Bengtie, I'm really not a villain!

"Tell you? Do you think you have the right to know this?"

His voice was low and hoarse, filled with contempt and mockery, each word like a knife, piercing Raiden Mei's heart.

The rain outside intensified, with large raindrops pounding against the windowpane with a loud crackling sound.

Thunder roared, rattling the windows, as if the whole world trembled at this intense standoff. Amidst the flashes of lightning and thunder, Raiden Mei clenched her fists.

Raiden Mei's body trembled slightly, as if caught in an invisible storm. The strong smell of blood from the kiss still lingered on her fingertips, like a cruel mark left on her by fate, one that she could not shake off.

My thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the moment when the red spider lily bloomed, and that dreamlike yet terrifying scene reappeared before my eyes.

In that strange light, she saw the phantom of the black sun that Jing Ye had witnessed before, a terrifying existence hanging high in the dark sky, exuding a chilling aura.

The faint smile on Jing Ye's lips was exactly the same as the smile he was giving her as he gazed at her, exuding an unfathomable mystery and profound meaning.

Those fragments of memory, sealed away by time and carefully preserved, are now like unleashed demons, transforming into razor-sharp blades that rampage through her mind, frantically slicing through her reason and emotions.

Each slash brought excruciating pain, making her consciousness increasingly muddled.

"You had planned everything all along."

She managed to squeeze out those words, her voice breaking with sobs, as if they were the voices of her chaotic, collapsing thoughts.

Her lips trembled slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Her combat boots seemed to have a mind of their own, unconsciously grinding over the pool of blood on the floor, which had already mostly congealed.

As she moved, the "blood flower" stained with blood became increasingly blurred as she stepped on it, just like her heart, now riddled with holes and impossible to piece back together.

In this agonizing contemplation, she gradually understood why every crisis she had experienced in the past seemed like a meticulously designed and perfectly precise trial.

Why is it that one's own strength only erupts like a volcano when facing dire straits and life-or-death situations?

Jing Ye remained standing there quietly, his posture upright, like an unshakable and majestic mountain.

He lowered his gaze to Raiden Mei, his dark eyes unfathomable, his gaze both profound and cold, inspiring awe in those who looked upon him.

"You always have to pay a price to protect what you cherish."

He finally spoke, his voice deep and mellow, yet carrying an undeniable resolve, like a heavy hammer striking Raiden Mei's heart, making her tremble.

This sentence was like a key, unlocking the tightly closed door deep in her memory.

She recalled countless nights spent training alone, the moonlight shining on the empty training ground, her solitary figure sweating profusely.

Every time she fell, every time she got injured, she gritted her teeth and persevered, just to become stronger and protect the people around her.

There were also those brutal scenes of fighting with Jing Ye, and despair overwhelmed her like a tidal wave, but she still managed to stand up and fight again and again with her indomitable will.

Only now do I realize that all of this was part of Jing Ye's scheme, and that I was like a puppet being manipulated, acting out pain and struggle in his carefully crafted script.

Thinking of this, her nails involuntarily dug deep into her palms, a sharp pain shooting through her as she tried to force herself to calm down.

However, tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes, causing them to burn and blur her vision.

"So watching me struggle in pain is entertaining for you?"

She raised her head, looked directly into Jing Ye's eyes, and questioned him with anger, grievance, and resentment in her voice.

Outside the window, the downpour had turned into hail without anyone noticing. Hailstones the size of fists pelted the window, making a crisp, piercing shattering sound, as if the world was lamenting the broken relationship between them.

Raiden Mei looked at Jing Ye's calm and composed demeanor, as if he had everything under control, and a chill suddenly ran through her, rising from her feet to the top of her head.

Even though she rationally understood that the other party's actions might have deeper and more complex reasons, when the truth was laid bare before her, the tearing pain was still unbearable, as if her entire soul had been ripped apart.

Jing Ye's body swayed without warning, as if a gentle breeze could knock him over. He suddenly reached out, his pale fingers like withered twigs, gripping the headboard tightly.

His hair hung down like a curtain, covering most of his face, but it couldn't hide the cunning glint in his eyes, like a faint light flickering in the dark night, revealing an elusive calculation.

At the same time, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and a faint, playful smile quietly appeared, as if silently announcing the start of this "performance".

"Mei..." He parted his lips slightly, his voice as weak as a candle flickering in the wind, each word trembling slightly as he uttered it, as if he had used up all his strength.

"The Honkai energy within me... is becoming increasingly out of control." The voice echoed in the room, carrying a heart-wrenching sense of helplessness.

Raiden Mei stood still, her eyes fixed intently on Jing Ye's deliberately hunched back.

The curve of that back, in her eyes, was full of flaws and revealed its falseness.

Her hands clenched unconsciously, her nails digging deep into her palms, a sharp pain shooting through them, but it did nothing to lessen her resentment.

When the two kissed just now, the surging Honkai energy fluctuations were clearly suppressed. How could she not understand that Jing Ye was acting?

But why did the mockery in those eyes still make her heart skip a beat? How ridiculous! She despised her own weakness in her heart, yet she couldn't ignore the annoyance brought on by that momentary panic.

What is he plotting now? Raiden Mei bit her lower lip, her pearly teeth sinking into her delicate lips until she tasted a hint of rusty, bloody flavor.

He knew better than anyone the changes in Honkai energy after each touch, yet now he was playing the victim… Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt, and she belatedly realized that she had almost followed his lead again.

Just then, Jing Ye slowly raised his head, a triumphant smile flashing in his dark eyes. The smile was so obvious that it seemed to say bluntly, "You really took the bait." His eyes were like a bottomless lake, calm on the surface but turbulent beneath.

The rage within Raiden Mei's chest flared up like a wildfire, instantly engulfing her remaining rationality.

Her eyes were bloodshot with rage, fixed on Jing Ye as if she wanted to burn him with her gaze. She took three steps at a time, charging forward with the speed of a raging beast.

His jaw clenched, his cheeks puffed out slightly, his muscles tensed, and his hands, like cold and hard iron clamps, pressed down hard on Jing Ye's shoulders, with a fierce force that seemed to want to crush them.

With this powerful force, Jing Ye was slammed heavily onto the bed, the headboard slamming violently against the wall with a dull thud that echoed in the small room, as if even the room itself was protesting this intense and almost out-of-control act.

A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed across Jing Ye's previously composed eyes, like a small pebble breaking the calm surface of a still lake.

But in the blink of an eye, that hint of surprise vanished, replaced by his usual playful demeanor.

He opened his mouth slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing, as if he were about to utter those irritating words, like sharp needles, that could pierce Raiden Mei's heart.

How could Raiden Mei allow him to succeed again? Her anger reached its peak, and without the slightest hesitation, she leaned down and decisively sealed Jingye's mouth with her own.

Her movements were utterly brutal, devoid of any gentleness, and the force seemed intent on tearing Jing Ye's mouth apart.

This kiss was filled with the anger and resentment that had been building up inside her for so long. It was as if she wanted to use this fiery kiss to ruthlessly shut down all of Jing Ye's past mockery and scheming, so that he would never be able to utter those hurtful words again.

At this moment, her left hand seemed to be deeply rooted to Jing Ye's side, supporting him firmly, while her right hand tightly gripped Jing Ye's collar, her five fingers exerting force, her nails almost piercing through the thin fabric and digging directly into his skin.

Her body trembled slightly, a lingering effect of her anger. She could clearly feel the warmth emanating from Jing Ye's body, but that warm touch only made her more agitated.

At the same time, she also noticed Jing Ye's steady yet slightly strange breathing. That breathing sound was like a fuse, making her already pent-up anger burn even more fiercely.

At this moment, the air seemed to be filled with invisible gunpowder smoke, and countless tiny sparks flew around the two of them, making the atmosphere in the room even more tense, as if it would explode at any moment.

Jing Ye was momentarily stunned after being subjected to this sudden and intense action.

But soon, his hand, which had been resting at his side, slowly rose and gently placed on Raiden Mei's waist with an unfathomable meaning.

This action seemed to be both a response to the fiery kiss and a further provocation. It was undoubtedly adding fuel to the already raging fire of Raiden Mei's anger.

Her anger reached its peak instantly, becoming uncontrollable. She bit Jing Ye's lip hard, so hard that she tasted a faint metallic flavor of blood.

Her eyes were full of warning, like those of an enraged mother beast.

Kiana, who had just wobbled to the corner of the corridor, was happily sipping her cola and humming a tuneless little tune. Suddenly, without warning, a deafening "thump" came from behind her.

The sound was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, startling Kiana so much that she jumped up three feet high.

The half-empty can of cola she had just bought to calm her nerves was instantly destroyed. With a "plop," it sprayed out like a high-pressure water gun, drawing a perfect arc in the air and leaving foam half a meter away.

Kiana seemed to be frozen in place, her eyes wide open like two copper bells, and her mouth wide open in an exaggerated "O" shape. She looked exactly like a cat whose tail had been stepped on and whose fur had instantly stood on end.

Even more ridiculously, Coke dripped uncontrollably down her chin, but she was completely unaware, staring in shock at the closed door.

"My God! What... what's that noise? Is the bed about to be smashed through the wall?"

Kiana almost cried out in alarm. It was as if some kind of inappropriate "switch" had been turned on in her mind, and a series of restricted images flashed wildly and uncontrollably.

Startled, she quickly covered her head with both hands and shook her head frantically like a rattle-drum, trying to shake off all the chaotic images. But those images were like a persistent ailment, impossible to get rid of.

However, curiosity, once piqued, is like a raging fire that cannot be extinguished.

Kiana silently recited "Don't look at what you shouldn't see, don't listen to what you shouldn't hear" in her mind, while inexplicably tiptoeing back to the door like a cat stealing cream.

Upon reaching the door, she first furtively looked around to make sure no one was watching before pressing her ear tightly against the door, twisting her body like a pretzel, almost folding herself up.

"Mei-nee is so... so fierce! She usually looks so gentle and dignified, who would have thought..."

Kiana lowered her voice and muttered softly, her face instantly turning as red as a ripe tomato, the blush spreading all the way to her ears.

Just as she was engrossed in her own "imaginary drama," a faint, rustling sound came from inside the room.

Kiana reacted as if electrocuted, leaping away and covering her face with her hands with lightning speed. However, she secretly peeked out through a small gap between her fingers, muttering something under her breath.

"I didn't hear anything! I saw nothing! Really, absolutely nothing!"

But that curiosity, like a mischievous little devil, kept tickling her heart. She couldn't resist for more than a few seconds.

"No, no, I have to get out of here right now! If I stay any longer, I'm afraid I'll go crazy!"

Kiana's face turned bright red, like a rabbit being chased by a hunter and running away as fast as she could.

As she ran, she kept muttering, "It's all over, it's all over! I'm definitely going to have nightmares tonight! Even though I didn't see it, the image is stuck in my head, and I just can't get it out of my head!"

Her combat boots, now adding to the chaos, made a series of rapid "tap-tap-tap" sounds on the floor, the rhythm like a cheerful beat for this absurd and dramatic spectacle.

Kiana frantically ran down the corridor, her legs moving as if they had wheels of fire, wanting to fly away from this place of trouble in an instant. The dim light in the corridor cast a distorted and panicked shadow on the wall as she ran.

Just as she charged forward headfirst, "bang!" she crashed solidly into a "wall of flesh" that smelled faintly of rose perfume. The impact was quite severe; Kiana felt her nose almost snap, her head was buzzing, and she saw stars.

She rubbed her aching nose and looked up, feeling wronged, only to find Himeko standing in front of her, carrying a stack of documents. Himeko's slightly furrowed brows seemed to silently express her dissatisfaction.

"Little darling! Running so fast without even looking where you're going!" Himeko's voice, tinged with reproach, was particularly clear in the otherwise quiet corridor.

Kiana's face instantly flushed red to the roots of her hair, looking like a shrimp roasting over a fire. She shook her head violently, waving her hands wildly in front of her chest.

"I...I didn't eavesdrop at Mei's door!"

As she spoke, she exerted too much force in her haste, and staggered back half a step, her combat boots scraping the ground with a screeching sound.

Fortunately, Himeko reacted quickly, reaching out and firmly supporting Kiana.

Her gaze inadvertently swept over the tightly closed door to Raiden Mei's room behind Kiana, and then caught a glimpse of Kiana's flustered and evasive eyes. A knowing smile appeared on her lips.

She deliberately moved closer to Kiana

"Little guy, don't listen to adults' business. If you're so reckless again, I'll send you to the training ground for extra practice!"

These words struck Kiana like a feather on her most sensitive nerve.

She jumped back half a meter with a "whoosh," covered her ears with both hands, and shook her head frantically, her ponytail swinging like a propeller: "I won't listen! Aunt Himeko, don't talk nonsense!"

Unaware that the Coke stain on her nose only made her attempt to cover it up look even more ridiculous.

Seeing Kiana's flustered state, Himeko couldn't help but laugh so hard that the documents fell to the ground.

She wiped away tears of laughter while ruffling Kiana's frizzy hair.

Kiana stomped her foot and let out a muffled groan, then darted away like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

It ran quite a distance, but when it crashed into a mop around the corner, it let out a blood-curdling scream.

It was even more lively than the noise she had overheard.

The morning light, like sharp silver knives, cut stripes of light and shadow across Raiden Mei's room through the gaps in the blinds.

She rubbed her sore and stiff neck, the scene of her fierce confrontation with Jing Ye last night replaying in her mind like a revolving lantern.

That person always had a half-smile in his eyes, as if he could see through all her stubbornness and vulnerability, and repeatedly provoked her bottom line with flippant words.

And she could only repeatedly, almost out of control, use kisses to silence those mocking words, like a trapped beast making its last struggle.

Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed her lips, where a faint smell of blood seemed to linger, mixed with the faint, cool fragrance emanating from Jing Ye, refusing to dissipate.

This feeling both disgusted and overwhelming; it was as if two little people were fiercely battling within her. She tried to banish these chaotic thoughts from her mind.

Unbeknownst to her, a rumor about her and Jingye was quietly brewing among Himeko, Kiana, and Bronya.

However... actually, using "scandal" doesn't seem quite right either.

After all, Jingye and Raiden Mei really did kiss, and they even kissed all night long...

Chapter 148 Inseparable

The following day, when Raiden Mei stepped into the bridge conference room, her heavy footsteps made the metal floor resonate faintly and crisply, a sound that seemed to echo the unease in her heart.

The conference room lights were somewhat glaring, and the flashing dashboards and holographic projections on the walls emitted a cold blue light.

She subconsciously raised her hand and mechanically tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, but the moment her knuckles touched the cold earring, her body trembled violently.

This earring was a gift that Kiana carefully selected for her during the Cherry Blossom Festival, carrying the deep affection between the two.