"Oh my, I've been looking everywhere for you. Are you two hiding here to catch a break?"
Hearing the unhurried footsteps, Bella felt like setting off fireworks in her heart:
Saved! Whether it was Klee or just someone passing by, as long as they could break this damn awkwardness!
She hastily turned her head, but when she saw the newcomer's face, the smile on Bella's face instantly froze. She wanted to disappear right then and there, wanting to cry but having no tears. It would have been better if no one came at all.
The person in front of her was clearly not someone easy to deal with either.
Ye Jinzhi slightly raised his eyes, not missing her fleeting expression. His gaze looked even more unpredictable in the shadows: "Afraid of me?"
"What?" Bella didn't hear clearly and stared back at him blankly.
Ye Jinzhi lowered his head at this moment, and that sense of oppression sank along with his voice: "Darling... do you really not want to stay with me that much?"
"I..." Bella opened her mouth, her brain short-circuiting.
How could this man speak with such a scalp-numbing yandere vibe? And to make matters worse, her hand was still gripped tightly by him.
"Sister, I'll pick them with you, okay?"
Tan Yanli had already walked up to them.
He smiled harmlessly and generously reached out his hand to Bella.
Ye Jinzhi completely ignored him and didn't let go. He wiped her fingers clean one by one, his movements so elegant it was as if he were treating a rare treasure.
Bella stared at his meticulous manner and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow inwardly:
Wasn't it just a bit of dust and strawberry juice?
With this posture, would she have to buy a multi-million dollar insurance policy for her hands tomorrow just to be worthy of the Great Demon King condescending to serve her?
After wiping, Ye Jinzhi folded the handkerchief neatly and put it back in his pocket, still holding her hand firmly, staring at her with dark eyes.
Bella's current feeling could be summed up in one word: sweating.
Save me!
Are we that close?
One calling her "Darling" and the other calling her "Sister," who on earth could endure this kind of treatment!
How did those innocent little white flowers and white lotuses act in novels again?
Whatever. She took a deep breath, coughed softly twice, and even deliberately adjusted her voice, bringing out a coquettish tone that would usually give her goosebumps:
"Um... of course I'm... not afraid of you. I just feel like it's a bit cold here and I want to go back quickly."
After saying that, she deliberately leaned closer to Ye Jinzhi, her big eyes filled with a pitiful look.
Ye Jinzhi lowered his eyes, looking at this little kitten who took the initiative to snuggle into his arms. The gloom in his eyes was largely dispelled by the pleasure brought by her self-awareness.
He stretched out his long arm, taking the opportunity to pull her into his embrace, his grip so strong it was as if he wanted to rub her into his chest.
"Is that so?" He slightly lowered his head,
his warm breath brushing against the tip of Bella's ear with a hint of a smile,
"But from your expression just now, Darling, it clearly looked like you couldn't wait to disappear from here immediately."
Damn it, seeing through things without pointing them out is basic wealthy family etiquette, don't you understand!
Bella complained crazily in her heart, but she forced a smile on her face that looked uglier than crying,
her eyes darting around: "Well... I suddenly feel a bit tired, my legs are weak, and I want to go back and rest, really."
"Not picking anymore?" Ye Jinzhi raised his eyebrow, his gaze sweeping past the man beside him.
"Not picking anymore. If you have the mood, you can pick them yourself. Pick more, it's good for the brain."
Bella started talking nonsense, turning to look at Tan Yanli, who had been left hanging on the side.
She showed a sincere and apologetic expression: "Mr. Tan, right?
I'm sorry, I suddenly feel a bit unwell. If you really want to pick mulberries, you can... do it with him. He should be very experienced, you guys take your time and learn from each other."
After saying that, Bella took advantage of Ye Jinzhi's momentary loosening of his grip and slipped out of his embrace like a slippery fish.
He didn't force it, naturally letting go of his hold, looking deeply at her mint-green figure.
Bella ran away without looking back. That speed didn't look like feeling unwell at all; it clearly looked like she was being chased by two hungry wolves.
You've got to be kidding me!
Stay there and wait for them to play out a two men fighting over one woman drama?
Don't think she didn't see the way Tan Yanli looked at her just now. His "Sister" sounded so crisp, moving, innocent, and pure that it could put all the green teas in the world to shame.
Bah!
Bella rolled her eyes fiercely in her heart.
Good boy, when he called her sister, was there even a tiny bit of respect for an elder in his eyes?
It was clearly sticky, filled with predatory desire, and even hid a trace of determined fanaticism.
That look was exactly the same as the maniac surnamed Ye behind her!
The more Bella ran, the more she felt a chill down her spine. She even suspected now,
whether in this entire manor, besides Klee, every breathing man she met had an abnormal brain circuit?
She glanced back from the corner of her eye and found Ye Jinzhi a few meters behind her, his posture as relaxed as an alpha wolf patrolling his own territory;
while Tan Yanli followed closely behind. Although he kept his distance, those eyes locked onto her made Bella wish she could grow a pair of wings and fly away directly.
Bella had always had a good memory and managed to find the bedroom she woke up in.
Enter the room, lock the door, and lean against the door panel, panting heavily.
"Phew... what kind of people are they anyway."
She slumped onto the edge of the bed, her brain spinning rapidly.
Since she was already in the manor, going head-to-head with Ye Jinzhi to complete the mission was obviously the worst plan.
She needed a perfect plan.
But this bed was just too comfortable.
The silky smooth silk bedding was like gentle clouds, breaking down her tense nerves inch by inch.
Coupled with the exhaustion from tossing and turning until dawn last night, it now hit her like a landslide.
Her eyelids were as heavy as lead, and her logical thinking gradually shattered.
Ye Jinzhi, Tan Yanli...
Whatever, just... let me sleep for five minutes first...
Bella curled up on the large European-style bed and gradually fell into a deep sleep, her breathing becoming long and even.
She didn't know that just a few minutes after she fell asleep, the door lock of the room made an extremely faint click.
Ye Jinzhi stood by the bed, looking down at her defenseless sleeping face.
The sunlight leaking through the gap in the curtains reflected on his half-lit, half-dark profile, his gaze holding an almost greedy desire.
His slender fingers slowly traced her silhouette in the air, finally stopping at the side of her gently heaving neck, feeling the rhythm of her pulsing heartbeat.
After confirming she was asleep, he slowly leaned in, his nose brushing against her warm skin,
avoiding that fragile neck, and instead, landed a very light, very slow kiss on the small patch of skin just below her collarbone.
In the shadows of the main building's corridor, Klee was standing quietly at the corner.
"Klee? What are you doing standing here? Why aren't you going to the kitchen to help?"
The housekeeper's footsteps came from behind. She looked suspiciously, her gaze landing on Klee's palm, a touch of green.
Klee's fingers immediately closed, hiding that piece of fabric in her palm.
She turned her head, "I'm going right now."
The butler harbored no further suspicions. He simply nodded and turned to walk away.
Klee returned to her room and slowly opened her hand.
Lowering her head as if bewitched, she closed her eyes and took a gentle sniff, a barely audible sigh escaping her throat.
"Hah... it has been so long, yet my sister still smells as sweet as ever."
