Chapter 136 feels like a death sentence.

When Li Rouyue heard Xia Jianyong calling her, she hurriedly came out of the house.

"Brother Yong, why did you buy so much stuff? What did you buy?" Li Rouyue asked in surprise.

Xia Jianyong said, "I got off work early today, so I went to the market on the way and bought some of your favorite foods."

Li Rouyue helped carry the things into the house, and when she opened them, she found that they were indeed all the things she liked to eat.

Xia Jianyong said, "If I remember your preferences correctly, are they what you like to eat?"

"Yes, these are all my favorite foods. Thank you, Brother Yong. You're so kind to me, Brother Yong. You even remember what I like to eat so clearly. I'm so touched." Li Rouyue nestled into Xia Jianyong's arms, her face full of emotion.

Li Rouyue knew that Xia Jianyong was particularly susceptible to this kind of thing, so she did it without any sense of incongruity.

Xia Jianyong hugged her and gently patted her back.

"I'm glad you like it. Have the housekeeper cut up the food and plate it. We'll have some more drinks later. I have something to tell you," Xia Jianyong said.

Upon hearing this, Li Rouyue agreed and immediately called Aunt Liu out to help carry the things.

Aunt Liu carried the food to the kitchen and began to cut and plate it according to Li Rouyue's instructions.

Before long, Aunt Liu brought out the sliced ​​roast duck and braised dishes to the table.

Xia Jianyong went to get a bottle of good wine and poured a full glass for himself and Li Rouyue.

"Rouyue, this is a toast to you. Thank you for staying by my side all these years without complaint, taking care of me wholeheartedly, and managing this family for me."

As Xia Jianyong spoke, he downed the wine in his glass in one gulp.

Li Rouyue held up her cup, looking unusually at a loss.

Seeing Li Jianyong cough, Li Rouyue quickly said, "Brother Yong, drink slowly, don't choke."

Xia Jianyong waved his hand, "I'm fine, don't worry."

As he spoke, he poured himself a second glass.

"Rouyue, I'd like to offer you this toast as a token of my gratitude. Thank you for always putting me first, for considering my needs, and for loving me with all your heart."

Li Rouyue: "..."

He spoke with such sincerity, but something felt off to her.

I have a bad feeling about this!

Finally, just as Li Jianyong was about to pour the third cup, Li Rouyue stopped him.

"Brother Yong, please stop drinking. Drinking is bad for your health, and you're drinking so fast. You're scaring me."

"Brother Yong, did something happen? Tell me quickly, or I'll be really scared."

Li Rouyue's anxious voice even sounded a bit like she was crying.

Xia Jianyong looked up at her and, seeing how anxious she was, his expression darkened.

"Rouyue, something bad has indeed happened, and that's what I want to tell you today."

“What is it? Yong-ge, just tell me. I’m ready. I can handle it,” Li Rouyue said immediately.

Xia Jianyong said in a low voice, "Recently, there have been many rumors about us in the military region. I suspect that someone is trying to get me."

As he spoke, Xia Jianyong recounted the events that had occurred in the military region during this period, as well as Zhao Desheng's instruction for him to conduct a self-examination, warning that if he failed to resolve the matter properly, the disciplinary inspection commission might intervene and investigate him.

Upon hearing this, Li Rouyue's face turned pale.

She looked flustered: "Brother Yong, what do we do now? If our affair is confirmed, won't it affect your future?"

Li Rouyue was genuinely panicked; she wasn't faking it at all.

After all, she was able to live a life of luxury entirely thanks to Xia Jianyong.

Therefore, she absolutely did not want anything to happen to Xia Jianyong.

Seeing her flustered, Xia Jianyong patted the back of her hand and said in a low voice, "Don't be afraid. The situation is indeed very tricky, but I will find a way to solve it. It's just that you may have to suffer for a while."

Li Rouyue replied without hesitation, "Brother Yong, just tell me how you want me to cooperate, and I'll definitely cooperate with you."

As long as she can keep Xia Jianyong as her long-term meal ticket, she's willing to endure even a short period of hardship, let alone a period of suffering.

“I’m afraid they might use you as leverage to pressure me and threaten your safety, so I’m thinking of sending you back to your hometown for a while, under the guise of visiting relatives. What do you think?”

“Going back to my hometown? Okay, no problem, Yong-ge. When do you plan for me to leave?” Li Rouyue agreed without hesitation.

Xia Jianyong felt a pang of emotion seeing her unconditionally trust him.

Although he had already made the decision to give up Li Rouyue, his confidante, for the sake of his future.

But when he actually did it, Xia Jianyong couldn't help but feel heartbroken.

"The day after tomorrow, I'll have someone drive you back. Tomorrow, pack all the things you need to take with you."

"Then go to the department store tomorrow and buy some of your favorite snacks to take with you."

“The environment back home is too poor. I’m afraid you won’t be used to it and will suffer if you go there. So please buy everything you can in Beijing so that you won’t have to go through the trouble of buying things back home.”

Xia Jianyong's words warmed Li Rouyue's heart.

She immediately nodded and said, "Okay, I'll pack my things tomorrow and then go buy some food and supplies."

"As for not being used to living there, don't worry, Yong-ge. We all come from there. Although we haven't been back for many years, it's not to the point that we're not used to it."

Xia Jianyong responded with a sound of agreement.

"Let's eat. I specially bought so many of your favorite dishes today because I was worried that you wouldn't be able to eat them when you go back to your hometown and would miss them. I thought I'd let you have one last meal before you leave, so you'll have something to look forward to when you get back."

“Okay, Yong-ge, don’t just let me eat, you eat too.” Li Rouyue said, quickly putting food on Xia Jianyong’s plate.

Xia Jianyong responded and slowly began to eat.

Li Rouyue then joined in the eating.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, and the surrounding atmosphere became quiet.

As Li Rouyue ate, her mind, which had been clouded by Xia Jianyong's concern, suddenly came to its senses.

Wait a minute, this is something she likes to eat, and it's also something we're going to give her away.

This food tastes like a last meal before someone's execution.

Is Xia Jianyong going to abandon her?

The thought of this possibility made Li Rouyue feel numb.

She quickly and furtively observed Xia Jianyong's expression.

Xia Jianyong noticed her gaze and asked, "Why aren't you eating? Did I remember wrong? Is the food not to your liking?"

“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Li Rouyue shook her head and said somewhat sadly, “It’s just that the thought of leaving home and leaving Yong Ge makes me feel sad and I can’t eat.”

Seeing the tears in her eyes, Xia Jianyong immediately felt a pang of heartache.

He put down his chopsticks, stood up, came to Li Rouyue, reached out and hugged her, letting her cheek rest against his chest.

"Rouyue, actually I'm also very reluctant to see you leave. If it weren't for the circumstances, I would never have suggested that you leave and go out to avoid trouble."

Then Li Jianyong said, "Rouyue, why don't you stay in the capital and keep me company? We'll deal with whatever comes our way."