Chapter 158: The Aftermath of Last Night's Chaos
When Shia arrived home, something felt off.
Where was Rong?
She used to greet him at the door, help him remove his shoes, and even assist with his coat. But now? Not even a shadow of her was in sight.
'What's she up to?'
Scratching his head, Shia felt puzzled. He searched the kitchen—empty. The study—still no sign of her. The bedroom—nope.
After combing through the house, he couldn't find her anywhere.
'Did she leave?'
Unbeknownst to Shia, Rong was hiding behind the railing, peeking out just enough to see him.
She had been on the rooftop hanging laundry when she spotted Shia approaching the house. In a panic, she quickly ducked out of sight.
Wherever he went, she followed stealthily, slipping away before he could see her.
As she peeked out again, she realized Shia was no longer in the spot she had last seen him.
'Where'd he go?'
Rong leaned out further, her eyes darting around in search of him.
"What are you looking for?"
A low voice spoke directly behind her.
"Shhh… Keep your voice down! Don't let the master find me!" Rong whispered urgently, her eyes still scanning the surroundings.
"Why are you hiding from him?"
The voice persisted, this time louder.
Rong spun around, ready to scold the speaker, only to freeze mid-motion.
'This voice… it sounds… familiar?'
Before she could react, Shia's hand gripped the back of her neck like a scruff, lifting her slightly.
"And where exactly are you planning to go?" Shia asked in a lazy tone.
'Anywhere you're not!' Rong thought, her heart sinking as she held back tears of frustration.
A few moments later, Shia stood with his arms crossed, blocking Rong into a corner. His gaze bore into her as she shrank into herself, avoiding eye contact, her head lowered, her shoulders hunched, and trembling like a leaf.
Shia had already sensed something was off. It wasn't just that Rong hadn't greeted him—he'd searched the whole house, and she'd been nowhere to be found. Considering her usual habits, she rarely left the house without telling him.
The only logical explanation? 'She was hiding from him.'
But why? 'What was she up to?' It was almost like a game of cat and mouse.
Luckily for him, the mouse had been caught.
Rong's face flushed a deep crimson as she twisted her fingers anxiously. Her mind raced with the memory of the previous night, the embarrassing scenes playing vividly in her head.
She couldn't face him. Not after that.
The moment she saw him, the memories flooded back, making her want to crawl into a hole.
But now, cornered like this, she couldn't escape.
"I… I didn't…" Rong stammered, her voice barely audible, like the buzz of a mosquito.
Her feeble denial only confirmed Shia's suspicions. He leaned in closer to catch her words.
Startled by the proximity, Rong instinctively jumped back, her eyes widening in alarm.
'As if that doesn't scream 'guilty'...'
"So," Shia began, his expression skeptical, "what exactly did you do that you're feeling guilty about?"
Rong panicked, her embarrassment and anxiety turning into outright chaos in her mind.
"I…"
But then she paused, realization dawning. 'Wait. Why am I the one feeling cornered here?'
'I'm the victim!'
Her demeanor shifted dramatically as she placed her hands on her hips, her expression transforming into an adorable, puffed-up display of indignation.
"Why don't *you* explain why you did something so horrible last night?" she demanded, her voice trembling but firm.
Out of nowhere, a dagger appeared in her hand, its blade now resting lightly against Shia's neck.
Rong had moved so swiftly and silently that the act seemed almost magical. Her mastery of her assassin skills—stealth and concealment—had reached a new level.
Shia glanced at the blade with mild interest, impressed despite himself.
Still, he met her fiery glare with an air of innocence.
"What are you talking about?"
His nonchalant tone only fanned the flames of her anger.
Rong's cheeks burned brighter, her breath quickening as she struggled to recount the mortifying events of the previous night.
"You… You took advantage of us while we were drunk!" Rong stammered, the words barely escaping her lips.
Even as the memories sent waves of shame through her, she forced herself to continue. Her hands trembled as she listed out every one of Shia's supposed misdeeds.
By the time she finished, her face was as red as a tomato, and her grip on the dagger had grown unsteady.
Finally, she summarized with a mixture of betrayal and frustration.
"We trusted you! Both of us! And you… you… did that to us?"
Her words dripped with accusation.
'Why couldn't he have just stopped at me? Did he have to drag my senior into this too?'
"I didn't," Shia said flatly, his denial cutting through her accusations.
Rong bit her lip, her fury bubbling up.
'Of course you did!'
But Shia's denial wasn't what she expected.
"Last night wasn't my fault. I'm the victim here," Shia said, his expression growing somber.
Rong blinked, startled by his tone. It didn't match her expectations at all.
Shia sighed, looking genuinely distressed. "You two were drunk and couldn't keep your hands to yourselves. I tried to resist, but you held me down."
He shot her a pointed look. "And who was it that climbed onto me, pinning me down and kissing me?"
Rong's jaw dropped as she stared at him in disbelief.
"And who stopped me from leaving after I carried you both back to your rooms? Who grabbed my hand and begged me to stay?"
His accusations rolled out one after another, leaving Rong flustered and speechless.
"I was trying to help, but… well, you know what happened." Shia shrugged, his expression a mix of exasperation and pity.