Chapter 109

Xue Xue had only met Lin Tian once before fainting.

Where was Lin Tian supposed to go to explain this?

Had this not happened inside the Xuan Yuan family’s castle—in Xuan Yuan Qingya’s bedroom, no less—he might have been wrongfully accused and killed in the real world.

He let out a sigh of helplessness and explained,

“When I went in, I didn’t check to see if anyone was inside. Uncle Zhong didn’t warn me either!”

“After I found your bedroom, Xue Xue came out before I could step inside. The moment she saw me, she screamed and froze in place.”

“If I hadn’t reacted quickly, she might’ve been in real danger today!”

Lin Tian sounded helpless as he explained.

The thing was, Xue Xue didn’t seem like the type of person who would be easily frightened.

At the auction house, she had handled herself just fine on stage, hadn’t she? Even though she seemed a little nervous, she spoke confidently and introduced the items without any noticeable stumbles, even in front of so many people.

How could seeing him in Xuan Yuan Qingya’s bedroom have scared her so badly that she fainted?

Lin Tian didn’t know that Xue Xue had only seemed calm at the auction because Xuan Yuan Qingya was in the audience.

When Xuan Yuan Qingya heard the full story, her eyes widened in shock.

She hadn’t expected Xue Xue to actually faint from fright.

Something like this was almost unheard of in real life, especially since Lin Tian didn’t jump out at her in the middle of the night.

Even though Lin Tian was standing there in plain sight and had made enough noise to announce his presence, he still managed to scare Xue Xue into fainting in broad daylight.

Xuan Yuan Qingya held it in for as long as she could, her face turning red from the effort.

Lin Tian sighed helplessly.

“If you want to laugh, just laugh. Don’t hold it in…”

“Hahahaha!”

Xuan Yuan Qingya finally burst out laughing, bending over as her body shook with laughter.

After a while, Lin Tian noticed tears forming at the corners of her eyes from laughing so hard. He was left speechless.

Does this woman really have such a low laugh threshold?

Truthfully, Xuan Yuan Qingya hadn’t felt this happy in a long time.

Life in a hidden aristocratic clan like the Xuan Yuan family was far from carefree, especially for the family’s only daughter, Xuan Yuan Qingya.

One day, she would have to take on the responsibilities of the Star Group, the Xuan Yuan family, and countless other sprawling industries. That was the burden of being born into the Xuan Yuan bloodline.

Consequently, Qingya had to study an overwhelming array of subjects, including management, psychology, interpersonal relations, and etiquette.

Unlike Shang Chan, Bai Bing’er, and the other wealthy heiresses who frequently appeared in public to manage their companies, she seemed to lead a leisurely life.

In reality, however, Xuan Yuan Qingya’s responsibilities far exceeded those of Shang Chan, Bai Bing’er, and the others.

Ultimately, it all comes down to one truth: the level you stand on determines the way you live.

However, effort is something everyone can choose for themselves.

From a young age, Xuan Yuan Qingya knew she had to become strong. Only then could she protect those she cared about and prevent others from coveting the Xuan Yuan family.

Under this kind of pressure, it’s no wonder Xuan Yuan Qingya rarely laughs.

But now, with Jiang Yifeng exposed, her fourth uncle saved, and classified information from the Dragon Lord likely helping the Star Group overcome its current obstacles, she finally had reason to laugh.

In short, all the good things had come together, putting Xuan Yuan Qingya in an exceptionally good mood.

In front of Lin Tian, her guard was down so much that even a small incident like Xue Xue fainting made her laugh until tears streamed down her face.

Lin Tian let out a deep sigh and said—

“All right, that’s enough! Stop laughing. Is it really that funny?”

Xuan Yuan Qingya pressed her lips together and gently wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes with her slender fingers. Then, she stood up straight, her smile blooming like a flower as she looked at Lin Tian.

After a moment, she spoke gently in a soft, airy voice laced with joy and relief:

“Lin Tian… thank you.”

“Thank you for staying by my side through all of this.”

Even Lin Tian, who had built up some immunity after dealing with Shang Chan, Zhao Mengmeng, Bai Bing’er, and the others, was completely stunned by the tone and voice of Xuan Yuan Qingya, who was as proud and regal as they come.

He looked at Xuan Yuan Qingya’s clear, delicate face. Ever since she heard his inner thoughts praising her natural beauty, she had faced him barefaced, without even the lightest touch of makeup.

Her face was clear and delicate with smooth, fair skin; brows like distant peaks; a petite nose; and lips. A single strand of hair brushed lightly against the corner of her mouth.

Lin Tian was completely entranced for a moment.

But the next instant, a massive, suffocating sense of danger—like plunging into an endless abyss—snapped him back to reality.

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and shock and horror filled his eyes.

For a moment, Lin Tian forgot how to breathe.

Dazed, he felt as if he had relived the original plot—where an assassin sent by Jiang Yifeng slit his throat—and the suffocating sensation of death.

He didn’t know how long that feeling lasted before he jolted awake, as if he had truly died once.

When he looked at Xuan Yuan Qingya again, his eyes were devoid of desire or impulse—only endless calm and detachment remained.

So this is the threat of the villain’s halo?

This thought flashed through Lin Tian’s mind as he closed his eyes and silently began reciting the Heart-Cleansing Mantra.

In every sense of the word, Xuan Yuan Qingya was perfection.

When such a perfect woman suddenly shifted her demeanor from that of a proud, domineering queen to that of a soft, adorable, girl-next-door type, the impact was overwhelming!

Lin Tian had no desire to experience that suffocating feeling again, worse than death.

“Xuan Yuan Qingya, could you control yourself a little? There are things I can’t explain in detail, but I can tell you this: If you keep acting like this, we won’t even be able to be friends…”

Lin Tian spoke in a low voice. His tone was calm and indifferent yet faintly tinged with sorrow.

No matter how you look at it, when a woman as perfect as Xuan Yuan Qingya showed dependence, affection, and closeness toward him, it was impossible for him to not feel something!

However, the overwhelming sense of crisis he had just experienced—one that seemed to transcend even death—made Lin Tian realize that he was not yet ready to become involved with this woman.

Was that just now the moment I fell for Xuan Yuan Qingya?

[With a woman like her, who wouldn’t? But there’s nothing I can do. As long as Jiang Yifeng is alive, I’m powerless. This is just a fleeting feeling. But if I were to act on it, I honestly have no idea what the consequences would be! ]

Lin Tian silently analyzed in his heart.

The immense sense of life-or-death crisis he had just felt might not have come from Jiang Yifeng at all, but from the world itself!

Though the storyline had already undergone tremendous changes, the most fundamental truth of this world remained unchanged. Jiang Yifeng was the male lead and Xuan Yuan Qingya and Shang Chan were the female leads.

According to the core operational rules of this world, the male lead and the female lead were destined to be together.

Lin Tian was a minor villain who, if he dared to defy these underlying rules, would inevitably face a devastating backlash.

[But now, the four female leads—Shang Chan, Bai Bing’er, Zhao Mengmeng, and Xuan Yuan Qingya—have all taken a stand against Jiang Yifeng. Perhaps there will come a time when Jiang Yifeng actually dies. If the male lead dies, what will become of this world?]

Lin Tian couldn’t understand, nor could he guess.

He quickly assumed that in a typical wish-fulfillment novel, if the male lead dies, something bad would happen.

Maybe the story would simply end, or perhaps another male lead would emerge to take his place.

After all, this was Lin Tian’s first time transmigrating. Since the system hadn’t provided any assistance yet, Lin Tian could only proceed with extreme caution, taking things one step at a time.

One wrong move, and his life would probably be over!

…

Xuan Yuan Qingya straightened her posture. When she heard Lin Tian’s first words, she sensed the many emotions hidden within them.

Sorrow. Helplessness. Frustration. Confusion.

These feelings made Xuan Yuan Qingya feel a pang of heartache for him.

She wondered if walking over and hugging him gently would make him feel better.

The meaning behind those words, however, left Xuan Yuan Qingya frozen in place. Should I restrain myself?

Should I restrain myself? But how am I supposed to do that?”

For a moment, Xuan Yuan Qingya felt utterly lost.

Then, she heard Lin Tian’s inner voice.

She heard this one sentence: “Did I just fall for Xuan Yuan Qingya?”