The falling beauty - Chapter 9

Her wrist was grabbed, and her back was pressed into his embrace. Mo Jin’er’s tense heart suddenly froze for a moment. She slightly looked up and saw Ling’an Che.

“Do you think letting her hit you will make her forgive the people of the Duke’s mansion?” His deep, magnetic voice seemed to carry a hidden smile.

“Brother Ling…” Seeing him arrive, Shen Yanyan immediately teared up, looking very aggrieved, “Yesterday, I just wanted to ask about Baozhu’s condition out of concern, but Mo Jin’er hit me. She even said she’s now your person and can do whatever she wants…”

Madam Shen saw him arrive, her gaze briefly pausing on Mo Jin’er before shifting to him.

Was he here to stand up for this little wretch?

“You’ve grown, I thought you were just a little pushover.” Ling’an Che couldn’t help but chuckle at Shen Yanyan’s words.

Hearing this, Mo Jin’er froze for a moment, then her fair face flushed red. He believed Shen Yanyan’s words??

What she didn’t know was that when he said she had grown, he meant it as a compliment for having the courage to slap Shen Yanyan.

“Brother Ling…” Shen Yanyan looked at Ling’an Che’s gentle and protective demeanor towards Mo Jin’er in disbelief, feeling even more heartbroken.

Mo Jin’er had said he treated her poorly. How was this treating her poorly? Her food, clothes, and daily necessities were extraordinary. An elite guard served as her personal maid, and now he even came to the Duke’s mansion to stand up for her.

“Nephew, beauty is good, but you must distinguish people’s hearts. Miss Jin’er just said she doesn’t fancy you.” Madam Shen saw the situation, a faint mocking smile on her lips, and immediately put Mo Jin’er on the spot.

Standing up for Mo Jin’er? So what if he treated her well? She didn’t like him. He was a proud man, would he allow a woman with divided loyalties to stay by his side?

“Madam Shen, don’t claim kinship recklessly. I’m not your nephew. I respect Lord Shen, but who do you think you are?” Ling’an Che’s smile was gentle and charming, but his words were sharp and his gaze icy.

Madam Shen’s face turned green, and her hands trembled with anger.

She was Shen Chancellor’s second wife but had been married to him for ten years…

Ling’an Che was utterly unyielding…

She barely maintained her composure and finally left the Duke’s mansion with Shen Yanyan and her entourage.

Seeing them finally leave, Mo Jin’er breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly went to support her grandmother, anxiously asking, “Grandmother, are you alright…”

“Thank you, General…” Her stepmother quickly stood up and tidied her clothes.

“I still have something to say.” Ling’an Che glanced at Mo Jin’er, who was fussing over the old woman, then smiled and said to her stepmother before leaving.

He ran into the Duke, Mo Jin’er’s father, who had hurried back after hearing about the incident at home. The two exchanged greetings, and the Duke was stunned.

Ling’an Che greeted him, and after returning home, the Duke saw Mo Jin’er.

Her stepmother recounted the incident, and the Duke sighed deeply as he sat down.

Mo Miao’er, who had been hiding in her room, came out. Her face was ruined, and she cried all the time, now constantly wallowing in sadness.

Seeing Mo Jin’er doing well now, she suddenly regretted pushing her out to take the blame.

“Jin’er…” The Duke hesitated, “He’s protecting you now, Jin’er, when you’re with him…”

He wanted to ask Ling’an Che for help but remembered all the suffering over the years, much of it due to the Ling family.

He could already foresee what would happen next…

Ling’an Che and the Shen family were close. He wouldn’t give face to Madam Shen, but he and Chancellor Shen were allies…

The Duke ultimately couldn’t say it and could only tell Mo Jin’er to take care of herself.

He sighed again.

Mo Jin’er rarely saw her father, but now she noticed he seemed much older. His hair had turned white, and he had become thin, looking like a frail old man.

She felt an inexplicable sadness…

But she quickly closed her eyes, adjusting her emotions. After all, they were the ones who pushed her out to take the blame for her half-sister. Her father didn’t deserve her sympathy.

At the maid’s reminder, she got up and left.

General’s mansion.

At night, Mo Jin’er tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Just as she felt a bit drowsy, she heard the door open. She opened her eyes and saw Ling’an Che returning.

Recalling the day’s events, she felt an indescribable mix of emotions.

“Not asleep yet.” Ling’an Che got into bed, hugging her slender waist, his warm breath brushing against her ear.

She buried her face slightly in the blanket, not saying a word, closing her eyes and pretending to sleep.

He was always unruly with her, kissing her neck and whispering playfully in her ear, “Aren’t you going to thank me? I saved you today.”

“Thank you.” Her soft voice came muffled from the blanket.

In fact, she wanted to say that if he hadn’t insisted on keeping her at the Ling family, she wouldn’t have been targeted by Shen Yanyan. People often said beautiful women caused trouble, but Ling’an Che was also a troublemaker.

Though she thought this, she didn’t dare say it. Although he hadn’t truly touched her during this time, his other methods of torment were endless, making her cry.

So she didn’t dare contradict him…

“Ling’an Che… Baozhu’s face has been much better lately…” She softly began, “You said you’d let me go when Baozhu’s face healed…”

“Hmm? Did I say that?” His magnetic voice seemed to carry a hint of affectionate amusement, tinged with seduction. He propped himself up, looking down at the delicate, curled-up girl below him.

She lay on her side, clearly nervous and uneasy, finally looking up slightly, her eyes filled with disbelief, shock, and anger.

She was stunned by his shamelessness.

“You know it wasn’t me who did it. Baozhu’s face wasn’t harmed by me, yet you still… Since you said it, you should at least keep your promise…”

She was truly hurt this time, tears streaming down her face. She trembled, perhaps from anger or sadness, likely both.

“Alright, I promise you.” He looked at her crying, his gaze deep.

Mo Jin’er, her vision blurred with tears, sniffled, not believing his words anymore.

“But, little Jin’er, you must not regret it when the time comes.”

He whispered, his kiss fierce and overpowering, making it hard for her to breathe.

“As long as you don’t play tricks, don’t deliberately make things difficult for me, I won’t regret it…” Mo Jin’er, nearly fainting from his kiss, finally managed to breathe, her big, tear-filled eyes serious.

“Ungrateful girl.” He stared at her rosy lips, a slight twitch in his mouth, his black eyes cold and mocking.

She blushed at his words, “I’m not ungrateful. I haven’t wronged you…”

He bullied her so much, she wasn’t ungrateful.

That night, he kept asking her what she liked and didn’t like. Mo Jin’er, of course, didn’t like it.

Crying, she said no, but finally, out of helplessness, she said yes, again and again, until he let her go.