Chapter 45 Do You Have a Crush on Her?

The moment Lin Jiangnian's voice fell, he sensed a sudden shift in the aura of the woman in red before him.

If from the moment Lin Jiangnian entered the room she had maintained a casual, almost languidly playful posture as if everything were entirely within her grasp—giving Lin Jiangnian a gentle illusion through both her expression and her words—then at this very moment, her demeanor underwent a drastic and instantaneous change.

The previously carefree gaze sharpened in an instant, and a chilling aura as tangible as frost emerged.

"What is going on?!"

Lin Jiangnian sighed softly and slowly recounted the events of that day.

Now residing in the Prince's Estate, the only person Lin Jiangnian could trust was this woman in red! At least for now, she was the only one who could help him in this regard!

The existence of Xu Lan was, after all, a potential hazard.

Upon hearing the account, a look of profound astonishment appeared in the woman in red's beautiful eyes, which had previously held a hint of murderous intent.

"You mean... that damn Heir to the Prince's Estate!"

"She was the one who killed him?"

This news caught the woman in red completely off guard.

A look of shock washed over her cold, delicate face, but once she regained her composure, she sank into deep contemplation.

Lin Jiangnian nodded. "She was the one who lured the Heir out of the city; Chen Yingying was merely a scapegoat... provided she wasn't lying."

The woman in red remained silent.

Clearly, this piece of news was far too shocking and unexpected for her.

She furrowed her brow deeply. "The Lin family and the Xu family have always enjoyed close relations, with no major grievances or conflicts between them. Why would she want to harm the Heir?"

Lin Jiangnian gestured dismissively. "How should I know?"

"That's precisely what I find so bizarre about it!"

Judging from his conversation with Xu Lan today, she didn't seem to be lying. While she appeared carefree on the surface, her mind was actually far from meticulous; she was completely like a sheltered young lady of a prominent household who knew nothing of the ways of the world.

Yet, how did she become entangled in the assassination of the Prince's Heir?

"It seems I have overlooked something."

The woman in red narrowed her eyes, her fingers instinctively and softly tapping against the tabletop.

If Xu Lan was telling the truth and had indeed lured the Heir out of the city, then she must know something.

"I'd certainly like to know whether this was her own doing, or if..."

The woman in red narrowed her eyes further. "Could the assassination of the Prince's Heir be connected to the Xu family?"

"Can you find out?" Lin Jiangnian glanced at her.

"Not certain!"

The woman in red shook her head and sighed softly. "The Xu family is no ordinary clan. Investigating them is no simple task!"

At this, her gaze turned slightly cold again. "By the way, you mentioned earlier that she already knows you are a fake Heir?"

Lin Jiangnian nodded.

"Then why didn't you eliminate her?"

The woman in red stared straight at him. "If she exposes your identity, you are a dead man without a doubt... Or could it be that you couldn't bring yourself to do it?"

Her burning gaze fixed upon Lin Jiangnian, as if trying to read something from his face.

Lin Jiangnian's expression remained unchanged. "Do you think that's possible?"

"Why not?"

The woman in red narrowed her eyes. "If I recall correctly, that eldest daughter of the Xu family is quite attractive, and she is a young lady of a prominent house. You two have been spending your days together in close proximity... Could it be that nothing happened between you?"

"Nothing."

"Then why would she help conceal your identity?"

There was a dangerous glint in the woman in red's eyes. "Don't tell me you two are holding each other's weaknesses, and that's why she doesn't dare expose you?"

Lin Jiangnian sighed. "That is precisely what she claims."

"Hmph!"

The woman in red let out a cold laugh. "Then I'd like to ask you, how did you find out that she was the one who harmed the Heir?"

"She..."

Just as Lin Jiangnian was about to speak, he abruptly realized something.

That's right!

Why would Xu Lan share such a vital secret with him?

This was a matter concerning her very life; how could she have told him so casually?

"There are only two possibilities!"

The woman in red looked at Lin Jiangnian, raising two fair fingers. "Either she is lying to you to win your trust, or..."

She paused, giving Lin Jiangnian a meaningful look. "She has fallen for you."

Lin Jiangnian's expression froze for a moment before he shook his head. "Unlikely."

"She didn't seem to be lying, though one can never be certain. As for affection..."

"Even more impossible!"

What an absurd notion.

That very afternoon, Lin Jiangnian had practically almost choked the life out of her; how could she possibly have feelings for him?

Unless she was out of her mind!

"How do you know it's impossible?"

The woman in red narrowed her eyes. "Don't you know that a woman's mind is complex?"

"If not for that, why would she tell you something so crucial?"

Lin Jiangnian fell silent, sighing a moment later. "Perhaps she really is out of her mind."

"..."

"She must be eliminated!"

Following a brief silence, the smile on the woman in red's face slowly faded. When she raised her eyes to look at Lin Jiangnian, her gaze was filled with a chilling coldness.

"She knows the secret of your identity. Once exposed, all my plans will come to naught, and you will undoubtedly die... Therefore, she must die!"

In the eyes of the woman in red, Xu Lan had now become the greatest hidden threat.

She didn't believe in this so-called mutual leverage between Lin Jiangnian and Xu Lan; that was an uncontrollable risk.

To ensure absolute safety, she had to be eradicated!

Lin Jiangnian was momentarily stunned, then nodded non-committally.

Seeing him nod so decisively, she was taken aback for a second, narrowing her eyes. "You really can bear to part with her?"

She still found it hard to believe that Lin Jiangnian harbored no feelings for Xu Lan... otherwise, why hadn't he tried to get rid of her earlier?

Lin Jiangnian glanced at her sideways. "Why do you assume I must have feelings for her?"

"Isn't that so?"

Lin Jiangnian shook his head, replying indifferently, "Her life or death has nothing to do with me!"

"Then why didn't you find a way to eliminate her before?"

Lin Jiangnian thought for a moment. "I couldn't bring myself to do it."

The woman in red wore a cold smile. "And you still say you aren't reluctant? It seems you really do have feelings for her after all?"

"So quickly falling for each other, are you?"

"You've misunderstood."

Facing the woman in red's cold ridicule, Lin Jiangnian simply shook his head gently. "What I meant was... I have never killed anyone before, and such matters simply do not suit me."

"Therefore, the task of killing her naturally falls to you... If you want her dead, go right ahead!"

Lin Jiangnian's gaze remained calm.

Feelings for Xu Lan?

Though their interactions over the past couple of days had indeed improved his impression of the young lady, it was far from amounting to actual affection.

As for being reluctant to part with her, that was sheer nonsense!

The woman in red stared intently into Lin Jiangnian's eyes, seemingly searching for any trace of pretense.

Yet Lin Jiangnian's expression remained serene, without the slightest ripple, looking nothing like someone telling a lie.

A flicker of doubt crossed her face. Could it be that she really had overthought the matter...

"It seems you are far more cold-blooded than I imagined!"

The woman in red narrowed her eyes.

"The feeling is mutual!"

Lin Jiangnian looked back at the woman in red before him, draped in robes as red as blood, appearing breathtakingly stunning within the dim, flickering light of the room.