Zhou Jing's heart tightened suddenly, as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible and incredibly strong hand. Her heart seemed to stop beating instantly, and her breathing became rapid and heavy.

Her face turned deathly pale instantly, devoid of any color. She lowered her head in a panic, her eyes fixed on the ground, as if there were something on the ground that could offer her temporary refuge.

She dared not look Xia Xiong in the eye, her voice barely audible, trembling slightly, as she whispered, "Dad, how could that be? I... I'm back now."

At that moment, her heart was pounding like thunder, each beat crashing heavily against her chest as if it were about to burst out, giving her a feeling of suffocation.

She could clearly feel Xia Xiong's gaze, like a beam of intense light, falling directly on her without any obstruction. His gaze seemed to be scrutinizing and probing, making her feel uncomfortable all over, and goosebumps rose on every inch of her skin.

She knew in her heart that her attitude towards the Xia family was completely different from last time.

She always felt that Xia Xiong's pressure on Zhao Guodong to come back was definitely not normal, and that there seemed to be some ulterior motive behind it. Like the oppressive low pressure before a storm, it heavily enveloped her, making it hard to breathe.

As they were talking, Xia Wan gracefully walked down from upstairs.

She wore a light pink dress, the skirt of which swayed gently with her steps, like a delicate peach blossom blooming in the warm spring sun, exuding youthful vitality.

However, a subtle, probing glint flashed in her eyes, like a keen little fox capturing every tiny movement of its prey.

With a slight upturn of her lips, revealing a seemingly innocent smile, she said softly, "Auntie, you're back! I've missed you so much."

The moment Zhou Jing saw Xia Wan, her heart skipped a beat, and her scalp tingled.

She forced a smile in response, a smile as stiff as ice in winter, fragile and ready to shatter at any moment.

Her heart was in turmoil, like fifteen buckets of water being drawn up and down – a mix of uneasy emotions churning within her.

Recalling Xia Wan's probing last time, she felt a chill run down her spine, and every hair stood on end. That feeling of fear surged back into her heart. She felt that Xia Wan had already noticed something, and that the secret she had carefully hidden was like a thin sheet of paper, which could be torn apart and exposed to everyone at any time.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone sat down to prepare for dinner.

The table was laden with a sumptuous feast, each dish a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate. Steam rose from the table, filling the entire restaurant with an enticing aroma.

The braised pork ribs are a vibrant red color, tender and juicy; the steamed fish is beautifully presented, with scallions and ginger shreds emitting a unique aroma; and the delicate desserts are adorably shaped, making them incredibly appetizing.

But Zhou Jing couldn't taste the food; the delicious food in front of her lost its color and became tasteless.

She mechanically picked up the food, each bite feeling like swallowing stones, dry and difficult to swallow, her throat feeling like it was choked by something, each chewing incredibly difficult.

As Xia Xiong served food to Zhou Jing, he casually asked, "Shuhua, how have you been at home lately? Has Guodong been taking good care of you?"

His voice was deep and gentle, carrying the care of an elder, but to Zhou Jing it sounded like a soft sword with hidden barbs, every word seemingly concealing a mystery.

Zhao Guodong quickly replied with a smile, "Dad, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Shuhua."

His smile was radiant, revealing a set of pearly white teeth, but a hint of nervousness flickered in his eyes, and his fingers trembled slightly as he tapped the table, revealing his inner unease.

Xia Xiong nodded slightly, but his gaze never left Zhou Jing. His eyes seemed to see through her heart, like a sharp scalpel, precisely dissecting her every thought, leaving her nowhere to hide.

Xia Wan quietly observed Zhou Jing's every move, like a little wolf lurking in the shadows, patiently waiting for the best opportunity.

Suddenly, she spoke up, "Auntie, have you lost weight recently? You don't seem to be in good spirits. You weren't like this when you visited my father in the hospital last time!"

Her voice was clear and melodious, echoing in the restaurant like a silver bell, but it was like a bomb, stirring up a storm in Zhou Jing's heart.

Zhou Jing was startled, her hand trembled, and she almost dropped the chopsticks in her hand. She hurriedly explained, "I'm probably just a little tired lately, it's nothing serious."

Her voice trembled slightly, like a candle flame flickering in the cold wind, as if it might go out at any moment.

Xia Wan persisted, saying, "Auntie, if you have any worries, you must tell me. We're family."

She wore a sweet smile, her eyes curving into crescent shapes, but to Zhou Jing, that smile was full of threat, like a trap ready to devour her at any moment.

Zhou Jing could only manage a forced smile and give a perfunctory reply. Every expression betrayed her guilt, and her eyes darted away, avoiding Xia Wan's gaze.

After dinner, Xia Xiong called Zhao Guodong to his study, saying he had something important to discuss. As Zhao Guodong stood up, he gave Zhou Jing a reassuring look, a look that carried a hint of encouragement, as if telling her to stay calm.

But Zhou Jing only felt more uneasy. As she watched Zhao Guodong's departing figure, her unease grew stronger, like a surging tide, wave after wave, almost drowning her.

Alone in her room, Zhou Jing felt increasingly uneasy, like a surging tide, wave after wave, almost overwhelming her.

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