Chapter 60: A Devil’s Kiss and a Costly Deal

Initially, it had been agreed he would be the aggressor, but now, their roles had completely reversed. Overwhelmed by Su Yao’s inexplicable strength, Lin Qing felt himself grow dizzy from the kiss. His only thought was that he would never again foolishly trust Su Yao.

However, the sudden realization that they were still in the classroom jolted Lin Qing back to his senses.

Even with Liu Hong and the others guarding the door, the risk of someone slipping through was too great. If that happened, he and Su Yao would be irrevocably entangled, their reputations beyond salvage.

The thought of being inextricably linked to Su Yao throughout his future school life filled Lin Qing with dread. To make her retreat, he bit down on her invading tongue.

Lin Qing carefully controlled his strength, aiming to make her withdraw without actually harming her.

Yet, perhaps sensing Lin Qing’s reluctance to inflict real pain, Su Yao’s dark eyes glinted with amusement.

Just as Lin Qing wished, she withdrew her tongue. But before he could even feel relief, a sharp pain shot through his lips.

Seconds later, the metallic taste of blood flooded his mouth.

It was a silent warning: never attempt to defy Su Yao.

Otherwise, there would be consequences.

At that moment, however, Su Yao retreated. She released her hands from around Lin Qing’s neck, then looked up at his bleeding lips, a soft laugh escaping her.

It was akin to a landscape painted upon a pristine white canvas, a masterpiece belonging solely to her.

Su Yao extended her thumb to wipe her own lips, a faint trace of blood smearing her fingertip. Her smile unwavering, she immediately licked the blood from her thumb with the tip of her crimson tongue.

Her gaze, like a serpent’s, coiled tightly around Lin Qing’s, refusing to let go.

It refused to release him.

The entire display was both eerie and captivating, making it impossible to look away.

“I agree. Tomorrow morning at eight, we’ll meet at the amusement park entrance.”

Su Yao didn’t remain silent for long. Immediately after speaking, she rose from her seat, drew a pristine white handkerchief from her pocket, and pressed it gently against Lin Qing’s bleeding wound.

Her slender fingers pressed the handkerchief, her eyes alight with a smile, like an angel descended to save the world.

Yet, her dark eyes held a profound depth, akin to a demon’s gaze.

“In the future, it would be best not to resist. I have a rather short temper.”

As Su Yao spoke, she lowered her head slightly, pressing a soft kiss through the pristine white handkerchief.

It was a gesture that seemed both comforting and tormenting.

Then, Su Yao lifted one of Lin Qing’s hands, pressing it against the handkerchief, before turning and swiftly leaving the classroom.

Her steps were light, her mood evidently joyful.

Lin Qing remained standing silently in his place.

****

After a moment of silent contemplation, Lin Qing realized he had underestimated the situation.

While Liu Hong could help him search for Wang Fanran, interacting with Su Yao as a consequence was far from easy.

In fact, it would only deepen the entanglement between him and Su Yao.

The faint, lingering ache on his lips served as a stark warning to Lin Qing: ‘Do not play with fire.’

Su Yao was no ordinary woman.

‘Hadn’t he known this all along?’

‘Next time Liu Hong asks for help, he should just flat-out refuse!’

No matter how troublesome Wang Fanran might be, he was no match for Su Yao’s formidable nature.

He yearned to distance himself, yet others eagerly sought to draw near.

How ironic.

‘He had just made his decision.’

‘He would no longer get involved.’

Even if Liu Hong stopped helping him locate Wang Fanran, and the matter ended there, Lin Qing no longer cared.

He could not approach Su Yao again.

Otherwise, his fate would be to be utterly consumed by the demon.

Su Yao consistently sought to control him completely, but Lin Qing would not meekly concede. Continuing like this would only lead to endless injury.

Undoubtedly, the only one who would suffer was Lin Qing.

‘If he couldn’t afford to provoke her, he could at least afford to avoid her!’

****

“Uncle-in-law… *cough, cough*, Lin Qing, how did it go?”

Only a few minutes after Su Yao’s departure, as Lin Qing was contemplating Liu Hong, Liu Hong himself appeared before him, brimming with eagerness.

His face was alight with excitement, his expectant gaze fixed directly on Lin Qing.

He looked as if exam results were about to be announced.

Lin Qing, for his part, did not conceal anything. He told the truth.

“Su Yao has agreed. You’ll meet at the amusement park entrance tomorrow at eight.”

“Alright! Yes!”

Upon hearing the long-awaited news from Lin Qing, Liu Hong immediately raised a fist, pumping it in a gesture of victory against his chest.

His overflowing joy was impossible to hide.

Watching this, Lin Qing, who was still holding the handkerchief to his wound, suddenly felt a pang of pity for Liu Hong. Deceived by a devil’s disguise, Liu Hong was unknowingly, foolishly, stepping closer to an abyss.

He yearned to distance himself, yet others eagerly sought to draw near.

How truly ironic.

“Liu Hong, my help ends here. Tomorrow, you and Su Yao can go together. I won’t be joining you.”

With these thoughts, Lin Qing spoke directly to Liu Hong.

“Lin Qing, what are you saying?!”

However, upon hearing Lin Qing’s words, Liu Hong, who had been exuberant just moments before, froze for a few seconds before exclaiming in shock.

Liu Hong was far from ready to go to the amusement park with Su Yao alone.

If Lin Qing, his ‘uncle-in-law,’ wasn’t there to accompany him, Liu Hong was certain Su Yao would despise him once more.

“No!”

‘When Su Yao found out he was behind everything, and that he’d given her the tickets, she might even loathe him…’

‘Dislike and loathing—the weight of those two words was entirely different!’

“I have something to do tomorrow, so…”

“Wait, wait, wait, Lin Qing, you can’t just abandon me like this! I’m not ready yet. If you’re not there with me, it’s absolutely impossible!”

Before Lin Qing could finish his refusal, Liu Hong quickly reached out and grasped one of his hands.

His expression was urgent, clearly indicating he didn’t want Lin Qing to slip away.

However…

“Ah, Brother Liu, so this is the kind of person you are.”

“My eyes!”

No sooner had Liu Hong finished speaking than Zhou Lin and Wang Jian arrived at the classroom door. Seeing Liu Hong and Lin Qing’s posture and hearing their conversation, they immediately adopted expressions of utter disgust.

Their faces were exactly like an old man on the subway glaring at a phone.

Liu Hong immediately whirled around, glaring fiercely at the two, then gestured with his eyes for them to quickly lend a hand.

‘No matter what, Lin Qing had to come tomorrow!’

Only then could his plan proceed smoothly, creating an opportunity for him and Su Yao to spend time together.

Upon receiving Liu Hong’s meaningful glance, Zhou Lin chuckled, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a large handful of cafeteria meal tickets.

At a rough glance, there were enough for three meals a day for an entire week.

“Lin Qing, if you help our Brother Liu with this, all these meal tickets are yours.”

No sooner had Zhou Lin finished speaking than Wang Jian, not to be outdone, immediately produced a supermarket gift card clearly marked with two hundred yuan.

“It’s a gift card from my sister’s company. Just like a regular gift card, you can freely choose two hundred yuan worth of goods! If you’re willing to help, this card is also yours.”

‘Since Brother Liu was pursuing love, they, as his subordinates, couldn’t just stand by.’

‘Go, Brother Liu, go, go, go!’

After seeing the items the two had produced, Lin Qing calmly withdrew his gaze and spoke.

“Deal!”

The risk of getting hurt by Su Yao was nothing compared to the reality of money and material gain!