Chapter 67

[What the hell does this have to do with her?! Why’s she threatening me with this?! What do I have to do with Bai Bing’er anyway?]

He assumed it was because she’d overheard his conversation with Shang Chan.

In reality, the moment Lin Tian even thought of escaping back home, Bai Bing’er already knew. Much like Shang Chan, Zhao Mengmeng, and Xuan Yuan Qingya, Bai Bing’er didn’t want Lin Tian to leave either.

In fact, after borrowing his lighter at the ancestral hall, hearing Shang Chan call out to him at the banquet, and watching his dinner with Zhao Mengmeng, Bai Bing’er had become extremely curious about Lin Tian. And once she started caring about something, she dove in completely, people included.

Just earlier, she had heard Lin Tian’s inner thoughts, filled with terms like “heroine,” “male lead,” “harem,” “omniscience”… a chaotic mix of revelations.

That only deepened her obsession. She wanted to tie Lin Tian down, chat with him one-on-one, and satisfy her overflowing curiosity. No way was she letting him leave.

Even if Xuan Yuan Qingya didn’t invite everyone to her family’s castle, Bai Bing’er was prepared to use all her means to keep Lin Tian close.

When this woman snapped, she was no less intense than Shang Chan drunk or Zhao Mengmeng in full drama mode.

From the moment Lin Tian’s thoughts were heard by Shang Chan, Zhao Mengmeng, Bai Bing’er, and Xuan Yuan Qingya, his fate was sealed. Each woman played her part: Xuan Yuan Qingya laid the groundwork, Shang Chan and Zhao Mengmeng trapped him emotionally, and Bai Bing’er sealed the deal with threats.

Lin Tian had no room to resist. His only option now would be to run full force.

But that would expose his intentions entirely. Who knows if Shang Chan and Zhao Mengmeng would chase after him? At that point, the city’s upper circles might be gossiping about, “Zhao Family’s daughters Shang Chan and Zhao Mengmeng eloped over a man?! Who is Lin Tian?!”

And then… Lin Tian would have to face the wrath of two men: Jiang Yifeng and Zhao Dongyun.

So, unless he could persuade the sisters to drop it, Lin Tian couldn’t flee. Now, after Bai Bing’er’s threat, he didn’t even dare to. If he ran, and Bai Bing’er told Zhao Dongyun, it was game over. The next scene would be the rage of a father.

Lin Tian might be reckless, but he wasn’t stupid. He looked at Bai Bing’er, now calmly seated, then at the smiling Xuan Yuan Qingya and Zhao Mengmeng. His mouth twitched a few times, and he nodded reluctantly.

“Ahem… It’s fine. I’ll come with you all. Not for any particular reason, just curious to see the Xuan Yuan castle.”

But deep inside, he was wailing.

[What kind of karmic hell is this?! Xuan Yuan Qingya—what is your problem?! A proud daughter of the Xuan Yuan clan, inviting people over like it’s nothing? This isn’t your style! And Shang Chan, Zhao Mengmeng! You two are getting weirder and weirder. Should I swear on behalf of all Xinghai employees and Zhao family retainers? We won’t rebel! I promise! And Bai Bing’er! What’s wrong with you?! What does any of this have to do with you?!]

Each of the women heard his cries loud and clear. But none of them said a word. At this point, Lin Tian was just throwing a tantrum.

They were all heading to the Xuan Yuan estate. They’d talk more once they got there.

Yet the most upset of all was Bai Bing’er. Because from Lin Tian’s point of view, she was meddling in something that didn’t concern her.

Even if Zhao Dongyun confronted him, Lin Tian still had a chance to talk his way out. Maybe even escape this whole “gathering of seven heroines” nonsense. But Bai Bing’er ruined that.

So naturally, Lin Tian was frustrated. He barely knew her!

Besides that one moment in front of the Zhao ancestral hall, where she asked for a lighter, they hadn’t interacted much at all. Even at the Zhao banquet, they hadn’t exchanged a single word. North Arctic Fresh? He never saw her there.

This was only their second meeting. So from Lin Tian’s inner thoughts: toward Xuan Yuan Qingya, he was baffled; toward Shang Chan and Zhao Mengmeng, helpless. Toward Bai Bing’er, all he felt was pure irritation.

Hearing his thoughts, Bai Bing’er suddenly felt a strange warmth and a sour, bitter pang.

She had been happily dressing up her favorite doll, only to be yelled at out of nowhere: “Stop messing around!”

Bai Bing’er pursed her lips, trying to hold back her emotions. That emotion had a name: grievance. She looked at Lin Tian, wanting to say, I can hear your thoughts because I’m interested in you. I wanted to get close, to talk with you… I stopped you because I cared. It’s not “random.” It’s not “none of my business.”

But she couldn’t say it out loud. So she sat there silently, eyes dazed and vulnerable. At her side, Bai Ze noticed something was wrong.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

Bai Bing’er shook her head. The laziness and smugness from earlier were long gone. Now, she just looked like a little girl waiting silently for the one person who could comfort her.

Everyone has moments like that… When you’re a kid, mad at Mom, sitting all pouty on a chair. Dad comes to comfort you—it doesn’t help. Grandpa or Grandma, still no good. Only Mom’s hug could truly fix things.

Right now, Bai Bing’er was looking at Lin Tian with exactly that kind of expectation. And just then, as if sensing something, Lin Tian turned and locked eyes with her. Her gaze, full of grievance and hope, met his.

Panicked, Bai Bing’er quickly turned away. This woman, who always saw through people, stayed lazy and indifferent to the world, was now emotionally entangled by Lin Tian’s every move.

Lin Tian noticed, stunned for a moment. He recalled her character settings and sighed inwardly.

[Ah… in the original story, Bai Bing’er was always able to read people. That’s why she ended up so detached and lazy. She only cares about things she finds interesting. Maybe she thinks this drama with Shang Chan is fun, so she dragged me into it… damn it, what bad luck. Still… I can’t really blame her. If you’ve been seeing through everyone since childhood, the world probably gets pretty boring and lonely…]

Unaware, Lin Tian was analyzing all the heroines’ personalities. And once again, every single word entered Bai Bing’er’s ears. She listened to him break down her nature… and then heard that soft, sincere thought saying, “It must’ve been hard…”

“Hard…”

“Hard…”

Bai Bing’er whispered, voice trembling like wind chimes in a breeze.

“He… he’s the only one who knows I’m hurting…”

And with that, tears slid silently down her cheeks. They seemed to be unstoppable.