Chapter Thirty: Hanging by a Thread

Keeping her around would be a disaster waiting to happen!

Only if she died would Lin Jiangnian’s true identity remain concealed.

This thought surged through his mind, his eyes bloodshot, and the handsome features of his face twisted with a savage intensity.

Faced with the threat of death, Lin Jiangnian instinctively made a survival decision. He pressed down hard on Xu Lan, his cold eyes fixed on the slender, pale neck beneath her disheveled dark hair.

With a fierce grip, just one strong squeeze…

He could snap that delicate, graceful neck instantly.

Killing her would undoubtedly offend the Xu family, possibly igniting a feud between the Lin and Xu clans. But if he didn’t kill her, his identity would be exposed, and death would be certain!

Therefore,

He had no choice left.

…

When Xu Lan’s mind finally cleared enough to regain some awareness, she suddenly realized a hand was gripping her neck. She shuddered all over.

A chilling sense of danger engulfed her. Her delicate body trembled, and her exquisite face registered an expression of horror and disbelief.

Was he really going to kill her?!

Feeling the warm hand clutching her neck, Xu Lan’s breath quickened, terror flooding her features. Her body stiffened, and her eyes filled with utter despair!

At this moment, she was pinned firmly to the ground, her mouth gagged, unable to move or cry out for help. All she could do was widen her eyes in terror as the hand on her neck slowly tightened.

Squeezing tighter!

The aura of death crept closer, wrapping around her bit by bit.

Was she really going to die?

The grip on her neck grew ever tighter. Xu Lan’s face distorted in panic, her breathing growing labored, her mind going blank once more.

The threat of death loomed ever nearer.

She was frozen in despair.

…

Just as Xu Lan was about to lose hope, convinced she was certain to be silenced by Lin Jiangnian,

There was suddenly a knock at the door.

“Your Highness? Miss Xu?”

A maid’s voice called out.

The knocking echoed like thunder in Lin Jiangnian’s mind, jolting him back to full awareness.

Looking down, he saw Xu Lan breathing heavily, her face pale, nearly lifeless.

He loosened his grip slightly. Xu Lan lay on the floor, clutching her neck, gasping for air in a pitiful state. Beneath her messy dark hair was a delicate, pale face, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes as she greedily inhaled the long-missed fresh air, her expression tinged with the shock of having barely escaped death.

Being alive was truly wonderful!

Her trembling body still shivered slightly as she lay on the cold floor, unable to fully collect herself for a long while.

Silence.

Stillness.

The maid outside, hearing no response, grew anxious.

“Your Highness? Are you there?!”

“Is there something you need?”

Lin Jiangnian finally snapped back, glancing toward the door with a low, hoarse voice.

“Your Highness, is Miss Xu with you?” the maid asked.

Lin Jiangnian looked down at Xu Lan beneath him, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. Xu Lan curled up weakly on the ground, her frightened gaze locked on him.

…

“I—I’m here…”

Xu Lan swallowed her fear and spoke with difficulty, trying to sound calm.

Hearing this, the maid seemed to relax slightly. “Good, Miss Xu is here!”

“Since Miss Xu is with Your Highness, I’ll report back then!”

The maid’s footsteps faded away.

The room fell silent once more.

Lin Jiangnian took a deep breath and slowly released Xu Lan from the ground, his gaze darkening.

Why would the maid come asking about Xu Lan for no reason?

Clearly, it was a probe from Zhi Yuan. Had their being alone together already aroused her suspicions?

Even if not, the intrusion jolted Lin Jiangnian into alertness. Within this Prince Lin’s mansion, he had to be extremely cautious.

It seemed today, he wouldn’t be able to kill her after all!

…

Xu Lan remained lying on the floor, gasping for breath for a long time.

Her mind gradually returned to clarity, and her trembling body slowly calmed. With great effort, she struggled to her feet.

Yet her limbs felt weak, almost powerless, as if drained after a fierce battle, nearly collapsing from exhaustion.

Biting her lip hard, she sat down heavily on the ground.

A simple movement, yet it drained much of her energy.

She slowly looked back, eyes filled with the terror of one who has escaped death, as if staring at a monstrous beast.

Not far from her, Lin Jiangnian sat on the floor as well, expressionless and watching her.

When their gazes met, Xu Lan shuddered. Her pale, slender face, still flushed with lingering fear, showed a trace of confusion.

They stared at each other for a long moment before she rasped,

“Why…”

“Didn’t you kill me?”

Just moments ago, she had clearly felt Lin Jiangnian’s murderous intent and the suffocating pressure on her neck.

He almost killed her!

But why had he stopped?

“Do you want to die that badly?!”

Lin Jiangnian shot her a cold glance.

Her heart trembled, the chilling memory of his merciless, nearly suffocating gaze haunting her mind.

Her whole body suddenly weakened, burning hot and breathless.

Xu Lan took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Yet when she met his eyes again, she paused in surprise.

His face was cold and dark, his gaze still frightening, but the murderous intent was gone.

Gone was the desperate suffocation she had felt before… Was he really not going to kill her?

Her survival instinct urged her to flee immediately, but for some unknown reason, another undefined feeling rose within her.

She remained still, biting her lip until the bright red flesh showed several fresh marks. Finally, she drew a deep breath and, summoning courage, looked Lin Jiangnian directly in the eyes.

“I want to know why…”

Lin Jiangnian stared at her coldly. Xu Lan lifted her delicate face slightly, locking eyes with him.

On that beautiful face was a stubborn expression.

Having hovered on the edge of death, she seemed to have given up all pretense!

Silence.

A long, heavy silence.

…

They stared at each other like two stubborn souls locked in a silent duel.

Lin Jiangnian looked at this obstinate, reckless woman before him and took a deep breath, suppressing the urge stirring within.

He truly wanted to kill her!

But clearly, he could not do so now.

If she died here, it wouldn’t just cause trouble for the Xu family. Her death might also expose Lin Jiangnian’s identity…

Foolish woman!

Lin Jiangnian turned his gaze away, refusing to look at her any longer. He raised his eyes to a nearby bronze mirror, which reflected a familiar yet strange face—his eyes dark and brooding, his expression violent and savage, still fierce and unyielding… Was this really him?

At this moment, Lin Jiangnian felt a flicker of confusion.

Why did the reflection seem so alien?

“Cough, cough…”

Just then, Lin Jiangnian suddenly began coughing violently, a taste of blood and bitterness rising in his mouth. Sharp pain exploded in his chest, and his whole body felt as if it were falling apart.

The pain was excruciating!

Xu Lan’s two palms had nearly ended his life.

As the intense pain surged through him, Lin Jiangnian shuddered, drenched in sweat, the stabbing ache unbearable. His face turned pale, his breath quickened.

At that moment, a pale, slender hand suddenly reached out beside him, holding a small white pill in its palm.

Lin Jiangnian was taken aback and turned to look.

Xu Lan’s eyes held a complex look as she glanced at him, then quickly turned her head away.

“For you… this is medicine for internal injuries, to relieve the pain.”

Lin Jiangnian looked down at the pill, then at her. He said nothing and did not take it.

“Take it.”

Seeing he did not move, Xu Lan shoved the pill into his chest, still looking away, and let out a soft hum.

“You were hurt by me, so consider this compensation.”

Lin Jiangnian’s expression showed doubt.

Compensation?

An olive branch?

As he pondered her meaning, the intense pain returned, nearly causing him to faint. After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Jiangnian swallowed the pill.

As the medicine went down, it gradually dissolved and was absorbed, a refreshing sensation spreading from his chest. The sharp pain slowly eased.

He exhaled in relief, then seemed to realize something, raising his eyes to look at Xu Lan beside him.

She still sat on the floor, knees together, arms hugging her legs.

Her once smooth, thick hair was now tangled and messy. Her flushed face had not fully faded, and her clothes were disheveled. Bloodstains marred her garments, making her appearance shockingly grim. She looked as if she had been violated by some cruel force…

At this moment, Xu Lan’s demeanor had lost some of its former strength, replaced by a more delicate, feminine grace. She now looked more like a woman.

Her head hung low, hiding her pale face. Her eyes, veiled by dark hair, appeared downcast and distant, lost in thought for a long time.

“Actually, I never intended to expose your identity…”

Her voice was soft, slightly hoarse, gentle, and yet tinged with a hint of grievance.

“I only wanted to scare you a little, to have you play with me…”