Chapter 85: It Has Been a Long Time Since I Last Killed Someone

Her skin was alabaster white.

On the back of her hand, where the needle had pierced, were faint marks—tiny pinpricks. Because her complexion was so pale, even the delicate blue veins beneath the surface were faintly visible.

Lu Yunzhou didn’t know why, but when he caught sight of those needle marks on her hand, his heart tightened painfully.

No one knew what he had felt tonight, seeing the young girl locked inside the bathing room.

There had been a gas leak.

She’d collapsed there.

He’d been so afraid that he wouldn’t make it in time.

He had brought her here.

That meant he had to take responsibility for her.

Her safety was now his burden to bear.

So when something happened to Shen Chaoxi, he was wracked with guilt.

She was so afraid of the dark.

Locked in there.

She must have been terrified, hadn’t she?

#

The next day, training duties were temporarily handed over to Lu Fifteen.

Lu Yunzhou remained in the dormitory.

Shen Chaoxi hadn’t awakened.

He stayed by her side, refusing to leave.

The morning sunlight spilled in, casting a soft glow over the girl’s pale cheeks. Her long lashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

She saw the man’s furrowed brow; he looked exhausted and sat vigilantly at her bedside. His refined, handsome face was bathed in morning light, slightly blurred, and intoxicating.

“Are you feeling any better?”

Lu Yunzhou, stationed by the bed, noticed her awakening and his frown deepened.

“Is there anywhere else you feel unwell?”

His expression was grave.

With his support, Shen Chaoxi sat up, leaning against her pillow, and shook her head.

Her eyes remained fixed on him.

Lu Yunzhou’s brows knotted.

“Last night, I was so scared…” Her eyes reddened instantly.

“I was locked in there…”

Her voice was trembling and plaintive, nearly in tears.

She tried her best not to cry in front of him, holding it all in.

Lu Yunzhou’s heart clenched.

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

He leaned forward, his long arms gently enveloping the girl, pulling her into his embrace.

“It’s all right now.”

“Don’t be afraid.”

His deep, low voice offered comfort.

For the first time, a flicker of panic and complex emotion crossed Lu Yunzhou’s usually impassive, dark eyes.

He kept his jaw tightly set, gaze fathomless.

Shen Chaoxi’s fragile form shivered slightly in his arms.

He felt it.

She’d been frightened.

His face remained solemn, brows furrowed, as he raised a hand and softly patted her back, his voice deep and magnetic.

“It’s over now.”

“This won’t happen again.”

But the girl in his arms only continued to cry.

#

Her sobs were quiet.

Like the whimpering of a wounded creature.

His crisp white shirt was dampened across the chest from her tears; the girl clung to him, shoulders trembling.

Since the worst had already happened, she thought, she might as well cry to her heart’s content.

Wasn’t he supposed to be a germaphobe?

Then she would use his shirt to wipe her tears.

In truth, Shen Chaoxi had not lost consciousness.

Last night, when she saw Lu Yunzhou appear, she herself couldn’t quite sort out her feelings.

It was as if, so many times before, she had fallen into dangerous predicaments, and always had to save herself.

But this time, someone else had saved her.

So, for once, she allowed herself to faint.

Now, as she cried into his chest, soaking his shirt, the man remained still.

He simply let her lean against him, letting her feel the faint rhythm of his heartbeat and breath.

Shen Chaoxi furrowed her brows.

Why wasn’t he reacting?

How could he remain so calm?

Shouldn’t he be angry, or push her away?

He disliked physical contact.

A person with such fastidiousness shouldn’t be able to tolerate this, should he?

Especially her wiping her tears on his clothes.

These thoughts swirled silently in Shen Chaoxi’s mind.

Suddenly a low, magnetic voice sounded above her.

“Are you still uncomfortable?”

Lu Yunzhou gazed at her with concern, his dark eyes full of worry about her condition.

Shen Chaoxi looked up, meeting his cool, deep eyes.

A faint, ironic smile touched her lips. “Are you worried about me?”

Her face was so pale it was almost translucent, like a handful of melting snow.

She wore a white shirt, wide and ill-fitting, making her seem even more slender and frail.

Yet as she smiled, it was like snow blooming upon flowering branches; her delicate, alluring collarbone was half-hidden by her dark hair, but her exquisite bone structure was unmistakable.

Lu Yunzhou’s Adam’s apple shifted.

His dark eyes lingered on her face.

In that instant, his gaze deepened.

He had never seen her like this before.

But her eyes were still red, lashes wet with tears.

Her face was bloodless, as though the faintest touch would make her shatter, like a crescent moon reflected in water.

The fragile girl summoned all her strength to meet his gaze, as if searching for his answer.

She asked him,

Was it concern?

Lu Yunzhou’s eyes grew even more complex.

Just then, a loud voice called from the doorway.

“Captain, Xiao Xiao has arrived!”

A young soldier called out, then ushered Xiao Xiao in from the hall.

Lu Yunzhou’s expression darkened.

He glanced at the frail girl, then spoke to Xiao Xiao.

“Stay here and look after her.”

“Understood, Young Master Lu,” Xiao Xiao replied respectfully.

Lu Yunzhou nodded.

After issuing a few brief instructions, he left.

After all, he still had training and military duties to attend to.

And now that Xiao Xiao was here—a member of the Shen family—Lu Yunzhou could feel more at ease.

Once everyone had left, Xiao Xiao closed the door.

“Miss, here is the information you requested.”

She produced some documents from her clothing and handed them to Shen Chaoxi.

Shen Chaoxi accepted them, lowering her gaze. The fear and panic from earlier were gone from her pale face.

Her eyes were now a cold, misty grey.

Utterly calm.

“So, she really made her move,” Shen Chaoxi said, her voice icy.

The person who had locked the bathroom door last night was clearly not a member of the military base.

In other words,

Someone wanted her dead.

And she had led the enemy into the trap.

“Miss, do you know who it is?” Xiao Xiao asked, her eyes sharp as she stared at Shen Chaoxi.

A faint smile appeared on Shen Chaoxi’s lips.

“Didn’t you just say that among this year’s recruits for the Capital University special training, a killer from Wu Feng has infiltrated?”

The Wu Feng Organization.

From the Fourteen Provinces.

Shen Chaoxi gave a cold laugh.

“Xiao Xiao, it seems their actions were swifter than we imagined.”

After arriving at this military base, Shen Chaoxi had received word that someone was plotting against her.

That was why she’d found an excuse to send Xiao Xiao away.

So she could be alone, to lure the hidden enemy out.

And now, she already knew who it was.

“Miss, should I…” Xiao Xiao began, cautious.

“No need.”

“If she’s a member of Wu Feng, then I’ll deal with her myself.”

Just risen from bed, Shen Chaoxi’s hair was a little disheveled, her face tinged with pallor.

But beneath it all, her eyes glinted with a blood-tinged murderous intent.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve killed anyone.”