what she was asking for. Now, everyone died because of her.

Chu Chu survived only because she was useful to Yu Fangzhu. But without it. Lin Xiaofei might be mourning over her friend's death for the rest of her life and live in anguish.

"Why don't you just tell her the truth?" Qu Xing Xu held her trembling hand, giving enough comfort and warmth through her growing stiff hands.

Lin Xiaofei shook her head. "And tell her what? That the friend who made a mess out of her life and the reason she had to sell herself was alive and even got married happily? I can't do that… I don't want her to hate me… I don't want her to feel cheated and betrayed again."

And who would believe her, anyway? That she somehow returned and possessed someone else's body? Chu Chu was now slowly recovering from the traumatic experience they put through her and if she told her the truth…

Won't that make things go back to the time when Chu Chu would think of ridding herself of this world just to escape from the reality?

No… Not Chu Chu…

Lin Xiaofei leaned her body against Qu Xing Xu's arms. Whimpering at the emotions surging through her once again. The pain of losing someone had numbed her senses, but that didn't mean she will feel nothing once she loses someone important to her again.

After almost five minutes of losing control of her emotions, Lin Xiaofei slowly pulled back from his arms. She had no tears from her eyes, but the red spot at the tip of her nose was an adorable sight, and it only made Qu Xing Xu want to pinch it.

When Lin Xiaofei felt his two fingers pinching her nose, she scrunched her brows together.

"I didn't know your nose would turn red even though it's not winter yet." He told her.

Annoyed, Lin Xiaofei slapped his hand away from her face. This man was frustratingly annoying…

Even at a very serious moment, he could think of a method to tease her. However, his actions were surprisingly gentle and warm. The previous tension and somber atmosphere in the room gradually melted like when winter would go warm with summer approaching.

"Where did you send them?" She suddenly asked, changing the topic.

"They're still within the border." He answered. "But it would probably take them a day before they can return here."

Qu Xing Xu did not like to lie to her. Ji Mo and the rest of the team who were involved with the plan should have already arrived in the city by now. But rushing them to return to the Qu residence would only make things worse. Especially with Kael being injured and dirty…

His wife would surely feed him poison if he let them return as they are now.

Sighing in relief after almost avoiding a very calamitous event in his life, Qu Xing Xu reminded himself to send precious herbs to the youngster and give him a bigger allowance this month. Of course, Qu Xing Xu wouldn't pay him hush money… It was the money for the youngster's effort.

On the other hand, he might need to convince Chu Chu to keep her mouth shut and keep this from Lin Xiaofei.

"How did you find out about everything?" In other words, 'who snitched?'

Lin Xiaofei rolled her eyes, "When I heard about their disappearance and Shen Mo's report, I was skeptical and wanted to find some clues. So, I had Shen Mo search through their things and found what I can use." Squinting her eyes at him, she added with a smile on her lips, "Apparently, you weren't thorough in erasing evidence of your transactions with my ward."

Qu Xing Xu: "...'

"What did you find?" His lips twitched at the ends of it. He should try and have a very nice and long conversation with this guard named, Shen Mo.

Lin Xiaofei covered the distance between the two of them. Qu Xing Xu was caught off guard and leaned back, their faces an inch apart, and they could feel their breath caressing their cheeks.

With the light from the moon illuminating behind her, it created a shining halo that enveloped her body. It made her appear magical. Tapping a finger on his lips, she whispered, "It's a trade secret that I cannot tell you."

And before he could grab her for who knows what kind of impulse that shot through his head, Lin Xiaofei was already out from his reach and striding out of the study.

The only thing she left was a giggle that struck his soul hard.