CHAPTER 382: CHAPTER 382: SAVING PEOPLE

"Please let go, you’re hurting my wife." Xu Ke grabbed Ariel’s wrist, steadily applying pressure to force Ariel to release Lin Mengyao’s wrist.

"Thank you for cooperating." Xu Ke glanced at Ariel with emotionless eyes, then turned to look at Lin Mengyao with a worried expression, carefully cradling her wrist to examine the red mark left by Ariel’s grip.

"I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt." Lin Mengyao moved her wrist and said with a cheerful smile.

Ariel looked at the bruise that was turning blue and purple on her own wrist. No one had ever treated her like this before. The place where she was grabbed hurt a little, but strangely, she wasn’t angry; instead, she felt a bizarre excitement. So she stopped Pachy from approaching. She wasn’t sure what state she was in now, and she wanted to figure it out.

Ariel licked her lips painted bright red and said with a charming, childlike smile, "Can you forgive me? I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted to share something nice with you."

Lin Mengyao wasn’t dull to danger, yet she wasn’t naive either. Upon reflection, every interaction with Ariel suggested that she was no simple person. Lin Mengyao hesitated to go but was stopped by Xu Ke.

Seeing Xu Ke’s expression, Lin Mengyao nodded, "It’s okay, I don’t blame you. Let’s go."

"I knew you wouldn’t blame me, after all, I like you so much. But my car is a bit small, it can’t fit so many people. Let these three drive themselves and follow behind." Ariel tilted her head, looking at the three men who were always with Xu Ke.

"No, our Boss has ordered that they cannot be out of our sight." One of the three men spoke up.

"You really are unlikeable. I hate when people disobey my orders the most. It’s like refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Pachy." Ariel showed a displeased expression and signaled to Pachy behind her.

Pachy nodded and swiftly drew a handgun, firing three shots before anyone could react, taking all three men down.

"Ah!" Lin Mengyao was stunned by the sudden scene, immediately jumping into Xu Ke’s arms and hiding her head.

"Alright, now there are no dimwitted people left to say things that annoy me. Let’s go." Ariel extended her hand toward Lin Mengyao.

"Why did you kill them? They didn’t commit anything that required paying with their lives." Lin Mengyao peeked out from Xu Ke’s embrace, looking at Ariel with a puzzled expression.

"Them not listening to me already means they’re unfit to live in this world. No one can go against my words. Anything I dislike has no right to exist." Ariel explained seriously, looking into Lin Mengyao’s eyes.

Ariel, naive and ruthless.

"Alright, let’s go." Ariel once again reached out to hold Lin Mengyao’s wrist, but Xu Ke blocked her and grabbed Ariel’s wrist instead.

"Let’s go." Ariel giggled, but her eyes darkened. Unseen by others, she lightly licked her lips, showing an expression of enjoyment.

"In our Chinese tradition, men and women should not have physical contact. Please let go of my wrist. I dislike physical contact with other women." Xu Ke nonchalantly remarked, unfazed by the fact that Ariel had just ordered the killing of three people.

"But I like holding hands while walking." Ariel said innocently.

"But I don’t like it." Xu Ke repeated.

Their gazes clashed in mid-air for a long moment, just as Lin Mengyao felt her heart leap into her throat and Pachy was already reaching for her waist. It was then that Ariel released Xu Ke’s hand, showing a look of regret mixed with curiosity.

She regretted not being able to keep holding Xu Ke’s hand, but she was curious. "Aren’t you afraid of me? That person who opposed me was just dealt with—bang, bang, bang. Aren’t you afraid of dying?" Ariel asked.

Xu Ke glanced nonchalantly at Pachy and said coldly, "It’s nothing to fear; after all, he can’t beat me."

Xu Ke’s response was confident and arrogant. Anger flashed in Pachy’s eyes, clearly indicating that if it weren’t for Ariel’s presence, he wouldn’t hesitate to challenge Xu Ke to a duel. But without his boss’s command, he could only stand in place, letting this Oriental man insult him.

Ariel wasn’t angry; she even laughed out loud, not in mockery or coldness, but with pure joy. "I like your confidence. Keep it up, so I can keep liking you." Ariel said unabashedly, disregarding Lin Mengyao’s feelings.

She liked it, so she would take it. That was the simple and brutal logic. Ariel’s words hit Lin Mengyao hard; she couldn’t believe the person who had just been sweetly calling her sister could turn around and express liking for her husband right in front of her. Did she no longer regard Lin Mengyao?

"Ariel, what did you just say? Did you misspeak, or did I mishear? This is my husband; he’s already married."

"So what? What does it matter? I like him, that’s enough for me. I don’t mind if he’s married. You can get a divorce." Ariel tilted her head and looked at Lin Mengyao with an expression as if saying what a silly question.

Lin Mengyao’s vision darkened, almost losing her balance. Her once-friendly gaze toward Ariel was now replaced with numerous sharp thorns, like a porcupine ready to prick anyone daring to come close.

"I won’t ever like you. Give up." Xu Ke stated coldly to Ariel.

"Pfft!" Ariel, watching their reactions, rolled her eyes and couldn’t help but burst into laughter. "I was just joking. Why did you take it seriously? Why would I like a married man? This city is so big, with so many men, and I’m so pretty. How could I not find another half? I said that just to tease you. Why did you take it seriously? You Orientals are really easy to tease." Ariel waved dismissively.

"Alright, I’m not joking anymore. Let’s go. If we don’t leave now, we might not be able to later." Ariel glanced at Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao before turning to walk out with Pachy.

"Should we go?" Lin Mengyao gripped Xu Ke’s broad hand, asking nervously.

"Of course. This person’s identity isn’t simple. Following her might allow us to leave here faster, then go somewhere else for some enjoyable days." Xu Ke said softly to Lin Mengyao.