Pei Ye abruptly tightened the knot. "I must have grown your share too!"
"Do you know, Pei Ye," Qu Xin said, "perhaps my failure was already sealed when I misjudged your character. Just like in storybooks: good people always win because they are kind and upright, and villains always fail because they are careless. Pei Ye, have you read storybooks?"
Pei Ye lowered his eyes coldly.
Qu Xin reasoned calmly, "The good people in storybooks are all benevolent and magnanimous. In the end, they always spare villains who have mitigating circumstances and urge them to turn over a new leaf."
Pei Ye sneered, seized her by the back of her collar, and strode upstairs.
Qu Xin let her body go limp, her collar held aloft and her heels dragging along the floor. Looking at the more than twenty pairs of eyes staring at her in shock, she nodded calmly to them. "Once the heat dies down, I'll bring everyone new Young Hero Pei Ye merchandise."
Pei Ye turned, spread her hand open, and brought his sword hilt down hard on it.
"Ah!"
Pei Ye went up the stairs, pushed open the terrace door, and carried Qu Xin inside.
Cui Zhaoye and Changsun Jue had just been leaning over the railing, looking down with pounding hearts. Now, amid a patter of hurried footsteps, they both sat bolt upright in their chairs.
Pei Ye threw Qu Xin against the wall, turned back, and angrily gulped some tea. "Stand up! Stand straight against the wall!"
Qu Xin leaned against the wall.
"What was that painting about?!" Pei Ye was mortified and furious.
"It depicts you lying naked in bed, emphasizing your exposed skin, wounds, and the line of your lips to arouse pity, admiration, and desire," Qu Xin said. "I made a few