Chapter 53: Damn it, she actually bit his chest!

“What are you doing?! Let me go!” Jiner’s eyes widened in panic as she looked at the handsome face so close to hers, a playful smile lurking in his gaze. She struggled in frustration.

At that moment, she was sprawled atop him, and with only one hand, he held her firmly in place, making it impossible for her to break free.

Despicable man! How dare he tease an underage girl!

“Behave yourself.” Mo Yan seemed displeased with her ceaseless struggling. He frowned slightly, then deftly flipped over, pinning her beneath him.

Now, Jiner couldn’t even manage a token struggle.

“What are you trying to do? You— You’re a notorious flirt, a famous young master of romance—how could you stoop so low as to lay hands on an underdeveloped girl like me?” Jiner’s breath was uneven as she gazed up at the enchanting face above her, nervous and uneasy.

The position they were in was far too suggestive, and dangerous besides. She tried to remain calm, but it was impossible.

Mo Yan chuckled at her words. “I hadn’t realized you were so self-aware. But isn’t ‘notorious flirt’ a bit of an insult? Are you praising me, or mocking me?”

Jiner felt a headache coming on and forced a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I used the wrong phrase. I meant to say ‘dashing and elegant,’ hah… ha ha…”

Mo Yan laughed heartily, quite pleased. “Yes, that’s much more fitting. It suits me perfectly.”

Jiner’s eye twitched. This guy really was unbearably self-obsessed.

“But to come back to the point, I’m honestly curious. I, who have seen countless women…” He didn’t finish before Jiner interrupted.

“Hey, ‘countless women’ isn’t exactly a compliment either.”

“In a man’s world, it is! Anyway, don’t interrupt. Let me finish.” So, under Jiner’s scornful gaze, Mo Yan continued.

“I, who have seen countless women, why am I suddenly interested in a half-grown girl like you? And even blurted out that in two years, you’ll be my woman?” Mo Yan looked genuinely puzzled, even conflicted.

“If it was just a rash outburst, I can treat it as nothing. No need to be so troubled,” Jiner retorted with a roll of her eyes.

He’d made that promise all on his own—she hadn’t agreed to anything. Besides, she could call herself underdeveloped, but hearing it from him was just uncomfortable in every way.

“That’s out of the question. A gentleman never goes back on his word. Since I’ve said it, I have to keep my promise. Besides, it’s the first time I’ve made such a vow. It’s almost… amusing.” Mo Yan grinned foolishly as he spoke.

Amusing? Truly a playboy—now that’s the kind of remark that suits him!

“Move! You’re going to crush me!” Damn him, even when he grinned like an idiot, he was so charming she couldn’t even muster up real anger—infuriating!

Mo Yan rolled over with her in his arms, reclining on his side and pulling her into his embrace.

“Why are you holding me? Scoundrel!” Jiner tried to knee him, but he was quick to clamp her legs together.

“Little thing, you can’t just kick there! If you break something, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life,” Mo Yan said, pinching her soft cheek as punishment.

Jiner’s cheeks flushed, and she glared up at him defiantly. “Regret? Hardly! If I break it, I’ll be saving countless innocent girls—it’d make me happy!”

“You—!” Mo Yan bit his lip in anger but was helpless against her. He could only take several deep breaths to calm his irritation.

She was going to be the death of him! This girl was clearly his nemesis!

“Let me go!” Jiner exploded.

“Being fierce won’t help you. Tonight, I’m going to keep watch, in case you stay up late reading again. You really don’t know how to take care of yourself,” Mo Yan said, holding her tightly so she couldn’t move.

“Are you letting go or not?” Jiner threatened.

“No—way!” Mo Yan replied smugly. Truth be told, holding her felt wonderful, like cuddling a little treasure.

But as he was savoring the feeling, a sharp pain shot through his right chest, and he couldn’t suppress a cry.

“Ah—!” Even though he tried to muffle it, the pain was intense and unmistakable.

Seizing the moment as he loosened his grip in pain, Jiner shoved him forcefully. Mo Yan tumbled off the bed with a groan, rolling twice before coming to a stop.

“You little devil! You—!” Mo Yan struggled to his feet, clutching his right chest, annoyed. “That was ruthless!”

Damn it, she’d bitten his chest! And pushed him off the bed! She had some nerve!

Jiner lay comfortably on her side, propping her head up with one hand, flashing Mo Yan a coquettish, almost age-inappropriate smile. “I’m not to be trifled with, either.”

Mo Yan was momentarily stunned by her alluring smile, but the pain in his chest quickly brought him back to his senses. Biting his lip in frustration, he stepped forward, intent on teaching her a lesson, but Jiner abruptly motioned for him to stop.

“Out! If you don’t leave, I’ll scream for help!” She wiped the smile from her face, eyeing him warily as if facing a formidable enemy.

Mo Yan rolled his eyes and looked up at the ceiling, laughing silently. “Is this how you treat your savior?”

At his words, Jiner paused. Savior? Memories flickered through her mind, and her expression grew somber. “Someone once saved me too, and said the same thing. But he had an ulterior motive—he wanted me to repay him with my body and my life.”

“What?” The smile vanished from Mo Yan’s face. He frowned, filled with fury. “Is he the one who poisoned you? Tell me where he is, and I’ll kill him for you!”

Jiner was touched by his agitation; a warmth rose in her chest. “No need. He’s already dead.”

“Dead?” Mo Yan echoed in surprise.

“Bitten to death by a silver snake.” Jiner spoke lightly, turning to lie flat and staring up at the canopy, murmuring to herself, “I should thank that silver snake. If not for it, I’d still be living in hell.”

At her words, Mo Yan’s brow creased, and his eyes filled with a hint of pity. He didn’t know the details, but her few words told him enough about her pain.

“That man wasn’t the Poison Sage, was he?” According to rumors, only the Poison Sage possessed so much Hemlock Powder. Had she crossed paths with that old demon?

“He claimed to be the Poison Sage’s disciple. Maybe he stole it, who knows.” No wonder he’d said he hadn’t yet found the antidote—it must have been stolen.

“Very likely,” Mo Yan agreed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “Let the past stay in the past. Don’t dwell on it. From now on, whenever the poison acts up, I’ll come to help you. I’ll also do my best to find an antidote for Hemlock Powder.”

Jiner turned to look into his captivating eyes and nodded. “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. By the way, after all this time, I still don’t know your name,” Mo Yan said with a smile.

“Jiner.”

“Jiner? What a lovely name.”

“And you?”

“Mo Yan.”

“Got it. It’s getting late, you should get some rest.” After all his nonsense, she was utterly exhausted.

“All right. But you’d better rest too—no more reading late into the night,” Mo Yan said, tapping her delicate nose with fondness.

Jiner’s cheeks flushed a deeper pink. She wasn’t used to such intimate gestures.

Mo Yan saw her slight embarrassment and smiled in satisfaction before rising and heading for the door. To spare her the trouble of getting up to close it, he chose the window instead, and as he left, he didn’t forget to close it behind him.

With his departure, the room fell suddenly silent, almost lonely. Thinking back on everything that had just happened, a faint smile curved Jiner’s lips. Because of his presence, her life now seemed brighter, no longer the bleak monotony it had been.

In the days that followed, Mo Yan did not reappear, but Jiner found herself thinking of him from time to time.

The wild daisies on her desk had withered, yet she couldn’t bring herself to throw them out, so she left them in their clay jar.

Qin’er went out again to buy medicinal herbs, leaving the shop busier than usual. Xiao Jiu had grown much quieter lately, and his smile was no longer as bright. Still, he couldn’t help but glance at Jiner from time to time, a faint sadness in his eyes.

Jiner could feel his gaze, but she always pretended not to notice, though it made her uneasy and uncomfortable. She didn’t understand—after everything, why did he still pay her so much attention?

Sometimes, she really wanted to leave this place. But where could she go? Besides, her master treated her well and had high hopes for her.

So, those thoughts remained just that—fleeting notions, never acted upon.

One day, Qin’er returned, bringing treats for everyone. Of course, Jiner was not included.

After dinner, Xiao Jiu hesitated for a long while, wanting to give Jiner a little something he’d saved for her. But before he could, Jiner stood and left first—whether by accident or design, he couldn’t tell.

He stood there, frowning at her distant, cold back, heart aching with pain.

Just because he was Qin’er’s senior apprentice, did she have to treat him this way? What kind of reason was that?

“Senior brother, you weren’t planning to give her the things I gave you, were you?” Qin’er approached, displeasure written all over her face.

Xiao Jiu lowered his head, put the item back in his sleeve without a glance at her, and turned away toward the study.

Seeing his cold indifference, Qin’er’s fists clenched tightly, knuckles whitening.

Did a man’s heart really change so quickly? No, she would not allow it! She would never allow it!