Chapter 143 - Hidden Motive
Silence followed and the temperature inside the room changed. Lory sipped her tea calmly and ignored the tense atmosphere in the room. Zhao Li Xin also didn't pay attention to Tang Mei Yi's changed expression as he casually poured more tea on Lory's cup.
"Oh… Does your master know about this?" Tang Mei Yi asked casually after her gentle face went back to normal.
"She is my fiancée, not his" Zhao Li Xin answered cooly.
"You still have not changed. Master Tian has high expectations for you. I hope you don't disappoint him," Tang Mei Yi scoffed. She sounded concerned but Lory knew she was warning her.
"Do you think I care what people want for me? I have not come this far for others to decide for me. No one, not my parents, my teacher, or even a god can do that," Zhao Li Xin's eyes darkened. His words were cold and firm. There was no leeway. He had always been decisive with his actions. Zhao Li Xin was a simple man who destroyed what he hated and kept what he liked.
Tang Mei Yi's expression changed slightly. She had known Zhao Li Xin since they were kids. He had always been cold and indifferent for as long as she remembered. He always put distance between them and gave her a cold shoulder no matter how much she tried to get close. It was like he was never aware she was there.
"Your master worries about the poison in your body. Does Miss Luo know about this?" Tang Mei Yi glanced at Lory but Lory quietly drunk her tea without showing surprise. She concluded Lory knew about his poison and she still wanted to be with him. She thought Lory's purpose was clear. Lory wanted to take advantage of Zhao Li Xin's condition as no woman besides her would want to accompany a dying man like him.
"She does but it is not your problem in the first place," He gave a perfunctory replied.
"You might not care but I do. I found a divined fruit a few weeks ago. It is said it can cure most of the deadly poisons out there. It might benefit you greatly," Tang Mei Yi's voice was filled with gentleness and concern. Those who heard them might think they were a couple.
Zhao Li Xin took a deep breath as his patience was thinning, "Once again… It's not your problem…"
Tang Mei Yi could feel his dissatisfaction and did not dare push him farther. She could only sigh, "Fine then…the truth is I came here to ask about one of the people you took for questioning. I wanted you to return the man to me."
Tang Mei Yi had picked up a talented artist to work for her but it seemed the man was involved with Zhao Li Xin's past. The man was reluctant to cooperate when the Hei Shen sect people first questioned him. He even tried to use Tang Mei Yi's position to threaten the Hei Shen Sect as he knew Tang Mei Yi and Zhao Li Xin knew each other. As a leader, she couldn't let his people get bullied and she thought Zhao Li Xin would not mind it, so she protected him by telling them she would be the one to do the interrogation.
The Hei Shen Sect members refused her suggestion because it meant they had to reveal their Lord's personal problem to her. They could not do it without their Lord consent, but they also did not dare press Tang Mei Yi because they were not sure about her relationship with their Lord. They could only leave and consult Zhao Li Xin about it.
Tang Mei Yi was delighted when the Hei Shen Sect left as she thought it was because Zhao Li Xin cared for her and they didn't want to make trouble for her. However, she's wrong. The Hei Shen Sect shadow guards kidnapped the man one day without giving her notice. The worst thing about all this is it happened inside her house. It showed the Hei Shen Sect did not care about her, not even the slightest.
Tang Mei Yi was both mortified and humiliated but the Hei Shen Sect remained silent no matter how much she complained. It had been a while and she still couldn't tell where her subordinate was. She decided to find Zhao Li Xin to ask for a favor. She was confident at first that he would listen to her.
"You want me...?" Zhao Li Xin's expression became vicious. His voice was even colder than it normally was. "Who do you think you are?"
Tang Mei Yi was taken aback as she felt a chill. She knew she had angered him. It seemed she had forgotten Zhao Li Xin's character. His own master, Tian Meng Ji, could not even control him. She unconsciously took one step back, "I..."
"I want to see a puppet show…" Lory abruptly cut in their conversation.
Tang Mei Yi was stunned but rejoiced at Lory's stupid behavior to dare and disturb him when he's angry. No one, not even Zhao Li Xin's master dared to do that. Zhao Li Xin had a violent nature from childhood. He was like an erupted volcano when he got angry. No one could stop him. She really wanted to cheer at Lory stupidity but the air in the room suddenly became light before she could smile.
"You have never seen one before?" Zhao Li Xin asked in a mild tone.
Lory tilted her head and smiled sweetly, "No, is it good?"
Zhao Li Xin's heart ached when he realized she rarely had fun like any normal girl her age. He blamed himself for not noticing sooner. He rose from his chair and held out his hand towards Lory, "Let's see it then…"
Lory ignored Tang Mei Yi's shocked expression as she reached for Zhao Li Xin's hand. They both left the room without saying anything while Tang Mei Yi was frozen on the spot. She could only watch their figure as they slowly disappeared behind the closed door.
Zhao Li Xin and Lory had left the building when she felt a strong gaze on her back. Lory lifted her head and found Tang Mei Yi looking at her from the second floor. She was still in the private room. Tang Mei Yi seemed to look at them with gentle eyes. She raised a teacup and threw Lory a charming smile.
Lory scoffed. It was amusing for someone like Tang Mei Yi wanted to intimidate her. She had been threatened by kings, gods, and demons throughout her life. Tang Mei Yi's level of intimidation almost made her laugh.
Lory tilted her head and smiled back at Tang Mei Yi. There was no fear, worry, or anxiety in her smile. Her smile was so serene and sweet, it almost provoked Tang Yi Mei's calmness. Lory turned her head away from her and held Zhao Li Xin's arm. Zhao Li Xin felt her small hand grab him but instead wrapped his arm around her shoulder in a protective manner as they walked off together looking so much in love. Tang Mei Yi's expression remained calm but her grip on the teacup tightened.