Chapter 35: The Vampire’s Prey (35p1)
“Mmph…!”
Yu Jiao, kissed until she was a picture of bewitching beauty, crashed into the twins’ vision without any buffer.
Killing intent filled the air.
The hand around her waist tightened. The next moment, he pulled her into a tight embrace and retreated with her, dodging the oppressive attack.
“You two have quite a temper,” Xue Zhu raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “What, does it displease you when I kiss my own fiancée?”
“You’re looking to die.”
Xie Zhenye sneered and, along with the silent Xie Yanchuan, attacked.
The changing room was thrown into chaos. The Secret Society members, who had failed to stop the twins, shrank back by the door, watching the fight.
Yu Jiao, in the center of the battle, was held in Xue Zhu’s arms, feeling completely dizzy. At her wit’s end, she snapped, “Enough!”
Her reprimand was like a referee’s whistle. The three men, who had been locked in a fierce battle, finally called a temporary truce and began to fight with their words.
“Let her go,” Xie Yanchuan said coldly.
“No,” Xue Zhu held her tighter, smiling. “What business is it of yours if I hold my own fiancée?”
Xie Zhenye’s voice was sinister. “Try calling her your fiancée one more time.”
Xie Zhu: “Fiancée, fiancée, fiancée.”
“You’re looking to die!”
“…”
It was like a childish squabble.
A vein throbbed on Yu Jiao’s forehead. She felt like a kindergarten teacher.
“All of you, shut up!”
She struggled out of Xue Zhu’s embrace. Across from them, the twins also stood down, shooting a murderous glare at Xue Zhu before their heavy gazes fell on her.
The young woman was dressed in a well-tailored red riding suit, a light-colored, high-collared shirt, white breeches, and black boots. It made her look heroic and vibrant, her skin like snow. At this moment, with a cold expression on her small face, she was like an imperious princess.
Lifting her eyes to meet their deep, dark gazes, she said bluntly, “I’m not going with you right now.”
“…”
In the oppressive silence, Xue Zhu let out a pleased hum, his entire being radiating a triumphant aura, as if he had won without a fight.
His pale, large hand mischievously moved towards her waist.
Without turning her head, she slapped his hand away. Facing the cold-faced twins, she said, “It’s class time now. I’ll go home with you after school.”
“…”
The cold, fierce aura around the twins paused, then dissipated slightly.
Xie Zhenye looked at Xue Zhu and gave a provocative smile.
Xie Yanchuan added coolly, “One shouldn’t get too complacent too soon.”
Xie Zhu’s smile faltered slightly. His gaze was dark as he hooked his hand around hers.
“Darling, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Can’t you stay a little longer today… You haven’t even seen our bridal suite.”
His tone was mournful.
Xie Zhenye sneered. “Bridal suite?”
Xie Yanchuan said coolly, “President Xue, please get it straight. You are only engaged. You haven’t reached the stage of marriage yet.”
Xie Zhu smiled. “It’s only a matter of time.”
Yu Jiao: “Enough!”
She first looked at the twins.
—Now that she knew the key to clearing the level, she certainly wouldn’t be playing “Guess Who I Am” in a little black room with them anymore.
But if she didn’t make a concession today, the twins wouldn’t let it go…
“I can go back to the Xie Manor as before,” she said, her hands on her hips, her chin slightly raised. “But you must promise that you will not restrict my personal freedom again.”
The twins looked at her silently. After a moment, they nodded.
Having solved one problem, she turned to the next.
This ‘problem’ had a gentle smile on his face, his gaze focused.
Yu Jiao narrowed her cool, glistening grey eyes and said coldly, “Be content, my dear. Accompanying you to this class is already fulfilling my duty as a fiancée. To want more would be too greedy.”
She curled her lips and leaned in close to his ear. “After all, since you don’t like me, I’d rather spend my time with people who do.”
With that, she watched with a smile as his own smile gradually faded.
“Alright,” she announced cheerfully under the gazes of the three unhappy men.
“It’s time for riding class.”
…
The weather was beautiful. The lawn of the riding arena was neatly trimmed, looking vast and refreshing.
A few white sunshades were set up around the edge of the arena. The twins sat under one of them, their aura dark and heavy. After her repeated orders, they had finally compromised and were not following her every step, but they were still staring at her without blinking.
Their vigilant posture was like that of two house dogs, afraid of being abandoned by their master.
In the arena.
Yu Jiao didn’t even glance at her dogs. She adjusted her riding helmet and said frankly to Xue Zhu, “I don’t know how.”
She had a humble background. Just making a living was tiring enough. She had no time to learn such a high-class sport.
“I’ll teach you,” Xue Zhu replied in a gentle voice as he fastened the strap of her helmet.
After getting her gear in order, he had someone bring over a small black pony.
Yu Jiao curiously stroked the pony’s mane. It blinked its large, wet eyes, snorted, and nuzzled her hand.
“He has a very gentle temperament. Perfect for beginners.”
With his help, she mounted the gentle pony. Feeling the slight bumps, she slowly moved forward.
“How is it? Do you like it?” Xue Zhu asked, holding the reins and looking up at her with a smile.
“I like it. Why wouldn’t I? I’m not as stubborn as you.”
The young woman looked down at him from her superior height. The red riding suit made her look heroic and vibrant, like a sharp sword, cutting through the air.
For a moment, even the wind seemed to fall silent. He forgot to blink, his gaze fixed on her. After a moment, he smiled and said softly, “I’m glad you like it.”
…
Soon, she got the hang of it and no longer needed his help. She quickly felt the joy of riding at full speed, leaving him far behind.
Watching her free and happy back, Xue Zhu narrowed his eyes, mounted his own horse, and gave chase.
His horse was large and strong, and his riding skills were expert. Soon, he was riding beside her, which annoyed her. “Don’t follow me. You’re making me look bad.”
“How so?”
Xue Zhu chuckled, then suddenly reached out, his strong arm wrapping around her waist.
Yu Jiao: “!”
She was lifted into the air and, in an instant, landed in a familiar embrace, her back against a broad chest, listening to his low, rumbling laugh as he spurred the horse on.
The pony, having suddenly lost its rider: ?
It took a few confused steps, looked left and right, and then began to graze.
After being snatched onto his horse, her view was higher. The sharp wind brushed against her cheeks, and the scenery on both sides rushed past, as if a decisive brush had swept over it. Everything was a blur, except for the horse in front of her and the man behind her, which she could feel clearly.
In this extraordinary experience, her adrenaline soared, and her heart pounded.
“Are you happy?”
A cool, dark presence was by her ear. He asked with a smile.
“Happy!” she answered without hesitation.
Encircled in his arms, enveloped in his desolate yet dangerous aura, she felt a strange sense of security.
“It can be even happier. Hold on tight—”
…
Watching the two of them, riding intimately in the arena, the crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger, filling the sunshades.
“Tsk, tsk, this illegitimate daughter’s skills are really something.”
“Not only has she got her new lover wrapped around her finger, but even her old flames, after taking power, haven’t killed her.”
“What a blessed woman…”
As they spoke, someone quietly glanced at the only empty sunshade.
Inside sat the Xie twins, their aura extremely low. The two similar faces were equally expressionless as they silently watched the intertwined figures in the arena.
“Have I been transported to the harem of an empress?” someone muttered.
Numerous gazes, whether admiring, contemptuous, or coldly observing, were focused on the arena. But then, something unexpected happened!
The young woman, who had been leaning against Xue Zhu, suddenly fell from the horse—
The twins immediately stood up, but they were too far away. They couldn’t get there in time.
“What’s going on?!” someone cried out.
The onlookers’ eyes widened in shock. Could it be that the new lover is dissatisfied with this fickle woman and is finally going to kill her?
…
A few minutes earlier.
She glanced at the growing crowd of onlookers.
Yu Jiao leaned back and looked up at his beautifully lined jaw and Adam’s apple. “Tell me, if this crowd knew that we share pain and that our lives are intertwined, would they be ecstatic?”
Xue Zhu looked down at her. “What do you mean?”
Yu Jiao’s eyes curved. “To finally have the chance to pull the invincible President Xue down from his horse and take his place, isn’t that a joyous occasion? Don’t tell me you believe these people are loyal. It’s clear they all have their own ulterior motives.”
After her muttering, she sighed theatrically.
“Alas, but who would have thought that President Xue would be so foolish as to create a weakness for himself?”
With that, the weakness herself stared at the foolish President Xue with great interest.
“My dear, rest assured,” Xue Zhu smiled, completely unfazed. His voice was soft and slow, yet as certain and unquestionable as a holy edict.
“That won’t happen. I won’t be pulled down from my horse.”
Yu Jiao’s eyebrow arched.
She tilted her head up, her pale, delicate neck exposed, her glistening, cat-like eyes unblinking, her red lips curled. “Really?”
Seeing her mischievous expression, Xue Zhu’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He let go of the reins and caressed her cheek.
His eyes were deep. He was about to lean down and kiss her.
However, the young woman suddenly leaned forward, hooked her arms around his neck, and planted a fleeting, dragonfly-like kiss on him. Then, she pulled away, and, while he was still stunned, slipped out of his embrace and fell backwards from the horse—
Xue Zhu’s pupils constricted.
The horse was not only very tall, but it was also galloping at high speed. A fall like that would result in serious injury, if not death!
In that instant, he had no time to think.
Looking into her calm, unwavering eyes, he reflexively grabbed her hand, but it was too late to pull her back onto the horse—
A muffled grunt.
Accompanied by the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground.
Yu Jiao’s lips curved. She looked with great interest at the man beneath her, feeling his strong arms wrapped tightly around her waist, filled with a post-disaster fear.
—At the critical moment, he had used his own body as a cushion to protect her.
Of course, she was no fool. She wouldn’t risk her own life just to test a man’s true feelings—the moment she fell, she had already equipped a defensive item from the game’s shop. Even if he had done nothing, she would have been unharmed.
But in that moment, he had panicked.
Yu Jiao lay on top of him and chuckled. “President Xue, you see, you shouldn’t speak in such absolutes. Didn’t I just succeed in pulling you down from your horse?”
Xue Zhu’s expression was unreadable as he looked at her darkly.
Yu Jiao tilted her head and leaned in close. “In that moment of falling,” she asked, her breath like an orchid, “were you thinking that because we share pain, if I die, you can’t live? Or, that with your physical strength, even if you acted as a cushion, you wouldn’t be hurt at all?”
Looking at his composed face, listening to his still-rapid heartbeat, she said with feigned surprise:
“Ah, could it be… in that moment, you completely forgot about the shared pain and only thought of saving me?”
“…”
“It seems I guessed correctly.”
She burst out laughing, her slender, pale fingers tapping his chest. “This feeling is very unfamiliar, isn’t it?”
A large, cold hand seized hers. His Adam’s apple bobbed.
“Have you ever heard the phrase ‘falling in love’?” she whispered.
He pressed his lips together. “I…”
She immediately placed a finger on his lips.
“You don’t need to tell me your excuses. They’re enough for you to deceive yourself with.”
He was instantly speechless.
“…”
“Jiao Jiao, are you alright?”
An anxious, concerned voice came from afar.
Yu Jiao looked up and saw the twins, who had just arrived. “I’m fine.”
With that, she placed her hands in their outstretched palms, one on each, and used their help to stand up.
Xie Zhenye frowned and looked her over. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
Yu Jiao shook her head.
“No. Thanks to President Xue, I’m completely unharmed.”
Hearing this, Xie Yanchuan sneered. “Then you should thank him for giving you a near-death experience.”
Yu Jiao fell silent and looked at him obediently.
Xie Yanchuan lowered his eyes and took off her riding helmet. Then, as if by chance, he turned sideways, blocking her from Xue Zhu’s heavy gaze.
“Unlucky,” he said, then slapped his brother’s hand away. “Even if she wasn’t hurt, you’d have hurt her.”
He was attacking indiscriminately.
Xie Zhenye: “…”
He backed away, speechless.
He then turned to Xue Zhu and said sarcastically, “President Xue rides well. Please keep it up. Try to break your own spine next time.”
Xue Zhu, as if he hadn’t heard, sat lazily on the ground, one arm resting on his bent knee.
But his gaze was tense, fixed on the young woman not far away, watching her at ease in the circle of their concern, looking cute and well-behaved.
The heartwarming scene was extremely piercing.
“Class is over,” she said, not even looking at him, to the twins. “Let’s go.”
The three of them left without looking back.
In the gentle wind, Xue Zhu gracefully stood up. But his gaze, which was fixed on her retreating back, made him look somewhat pathetic.
…