After resting for an hour, she finally felt a bit better, not as sore as before, and had the mind to think about things.
The failure to climb the wall and falling back with minor injuries was a small matter. The real problem was whether this incident would get out.
The Captain Beast Girl didn’t seem to be on guard against her. If she found out what she had done, would she be angry and use it as an excuse to punish her?
And that passerby from earlier was also a problem.
Did she see her face clearly?
If she did, what if she spread the word?
‘I was far away, so she probably didn’t see me clearly, right?’
Xing Lian felt very uneasy.
Thus, she rested a bit more. The sun gradually reached its zenith, and it was noon.
The Captain Beast Girl arrived on time, holding a small box. When she opened it, a fragrant aroma wafted out.
The moment she smelled it, Xing Lian immediately became hungry.
But she didn’t eat right away. Instead, she quietly observed the other person.
There was nothing unusual about her expression. She looked very calm, not like someone about to get angry.
She really hadn’t found out. She hadn’t heard about what she did earlier.
Xing Lian breathed a sigh of relief. Without waiting for an invitation, she walked toward the table.
As soon as Xing Lian moved, the Captain Beast Girl noticed something wrong.
“What’s wrong with your leg? Why are you limping?”
Hearing this, Xing Lian’s body tensed slightly. She spoke softly without changing her expression.
“Nothing. I was bored this morning and took a walk in the yard. I accidentally fell.”
“You fell while walking? Tripped on flat ground?”
The Captain Beast Girl looked incredulous.
Xing Lian didn’t really want to admit it — it made her look stupid. But to prevent her actions from being discovered, she could only nod reluctantly.
“Yeah… yeah.”
Her expression was awkward, and her hand holding the chopsticks paused.
The Captain Beast Girl lowered her head without speaking, but her shoulders trembled slightly.
Even though she couldn’t see her face, she was definitely laughing. Absolutely laughing.
‘Damn it! Being laughed at by someone else and not being able to explain — there’s no worse feeling!’
Xing Lian was furious. She stopped talking and buried her head in her meal, trying to drown her sorrows in food.
“Hey, eat slowly. No one’s going to take it from you.”
Seeing this, the Captain Beast Girl quickly poured her a glass of water, worried she might choke.
“Thanks.”
Xing Lian said softly. Before long, she finished her lunch.
After Xing Lian ate, the Captain Beast Girl cleaned up, stayed for a while, and then left shortly.
With the Captain Beast Girl gone, Xing Lian felt even more at ease, and she thought about escaping again.
But after just a few steps, she gave up the idea.
She had fallen too hard in the morning. Her legs and butt still hurt. Better to wait for now.
However, waiting led to trouble.
When evening came, the Captain Beast Girl returned, bringing dinner.
Xing Lian wanted to eat, but suddenly noticed that the other’s expression didn’t look good.
She had a bad feeling.
And usually, whenever she had a premonition, it would come true before long.
Sure enough.
The Captain Beast Girl spoke.
“I heard some rumors outside. Someone saw a thief climbing a wall. The thief got scared and fell. Do you know who that person was?”
“Ah… well… I…”
Xing Lian stammered, unable to speak.
‘It’s over! It’s over!’
Earlier at noon, she was relieved she hadn’t been caught. Now in the evening, the bomb had dropped.
‘Who was such a big mouth spreading it everywhere!?’
Xing Lian kept her head down and said nothing, extremely nervous.
To describe things in such detail, she must have investigated thoroughly. There was no point in making excuses.
“Why aren’t you talking? Don’t you know? I thought you would know, since no one should be more aware than you.”
Xing Lian felt her face burning, but still kept her head down and remained silent.
“Tripped on flat ground? Hah.”
She sneered.
Xing Lian’s expression darkened.
She thought the Captain Beast Girl would continue mocking her, but instead, she stopped talking and walked to the table to set out dinner.
Since she didn’t bring it up, Xing Lian wouldn’t either.
She silently walked to the table, sat down, and started eating.
Throughout dinner, Xing Lian ate distractedly, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles.
While she ate, the Captain Beast Girl silently stared at her.
Although she had been stared at while eating before, this time was different. She had done something displeasing, and punishment could come at any moment. The feeling of waiting for judgment was unbearable.
‘She should act soon, right?’
Xing Lian thought to herself.
Sure enough, she didn’t have to wait long. The Captain Beast Girl suddenly spoke again.
“I know you’re uneasy being caught and locked up here by me. I’ve inquired about your past. You were well taken care of by someone else. They doted on you. You’ve been mistreated here.”
Hearing this, Xing Lian’s hand holding the food trembled.
She hadn’t expected the Captain Beast Girl to investigate her.
‘How much did she find out?’
‘Was the person she mentioned Yue Li?’
‘Did she get any news about Yue Li?’
Xing Lian pricked up her ears and listened carefully.
“But no matter how good they were, it has nothing to do with you anymore. Since they failed to protect you before, there’s no need for them to protect you in the future. I won’t let you go and let you reunite with them.”
“I’ve hidden you away instead of handing you over. From now on, you belong to me. Don’t think about running away.”
“You should know how beautiful you are. With a face like that, you’ll never have a peaceful life.”
“Even if you had escaped today, do you know what would have happened to you?”
“Now that the two countries are at war, chaos is everywhere. If someone else found you, they’d drag you into an alley or the bushes and bully you harshly. And most likely, it would be a group of people.”
Hearing this, Xing Lian couldn’t help but tremble.
Although she had imagined it before, the Captain Beast Girl’s blunt words still frightened her.
She couldn’t imagine if something like that happened to her, whether she’d have the courage to go on living.
Being bullied by one person versus being bullied by a group, in broad daylight — the situations were completely different.
Xing Lian’s desire to escape wavered.
But the weakness only lasted a moment before she decisively cast it aside.
She had already made her decision. How could she back out now?
And even if she didn’t run, what then? Staying here obediently wouldn’t change much — it was just changing from a group to a single person.
Xing Lian’s expression shifted. The Captain Beast Girl seemed to sense her thoughts and continued to persuade.
“But if you don’t run, things will be different. Stay here obediently, and you’ll be safe. Later, I’ll arrange a safer place for you.”
“It won’t be a life of luxury, but I’ll take care of you within my ability. I’ll respect you. After all, I want to marry you and bring you home.”
Marry her?
Hearing this, Xing Lian thought of Yue Li, who had once said the same thing to her.