Chapter 409 Bullying the Concubine (3)
?"... Water..." Chen Yulan murmured, her gaze still fixed downwards. The simplicity of the request contrasted sharply with the turmoil it had caused, leaving her feeling empty and helpless.
"Okay, wait a minute," Yu Lei said, her voice carrying a note of purpose. Turning on her heel, she descended the staircase with a sprightly hop, each step taken with an eagerness that contrasted the late hour.
A soft hum accompanied her movements, a light melody that seemed out of place in the quiet of the night.
Within moments, she reappeared, now bearing a tray with a fresh glass of water. "Here, take this," she offered, her smile gentle yet knowing.
Chen Yulan looked up, her eyes momentarily lost, reflecting a mix of surprise and gratitude as she took in Yu Lei's presence. "T-Thank you..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she accepted the tray. Her hands were steady now, thanks to Yu Lei's unexpected kindness.
Yu Lei simply nodded, her gaze lingering on Chen Yulan for a moment longer than necessary. She couldn't help but ponder the resilience Chen Yulan displayed.
Even now, amidst evident distress, she seemed to battle against her tears, clinging to a pride that Yu Lei found both admirable and baffling. 'Where did she get this attitude from?' Yu Lei wondered silently. 'Doesn't she know that crying can get extra points from husband?'
It was like a free pampering from him!
How can she miss out on it?
Despite her musings, Yu Lei didn't voice these thoughts. Instead, she watched quietly as Chen Yulan made her way back upstairs, her steps cautious yet determined. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))
This time, there was no misstep, no falter. Reaching the top, Chen Yulan turned to offer Yu Lei a smile, strained but genuine, a silent thank you for the assistance and understanding. Yu Lei returned the gesture with a simple nod before making her way back to her room, where Feng Xinyue awaited her return.
________
Inside the room, the atmosphere was growing with an unspoken suffocation as Chen Yulan entered, her movements almost robotic in their precision.
The *click* of the door shutting behind her echoed softly, a stark contrast to the silence that enveloped the space.
Zhang Wei, reclined leisurely on the bed, eyed her with a mixture of curiosity and impatience. "What took you so much time?" His voice was casual, yet it carried an undercurrent of authority that seemed to fill the room.
Chen Yulan, her posture stiff and her head bowed, approached him with the tray in hand. The room's dim lighting cast shadows over her features, hiding the turmoil swirling within her.
"??"
Zhang Wei's brows furrowed in confusion as he took in her appearance. "Why are your clothes wet?" His question was pointed, his gaze sharp as it roved over her, noting the disarray of her attire.
Upon closer inspection, the sight of fabric torn near her knees, revealing the bruised skin beneath, caught his attention.
At his inquiry, Chen Yulan's resolve wavered. The humiliation, intertwined with embarrassment and helplessness, washed over her in waves. "I... f-feel..." Her voice was barely audible, a whisper lost in the vastness of the room.
A single tear, held at bay for far too long, escaped, marking its path down her cheek before disappearing into the carpet.
"Hm? You fell on the stairs?" Zhang Wei's tone softened marginally as he processed her admission. Setting the tray aside, he shifted his focus entirely to her.
She found herself speechless - the culprit he was condemning was none other than himself.
Overwhelmed by his critical tirade, she suddenly clamped her hands over his mouth, silencing him.
??
Zhang Wei, taken aback, lifted his gaze to meet her eyes - they swam with a mix of panic and embarrassment.
"Don't curse yourself..." She spoke softly, a hint of protective defensiveness seeping into her voice.
"Oh, why not?" Zhang Wei retorted, his laughter teetering on the edge of bursting forth.
Chen Yulan was momentarily lost for words, her gaze fixed on him, a storm of unspoken thoughts flickering behind her eyes. Finally, she mustered the courage to say, "For me... Just don't... Sometimes, curses have a way of weaving themselves into reality." Her eyes, pools of earnestness, locked onto his.
"Um? Really?" Zhang Wei's suprise was visible in his voice.
With a subtle nod, Chen Yulan affirmed, "It can."
Zhang Wei shook his head, a theatrical display of resignation. "Then it's too late, I guess."
"Hm?" Confusion danced across Chen Yulan's features, puzzled by his cryptic words.
With a wink, Zhang Wei confessed, "Too many people have been cursing me for ages. I doubt one more would make a difference."
Chen Yulan was silent, her thoughts swirling.
'What had he done to earn such malice?'
Interrupting her musings, Zhang Wei announced, "It's done. It should be fine now."
"Fine... What?" Chen Yulan's voice was a mix of confusion and surprise. She glanced down to find his hands over her knees, where a warmth had erased any trace of pain, as if by magic.
The ache that had been a constant companion between her legs was gone, vanished under his touch.
Seizing the moment of her distraction, Zhang Wei had woven his healing spell.
Her breath caught, a silent gasp suspended in the air, but Zhang Wei spoke first, "I told you, I'm quite of an amazing person myself."
"..." Chen Yulan was speechless, her mind a whirl of emotions.
This wasn't the answer she had expected.
Regardless, she modestly pulled the bedsheet over herself, a flush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks at her exposed self.
Zhang Wei, ever observant, held her hands, his touch gentle, soothing. Then, noticing her bare fingers, he asked, "Where is the ring?"
Chen Yulan, her heart aflutter, confessed, "I put it away."