Leave If You Dare! (GL) - Chapter 11

You’d better come with me quietly, or else you’ll only embarrass yourself.

Qin Ximo’s voice was never rough or loud—like the hum of a hummingbird, never as unbearable as a woodpecker’s drilling. Just listening to her voice alone was exceptionally soothing. However, this comfort only applied if one ignored the content of her words. If you knew what she was saying, if you understood her intentions, there was no way you could enjoy the elegance of her tone with such ease.

Embarrass yourself, my ass. Lin Zi didn’t respond and simply turned to leave, but Qin Ximo stubbornly held onto her shoulder. Lin Zi steadied herself, reminding herself not to lose her temper. She reasoned that although this neighborhood wasn’t some high-end luxury complex, it was close to the city center, bustling with people and gossip. Qin Ximo, with her prominent status and impeccable reputation, would never risk tarnishing her pristine image in public. So, Lin Zi composed herself and looked Qin Ximo straight in the eye—only for Qin Ximo to lean in, her lips parting as she whispered softly by her ear, “Do you want your father to know about that night? Even if he’s a vegetable now, who knows what might happen in the future, hmm?”

Lin Zi’s heart skipped a beat. She turned her head slightly, staring fixedly at Qin Ximo, who merely smiled as if nothing was wrong. “He doesn’t know you seduced me into your bed, does he?”

Twisting the truth! Of course, Lin Zi knew Qin Ximo was referring to that time at the hot spring resort when she had helped her pick up a spoon. Maybe the spoon had accidentally brushed against Qin Ximo’s ankle—if that was the “evidence” of seduction, then she had nothing to say. It was Qin Ximo who had violently assaulted her, yet now she was shamelessly distorting the facts.

“Don’t make that face,” Qin Ximo continued, feigning intimacy as she leaned closer. “You slept with your father’s woman—that’s the truth.”

Lin Zi gritted her teeth. This woman was practically a demon. Could she really see right through her? Lin Zi wasn’t afraid of her father—or any relatives or friends—finding out about her affairs. But she absolutely despised the idea of someone holding leverage over her, especially Lin Wangran. That man, who would scold her even if her skirt got dirty—if he found out about this, he would spare no effort to make her life miserable.

Lin Zi felt like she had spent half her life fighting against Lin Wangran. He berated her for disregarding family rules—she listened without batting an eye. He punished her by making her kneel in the ancestral hall to reflect on her mistakes—she straightened her back and knelt until dawn. He flew into a rage and sent her to a boarding school in the west—she didn’t protest, didn’t even frown, let alone cry. In Lin Zi’s eyes, she was a glorious and brave warrior in front of Lin Wangran. She never openly defied him like a rebellious teenager, nor did she indulge in self-destruction. Instead, she defended her ground with the toughest and most unyielding methods.

She had always been the victor against Lin Wangran—except for this one thing. Sleeping with Qin Ximo. There was no way to argue her way out of that.

But how could she let years of carefully built resistance crumble over this? How could she admit defeat to Lin Wangran? Yet here was Qin Ximo, like a thief who had stolen her deepest secret, proudly flaunting her loot right in front of her.

Disgusting. And shameless!

After giving Qin Ximo an unreserved assessment, Lin Zi turned and gripped the car door, glancing at Qin Ximo before lowering her voice to say, “I only have an hour.”

“Of course,” Qin Ximo replied, as if she had long anticipated this outcome. She flashed Lin Zi her most gentle and harmless smile before bending slightly to slip into the driver’s seat, casually closing the door behind her.

Lin Zi took a deep breath, tossed the garment bag containing the gift box into the backseat, and then climbed in herself.

Qin Ximo swiftly turned the key, pressed the accelerator, and sped off in a cloud of dust.

Lin Zi deliberately sat on the right side—it allowed her to avoid locking eyes with Qin Ximo in the rearview mirror. She wasn’t sure if Qin Ximo even wanted to meet her gaze, but Lin Zi felt that no matter how they chose to interact, it would inevitably feel awkward. Lost in her thoughts, she closed her eyes to rest, shutting out the scenery flashing past the window. The only thing that reached her was the gentle breeze drifting in.

And perhaps a faint trace of Qin Ximo’s perfume.

Thirty minutes later, the car came to a stop. Qin Ximo spoke calmly from the driver’s seat, “We’re here.”

Lin Zi opened her eyes, surprised to see the revolving doors of a hotel outside the window. A well-trained bellhop in uniform had already stepped forward to open the car door. When he caught sight of Lin Zi’s outfit, he froze for a split second. Lin Zi ignored him and smoothly stepped out, standing firm before taking in the surroundings. The hotel lobby was adorned with dazzling crystal chandeliers, their light refracting brilliantly. Men in tailored suits and women in elegant gowns glided through the space, their mingling perfumes lingering in the air as glasses clinked in toasts.

Another bellhop had already taken the keys from Qin Ximo and moved the car away. As Lin Zi turned, she saw Qin Ximo instructing a waiter to retrieve the gift box of clothing from the car. The waiter then followed closely behind them.

“Why did you bring me here?” Lin Zi asked bluntly. She couldn’t quite figure Qin Ximo out. Her flip-flops scraped against the polished marble floor with a squeaky sound as they walked. The waiter leading the way couldn’t help but sneak several glances at Lin Zi, clearly wanting to say something but holding back. Lin Zi knew exactly what he was thinking—her attire was completely out of place.

But with Qin Ximo there as an imposing presence, even if the waiter had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn’t dare openly criticize Lin Zi’s outfit. Relishing the undisturbed freedom, Lin Zi followed Qin Ximo through the lobby, turning down a crystal-lined corridor until they reached the elevator bay. Suspicion crept into Lin Zi’s mind. She had initially planned to ignore Qin Ximo, ready to deal with whatever came her way. But now, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

If they were just here for a meal, the first floor would have sufficed. Going up meant rooms with other purposes.

Lin Zi wasn’t naive. She stopped and looked back at Qin Ximo.

Qin Ximo had remained silent the entire time, but now, noticing Lin Zi’s gaze, she smiled slightly and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Lin Zi demanded, “Where are we going?”

Qin Ximo didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped forward, looping her arm through Lin Zi’s in a deliberately affectionate gesture—though in reality, it was to keep Lin Zi from running off. By the time Lin Zi realized something was amiss, Qin Ximo had already steered her into the elevator. Their seemingly intimate but actually tense posture was unnatural, drawing several sidelong glances from the waiter carrying the gift box. Each time, Qin Ximo smoothly deflected his curiosity with a serene, unbothered smile.

The elevator doors closed, and the attendant asked, “Which floor, ma’am?”

Qin Ximo replied calmly, “35th floor.”

Lin Zi was puzzled. The 35th floor must be the top level, and there couldn’t possibly be a restaurant there. Suddenly, a possibility occurred to her—the top floor housed luxury business suites. Was the reason Qin Ximo had gone to such lengths, even dragging Lin Wangran into it to coerce and tempt her, just to bring her to a business suite in this opulent hotel?

And then? It didn’t take much imagination to figure out what Qin Ximo wanted to do.