The Dagger’s Edge

Under a sky heavy with dark clouds, a young man with brown hair perched on a tree branch within a meticulously sculpted forest. He gazed at a distant castle, a yawn escaping him, betraying his boredom.

This grand tree stood at the heart of the woods, its abundant leaves forming a natural, verdant screen around Lin Yi. From his elevated position, he could even discern the park bench at the starting point of their game. From this vantage, Lin Yi felt confident he could observe everything nearby.

Yet, the game had been underway for quite some time, and he still hadn’t caught a glimpse of Chen Sishi. He was so idle up here, he felt as though moss might start growing on him.

Boredom gnawing at him, Lin Yi pulled out his phone, intending to listen to some music to pass the time.

Just then, the massive tree beneath him suddenly swayed.

Thankfully, Lin Yi reacted swiftly, preventing his phone from tumbling to the ground. After all, it was over two meters high, and his secondhand device would surely shatter into countless pieces if it fell.

Below the tree, a silver-haired girl looked up at the young man on the branch. Her slender arms wrapped around the trunk, and with another surge of strength, the tree shuddered once more, just as it had moments before.

“Damn it, my dear ancestor, can’t we just talk this out instead of risking our lives?”

Chen Sishi’s actions had genuinely startled Lin Yi. They were more than two meters up; a fall from this height could easily break bones.

Not daring to linger on the tree, Lin Yi scrambled down quickly.

The moment his feet touched the earth, a cold dagger pressed against his throat.

Chen Sishi hadn’t appeared earlier because she had gone to retrieve the dagger and handcuffs from the car.

She had waited for this moment for a very long time, even dreaming of its arrival.

Lin Yi’s movements froze. He slowly, stiffly turned his head, looking at Chen Sishi with a puzzled expression.

Somehow, Lin Yi felt surprisingly little fear. Perhaps the sheer number and complexity of the day’s events had left him feeling numb.

Feeling the cold steel at his neck, Lin Yi wanted to speak but dared not. He feared that if he uttered a word, Chen Sishi might just slice him.

“Now, Lin Yi, don’t be scared. Let me tell you something.”

A sickly smile played on Chen Sishi’s lips as she slowly leaned closer to Lin Yi’s ear and whispered.

“From this moment on, Lin Yi is mine. From now on, I won’t allow Lin Yi to interact with any other girls.”

Her voice was brimming with excitement, and if one listened closely, a rapid gasp could be heard.

Such a suggestive sound was too much for Lin Yi; his body immediately reacted.

Suppressing the heat rising within him, Lin Yi clenched his jaw, trying desperately to maintain a normal expression.

However, Chen Sishi had clearly observed every twitch of his face.

She cuffed Lin Yi’s hands together, then moved from behind him to stand in front. The dagger in Chen Sishi’s hand remained pressed against his throat, never wavering.

She knew Lin Yi was formidable, so she had prepared thoroughly in advance.

Chen Sishi’s gaze roamed over Lin Yi’s body, finally settling on a slight bulge in his lower half.

“Is Lin Yi suppressing something? Don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunities for that later. For now, please come with me, alright?”

The dagger was still at Lin Yi’s throat. He knew that if he refused, Chen Sishi would likely kill him. How could Lin Yi possibly disagree? He still hoped to live for many more years.

****

They arrived at an unfamiliar location.

Directly ahead lay an expansive artificial lake, its waters covering almost two-thirds of the entire area.

Large sections of anti-corrosion wooden decking had been built around the lake.

In the center of the lake stood an isolated pavilion, accessible only by a small boat from the shore.

Though still within the estate, this spot was quite secluded, with few maids typically passing through.

Chen Sishi surveyed her surroundings, noting that the small pavilion in the lake’s center seemed like an excellent choice.

However, reaching it would require her to free her hands for rowing. Chen Sishi couldn’t possibly paddle with one hand while holding a dagger to Lin Yi with the other.

Moreover, the water was rough, especially on such a windy day, with significant waves. What if a sudden wave caused her to lose control and accidentally injure Lin Yi?

Therefore, Chen Sishi immediately dismissed that option.

With Lin Yi held at dagger-point, Chen Sishi walked, searching for a suitable spot.

Before long, she spotted a small Western-style house.

This house stood adjacent to the artificial lake, with two large French windows facing directly onto the water.

Its architectural style resembled a seaside villa, and it was quite beautiful from the outside. The internal layout, however, remained unknown.

Chen Sishi immediately fixed her gaze on the house, quickening her pace.

It was evident that Chen Sishi was eager to explore inside.

Lin Yi followed behind, carefully watching the sharp dagger, afraid that a single misstep might cause him to collide with it.

For some reason, this seaside villa was unlocked. Chen Sishi simply pushed the door open and entered.

The interior of the house appeared immaculate, suggesting it was regularly cleaned.

White carpets, white walls, a multi-layered ceiling, and simple, unadorned furniture combined to create a very modern aesthetic.

Its layout was straightforward: a large hall, a bathroom, and a few bedrooms, with no kitchen to be found.

Perhaps wealthy families like this simply had no need to cook for themselves; a single phone call would ensure freshly prepared meals were delivered to their doorstep.

Closing the doors and windows securely, Chen Sishi produced a small white bottle of medicine from her clothing.

“I’m sorry, Lin Yi, but I’ll have to trouble you just a little.”

With that, Chen Sishi casually opened the bottle.

Lin Yi’s pupils constricted at the sight of it. The memory of Chen Sishi’s previous kidnapping attempt, involving a similar substance, was still vivid in his mind.

Seeing it, his first thought immediately went to the *sedative*.

His body instinctively began to struggle, but with Chen Sishi’s dagger still pressed against his neck, he dared not make any drastic movements.

“Sishi, let’s talk this through calmly. Don’t just pull out dangerous things like that.”

Realizing he couldn’t break free from Chen Sishi’s grasp, Lin Yi resorted to verbal persuasion.

“There’s no danger, Lin Yi. Just one gentle breath, and you’ll sleep soundly.”

Clearly, Chen Sishi was immune to his pleas.

She still brought the bottle to Lin Yi’s nose, gently pressing her cheek against his, waiting for him to inhale the special concoction.

Lin Yi, however, wasn’t so easily caught. The moment the bottle neared his nose, he held his breath.

Struggling continuously, Lin Yi tried to push the bottle towards Chen Sishi’s nose, hoping to escape.

However, Chen Sishi had anticipated this very scenario. She set the bottle aside, dipping a finger lightly into its contents.

“Lin Yi, open your mouth. It’s time for your medicine.”