She shook her head desperately, and tears whipped away wildly, yet she could make no sound, reduced to using silence to preserve the tiny shred of dignity concerning her husband left within her heart.
"Not speaking?"
Bai Qinchen's eyes narrowed slightly, the hand resting on Shui Rou'er's waist exerting no force, while his other hand slowly raised, hovering vaguely near Chang Gongwei's nape.
"It seems you feel I'm not putting enough effort into it, or perhaps... you feel there's no need to let him keep his life?"
That icy killing aura held not the slightest trace of pretense.
Shui Rou'er's heart felt as though someone had grabbed it in a fist, for she knew very well that this madman truly would do it.
"No... don't!" she opened her tear-filled eyes in terror, reaching out a hand to grab Bai Qinchen's arm, only to be dragged down by that helpless wave of pleasure, leaving her to cling softly and dependently to him.
"Then answer me." Bai Qinchen's voice grew abruptly cold and stern, carrying unquestionable coercion as he asked, "Tell me loudly, who is stronger?"
Tears blurred her vision, and the familiar figure of her husband on the table seemed to become distorted and distant.
Shui Rou'er took a deep breath, knowing that from this moment on, regardless of whether Chang Gongwei lived or died, the pure and flawless Shui Rou'er was already dead.
In order to let him stay alive.
"Speak!"
"It's you... it's you..."
Shui Rou'er finally broke down, closing her eyes as tears breached the dam and poured out. Her voice trembled beyond compare, laden with endless humiliation and self-abandonment, and she cried out, "He's not, he's not as formidable as you..."
"Good, good, good, I am very satisfied with this answer."
Bai Qinchen looked at Shui Rou'er's