Her gaze was piercing, as if it could penetrate layers of mist, see through Zhou Jing's disguise, and look straight into the depths of her soul.

"Auntie, I heard you've changed a lot lately. Some of your behaviors and habits are so different from before, it's like... like you've become a completely different person." Xia Wan's tone seemed casual, as if she were chatting about everyday things, but every word contained hidden meaning, like a turbulent undercurrent hidden beneath a calm lake.

Her gaze was fixed on Zhou Jing, observing her every subtle reaction.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jing's heart clenched, as if gripped tightly by an invisible, icy hand, making it almost impossible for her to breathe. Her breathing instantly became rapid, and her chest heaved violently.

A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes—the terror of having her secret touched, the bewilderment of having a corner of a secret hidden in her heart for years revealed.

But after years of navigating lies and pretense, she had already developed a thick skin and the ability to disguise herself.

She narrowed her eyes, a fierce glint in them, and stared at Xia Wan with malice, as if she wanted to devour her alive.

She retorted sharply, "You brat, what do you mean by that? Don't think that just because you're back with your crippled father, you're all set for yourselves..."

Despite her best efforts to make her voice sound strong and assertive, the slight tremor at the end of her voice still betrayed the panic and fear deep within her heart, like that of a traitorous subordinate.

Her eyes began to flicker, and she dared not meet Xia Wan's sharp gaze. Her hands unconsciously clenched and unclenched at her sides, an outward manifestation of her inner unease.