Aren't You Afraid

Su Hua turned around, her pupils abruptly constricting.

How could it be him?

Why had he come here?

Soon, the look of shock on Lin Xuan’s face caught Su Hua’s attention.

His once calm and indifferent eyes now carried a trace of hostility.

Was he afraid?

Thinking this, Su Hua let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Of course. Someone like her, who killed without blinking, would naturally terrify him—especially after what she had just done to Su Fang’s corpse.

She had severed Su Fang’s fingers, gouged out his eyes, and carved his flesh piece by piece with a knife.

In his eyes, she must seem like a bloodthirsty, monstrous fiend.

He had even said it himself—he disliked killing and couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Hah.

She had intended to kill him, yet he had turned around and cared for her diligently when she was feverish and unconscious. She had almost believed he was different from the others.

But in the end, he was just the same.

Memories of past betrayals flashed through Su Hua’s mind, her hostility steadily intensifying.

Her grip tightened around the knife in her hand.

Should she kill him too?

Only the dead could never betray her.

And faced with someone as terrifying as her, wouldn’t he try to eliminate her for his own safety? Her principle had always been to leave no loose ends—even if that person had once saved her…

Su Hua clenched the hilt of the knife.

By her nature, Lin Xuan should have been dead long ago. Yet this time, she couldn’t bring herself to strike.

Su Hua frowned deeply.

Why? Why did the thought of him dying make her heart ache so much?

Lin Xuan smiled lightly and walked up to Su Hua. He took the torn piece of cloth he had earlier and began wiping the blood from her face.

"Too much blood. It’s a bit dirty—needs cleaning," Lin Xuan said.

He had a touch of OCD.

Such a stunning face marred by streaks of blood was unbearable to him. And her hands, equally beautiful, were also covered in blood.

It all had to go!

Su Hua stared at him, dazed.

Why was he still so gentle with her?

"Aren’t you afraid?" Su Hua finally asked, her voice hoarse.

"What’s there to be afraid of?" Lin Xuan replied without hesitation. "I know they must have come after you first. You were just defending yourself."

After spending time with Su Hua, he had come to understand that beneath her cold exterior, she had a kind heart.

If she had truly wanted him dead, she would have killed him long ago—not secretly left game for him every day.

If Su Hua’s subordinates heard Lin Xuan’s thoughts, they’d be baffled:

"Kind-hearted? Are you serious?"

Their master was cold on the outside—and even colder on the inside!

Su Hua gazed at Lin Xuan, still stunned.

There wasn’t a trace of fear in his eyes.

This was the first time she had met someone who, after witnessing her kill, didn’t react with terror or disgust.

Lin Xuan was truly different…

Lin Xuan continued wiping the blood from her face and hands. Spotting some water nearby, he went to dampen the cloth and rinse it.

Su Hua’s eyes followed his every move.

Soon, Lin Xuan returned with the damp cloth and handed it to her. "Here, you can clean yourself now."

Su Hua frowned.

He wasn’t going to do it for her?

Noticing her expression, Lin Xuan looked puzzled. "What’s wrong? Did I miss something?"

Su Hua said nothing, taking the cloth and wiping her face herself.

A few spots remained untouched. Lin Xuan took the cloth back. "Let me help."

Unseen by him, the corner of Su Hua’s lips curled slightly.

Once the blood on her face, hands, and neck was gone, Lin Xuan finally relaxed.

"Listen," he said, "I know you don’t like me tagging along. I’ll leave now. I promise I won’t be a bother."

He turned and had only taken a few steps when Su Hua’s voice stopped him.

"My name," she said, "is Su Hua."

Lin Xuan was taken aback.

She had actually told him her name—voluntarily.

A surge of joy rose in his chest.

Did this mean she was starting to accept him? That she might let him stay with her?

If so, that would be perfect. She was incredibly strong—if they ran into any wild beasts, she could protect him. And of course, he could take care of her too.

"Su Hua," Lin Xuan said. "That’s a beautiful name."

He didn’t dare ask outright if she was letting him stay, so he tentatively followed behind her.

This time, Su Hua made no move to drive him away.

She had tacitly allowed him to remain.

"Su Hua, how did you get so skilled? Who taught you?"

"Su Hua, how did you end up on this island?"

"Su Hua, I just realized—your surname is the same as the Su Group, the biggest conglomerate in the country. I’ve heard about them. The power struggles there are brutal. If you’re not tough enough, you won’t survive."

"…"

Mostly, it was Lin Xuan talking, with Su Hua occasionally responding.

Su Hua gazed at the distant sea.

These men had found her, which meant her location was compromised. More assassins would likely come.

Lin Xuan noticed that after their separation, Su Hua no longer bothered building shelters. She simply found a spot out of the wind and slept.

So beside his own hut, he used leaves and branches to construct a simple, makeshift shelter—one sturdy enough for someone to sleep in.

He put far more effort into this one.

That night, Su Hua lay separated from Lin Xuan only by a few branches. To her surprise, she slept deeply.

In the past, she had never managed more than four or five hours of sleep.

But near Lin Xuan, she fell asleep within minutes and didn’t wake once through the night.

When Su Hua opened her eyes again, morning light already filled the sky.

Stepping out, she saw Lin Xuan stretching his back in the distance. Her brow furrowed.

What was happening?

Was his presence the reason she could sleep so easily?

Night fell again, the surroundings silent.

A group of assassins slipped onto the island unnoticed. Su Hua’s eyes snapped open. She rushed to Lin Xuan’s shelter and shook him awake.

Lin Xuan blinked groggily. "What’s wrong?"

"Stay hidden. Don’t come out," Su Hua ordered sharply before stepping outside.

Gunfire erupted moments later.

Oh no.

Lin Xuan scrambled up but didn’t rush out recklessly.

He knew if he was spotted, they might use him against Su Hua.

He couldn’t help, but he wouldn’t be a burden either.

Instead, he found a concealed spot and watched anxiously as the assassins closed in on Su Hua.

One by one, the attackers fell.

Lin Xuan stared in awe. She was… unbelievably skilled.

Then—a gun aimed squarely at Su Hua’s back.