Chapter 43: Let’s Break Up
The first day, her leg was draped over Xi Yu’s waist.
The second day, she was nestled in Ling Yanzhi’s arms.
On the third day, she woke up to find she had turned completely sideways, her foot nearly planted on Ling Yanzhi’s mouth.
’I can’t face anyone.’
Jian Yu: "..."
Their three-person arrangement quickly came to a halt.
Aside from him taking her to and from school for the first half of the week, Jian Yu discovered a pattern: Xi Yu would be around for a couple of days, then vanish for three.
He was incredibly passionate every time he returned, almost too much for her to handle.
He must have been busy recently; he hadn’t come back for seven or eight days in a row.
Ling Yanzhi was the same way. He arranged for someone to deliver her meals without fail, but he left early and returned late every day. Whenever she asked, he’d just say he was busy with the challenge tournament.
’We’re drifting apart. The passion is definitely fading.’
’This won’t do. If I don’t act soon, these two prize catches are going to get away.’
’Then again, are we even officially dating? Or is this just some ambiguous love triangle?’
’I should test the waters, define the relationship. But asking directly would be awkward. What if that’s not what they want?’
While stewing in her awkward thoughts, Jian Yu decided to play with fire and typed out three words: "Let’s break up!"
’Who should I send it to?’
’Ling Yanzhi is too good at feigning gentleness. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle it if he blew up.’
’Xi Yu is more aggressively forceful, but he’s always been that way. Even if he gets angry, he probably won’t go overboard.’
Jian Yu didn’t hesitate long. She decisively sent the message to Xi Yu: "Let’s break up!"
The villa was empty, and she happened to have no classes today, so she decided to head back to her dorm to hide out.
’That would make it more convincing.’
And thus, today, she was rewarded with a pair of handcuffs.
Outside her dorm building, Jian Yu was just about to step into the levitation elevator.
"Baby, where are you going?"
Xi Yu, wearing a long trench coat, blocked her path with a gloomy expression.
He crouched down slightly in front of Jian Yu, his large, warm hand wrapping around her waist.
"I didn’t sleep all night. I rushed back just to see my baby, to kiss my baby. You’re so cruel, baby, breaking up with me the moment you see me."
Jian Yu cleared her throat. "I wasn’t running."
"You’re lying, baby." Xi Yu wasn’t listening. The atmosphere around him suddenly grew heavy.
’He really has a wild imagination.’
"You deliberately ignored my messages and took the chance to run back to your dorm. You can’t stand me, you’re done pretending with me, aren’t you?"
Her chin was lifted lightly, forcing Jian Yu to look him in the eye.
Xi Yu’s eyes were red. "Baby, why won’t you even give me a single word of explanation?"
’He’s losing it.’ Jian Yu muffled a sound.
’He wants an explanation, but he’s covering my mouth with his hand.’
"If you run again, I’ll... I’ll lock you up, baby." Xi Yu couldn’t even bring himself to say his threat too harshly. He bent down and lifted her into his arms.
The Instant Teleportation was fast, tinged with a sense of urgency.
Jian Yu thought he was taking her back to Villa No. 7, but she was surprised to find herself in his private laboratory.
"Baby, look at this."
A pair of handcuffs, glowing with a warm light, was gently clasped around her right wrist.
Jian Yu didn’t understand his actions.
But she liked it.
She struggled a little, finding they weren’t tight and were even a bit warm.
"I was gone for so many days, and you didn’t send me a single message." Xi Yu’s voice was dangerous and heavy. He wasn’t even calling her "baby" anymore.
Jian Yu looked at him innocently. "I was afraid of bothering you."
’Who says I didn’t? Didn’t I send that breakup text?’
Xi Yu didn’t listen. "Ling Yanzhi said you wish him a good afternoon every day. How come you’re not afraid of bothering him?"
’Playing favorites!’
’And I am!’
Jian Yu looked at his reddened eyes and pursed her lips.
’Wishing him a good afternoon was just a reminder for lunch.’
’The cafeteria food is so expensive, and it’s not nearly as delicious as what Ling Yanzhi has delivered.’
"Send them now." Xi Yu tugged on the handcuffs, clasping the other one to his own wrist.
His voice was ice-cold, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. "However many you sent Ling Yanzhi, send me double."
"..." Jian Yu’s mouth moved wordlessly.
’Psycho.’
"Are you going to or not?"
"I’m not."
Xi Yu’s chest heaved. "Fine, then don’t!"
He fell silent for two seconds, then asked, "Are we still breaking up?"
’He’s not even angry about this?’ Jian Yu glanced at the glowing handcuffs on her wrist.
She nodded firmly. "Yes!"
A crazed look flashed in Xi Yu’s eyes. "What about Ling Yanzhi?"
"I... I don’t know." Jian Yu was also worried he would actually agree to the breakup.
’I can risk one meal ticket, but not both at once.’
"You don’t know?" Xi Yu was furious and exasperated.
His spiritual power overflowed uncontrollably, sweeping wildly around the room.
Jian Yu chickened out.
"It’s... it’s fine if we don’t break up."
’So, in Xi Yu’s eyes, we’re already in a relationship where I can bring up breaking up.’
Jian Yu breathed a sigh of relief. ’At least it’s not just a sugar baby arrangement.’
"What do you mean, ’it’s fine if we don’t break up’?" Xi Yu’s voice was hoarse.
Jian Yu watched as Xi Yu closed in on her, step by step.
He raised a hand.
He slammed it against the wall beside her.
’The vibe is so perfect. I kind of want to take a picture to commemorate the moment.’
Although she could escape just by ducking, Jian Yu didn’t want to.
"Why did you bring up breaking up? Why only with me? Baby, have I been too good to you?"
Xi Yu’s gaze was dark as he stared at her lips.
Eight phantom tentacles emerged from behind him, their shadows overlapping heavily.
"Put those away first. We can talk this out properly." Jian Yu broke out in a cold sweat.
"I just wanted to ask..."
’Calm down, stay calm.’
Jian Yu’s face went stiff. ’I’m so done.’
’Forced affection? I’m all for it. Tentacles? That’s a bit much.’
’I really didn’t think this through. I forgot to factor in their Soul Beasts.’
’Then again, with a snake on one side and a black octopus on the other, maybe there isn’t much of a difference.’
Jian Yu wanted to cry.
Tentacles crept up her ankles, wrists, and abdomen.
She couldn’t take it anymore. "I really was just asking! Neither of you ever said you wanted to be with me."
Jian Yu quickly backed away, her eyes red-rimmed, her body pressing against the cold wall.
’It’s so embarrassing to be the one pushing for a title.’
’I was just testing the waters, why is he freaking out?’
Her hands were brought together and raised above her head, pinned to the wall by a sticky touch, like suction cups.
A mist instantly clouded Jian Yu’s eyes. "I was wrong, I was wrong. Please don’t do this."
"My poor baby." Xi Yu chuckled lightly and lowered his head for a kiss.
He couldn’t hide the malice in his heart, discovering that he much preferred Jian Yu like this.
Beautiful, fragile, and broken.
"Mmph... Xi Yu..."
Jian Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly, her hips arching a little with his hand.
Xi Yu felt wronged.
’She was just calling me Ayue earlier.’
He pulled her in tighter and kissed her fiercely.
’Why can’t she just placate me!’
A Soul Beast’s emotions are often twice as strong as its master’s.
One moment restrained, the next unleashed.
And the Soul Beast is much less inhibited than its master.
Xi Yu’s loss of control had unintentionally unleashed Yang Zhang.
A dim light flickered in the laboratory as the tentacles surged like living things.
Teardrops clung to Jian Yu’s eyelashes. Her limbs were bound tightly, and her waist was constricted so she couldn’t move an inch.
Her breathing grew difficult. The feeling of suffocation forced her to let out small sobs as a mist constantly clouded her eyes.
Teardrops rolled from the flushed corners of her eyes, leaving wet trails behind.
A few strands of her messy auburn hair fell across her snow-white neck, only to be quickly swept up and toyed with by the phantom-like tendrils.
The violence in Xi Yu’s eyes gradually subsided.
He kissed the corner of her lips obsessively. "Your lips are so soft, baby."
"..." Jian Yu gasped for air, blinking her eyes.
Dazed, she felt almost euphoric from the kiss.
’I really do like Xi Yu more after all. When I say I don’t want something, he forces it on me anyway—really gives it to me, and it hits the spot every time.’
The tentacles released their hold. Jian Yu’s limbs went weak, and she slid straight down, passing out completely.