Anning bit down hard on her lower lip, letting out a scoff of disbelief. So much for trying to be respectful.
"Mr. Gu, if you do not take your hands off right now..." she said slowly, each word coming out through clenched teeth. "Don’t bla for what happens next."
She was scared. Maybe even terrified.
Her heart was pounding so hard against her chest that she could hear it in her ears, but being afraid didn’t suddenly change who she was.
She was hot-headed, stubborn and had a mouth that constantly got her into trouble. If she stood there and quietly accepted this, then she wouldn’t even recognize herself anymore.
General Gu looked up at her, smiled before muttering, "Feisty."
His voice sounded soft, almost amused but it only made Anning’s stomach churn in discomfort.
For a mont, he actually moved his hand away from her lower back and she almost thought he had taken the warning seriously.
Because the next second, his hand slid lower.
Anning’s eyes widened and then sothing inside her snapped.
"Oh hell no!"
She twisted violently, using every bit of strength she had as she shoved him away from her.
General Gu staggered backward from the force and nearly lost his footing.
Anning imdiately stumbled away from him as though his skin had burned her.
"Ya! You old hag!" she yelled, pointing at him with shaking fingers. "Do you think this is proper?!"
General Gu didn’t respond, he just stared at her from where he stood. His face darkened slightly, not with anger but with sothing Anning couldn’t quite place.
Ever since that morning at breakfast, she had caught his attention. Especially because she resembled soone he held close to his heart.
Soone he hadn’t seen in years.
Just thinking about it made sothing unreadable flash through his eyes. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Leave."
General Gu slowly straightened himself and rubbed his hand together before taking a few steps away from her.
She should just leave? Just like that? After what he did?
Anning stared at him in disbelief.
"Just so you know..." she said, placing both hands against her hips even though they were still trembling slightly, "I’m telling Wanqing. I’m telling everyone in this residence that their great master just tried to force himself on ."
General Gu looked at her and then suddenly laughed.
The sound imdiately made Anning’s face darken.
"You can go ahead and try," he said with a smile. "Let’s see whether you won’t be the one thrown into a dungeon by the end of the day."
Anning glared at him.
At this point, irritation wasn’t enough to describe what she felt.
Because before now, she genuinely thought General Gu was the only sane person in this entire family.
Turns out insanity simply ran in their blood.
She turned around and marched toward the door, grabbing it with far more force than necessary.
This ti, it slid open imdiately. Without any resistance or her trying too hard.
The second she stepped outside and the doors shut behind her, she instantly turned toward the guards standing nearby.
One of them looked at her and smirked.
"Did you enjoy—"
"Shut up."
Her voice ca out sharper than she intended, making the guard freeze.
Anning stared at him for a few seconds before laughing bitterly and then adding, "You wish."
Then she walked away. Everything after that beca a blur. How she walked down the hall or who even whispered about her she couldn’t rember any of it.
By the ti she reached Wanqing’s room and pushed the doors shut behind her, her legs suddenly felt too weak to keep carrying her.
Anning slowly leaned back against the door. Then slid down until she was seated on the floor.
Silence filled the room right after that and for a long ti, she just blankly stared ahead.
’I almost got raped.’
The thought suddenly appeared in her head. And sohow, it made her feel worse.
Why? Because if she hadn’t fought back, If she just stood there cowering in fear...
What would have happened?
Anning pulled her knees toward her chest.
Ever since arriving in this place, it has been one thing after another. Before she died, she never prayed for another life.
Not once.
She only wanted peace.
Before she knew it, she had tears running down her cheek. Anning’s chest felt stuffy and at that mont, she could feel her headache becoming worse.
Not to forget the fact she might have said sothing last night to all those guests at the Yun residence. Why did she have to go ahead and get drunk?
"Ahhh" Anning scread, clutching her head in her hands.
For the next few minutes, she remained seated on the floor, tears running down her face and small sobs escaping her lips.
"Just get everything ready before she gets here." She suddenly heard a voice say from outside the room.
Anning sniffed, pushing herself off the floor and then using the hem of sleeves to wipe her wet cheeks.
Then, the door was finally pushed open. The one person Anning didn’t want to see this morning finally stepped into the room.
Wanqing wasn’t dressed in fine silk as usual. Today, she was dressed in sothing simple and plain, her hair pulled into a tight bun.
Anning couldn’t help but bite on her lower lip at the sight of her. For once since they first t, she actually missed Wanqing.
"G-good morning." Anning greeted, bowing slightly.
Wanqing stared at Anning for a few monts, taking in how ssy she looked and how her dress looked a bit out of place. She frowned.
"Lift your head." Wanqing said softly, taking a step closer to Anning.
Anning took a deep breath before finally raising her head. "I-is sothing wrong?"
She asked a bit cautiously, her voice trembling slightly.
Wanqing took in the dried streak of tears on her face and even now, her eyes were still red.
"Shéi ràng nǐ kūle?" (Chinese: who made you cry?"
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