chapter4 living with him

The afternoon sun hung directly overhead, casting a mesmerizing white glow. The pool rippled with crystal clarity, shimmering like fish scales, while the tiled ground gleamed with dazzling light. Trees swayed in the breeze, providing a cool shade. It was the perfect weather for a nap.

Asher didn't emerge after lunch; he must have been enjoying a good nap.

Seizing the opportunity, Scarlett carefully inspected the flowerbeds. With Asher showing no intention of sharing his food, Scarlett didn't dare ask. All she could focus on was getting through the moment.

Navigating the vast garden proved challenging for Scarlett, a tennis player with no sense of direction. Oranges flew around, and she vaguely recalled a few directions. Searching along the edges, she pushed aside flower leaves.

Luck seemed to be on her side when she found two oranges along the edge. Determined and knowing Asher was still asleep, she gathered courage and ventured into the bushes, carefully avoiding the flowers. After a while, she found two more.

Picking up the third one felt like finding a nugget of gold. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, casting a golden light on her forehead, glistening with sweat.

Turning with the oranges in her hands, Scarlett's face paled instantly.

Asher stood at the edge of the flowerbed, his long white tail curled, just a meter away from her, his expression inscrutable.

Scarlett froze, her legs stiff, staring straight at Asher, who had the face of a young man in his twenties, with distinct features and eyes that seemed to hold a hint of dark gold under the afternoon sun.

Though Asher's appearance was striking, Scarlett had no mind to appreciate it; she stood frozen in place, her eyes filled with fear. Attempting to speak, she stuttered, "I... I just... picked up two oranges... that you didn't want..."

Asher's eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, his eyes calm and unreadable.

His calmness unnerved Scarlett; her heart pounded like a drum as she stumbled over her words, "H-hi... I'm Scarlett."

He remained silent, his hands hanging by his sides, wearing a harmless expression, as light as a breeze.

The rustling of the coconut trees filled the air, a sound that resonated with pain in Scarlett's ears. Her lips trembled slightly, and she felt tension in her mind, ready to snap at the slightest touch. She gathered her courage and said, "I won't cause you any trouble. I can work and do many things. If you want to play again, I can help you throw oranges. It'll be more fun."

Scarlett's brows furrowed slightly with nervousness and anticipation.

Asher's tail tip slid slowly towards Scarlett's hand. Though lacking warmth, it felt like a hot iron brushing against her skin, causing a burning sensation.

She watched as he took the oranges and threw them away again, this time with force. The oranges flew like small cannonballs through the trees, creating a cacophony as they soared beyond the walls.

As his tail tip approached Scarlett's hand again, she handed him another orange, "Here!"

He seemed pleased with her cooperation, gently taking it from her and placing it on the ground rather than throwing it forcefully.

Seeing his gentle demeanor, Scarlett's nerves relaxed slightly. She forced a smile, though more like a twitch of her lips due to nervousness, "You're special. Can I call you 'Asher'?"

He nodded slightly, then turned and walked towards the swimming pool.

Despite his intimidating tail, compared to the demons she encountered a few days ago, his face showed no malice, just a natural indifference. Scarlett realized that whether she was here or not didn't seem to affect him much.

Scarlett steadied herself and followed him.

He reclined lazily on a lounge chair, enjoying the afternoon sun. Scarlett stood beside him, wanting to say something, but after several attempts, she couldn't find the words.

Asher seemed to appreciate the silence. He leaned back, his eyes squinting as he gazed at the immaculate blue sky and the wispy clouds drifting by.

The woman standing awkwardly beside him disrupted the serene scene. He glanced at her before sitting up and quietly retreating into the house.

Scarlett pondered what to do next, then saw him return with food and place it on the small white table in the courtyard, giving her a nod to indicate that it was for her.

He slid back into his chair, "Don't stay close to me."

To Scarlett's surprise, he spoke. His voice was pleasant, like the flow of a cello. She hesitated for a moment, then understood. He didn't like her presence, but he didn't dislike her either.

This realization somewhat satisfied Scarlett. He gave her food, indicating he was benevolent and had no intention of mistreating her.

"Thank you," Scarlett smiled gratefully at him. She then moved to the shaded pavilion to eat her meal, keeping an eye on him.

He seemed accustomed to solitude and disliked interacting with people, especially those who screamed at the sight of him. But every month, women were still sent here, and he couldn't understand their stubbornness. He barely had a chance to see their faces before they screamed hysterically, causing him headaches. The worst was when a blonde woman went directly insane, cowering behind a tree, babbling nonsense.

He actually wanted to say, "Don't scream; I don't eat people."

He never fit into this world. When he couldn't take it anymore, he threw them out. Sometimes he was angry, so he threw them with force, and one could only imagine what happened when they landed beyond the tall walls.

Luckily, this woman wasn't noisy.

As the evening approached, Asher headed inside, and Scarlett immediately stood up, approaching him with a smile, "Asher, thank you for the meal. Is there anything I can do?"

He just looked at her indifferently, "Nothing."

With that, he went inside, likely to prepare dinner.

Scarlett tentatively followed him into the villa. He didn't react, so she continued to follow him.

He entered the kitchen and closed the door, barring her entry. Scarlett's heart felt like a swarm of ants crawling inside. She needed to communicate with him to improve her situation.

The kitchen door opened again, and Asher came out with a pot, placing it on the dining table, ready to eat with chopsticks and spoon in hand.

Scarlett stood nearby, staring at him with innocent, hopeful eyes.

His appetite was seriously affected by her presence. He had to grab a plate and scoop out some food for himself, placing it on the other side of the table.

Scarlett's brows lifted with gratitude as she thanked him and sat down at the table.

The table was three meters long, with each person at one end, not conducive to table talk. The dishes were a mishmash of chicken, beef, and vegetables with potatoes all cooked together. The vegetables were overcooked, the color turning a deep green, not very appetizing.

But Scarlett hadn't had a proper meal in days, so she eagerly took a bite of the steaming rice. It was... well, too salty.

The beef was tough, the potatoes sliced too thick, probably put in the pot at the same time and not fully cooked; overall, not great.

But Scarlett couldn't afford to be picky; he had worked hard to make the meal, so she made an effort to eat it all, even though it was difficult.

After finishing, Scarlett quickly took his pot, "Let me wash the dishes. You've already worked hard cooking."

He didn't refuse, letting her take the utensils away.

Scarlett was satisfied with this. She went into the kitchen, turned on the tap, and began washing the dishes. When she came out, the living room was brightly lit, but Asher was no longer downstairs.

She wandered around the downstairs rooms. It was a large villa, spacious and luxurious in decoration, though lacking in ornaments, indicating Asher's dislike for them.

She took a bath in the bathroom, wiping away the condensation on the smooth mirror. Her reflection looked a bit tired, but she forced a smile, trying to show her teeth. Her muscles twitched, and the smile looked more like a grimace, resembling a little devil from hell.

"Scarlett, you must persevere! You have to live on!" She said to her reflection, her hand clenched tightly, the veins clearly visible.

Asher never came downstairs, so that night she slept on the large sofa in the living room, warm and soft.