This Is What a Villain Is Like

"I can’t quiet my mind."

After a long moment, she opened her crystalline, indifferent eyes. Pressing her red lips together, her figure became a wisp of azure smoke, flying from the City Lord’s Mansion toward the vast, rolling mountains.

...

In the bedchamber, the lamps were brightly lit, and the hanging draperies were like clouds.

With a dull thud as she was thrown onto the bed, Su Qinghan winced in pain. Only at this moment did she truly start to panic.

Her initial assumption was that Jiang Lan had no cultivation.

Even if he truly tried to do something to her, she had the ability to protect herself—she could sever her own heart meridians to avoid being defiled.

But she never imagined that Jiang Lan had hidden his power so deeply, that his true strength was so terrifying.

"Young... Young Master Jiang..."

Su Qinghan realized she could finally speak, but her previous calm and composure were gone. Her black hair was in disarray, and her flawless, jade-like face was etched with panic.

"The night is short, Miss Su. Is there anything else you wish to say?"

Jiang Lan stood by the bed, watching her with a leisurely air, but he didn’t take a single step forward.

Su Qinghan gathered her thoughts, forcing her mind to calm. "There is one thing I still do not understand," she said, "and I hope Young Master Jiang can enlighten me."

After speaking, she forced herself to remain composed, raising her clear, lustrous eyes to look up at the domineering Jiang Lan.

"Oh?"

"What is it that you don’t understand? Go on, tell me. If I can answer it, I will. If I can’t, then you’ve asked in vain," Jiang Lan said with a faint smile.

"I am aware that my status is low, and I know my own limits. Although my talent is decent, I understand there is still a significant gap between me and the True Inheritors of the great sects. I do not understand why Young Master Jiang insists on taking me as a concubine."

"Is there something special about me?"

Su Qinghan finally voiced the question that had been weighing on her mind. After learning of Jiang Lan’s unfathomable strength tonight, she was even more confused.

’What is it about me that’s worth so much of his effort?’

’With his status and background, couldn’t he have any concubine he wanted with just a single word?’

"Couldn’t it just be that I was taken by Miss Qinghan’s beauty and smitten at first sight?" Jiang Lan still had that same faint smile.

"..."

Su Qinghan froze, then said hollowly, "Can’t Young Master Jiang just tell the truth? Why must you..."

’She refused to believe that someone as secretive as Jiang Lan would be the type to indulge in carnal pleasures. Besides, based on their previous interactions, not only did he seem uninterested in beautiful women, he actually seemed somewhat resistant to them?’ 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

’So why is he doing this tonight?’

’Is it an act for the people of the City Lord’s Mansion?’

RRRIP!

However, before Su Qinghan could finish her sentence, the sound of tearing silk echoed through the room, and she froze completely.

When she came to her senses, she quickly clutched the silk quilt, covering her exposed skin. Her delicate body trembled slightly.

"Does Miss Su have any more questions now?"

Jiang Lan casually tossed the torn Jueqiao silk skirt to the floor. He just watched her coolly, his deep, dark eyes devoid of any emotion.

Su Qinghan never expected this. He had been perfectly fine a moment ago, but his demeanor had changed in the blink of an eye.

That indifferent expression, as if he were looking at a plaything that could be discarded at will, made her heart tremble.

"Young... Young Master Jiang..."

Su Qinghan pressed her red lips together and tried to speak, but found her mouth was a little dry.

Jiang Lan just looked down on her, his expression unchanging. "Miss Su should be a smart woman," he said. "And a smart woman knows what she should and should not ask."

"Aren’t you afraid you’ll lose your life for asking so many questions?"

Su Qinghan’s eyelashes fluttered. Her jade-like hand clutching the silk quilt tightened involuntarily, the knuckles turning white.

Only now did she suddenly understand the lesson her mother had tried to teach her before.

’Whether she was willing or resistant in her heart, the matter was already decided. She had to accept her status and her place.’

’In the eyes of someone with Jiang Lan’s status, she was, at best, a toy that had caught his interest.’

’What right did she have to question his motives?’

"It... It was I who overstepped. I shouldn’t have asked so much," Su Qinghan said in a low voice.

"I know you’re unwilling and harbor a deep hatred for me."

"But that doesn’t matter. As long as you become powerful enough, you can take revenge on me however you like in the future."

"I’m just afraid that even if I give you the chance, you won’t be able to grasp it."

Jiang Lan leaned down and grabbed her fair, delicate chin. His fingers squeezed slightly, leaving a clear mark.

Although it hurt, Su Qinghan didn’t dare to move. She lowered her gaze and said, "Young Master Jiang, you misunderstand. That is not what I meant."

"It’s good that you don’t. You don’t need to know why I’m taking you as a concubine. You only need to know that from this day forward, you are my woman."

"I can treat you well, giving you endless glory, riches, and boons. Or, I can doom you and the Su Family to eternal damnation."

"Don’t use that self-righteous cleverness of yours to test me."

"You should know that the women who have defied me in the past have never met a good end."

Jiang Lan spoke nonchalantly as his fingers moved up, lightly caressing her petal-like, moist red lips. Then, he slowly let go, took out a simple embroidered handkerchief, and unhurriedly wiped his hand.

’This female lead is clever, alright, but a bit too self-righteous.’

’It was true that Jiang Lan coveted her body and her fortune, but that didn’t mean he would be completely obedient to her and tell her everything.’

’Besides, he wasn’t wrong. If Su Qinghan kept digging for answers, she really might lose her life. After all, she didn’t have a heaven-defying trump card like Lin Fan did.’