What was originally thought to be a shocking bruise on her wrist was nothing compared to what greeted her eyes when she looked at her fingers. Gone were the fair, slender digits; instead, all ten were tightly bandaged.
"Aunty Sheng, I can..." Feng Ran's words trailed off. She looked up, a shiver running down her spine, and instinctively recoiled.
She quickly stood up, her expression tense as she looked at the person before her.
How could Xuan Yuanheng appear here? When did he arrive?
Xuan Yuanheng sneered as he observed Feng Ran's reaction.
Heh, it seemed his presence had quite an impact on her.
Feng Ran was afraid of him.
Yet, he remembered the Feng Ran of old, who yearned to be by his side, seeking any opportunity to attract his attention.
But now, she avoided him as if he were a plague. This reversal of fortunes was, for a moment, difficult for him to accept.
"Feng Ran, what happened to your hands?" He recalled her hands were fine just a few days ago. Now, they were so terribly injured. Was it intentional?
Was it done on purpose, just to gain his pity?
Was this her new trick?
He remembered the Feng Ran of the past was just like this. He couldn't rule out the possibility that everything before him was a carefully staged act.
"They're injured," Feng Ran replied calmly, lowering her gaze. She said nothing more.
"Feng Ran, you're trembling all over. Are you afraid of this King?"
Feng Ran bit her lip, enduring the urge to speak. Yes, she was indeed afraid. But when she met Xuan Yuanheng's cold gaze, she dared not offer any explanation.
"The Regent King's might intimidates all who see him. They would naturally be afraid."
"Moreover, someone like me, upon seeing the Regent King, would naturally not dare to look up, much less speak much."
Heh, "not dare to look up, much less speak much." What an eloquent response.
If he hadn't known Feng Ran's true nature, Xuan Yuanheng might have believed her words at that moment.
Feng Ran thought that by saying this, Xuan Yuanheng would let her go. But she didn't realize that the more she acted this way, the angrier Xuan Yuanheng became, and the more difficult her life would be.
Xuan Yuanheng's gaze upon Feng Ran grew increasingly hostile.
He strode towards her, cornering her.
He reached out and tightly grasped Feng Ran's chin, his voice a cold warning, "Feng Ran, if you take another step back, your life will end here."
Hearing this, Feng Ran ceased her movements, her breathing becoming cautious.
Feng Ran knew that Xuan Yuanheng was a man of his word. If he wanted to do something, he would achieve it.
She knew even better that she was powerless to change Xuan Yuanheng's mind.
Xuan Yuanheng's hand rubbed Feng Ran's chin, and he asked coldly, "Who injured you like this?"
Feng Ran let out a soft scoff.
If these words had come from anyone else, Feng Ran wouldn't have reacted so strongly. But coming from Xuan Yuanheng's mouth, they were utterly unbearable.
Feng Ran watched Xuan Yuanheng with caution, wondering what he intended. What was the purpose of these questions?
He should know better than anyone how she ended up in such a wretched state.
Was he serious in asking her?
Feng Ran even found it somewhat comical.
"Regent King, shouldn't you be asking yourself that question?" Those people were under your command. They announced your name when they attacked.
And yet, you can so calmly ask these questions now. Is your act too overdone, Xuan Yuanheng? Such audacious words, yet she could only keep them hidden in her heart.
"Feng Ran, you've fallen to such depths, and Ling Chi Yuan hasn't come to your rescue."
"I remember, that day in the manor, Ling Chi Yuan desperately tried to save you."
"Many days have passed, yet you are still here. Feng Ran, isn't that heartbreaking?"
Feng Ran's brows furrowed slightly as she looked at Xuan Yuanheng. His sudden mention of Ling Chi Yuan left her unable to fathom his intentions, nor did she know what he truly wanted.
"..."
Feng Ran chose to ignore the topic.
Xuan Yuanheng's expression turned extremely grim, radiating a terrifying aura as he coldly interrogated, "Feng Ran, in this life, no one will save you. You are destined to live at the lowest level."
"You are fated to suffer endlessly."
"You will be the disgrace of the Feng family."
The disgrace of the Feng family? Ever since the Feng family was annihilated, ever since Xuan Yuanheng trampled over her to get what he wanted, ever since she knelt and begged him to believe her, that she hadn't harmed Yu Wan Yan, and he hadn't even given her a chance to explain, she had already become a laughingstock.
Xuan Yuanheng met Feng Ran's mocking smile with disgust.
This was not the Feng Ran he wished to see.
He wanted to see Feng Ran driven mad. He wanted to see Feng Ran cursing him like a lunatic.
He even wanted to see Feng Ran kneeling before him, begging him.
Alas, what he desired to witness had not come to pass.
Had she already become so indifferent? Had she found a new path?
Suddenly, Xuan Yuanheng acted as if he had gone mad, grabbing Feng Ran by the throat and yanking her from the bed. He pinned her against the window, his voice bloodthirsty, "Feng Ran, if you fall from here, you'll be shattered to pieces, won't you?"
"Tell me, if you die, will anyone collect your corpse?"
"Will Ling Chi Yuan step forward?"
Xuan Yuanheng's eyes were filled with a terrifying crimson glow, making one tremble.
Feng Ran didn't even attempt to struggle.
Was she afraid of death? Did she want to live?
She was truly afraid of death.
She truly wanted to live a good life.
But she knew well that what Xuan Yuanheng set his mind to, what he wished to do, could not be changed by her meek pleas.
Perhaps begging would only make things more complicated. Doing nothing, saying nothing, might lead to a new situation.
Xuan Yuanheng slowly leaned in towards Feng Ran. Just as he was about to touch her cheek, Feng Ran quickly dodged.
But this scene deeply pierced Xuan Yuanheng's eyes.
The disgust and loathing in Feng Ran's eyes, her avoidance of his movements and appearance, she couldn't even be bothered to feign politeness.
He yanked Feng Ran back, violently shoving her into a corner. He then walked towards her, his bloodshot eyes seemingly intent on tearing her apart.
In the corner, Feng Ran trembled all over. She didn't even know what she had done to incur Xuan Yuanheng's wrath.
A cold smile touched Feng Ran's lips. In reality, there was no need to dwell on this. Wasn't this precisely what she had always endured?
When had Xuan Yuanheng ever treated her kindly?