Chapter 134: She’s Scared Too
Ling Zhongjing was startled by the deep killing intent in Xia Chenge’s eyes, and in that instant, he felt a chill run down his spine.
When he focused his gaze to see clearly, Xia Chenge’s eyes were already clear, with no trace of killing intent left.
I must have seen wrong, Ling Zhongjing thought to himself, after all, she’s just a high school student!
“Then we’ll be going back. Old man, you handle it.” Ling Hanmu returned to his usual flippant demeanor, as if it had nothing to do with him.
“Mm.” Ling Zhongjing nodded, not delving deeper.
Looking at those two cars, his gaze turned sharp and cold. Who exactly was trying to harm his son again and again?
Xia Chenge did not allow Ling Hanmu to drive, instead asking the people Ling Zhongjing brought to take them back.
She had originally planned to go home, but she couldn’t refuse Ling Hanmu and went to the Ling family with him and Jiang Xian.
Jiang Xian, using Ling Zhongjing’s invitation as an excuse, told the students that they wouldn’t be going home tonight, to prevent this matter from being leaked.
By the time they arrived at the Ling family’s residence, it was almost one in the morning.
Xia Chenge came out after showering, sitting on the sofa with no sleepiness, recalling the attack.
She hadn’t heard any useful information from the attackers’ conversation, only that they had a boss behind them, but who that boss was, she had no way of knowing.
Xia Chenge felt a heavy weight in her heart. Her memories of the Apocalypse were not fully recovered, so why had she returned to hundreds of years in the past?
She had thought that this era would be peaceful and stable, but now she vaguely felt that a great crisis was lurking around her, and this crisis seemed to be closely related to her arrival here.
Ling Hanmu, comparable to an Evolved Human, and experimental subjects resembling zombies…
All of this left her with no clue.
For the first time, she realized that returning from the future to the past didn’t offer much to rely on, except for her perfectly evolved body!
Knock, knock, knock.
Just then, someone knocked on the room door.
Xia Chenge snapped out of her thoughts, got up to open the door, and saw Ling Hanmu.
Ling Hanmu was wiping his wet hair with a towel and looked at her, asking, “Can I come in?”
Xia Chenge moved aside.
Ling Hanmu stepped inside.
To avoid suspicion, Xia Chenge left the room door slightly ajar; she would know if anyone passed by anyway.
“What’s wrong?” Xia Chenge followed him and sat down on the sofa.
Ling Hanmu threw the towel aside and stared at her. His eyes, usually like clear springs, were now filled with suppressed emotion. “Little Brother, tell me, what exactly happened before I fainted last time?”
Xia Chenge’s heart tightened. Her mind was filled with images of Ling Hanmu acting like a walking corpse, killing indiscriminately, and her heart couldn’t help but ache.
Even if she weren’t Ling Hanmu, it would be painful to recall.
Proud as he was, if he knew he had become like this, could he accept such a cruel reality?
For a moment, Xia Chenge fell silent.
“I just want to know what I’ve become,” Ling Hanmu broke the silence.
“It’s nothing, just lost control of my emotions,” Xia Chenge said, after thinking for a moment, calmly telling a lie.
Ling Hanmu chuckled softly, “Little Brother, do you trust me?”
“Huh?” Xia Chenge was a bit bewildered.
“Even if I don’t live past twenty, I want to protect you and my family. I don’t want to suddenly become someone else’s tool, causing you or the Ling family to bear the world’s infamy.” Ling Hanmu’s smile turned somewhat desolate. “Even if you don’t say it, I know.”
“The aloof Young Master of the Ling family, like a walking corpse, without thought or awareness, only endless killing and bloodshed…”
“Don’t say it!” Xia Chenge suddenly covered his mouth, trembling slightly.
So she was afraid too.
“Little Brother, was I no different from a beast then?” Ling Hanmu’s lips moved under Xia Chenge’s hand, his voice muffled, but conveying his deep despair.
“I tried to control myself, but in the end, I failed.”
“The world believes I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, blessed with the inherent halo of the Ling family, a proud son of heaven.”
“But no one knows that Ling Hanmu, who shines so brightly, is innocently bearing hatred that no one can imagine.”
“I don’t know why I’ve become like this.”
…
“Don’t say it, Xiao Mu, don’t say it anymore.” Xia Chenge shook her head, tears welling up. Every word Ling Hanmu spoke was like a knife twisting in her heart.
The fragile Ling Hanmu was like porcelain, shattering at the slightest touch. His expression was so calm, so calm it was heartbreaking.
“But I’m still so selfish, wanting to keep you by my side. I thought I could fight against the abnormality in my body. But I’ve found that my episodes are becoming more frequent, and I’m truly afraid that one day I’ll even kill you.”
“Little Brother, promise me, if one day I lose my consciousness and try to harm you or my family, please don’t hesitate, kill me first.”
“Because I’d rather die than harm you and my family.”
Ling Hanmu spoke as if he were making his final arrangements, gently admonishing her.
Xia Chenge felt a lump in her throat, suffocated and uncomfortable. “Why aren’t you protecting yourself? Why do you want me to take your place?”
Ling Hanmu reached out and pulled her into his embrace. “I wish I could protect you all, but Little Brother, I might not have the chance. No one knows my body better than I do; I fear I won’t even make it past nineteen.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Xia Chenge clenched her fists. She, who had always been in control of all situations, found this feeling of being unable to control anything to be truly awful.
“Alright, it’s getting late. You should get some rest.” Ling Hanmu released her, his gaze fixed on her. His face no longer held the fragility and despair from before, as if everything had just been Xia Chenge’s illusion.
Then, he kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, my Little Brother!”
With that, he stood up and strode out of Xia Chenge’s room.
Xia Chenge sat there in a daze, watching Ling Hanmu’s retreating figure disappear behind the closed door.
Her mood was very bad.
She closed her eyes, forcing down the uncomfortable feeling.
If she could save a frail old man hovering on the brink of death, she refused to believe she couldn’t save Ling Hanmu!
Ling Hanmu, just you wait. I will definitely make you live past nineteen, past twenty… and live a long life.
Sleepless night.
As dawn approached, Xia Chenge managed to doze for only half an hour.
However, the Ling family’s servants had already started their work. Even with good soundproofing, the noises still reached her ears clearly.
She got up, sat cross-legged, and entered meditation.
After about forty minutes, she opened her eyes, her complexion radiant, no longer showing the listlessness from when she woke up.
After washing up, she went downstairs. The Ling family’s servants had already prepared an exquisite breakfast.
She didn’t see Ling Hanmu, and felt a pang of disappointment.
At that moment, the butler hurried in, his expression complex. “Miss Xia Chenge, the master has asked you to go to the study to see him after you finish breakfast.”
Seeing the butler’s expression, Xia Chenge’s heart sank.
