TSWPF -Chapter 197 Fear

Huang Meiniang screamed in terror. She turned and tried to run, never expecting that the man standing behind her would shove her hard, pushing her straight toward Li Laifu, who was holding a knife.

With a flash of the blade, Li Laifu brought it down. The knife hacked into Huang Meiniang’s arm. The searing pain made her let out another miserable scream.

Afraid that the crazed Li Laifu might turn on him next, the man’s face went deathly pale. He spun around and ran for his life.

He was still so young—he didn’t want to die. Li Laifu had once been involved with Huang Meiniang; surely he wouldn’t kill her. At most, she would suffer a bit.

If she could block Li Laifu for a while, he would be able to escape farther, far enough that Li Laifu couldn’t catch him.

Watching the man disappear in a flash, Li Laifu laughed wildly, his eyes blazing red. He glared at Huang Meiniang with gnashing teeth and said, “Huang Meiniang, oh Huang Meiniang—is that the man you chose? When life and death were on the line, he ran faster than anyone.”

This was nothing but retribution for Huang Meiniang’s promiscuity.

Thinking of all the effort and money he had wasted on her in the past, Li Laifu’s hatred deepened.

He had been blind before, unable to see what kind of woman Huang Meiniang really was. Disgusting—utterly disgusting.

Luckily, he had come back to look for her today. Otherwise, he would have been kept in the dark for the rest of his life.

In her heart, Huang Meiniang cursed that man’s ancestors eighteen generations back. Abandoning her at such a critical moment—he would die a horrible death.

Men’s words really were not to be trusted…

“Laifu, that man has nothing to do with me. You’re the only one in my heart!” Huang Meiniang covered her injured arm, enduring the pain as she softly coaxed him. At the same time, she quietly edged backward, hoping to turn and flee while Li Laifu wasn’t paying attention.

She had been with Li Laifu for so long and had never seen him this mad. Those blood-red eyes reminded her of a wild beast—one wrong move and it would pounce, tearing her throat out.

Terrifying. The current Li Laifu was truly terrifying.

She had to find a way to get away as soon as possible, or she might bleed to death.

She hadn’t even enjoyed any real happiness yet—she really didn’t want to die so soon.

“Heh… Huang Meiniang, do you take me for a fool?!” Li Laifu roared at her. “If I hadn’t heard it with my own ears and seen it with my own eyes, I might still have been fooled by you. Now? Don’t even think about it!”

She had deceived him for so long—he would never fall for it again.

Today, he would give Huang Meiniang a lesson. A lesson written in blood.

So she would remember that deceiving Li Laifu would never end well.

Huang Meiniang’s face grew paler and paler. Her legs weakened as she slowly retreated, but she continued to coax him, “Laifu, you fool—how can you not understand my heart? What’s your status now? You’re a wanted man. If the yamen runners found out I was still connected to you, wouldn’t they camp here every day waiting for you to walk into their net? I did it for you—I even lied and said I didn’t know you. Why can’t you see how hard I’ve tried?”

She had dealt with Li Laifu for so long that she knew him well. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have been able to coax so much money out of him.

As long as she lowered herself and soothed him properly, he would believe her.

Li Laifu looked at her, half-believing, half-doubting. “Is that really so? You’re not lying to me?”

He stared at her intently, trying to read the truth from her expression.

Once bitten by a snake, one fears even a rope for ten years. Having been deceived once, he had grown wary, afraid of being fooled a second time.

Huang Meiniang nodded vigorously, putting on an even more sincere expression. “Laifu, if it weren’t for your sudden trouble, we’d already be engaged. Don’t you know me by now?” As she spoke, clear tears slid from her eyes, falling like pear blossoms in the rain—so pitiful that one couldn’t help but feel tender toward her.

At least, this soft and fragile look dissipated half of Li Laifu’s anger.

Still, the knot in his heart hadn’t loosened completely. He asked, “Then who was that man just now? What’s your relationship with him?” After a pause, he glanced at her quietly shifting feet. “Meiniang… are you afraid of me?”

That look made Huang Meiniang freeze completely. Her furtive steps stopped at once. Right in front of him, she no longer dared to retreat.

If she backed away again, it would only arouse his suspicion.

Judging from his expression, his resolve was wavering. As long as she pressed on, she wasn’t afraid she couldn’t win him back.

“Laifu, what are you saying? How could I be afraid of you?” She forced a smile, afraid of provoking him again. “Laifu, could you put the knife down? The way you’re holding it—it’s really frightening.”

The blade was still stained with her blood. Just looking at it filled her with both fear and rage.

The man who used to bow his head and flatter her every day actually dared to slash her with a knife. He really had a death wish.

Once she coaxed him into putting the knife down and calming down, she would slowly find a way to deal with him and avenge today’s cut.

Hmph—she, Huang Meiniang, was not someone to be bullied.

Hearing this, Li Laifu didn’t move. He kept pressing her, demanding to know who that man was, what his relationship with her was, and why he had appeared at her home, hugging and holding her.

Unless she explained everything clearly, he would not let her off.

Her heart skipped a beat. Huang Meiniang’s mind raced as she searched for a solution.

“Well… he… I’m not really sure who he is. He came to test me several times, asking whether you’d come to see me again. I was afraid he was from the yamen, so I went along with him, just to keep things smooth—so he wouldn’t find you.” Huang Meiniang wiped the tears from her eyes, looking aggrieved. “I’ve sacrificed so much for you, and instead of thanking me, you doubt me. You’ve really broken my heart. That man’s already run away—who knows if he’ll go report it? If the yamen runners really come, what will you do then?”

Mixing truth and lies, Huang Meiniang spoke at length, making Li Laifu’s heart sink deeper and deeper.

That was right—the man had escaped. Who knew if he would bring others back? If he really was from the yamen, then…

“Y-you really don’t know who that man is? Not even his name?” Li Laifu threatened viciously, knife pointed at Huang Meiniang. “If you dare lie to me even one word, I’ll never let you go.”

Though terrified inside, Huang Meiniang forced herself to stay calm, not letting him see any cracks.

“I only know his surname is Xu. I don’t know anything else—really.” Seeing Li Laifu’s expression gradually relax, she continued, “Laifu, they say one day as husband and wife earns a hundred days of affection. In your heart, am I really the kind of person who would deceive you?”

Almost there—almost had him under control. She couldn’t panic now. She had to stay calm.

Absolutely no mistakes.

Seeing how sincere and serious she looked, Li Laifu’s heart slowly tilted back toward her. Still, before fully believing her, he demanded that she swear a poisonous oath to prove she hadn’t lied.

At those words, Huang Meiniang nearly ground her molars to dust. But given the situation, she had no choice but to swear.

If she didn’t, she would immediately be in danger.

For the sake of her life, she had to do it. At worst, she’d donate some incense money at a temple later and ask the Bodhisattva not to blame her.

Under Li Laifu’s gaze, she slowly raised three fingers and, clenching her teeth, recited the oath.

Once she finished, she asked him if that was enough—did he believe her now?

Seeing how decisively she had sworn, Li Laifu finally believed her.

In his mind, poisonous oaths weren’t made lightly—they would come true. He never imagined that Huang Meiniang would lie just to save her life.

The red in Li Laifu’s eyes gradually faded. A faint smile appeared on his face as he looked at Huang Meiniang apologetically. “Meiniang, I’m sorry. I… I just got so angry after hearing what that man said, so I… treated you like that. Don’t blame me, okay?”

He really had acted impulsively. He should have listened to her explanation first.

“No next time. If there’s ever a next time, I’ll never forgive you,” Huang Meiniang said fiercely. Inside, though, she let out a long sigh of relief—she had finally stabilized Li Laifu.

Seeing that she didn’t blame him, Li Laifu grinned happily. “Alright, alright, there won’t be a next time. Don’t worry!” As he spoke, he stepped toward her. “Meiniang, your wound needs to be treated right away.”

Seeing all that blood, regret flooded his heart.

If anything happened to Huang Meiniang, he would never forgive himself.

“Don’t come any closer—” Huang Meiniang blurted out. When she saw his expression darken, she hurriedly added, “W-what do you mean? Coming over with the knife that hurt me—aren’t you afraid of scaring me? Hurry up—throw it away!”

She was truly terrified of the knife in his hand. If she said even one thing that displeased him, who knew if he’d swing it again?

For her own safety, she had to make Li Laifu throw the knife away.

Hearing this, and seeing her growing paleness, Li Laifu felt deeply guilty. With a flick of his hand, the knife clattered to the ground.

“The knife’s gone. Is that better now?”

“Yes.” Huang Meiniang nodded. “Laifu, I think you should leave right away. I’m afraid—afraid that if you stay any longer, you’ll be caught.”

No sooner had she spoken than noisy sounds came from not far away—like many people running toward them.