Chapter 418
“Scared?” Xu Ke squinted slightly, asking with a hint of danger.
“What a seductress.” Xu Ke whispered, and in the next moment he bent down, letting himself fully indulge.
Xu Ke’s hand lingered on Ariel’s waist.
“Stop touching my waist, if you touch it again it might break.” Ariel glared at Xu Ke with an unthreatening look, like a harmless kitten staging a protest, which only made her seem adorable.
Xu Ke chuckled softly, took a drag of his cigarette, and, catching Ariel off guard, pressed the cigarette to her mouth, making her cough uncontrollably. The corners of her eyes, already tinged with redness, became even more vividly red.
Finally stopping her coughing, the first thing Ariel did was weakly punch Xu Ke, but he effortlessly restrained her, blowing another puff of smoke toward her face.
“How can you be so annoying and bad, using smoke to choke me? Be careful, I might get back at you someday.” Ariel threatened Xu Ke with clawing gestures.
“Oh? How would you get back at me?” Xu Ke raised an eyebrow, asking indifferently.
In the meantime, Ariel’s gaze roamed over Xu Ke. Taking advantage of an unguarded moment, she quickly uncovered the blanket on Xu Ke’s waist, and before he could dodge, she left a reddish strawberry mark on a very special spot.
Never having been treated this way before, Xu Ke was shocked speechless. He glanced at the newly marked spot on his body and then at Ariel’s triumphant gaze, and belatedly, his face flushed red.
“How can you do this, you grown woman, don’t you feel embarrassed?” Xu Ke gritted his teeth and whispered.
“What should I be afraid of? We’ve already seen everything of each other.” Under Xu Ke’s gaze, Ariel raised her head justifiably, looking extremely proud and making people’s teeth itch from seeing her.
Xu Ke: Very well, nothing to retort.
“Where did you learn all these tricks?” Xu Ke said with a laugh.
Ariel giggled, extremely proud of herself.
The two of them lingered in the room a little longer, and only when it was almost dinnertime did they leave the room.
At the dining table, the long-absent Arthur Family Master appeared.
There was not much expression on his face, and he looked quite weather-worn, returning from who knows where.
Halfway through the meal, Arthur turned his gaze to Ariel and said, “You’ve grown up. Tomorrow evening, tidy up and go out with me to attend a banquet.”
Arthur’s expression brooked no refusal. After speaking, he put down his knife and fork and went upstairs without looking at Ariel again.
Xu Ke’s brows furrowed slightly, sensing something was off, but given they were on Arthur’s turf, it was not wise to act rashly. Such a feeling of helplessness and subjugation hadn’t surfaced in Xu Ke for a long time.
Noticing the concern and inquiry in Xu Ke’s eyes, Ariel smiled, appearing as sweet as a candy, sugary and mellow.
“Did something good happen?” Lin Mengyao looked at Ariel puzzledly. From her perspective, Arthur’s attitude didn’t seem like anything good happened.
“Nothing, I just suddenly remembered something pleasant.” Ariel replied with a sweet smile, as if nothing had happened, but after dinner, she followed Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao to their room, kicking off her shoes unceremoniously and sitting on the bed.
“I know you have things you want to ask, go ahead.” Ariel propped her hands on her sides, as if saying she’d answer anything.
“What did your father mean by what he said?” Xu Ke asked with a frown.
“He’s probably trying to sell me off. Every year around this time, people from both the East and West hold a banquet. It’s supposedly a banquet, but really it’s a platform to showcase both sides’ strengths. Over the years, the boss from the West hasn’t had a woman by his side, and now that I’ve come of age, I guess my father intends to offer me to him, hoping I can seduce him so that he can take the West without shedding blood.” Ariel shrugged as she spoke.
“How can your father do that? You’re his only daughter! Doesn’t he think about what could happen to you? And when we first met, he seemed to treat you well. Could all of that have been an act?” Lin Mengyao asked incredulously, her eyes widening in disbelief. How could anyone disregard father-daughter love like that?
Ariel laughed at Lin Mengyao’s naivety.
“Sister, you’re too naive. He runs the East District; how could he really be as he appears? Besides, how could my father only have me as a daughter? I’ve known since I was little that he doesn’t just have my mother. He has kept lots of women outside, and each has borne him children. I’ve known since I was young that I’m just a scapegoat he presents to the public, just like my mother, simply dispensable chess pieces. Even if we’re gone, there will be others. So, losing as many pieces like us doesn’t make him any sorrowful.”
“Why do I have such a big reputation in the East District? Isn’t it because of my dear father spreading my name around? As for his illegitimate children, I haven’t touched a single one. Everyone’s a chess piece; who’s really better than whom? Even if I killed all those people, my father wouldn’t treat me any better, so I’m not bothering to dirty my own hands.” Ariel said, looking at her well-maintained hands.