"Awake, are you?"
"Is it because you're hideous that you wear a mask?" Her voice was cold as frost, eyes lifting with quiet disdain.
"You still dare to speak to me like that, even in my grasp?" he sneered, crouching down to look at her. "You're not much to look at yourself—clearly, Long Yubei has questionable taste."
"Not much to look at?" Gu Lili let out a low laugh. "You must've been born blind, then—not your fault, I suppose. A defect from the womb, perhaps?"
The man's eyes narrowed. "Ugly wench."
Gu Lili found the whole exchange almost comical. For a grown man to insult a woman's appearance—especially when she was anything but plain—was absurd.
"What does it matter to you if I'm ugly or not? Is that the reason you brought me here? Don't waste my time with circles. Speak plainly—what do you want?"
"Nothing much. Just want you to stay here for a while. Don't be afraid—I'm well aware you see the dead. I even had this place purified by a priest. From now on, I promise, every day will be… enlightening." He grinned. "Doesn't that sound exciting?"
Gu Lili was certain now—this man was a deranged lunatic. She no longer wished to say a single word to him.
Her silence seemed to irk him. "Do you think Long Yubei will find you here?"
"..."
"I heard he married you after only knowing you for a few days. Why?"
"..."
"Cat got your tongue?"
"..."
Gu Lili simply shut her eyes and pretended to be unconscious.
The man, frustrated by her indifference, stood up but lingered. After all the effort he'd gone through to snatch her without a trace, he wasn't satisfied leaving without provoking her further.
"I know He Meiwei. To be honest, she's far better looking than you."
"..."
"I really can't fathom what he sees in you..."
"..."
No matter what he said, Gu Lili remained silent—until his next words shattered her composure.
"How many times have you and Long Yubei slept together since your wedding?"
Gu Lili opened her eyes slowly. "Are you secretly in love with my dear Yubei?"
The man froze. "W-what?"
"Why else are you so preoccupied with his taste in women and the details of his private life? Think about it. If you were his true rival, wouldn't you be aiming your insults more strategically? And yet, every word out of your mouth loops back to the same obsession."
His silence confirmed her suspicions. Her heart turned to ice. "If you don't deny it, I'll take it as a yes."
"You're right!" the man admitted without shame. "So now you know why I really brought you here. How does that feel?"
Gu Lili felt her blood surge. He Meiwei had been tolerable—an ex, and a woman. But this—this was something else entirely.
Even now, she forced herself to remain composed. "So that's your grand revelation. But tell me—what do you think abducting me will change? You hope to shift his orientation? Is that your brilliant plan?"
"It'll work," he said darkly. "Just imagine—if I let a group of men have their way with you, and he watches the video... what do you think it'll do to him?"
"You..." Gu Lili's voice trembled. This man was truly dangerous. "When did you meet him?"
"A long time ago," he said slowly. "Back when he had just broken up with He Meiwei. Thankfully, she had the sense to leave on her own. If not, I would've killed her myself."
"You're sick."