Bengtie, I'm really not a villain!

Her eyelashes fluttered rapidly with unease, and she stammered, "When...when did you get to the door?" Her voice trembled slightly, like a candle flame flickering in the wind.

Kiana scratched the back of her head, her ear tips flushed with embarrassment, and with a slightly awkward smile, she stammered:

"It started when you started choking him..."

As soon as she said it, she seemed to realize something and hurriedly waved her hand, her braids shaking wildly with the violent movement, looking like a bird's nest blown about by the wind.

"Oh, I get it, I get it, it's fine that you two are close! But you need to be more careful next time, don't go this far! It'll look bad if word gets out..."

As she spoke, she made faces, looking just like a mischievous child, while secretly glancing at Jing Ye with a hint of curiosity and inquiry in her eyes.

Raiden Mei bit her lower lip, the blush spreading across her face as if it were enveloping her entire being.

She wished the ground would crack open right now so she could disappear into it and escape this extremely embarrassing situation.

She didn't dare to look Kiana in the eye.

Inside the room, Raiden Mei stood frozen in place, her nails digging almost uncontrollably into her palms. A sharp, stinging pain spread, and beads of bright red blood seeped out from under her nails, mixing with the cold sweat on her palms and sliding down her fingertips onto her dark combat suit, staining it with an eerie dark color.

In an instant, the deafening sound of the torrential rain outside the window seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier. All she could hear was the rapid beating of her own heart, deafening like a drumbeat, pounding against her taut nerves.

The floodgates of memory burst open at that moment, like a cold and ferocious venomous snake, tightly coiling around her thoughts.

That was in Izumo Province, where she watched helplessly as Furibas was manipulated by Jingye as a puppet and trampled on in a fighting arena.

"I just don't want to..." Raiden Mei murmured to herself, her voice so low it was as if she were talking to her own soul, almost impossible for others to hear.

Her fingertips unconsciously caressed the back that Jing Ye had just touched. The lingering warmth there now felt like a red-hot iron, burning her body and making her tremble.

In her mind, Kiana's shocked and wide-eyed expression was clearly visible, along with the words "Don't play so big," which, like a sharp dagger, pierced the most vulnerable corner of her heart. A bitter feeling quickly rose in her heart and spread throughout her body.

She couldn't help but wonder, if Kiana knew about the complicated and unspeakable relationship between her and Jingye, would she one day become a ruthless weapon in Jingye's hands, used to harm her companions?

Once the thought took root in her mind, it grew wildly, sending chills down her spine.

Jing Ye remained leaning against the headboard, like a demon god from the abyss of darkness.

His dark, inky eyes gazed silently at Raiden Mei, as if he could see through every thought in her heart.

The faint, enigmatic smile at the corner of her mouth was like a Damocles' sword hanging over Raiden Mei's head, sending a shiver down her spine and making the hairs on her body stand on end.

During her long and complicated relationship with Jing Ye, she was shocked to realize that she had unknowingly fallen into a quagmire of emotions, and the more she struggled, the deeper she sank.

This hidden emotion, which she herself dared not easily confront, was like a dangerous and uncontrollable Honkai energy, spreading rampantly within her body and eroding her reason and will.

"Mei?" Kiana's concerned voice, like a sudden beam of light, pulled her back to reality from her dark memories and fears.

Raiden Mei abruptly raised her head, meeting her friend's worried gaze. A lump formed in her throat, and after a moment, she forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly.

"I'm fine..."

As soon as she spoke, she quickly turned her face away, not daring to meet Kiana's gaze again, afraid that the surging fear in her eyes would be seen through.

Because she deeply understands that once this forbidden relationship is exposed, what awaits her may be an abyss that is more terrifying and darker than facing the most ferocious Honkai Beast, enough to completely devour everything she has.

Kiana's exaggerated, almost comical smile froze on her face the moment she realized she had intruded. Like a delicate flower suddenly attacked by a severe frost, it was frozen in place.

Her expression seemed to have been abruptly frozen in that awkward, momentous instant, as if pressed by an invisible hand lurking in the darkness.

Her once bright and lively eyes, sparkling like stars, were now wide open, as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. Deep within them was a look of belated regret and panic, like a fawn that had strayed into a trap.

In her mind, the images of her reckless actions flashed by like a revolving lantern, each scene relentlessly reminding her of her folly.

Only now did she wake up as if from a dream, realizing with absolute clarity how reckless her actions had been, no different from those mindless fools who acted impulsively and recklessly.

Her throat felt like it was choked by something, and she managed to squeeze out a dry laugh. The laugh was dry and abrupt, echoing in the already somewhat oppressive room, sounding particularly jarring, like an untimely shout in this deathly silence.

Her ears quickly became congested with blood, turning a bright red, like small fireballs that had been lit, with heat spreading from the base of her ears, almost as if thick smoke was billowing out.

In her panic, she grabbed the blanket as if she were a drowning person grasping at a straw. But then, as if she had touched a hot iron, she threw the blanket away like a hot potato, carelessly tossing it onto the chair next to her.

The chair, unable to bear the weight, shook violently a few times, creaking in protest. Her lips trembled uncontrollably, like two leaves shivering in the cold wind, and she stammered.

"Haha... Well, you guys continue, I... I suddenly remembered I have something to do!"

Before she could finish speaking, she spun around like a rocket with a powerful booster, and rushed toward the door with lightning speed.

Her braids flew wildly behind her, like whips out of control, lashing wildly in the air with her violent movements.

Her combat boots slammed heavily on the floor, each step producing a dull, rapid "thump-thump," a sound that seemed to be an outward projection of her frantic heartbeat, one beat after another, clearly audible.

The door slammed shut with a loud bang, the enormous sound echoing through the cramped space, the lingering echo like a muffled thunderclap, sending shivers down one's spine.

Raiden Mei's body, which had been taut like a string, relaxed slightly the moment the door closed, as if a spring had been released.

However, her gaze did not relax at all; on the contrary, it became even sharper, like two gleaming daggers that could cut through iron like mud, staring intently and vigilantly at Jing Ye, who was still leaning against the headboard.

Her eyes were filled with wariness and deep worry. In the depths of her pupils, one could even clearly see a ripple of fear gently spreading, like a small pebble breaking the tranquility of a calm lake.

A terrifying thought kept swirling in her mind like a ghost.

Given Kiana's sudden and unexpected intrusion, and considering Jingye's complex, deep, and calculating mind, could it be that he has developed a strong interest in Kiana?

After all, in Jing Ye's unfathomable eyes, which are like an endless black hole, he would never let go of anyone who had even the slightest chance of becoming a pawn on his chessboard.

The thought of Furibas's tragic end made Raiden Mei's heart clench, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand, her nails digging uncontrollably into her palm.

The old wound, which had not yet fully healed, was torn open again by this new, intense pain. Beads of bright red blood seeped out silently, standing out starkly in her snow-white palms, like blooming red plum blossoms, a shocking sight.

Jing Ye, on the other hand, maintained that languid posture that seemed to be innate and ingrained in his bones. He leaned against the headboard, as if the noise and turmoil of the world had nothing to do with him, and he was the only one who remained leisurely and detached from it all.

But his dark, deep eyes, like the sharpest and coldest stars in the night sky, were fixed on Kiana's departing figure.

Even though the door was tightly closed, the heavy door seemed to be non-existent in his eyes. His gaze seemed to be able to penetrate all obstacles and closely follow Kiana's every step.

The faint smile at the corner of his mouth now seemed even deeper, like a bottomless, mysterious spring. That smile held both the image of someone enjoying a meticulously crafted, dramatic, and entertaining play, and the image of someone secretly plotting a shocking, earth-shattering plan that could overturn everything.

The air in the room seemed to freeze under the eerie and oppressive atmosphere, filled with a suffocating silence.

Only the torrential rain outside the window continued its tireless pounding against the glass, making a "crackle" sound, one after another, like heavy iron hammers, fiercely striking Raiden Mei's nerves, which were stretched to the limit and on the verge of collapse.

"You'd better stay away from her." Raiden Mei finally broke the suffocating silence. Her voice was as cold as ice that had never melted for a thousand years and was unbreakable, as if it carried a bone-chilling cold from the depths of the deepest hell.

But if you listen carefully, you can keenly detect a slight tremor in her voice, a revelation of her deep-seated fear, like an undercurrent surging beneath a calm sea.

She subconsciously straightened her back, taut her body, trying to use this seemingly tough and resilient demeanor to conceal the turbulent unease churning within her.

Upon hearing this, Jingye seemed to have heard an incredibly absurd and laughable joke. He slowly withdrew his gaze from the doorway and turned to Raiden Mei at a leisurely pace.

The gaze fell on Raiden Mei, sending a chill down her spine. She felt as if she were enveloped by an invisible yet powerful cold, her limbs and bones frozen, unable to move.

The burning warning words in her throat seemed to transform into a raging flame, churning wildly within Raiden Mei's throat, eagerly trying to break through the obstruction and burst forth.

But she clenched her teeth and used all her strength to swallow those words back into her chest. It felt like she was forcibly swallowing a red-hot iron, burning her esophagus and causing her excruciating pain.

Her fingers, hanging at her sides, curled slightly involuntarily, as if she were trying to hold all her emotions tightly in her palms.

In her tightly clenched fist, her palm was already marked with crescent-shaped cuts from sharp fingernails, from which blood slowly seeped out. But even though the pain in her flesh was so clear, it was nothing compared to the tearing agony deep within her heart.

Outside the window, the already torrential rain seemed to be amplified by some mysterious force, instantly becoming deafening.

Large raindrops, as if possessed, pounded against the window with overwhelming force. The sound of them hitting the glass was dense and heavy, like a thousand horses galloping, or like the hysterical roar of her violently beating heart in her chest.

Each raindrop's impact felt like a heavy blow to her taut nerves, making her heart pound faster and her breathing heavier.

Jing Ye's ambiguous smile was like two cold and sharp beams of light, freely moving over her.

Wherever that gaze fell, it seemed to carry an invisible pressure, making Raiden Mei feel uncomfortable all over, as if she were being placed under a microscope, having her every thought arbitrarily dissected.

A chill ran down her spine, but she forced herself to suppress her fear and unease, slowly raising her chin and trying to appear nonchalant.

Immediately afterward, she turned around and walked towards the bent lamp. She reached out and grasped the metal lamppost, trying to hide her inner turmoil by straightening the lamp.

However, her palms were already covered in cold sweat, the icy, damp sensation spreading along the metal lamppost, and her fingers trembled slightly involuntarily, almost imperceptibly to her.

The painful scene from that year vividly flashed through her mind. Furibas was ruthlessly exploited by Jing Ye simply because Jing Ye had keenly perceived that it was something she also cherished.

Thinking of this, Raiden Mei's heart clenched, and a deep fear and despair welled up inside her.

She knew all too well that she was standing on the edge of a dangerous cliff. If she was not careful, Kiana would become just like Furibas back then, a new pawn on Jing Ye's chessboard, completely at his mercy.

If she shows even the slightest concern for Kiana in front of Jingye, Kiana will immediately fall into an irrecoverable predicament.

This heavy worry weighed on her heart like a boulder, making it hard for her to breathe. Yet, she had to feign composure and carefully protect Kiana's safety in this silent battle with Jing Ye.

Chapter 147 Misunderstanding and Peeping

The deathly silence seemed to be torn apart instantly by an invisible blade, and the oppressive feeling instantly found an outlet.

Raiden Mei was like a lioness who had been completely enraged and gone mad, radiating a chilling aura.

She suddenly exerted her strength, lunging forward like a black lightning bolt. Her right arm carried immense force, and her right hand gripped Jing Ye's chin like an iron clamp.

Her fingernails dug deep into his already pale skin, and in an instant, four striking scarlet marks appeared. She seemed to be in a state of frenzy, oblivious to all of this, her mind and eyes filled only with Jing Ye, whom she both hated and feared.

Before Jing Ye could react, she leaned down and pressed her lips against his eyes, which seemed to see through everything.

Her lips, cracked and parched from inner anger and pain, even tinged with a hint of blood, were pressed tightly against those dangerous eyes, as if this would completely block his view and prevent him from looking at Kiana's departing figure.

Just then, a thick bolt of lightning flashed outside the window like a giant sword falling from the sky, instantly illuminating the entire room as bright as day.

Under the intense light, the two figures, tightly intertwined, were clearly projected onto the wall. The image was distorted yet full of tension, like a bizarre oil painting created by a mad artist, with every line seemingly telling an indescribable story and emotion.

Raiden Mei leaped wildly like a ignited flame, as if it were a physical manifestation of the anger and power within her.

At this moment, the purple pattern on Jing Ye's chest also emitted an eerie light, bursting out with extremely dazzling light, enveloping the entire room in a mysterious and dangerous atmosphere.

At the same time, her left hand did not slacken in the slightest, gripping Jing Ye's collar tightly like a claw forged of steel.

She used all her strength to pin Jing Ye against the headboard, every subtle movement containing a desperate and ruthless determination, as if declaring to Jing Ye that she would never give in easily again.

In an instant, a torrent of memories surged towards her like a raging tide.

Those humiliating memories of being ruthlessly manipulated by Jing Ye, every image was like a sharp dagger, piercing her heart.

The painful moments of losing loved ones, every time she recalls them, feel like her newly healed wounds are being torn open.

And at this moment, her deep concern for Kiana's safety was like a heavy boulder, pressing down on her and making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

All of this converged into scalding tears at this moment, uncontrollably streaming down her cheeks and dripping onto Jing Ye, blending into the chaotic and emotionally charged atmosphere.

She kissed him frantically, her lips constantly rubbing against Jing Ye's eyes, as if she wanted to release all the hatred, resentment, and complex emotions that had been accumulating in her heart for many years, like a raging undercurrent in the deep sea, through this almost extreme method.

Her body trembled slightly with excitement, her breathing rapid and heavy, carrying a burning heat as if it would ignite the surrounding air.

Jing Ye, however, maintained that eerie silence that sent chills down his spine throughout.

He stood like an emotionless statue, silently allowing Raiden Mei to vent her anger. Under her touch, his body gradually began to heat up, as if a mysterious power was being awakened within him.

Finally, after the peak of her emotions, Raiden Mei slowly let go of her hand.

She bit her lip so hard that it bled, and bright red blood slowly flowed down the corner of her mouth, leaving a shocking bloodstain on her fair skin.

At this moment, she and Jing Ye stared at each other, their breathing rapid and hot, as if they had just gone through a fierce battle.

Jing Ye's familiar eyes, like the eerie flame that never went out in her memory, were now staring at her with a playful and inquisitive look, as if trying to see right through her.

Crimson blood dripped slowly from between her fingers, spreading into dark red flowers on the floor, as if a manifestation of her broken heart.

She stared intently into Jing Ye's eyes, those familiar gazes like a dagger coated with deadly poison, their cold light chilling and sharp. They had flashed countless times in her nightmares, waking her from her deep sleep, her clothes soaked with cold sweat.

Even after countless days and nights, Raiden Mei would still recognize the depth and cunning hidden in those eyes, even if she turned to ashes.

Jing Ye leaned lazily against the headboard, his posture so relaxed that he seemed detached from everything, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if the passionate kiss just now was nothing more than a fleeting child's play.

He slowly raised his hand, his fingertips gently tracing the bloodstains at the corner of his mouth. The contrast between his pale skin and the scarlet blood created a striking visual impact, making him appear even more eerie and dangerous.

His every move exuded a nonchalant elegance, yet it sent chills down one's spine.

In an instant, a series of bloody images flashed before Raiden Mei's eyes. On the battlefield of Izumo Province, smoke filled the air, and corpses littered the ground.

The desperate screams of my companions as they fell echoed in my ears; and there were demons, their claws tearing the sky apart, bringing a storm of blood and destruction wherever they went.

These memories surged forth like a tidal wave, engulfing her in an abyss of pain.

"You knew all this all along, how powerful are the demons in Izumo, the monsters in Takamagahara, and the ethereal black sun? Why didn't you tell me?"

Her words were full of questioning and accusation, every sentence brimming with resentment towards Jing Ye.

Jing Ye chuckled softly, a chuckle that was icy and chilling, devoid of any warmth, as if it came from the deepest hell.

He slowly rose to his feet, each step carrying a suffocating sense of oppression, as if an invisible force was closing in on Raiden Mei.

As he drew closer, Raiden Mei could even feel the chill emanating from him.

Finally, their noses almost touched. Jing Ye leaned down, his warm breath brushing against her ear.