Reborn Into A New Life, Everyone Loves Me Now (GL) - Chapter 23
Inside the carriage, Su Qi sat off to the side, gazing at Liu Jiangli, who lay unconscious on the carriage’s couch. A wicked smile curled on his lips.
“Liu Jiangli—the most beautiful woman in the capital, renowned for her cold and aloof demeanor. I wonder what you’ll look like beneath another man,” he sneered.
The carriage sped along a narrow path and soon arrived at a secluded residence that Su Qi had prepared in advance. Once there, he ordered his men to carry Liu Jiangli into the room. Standing at the doorway, Su Qi turned to the guards outside and instructed, “In one hour, go to Prince Yue’s residence and bring Su Qishi here. Understood?”
The guards cupped their hands respectfully. “Yes, Your Highness.”
Su Qi then beckoned a burly man in a gray robe to approach.
“You know exactly what you’re to do, don’t you?” Su Qi said coldly. “Once it’s done, I will have someone deliver the money to you.”
The man nodded. “I understand, Your Highness.”
Su Qi smirked with confidence. “Go in.”
Inside the room, Liu Jiangli gradually regained consciousness. In a panic, she quickly checked her clothing. Upon realizing that her garments were still intact, she let out a slow sigh of relief.
Click—the door opened from the outside.
The gray-robed man stepped in, shutting the door behind him. With a lecherous grin, he walked toward Liu Jiangli, who was lying on the bed.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, he leered. “So the capital’s number one beauty truly lives up to her reputation—cold and stunning. Let me show you some warmth, sweetheart.”
As he began removing his outer robe and reached for her clothing, Liu Jiangli stopped pretending. She quickly sat up and shifted deeper into the bed.
Startled, the man remarked, “Miss Liu, you woke up faster than expected.”
Liu Jiangli furrowed her brows and stared at him icily. “Do you not know who I am? Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”
Instead of fear, excitement gleamed in the man’s eyes. “Who in the capital doesn’t know your name, Miss Liu? Even if I die after tonight, I’ll die willingly.”
“What did Su Qi promise you?” Liu Jiangli asked coldly. “Let me go, and I’ll double whatever he’s offered.”
The man laughed maniacally. “You’d better save your breath, Miss Liu. I would never betray His Highness. Besides, having you is worth dying for.”
Without giving her a chance to speak further, he lunged at her.
Outside, the guards looked visibly uneasy. A woman’s panicked cries echoed from within the room, soon followed by the creaking of the bed’s frame.
Following the secret guards’ directions, Su Qishi arrived at the secluded residence. Time had already passed, and though he tried to remain calm, anxiety gnawed at him.
Seeing two guards posted at the entrance, Su Qishi wasted no words. He leapt forward, knocking both unconscious in a swift motion, then kicked the door open.
His eyes immediately met Liu Jiangli’s.
She was curled up at the head of the bed, wrapped tightly in the blanket. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her gaze dazed. Finger marks were stark on her face, her black hair disheveled. The torn fabric at her shoulder exposed her incomplete clothing, her fragile appearance unmistakable.
In that instant, Su Qishi felt as though his mind was pierced by a sharp blade. He cast a quick glance at the unconscious gray-robed man sprawled on the floor, then slowly walked to the bed and gathered Liu Jiangli into his arms.
He didn’t know what to say or do, only that he needed to be with her, to protect her. The words of comfort he longed to speak stuck in his throat, eventually reduced to a simple murmur.
“Ah Li, I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”
A moment later, he felt the warmth and dampness of tears seeping into his chest. She trembled in his arms, unable to hold back her sobs.
After a long while, her voice, choked with tears, whispered, “Ah Shi… he didn’t succeed. He tried to force me, but I kept fighting him off. Then… somehow, he just collapsed.”
Su Qishi tightened his embrace, his voice soft, “Ah Li, it’s over now.”
Liu Jiangli clung to his robes, burying her head against his chest as if it could give her peace.
In a trembling voice, she murmured, “Ah Shi, I want to leave this place. Will you take me back to the Prince’s residence?”
His lashes quivered, and his eyes were filled with anguish and sorrow. His voice trembled slightly as he answered, “Alright. Let’s go back.”
——Prince Yue’s Residence
Inside the bathing chamber, Liu Jiangli scrubbed furiously at the spot where the gray-robed man had accidentally touched her. She didn’t stop until her pale, delicate skin turned red from the friction. A faint chill lingered in her beautiful eyes. Today, her momentary lapse had given Su Qi the opportunity he needed. However, this incident seemed to have made Ah Shi even more gentle toward her—her eyes flickered at the thought.
Outside the room, Su Qishi stood, gazing at the sky now painted crimson by the setting sun. His thoughts drifted far away, a heavy solemnity clouding his expression. A suffocating weight seemed to settle over his whole being. Suddenly, he heard a soft cry from inside the room.
Immediately stepping forward, he called urgently, “Ah Li, what’s wrong?”
He repeated the question several times, but Liu Jiangli didn’t respond. Alarmed, Su Qishi pushed the door open. Through the screen, he could just make out her figure slumped at the edge of the bathing tub. His heart raced—afraid she had fainted, he no longer hesitated and walked straight in.
At that exact moment, Liu Jiangli stood up abruptly, seemingly forgetting she was completely unclothed. Shock flickered in her eyes as she exclaimed, “Ah Shi, why did you come in?”
Only then did she realize her state of undress. Letting out a startled cry, she quickly crossed her arms over her chest and sank back into the tub, her face flushed.
Su Qishi froze the instant she stood up. Her skin was as white as snow, her abdomen firm, her waist slender, and her curves soft and round. Su Qishi felt his face ignite with heat.
Her voice jolted him back to reality, and he scrambled out of the room, flustered.
He didn’t know why, but today, he felt unusually hot.
Inside, Liu Jiangli leaned against the tub, a soft chuckle escaping her lips, her eyes full of tenderness.
After bathing, she wrapped herself in blankets and called out gently, “Ah Shi, you may come in now.”
Su Qishi took a deep breath before stepping inside. He saw Liu Jiangli curled up beneath the covers, with only her eyes peeking out. Her gaze shimmered softly.
He sat slowly at the edge of the bed and said in a low voice, “Ah Li, get some rest. I’ll stay right here with you.”
She answered with a faint hum, then cautiously whispered, “Ah Shi, could you kiss me? I’m scared.”
At her words, Su Qishi’s face flushed instantly. He looked down, torn for a moment, then remembered the fear she had endured earlier. He couldn’t bear to deny her or cause further distress. Leaning down, he gently kissed her forehead.
As he did, the ribbon in his hair slipped, brushing lightly against Liu Jiangli’s collarbone, tickling her slightly.
After the kiss, Liu Jiangli closed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips. Su Qishi rested his head on his hand, motionless, watching her quietly.
A moment later, her eyelids fluttered, and she opened her eyes again, a hint of grievance lingering in them. Her voice carried a trace of longing as she whispered, “Ah Shi, I can’t fall asleep. Will you lie here with me?”
Su Qishi’s pupils contracted. Perhaps it was because Liu Jiangli seemed so fragile in that moment that he agreed without thinking. But the moment he lay beside her, regret surged through him.
Liu Jiangli pulled the blanket over him, and now the two shared the same cover. She moved closer, wrapping both arms tightly around his arm.
Su Qishi froze, not daring to move an inch—for Liu Jiangli wasn’t wearing anything beneath the blanket.