CHAPTER 416: CHAPTER 416: THE DEATH OF THE MAID

"Young Master, that’s not what I meant. I just thought you might feel lonely, so I dared to come serve you. If you don’t like it, I’ll leave this instant."

She was already scared out of her mind.

It was clear that Jiang Huai also understood what the servant had just insinuated.

"You think I’m lonely? My loneliness stems solely from Yu not wanting to pay me any attention. And you—what are you? You think you can justify your actions to me?"

He tightened his grip on the servant’s wrist.

The servant’s face turned pale from the pain, as if she were about to faint.

But he didn’t kill her outright.

Because he knew very well that if you want someone to suffer, the best method isn’t to kill them, but to let them continue enduring torment. Only then is it truly flawless.

It had been far too long since he experienced this feeling, and now it had conveniently come knocking at his door.

"Look at you, the pathetic sight you’re reduced to. You’re nothing but trash. Tell me, where did you get the audacity to think there could ever be anything between you and me?"

He had absolutely no interest in this servant.

"Miss Ji told me to—Miss Ji said I should try. She said you would surely accept me. I don’t know why it turned out like this."

Heaven knows how regretful she felt at this moment.

If there were truly a remedy for regret in this world, she would never have dared to approach Jiang Huai.

If only she hadn’t mentioned Ji Yu just now—but she had. The moment she brought up Ji Yu, his gaze instantly turned even more terrifying, as if he could kill any second now.

The servant staggered back in panic.

But Jiang Huai showed no intention of letting her go.

In Jiang Huai’s mind, this servant was already dead.

"Throw her into the cellar. Deal with her tomorrow morning. I want to see what it is she really wants from me." Jiang Huai finally uttered such cruel words.

At times, the servant wished she didn’t even have ears. Or that all of this was simply a nightmare from which she could wake.

"I beg you, Young Master, I truly meant no harm. I swear I’ll never harbor such thoughts again—please, I’m out of options, just let me go."

She was on the verge of collapsing.

Jiang Huai had no idea what exactly was going on with her.

But in his heart, he was fully aware this was Ji Yu’s doing.

When he entered Ji Yu’s room again, he exuded a frigid coldness.

"Yu, that servant just now said you sent her to me, even encouraged her to make a move on me. I want to know if this is true."

His brow was furrowed with anger.

It was even tinged with a murderous hatred.

But Ji Yu remained as composed as ever.

And that was likely what set Ji Yu apart from the servant.

"It was indeed my doing. Go ahead and say whatever you want, or if you think there’s an issue with this, feel free to tell me. I see no problem with what I’ve done."

She had thought everything through.

Jiang Huai’s last line of defense within himself completely shattered. He couldn’t understand why Ji Yu would treat him this way, as if he were trash to be tossed to someone else.

This realization made his heart skip a beat and nearly stop altogether.

Ji Yu herself didn’t fully understand what was going on with him, but seeing his expression, she ultimately gave him a brutal reply. "Jiang Huai, someone like you will never win my love. I even set up that woman for you because I feared you were too lonely. Do you really think this is that awful?"

She smiled at Jiang Huai as if it were no big deal.

"Yu, if you’re uncomfortable with this in any way, you could have just told me. Why would you push me to someone else? Do you realize how devastating this is for me?"

Heaven knows the turmoil he felt in his heart at that moment.

He could no longer hold it together.

"Yu, why do you keep discarding me? It was like this before, and it’s like this now. Do you have any idea how much this hurts me inside?"

He was in so much pain it was as if he couldn’t breathe.

But Ji Yu still showed no mercy.

Ji Yu let out a cold chuckle. "And have *you* ever spared me? The things you’ve done are downright laughable."

It was impossible for her to dismiss such matters.

Jiang Huai didn’t know what he should say. Seeing Ji Yu’s expression and demeanor, the only thought running through his mind was to possess her. Only then could there be any resolution between them.

"Yu, you’re the one forcing my hand. I never intended to go this far, but you’ve left me no choice."

He pushed Ji Yu onto the bed.

Ji Yu’s expression sharpened in this instant, but Jiang Huai was oblivious to it at this point.

When the knife stabbed into Jiang Huai’s arm, he instantly snapped back to his senses.

And then he began laughing maniacally. "Yu, I knew you wouldn’t do something like this for no reason. Nor would you provoke me so easily. So this is your plan? You want to escape? You want to kill me?"

His laughter was utterly deranged.

But for Ji Yu, the situation was suffocating.

His gaze was something truly terrifying.

Countless times, Ji Yu didn’t know what to do. But after reflecting on his weaknesses, she ultimately made her choice.

"Jiang Huai, this is all on you. I don’t know what you intend to do to me, but this is *my* response to you. I know you too well—I knew you’d come looking for trouble. This outcome is of your own making."

She never wanted to kill Jiang Huai; it had always been Jiang Huai doing things that repulsed her.

Which is why, now, there was no need to overthink this situation.

"Yu, why must you treat me this way? I could be with you so perfectly, but instead, you choose to kill me—*you want to kill me...*"

He felt he was on the brink of death.

It was as if he could no longer bear to love anymore.

"Yu, couldn’t you just love me a little? I’m begging you. Seeing me in such a wretched state—shouldn’t you at least show me some pity?"

He knew how pathetic he looked now, holding onto Ji Yu’s sleeve, unwilling to let go, torn apart in his disgrace.

But he couldn’t bring himself to give up. To him, giving up was an unbearable torment.

"Yu, I truly love you. I’m begging you—please."