The two women glared furiously at Ye Chu, their beautiful eyes practically shooting flames, teeth grinding in hatred. Neither was stupid. How could they not see what Ye Chu’s real aim was? The laughable part was that earlier they had actually believed him, almost fallen for his act. They had even felt a twinge of pity, wondering if Ye Chu truly carried such inner suffering.
Who would have thought this fellow was simply toying with them, playing with their feelings?
“Why don’t you just die!” Zhang Su’er snapped in rage. She grabbed the chair behind her with a backhand swing and hurled it hard at Ye Chu.
Ye Chu dodged quickly. The chair smashed into pieces where he had stood. Seeing Zhang Su’er reach for another, Ye Chu hastily waved his hands. “Stop! Stop! Won’t you even grant my final wish? Do you truly hate me this much?”
“If you died, we wouldn’t hate you any more!” Zhang Su’er roared. She seized the chair Su Rong had sat on and flung it at Ye Chu again.
Ye Chu shook his head. He could not help glancing at the fronts of Su Rong and Zhang Su’er, where the fabric strained, almost bursting. He muttered under his breath. That bastard who said big chests mean no brains? These two girls have plenty up top, and their minds are sharp too! I’ve been stringing them along so long I’m sick of myself, yet I still haven’t got the answer I want.
As the chair flew towards him, Ye Chu raised an arm to block. The wooden chair shattered on impact, splinters flying everywhere.
Su Rong was close to Ye Chu. The flying shards startled her into jumping aside, but she moved too hastily. Her foot caught on a table corner. She lost balance and toppled towards the floor.
“Ah…” Su Rong cried out in terror, her mind blank. She watched helplessly as her head neared the ground, face draining of colour.
Just as Su Rong screamed and squeezed her eyes shut, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her, pulling hard and lifting her up. Disaster averted.
Because he had grabbed her so abruptly, Ye Chu’s hold was tight. He pressed Su Rong’s warm, soft, fragrant body against his own. Their lower halves touched. Through thin layers of cloth, he could feel the heat and astonishing elasticity of her body. Ye Chu had not expected such an intimate moment. He meant to pull back a little, yet his body leaned closer instead. His chest pressed firmly against hers. Their eyes met, faces less than ten centimetres apart. He could almost see the intoxicating moisture in Su Rong’s beautiful eyes, soul-stirring. Both could feel the warm breath of the other on their faces, making hearts itch unbearably.
Ye Chu lowered his gaze. Through her collar he glimpsed a deep ravine, dazzlingly white. His body reacted involuntarily. That part pressed against Su Rong’s soft lower abdomen, sinking in before springing back. Though he did nothing further, just resting there felt intensely arousing.
“Ah…”
Su Rong finally came to her senses. Like a startled rabbit, she shoved Ye Chu hard. Her ears turned crimson, cheeks burning.
She pushed him away, but forgot the table behind her. Her foot caught again. She stumbled forward, crashing straight into Ye Chu and sending both tumbling to the floor.
Zhang Su’er had not seen Su Rong trip on the table leg. Seeing her lunge forward, she thought Su Rong had thrown herself into Ye Chu’s arms. The sight left her stunned, rooted to the spot.
Ye Chu had not expected this either. Caught off guard by Su Rong’s fall, he toppled backwards. Her full chest pressed against him. The body in his arms felt scalding hot. Ye Chu ignored the pain where his head hit the floor. His mind drowned in the warm fragrance and softness atop him.
Su Rong’s face hovered less than a centimetre from his. That exquisite features glowed with beauty. He could smell her delicate scent.
“Sorry! Sorry!” In her panic, Su Rong forgot everything else. She only apologised, small hands pushing against Ye Chu’s chest as she tried to get up. Her cheeks flushed scarlet, breathtakingly lovely.
“Even if you really want to comfort me, you don’t have to throw yourself at me like that!” Ye Chu gazed at the stunning beauty before him, savouring the lingering warmth and fragrance.
Su Rong felt mortified. Remembering the earlier intimacy, especially what had pressed against her lower abdomen, her heart pounded wildly.
Ye Chu stood close by, yet Su Rong could not bring herself to look at him. “Su’er, have someone throw him out!”
Zhang Su’er had initially thought Su Rong had leapt willingly into his arms. Seeing her now, she instantly realised Ye Chu must have tricked her to take advantage. Furious, she shouted. “Guards! Beat this fellow out with sticks!”
Facing the enraged pair, Ye Chu could only laugh helplessly. He had come merely to ask a question. Did they have to be this harsh? As for what just happened, it wasn’t entirely his fault. If anyone suffered, he had suffered too. After all, he was a dashing, peerless handsome man!
Ye Chu spoke his thoughts aloud. “So after hugging and holding me, you’re the ones who suffer? I got hugged and held for nothing. I’m worth something too, you know. Getting taken advantage of by you is also a loss. How is it all my fault? Let’s split it fifty-fifty, all right?”
“You…” Su Rong felt her anger explode. This guy still had the nerve to claim he suffered. Remembering that disgusting thing pressing against her abdomen, she truly wanted to grab scissors and snip it off.
“Beat him out with sticks!” Zhang Su’er ordered. “Daring to cause trouble in the Prime Minister’s residence. You really are tired of living!”
“Wait!” Ye Chu waved at the rushing crowd. “Before you beat me to death with sticks, at least tell me where the sole copy of Red Fiend is. Let me die in peace!”
Su Rong fumed. She had not expected this scoundrel to still remember his book at a time like this. Thinking of the earlier intimacy, shame and anger overwhelmed her. “What if I tell you? The sole copy of Red Fiend is in the King’s study. Go take it if you dare! I bet you won’t!”
Su Rong finally understood. This fellow had come to her solely for that item. He had spun such a disgusting tale to sicken her, then pressed that revolting thing against her. At this moment she wanted to bite Ye Chu to death.
From childhood, when had she ever been so humiliated? When had a man ever been so lewd towards her?
She told him its location just to dash his hopes and infuriate him.
The residence guards did not know why Su Rong was so angry, but with her command they showed no mercy. Sticks swung towards Ye Chu.
Ye Chu eyed the oncoming guards and smiled. “Little Su Rong! Seems you’ve forgotten what happened at Dingwu Hall. You think this bunch of useless rice buckets can touch me?”
“Hmph! Causing trouble in the Prime Minister’s residence today means no place for you in Yao City!” Zhang Su’er glared at Ye Chu. She truly believed he was rotten to the core. Mere villainy was not enough to describe him. Calling him scum felt entirely justified.
“Ridiculous! Just a Prime Minister’s residence. I’ve even been inside the imperial palace. You think this shabby place can scare me?” Ye Chu laughed, utterly unconcerned. He stepped forward, ready to leave.
“Such bold words! Who dares call my home a shabby place!”
Just as Ye Chu prepared to walk out, a stern voice rang out. Zhang Su’er’s eyes widened. She looked at Su Rong.
“It’s the Prime Minister!”
