Chapter 145 Noticed

Shen Shuangmiao suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

“But,” Zhao Mobai’s voice was icy, “you can’t stay by his side either. I can give you time, one last month.”

He gave a cruel smile. "You can go and be with him, fulfilling his last wish, but a month later, whether he lives or dies, you must return to my side."

He looked at Shen Shuangmiao's suddenly changed expression: "Otherwise, even if he had managed to survive, I would have found a way to kill him with my own hands."

Without waiting for Shen Shuangmiao's response, Zhao Mobai turned around abruptly, opened the door, and strode away.

Shen Shuangmiao stood there alone, her whole body ice-cold.

One month.

Whether Zhu Jin is alive or dead, she must return to Zhao Mobai's side.

She took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down.

Now is not the time to collapse.

The most urgent task is to calm Zhu Jin down and dispel his thoughts of suicide.

Zhao Mobai's threat must not be known to Zhu Jin.

These two have been fighting back and forth; they should let it go now.

Shen Shuangmiao went to the bathroom, washed her face with cold water, and only when she looked less distraught did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

She tried to pull the corners of her mouth in front of the mirror, practicing a relaxed and gentle expression.

When Shen Shuangmiao walked out of the reception room and returned to the living room, the tear stains on her face had disappeared.

She saw Zhu Jin still standing in the center of the hall, surrounded by his subordinates who had not yet completely dispersed.

He remained tense, with barely perceptible worry in his eyes, only letting out a sigh of relief when he saw Shen Shuangmiao appear.

"Are you done talking?"

His voice was low and emotionless.

"Um."

Shen Shuangmiao approached him, deliberately softening her voice and slightly curving her lips.

"It's nothing serious, everything has been explained."

She reached out and gently straightened his slightly wrinkled shirt collar.

This affectionate gesture carries a comforting meaning.

Zhu Jin's body stiffened for a moment, then he slowly opened his eyes wide and looked at her in surprise.

The subordinates standing to the side, seeing this, wore relieved smiles.

Someone couldn't help but joke, "It seems Miss Shen has a way. This can be considered a blessing in disguise, Mr. Zhu."

Shen Shuangmiao's eyes flickered, but she said nothing.

After hardship comes happiness?

Zhu Jin's gaze fell on Shen Shuangmiao's face, but he did not respond to their teasing.

He keenly sensed that Shen Shuangmiao's attitude had changed too quickly and was very strange.

The anger and rejection in her eyes were gone, but there was also no trace of rekindled love.

Shen Shuangmiao's eyes were filled with pity, as if she were looking at a patient who didn't have much time left.

A chill ran through Zhu Jin's heart, along with an inexplicable sense of unease.

He asked, "Nothing happened, right?"

Shen Shuangmiao blinked, puzzled, and asked, "What happened?"

Zhu Jin hesitated, unable to say anything.

He said calmly, "Will you stay by my side?"

"Yes, I've already made an appointment with Zhao Mobai to stay with you for a full month."

After Shen Shuangmiao finished speaking, she avoided Zhu Jin's probing gaze and turned around nonchalantly, saying, "Alright, everyone's gone. You should all go back and get some rest."

The bodyguards all left.

Shen Shuangmiao plunged into the kitchen.

"I'll go make you some soup."

Zhu Jin tried to call her back, but Shen Shuangmiao had already gone inside.

In the following days, Shen Shuangmiao seemed to have become a different person.

She no longer spoke coldly to Zhu Jin, no longer resisted his approach, and would take the initiative to ask him what he wanted to eat and accompany him for a walk in the garden.

She still didn't talk much, but her attitude had softened considerably.

Zhu Jin felt increasingly uncomfortable and didn't feel happy at all.

She took care of him more like she was completing a task.

When Shen Shuangmiao smiled at him, the smile was very light and did not reach her eyes.

Occasionally, when she stared at him in a daze, a fleeting hint of pain would flash across her eyes, a pain he couldn't decipher.

"Zhu Jin".

A knock on the door interrupted Zhu Jin's thoughts.

"Come in."

The next second, Shen Shuangmiao walked into the study carrying several thick books and placed them on the desk in front of Zhu Jin.

Zhu Jin looked down.

These are all best-selling books about trauma healing.

"Since I've got nothing else to do, I might as well read a book."

Shen Shuang spoke in a relaxed tone, as if she had just casually picked up a few books.

"I've heard these books are quite good; they can help you feel more cheerful."

Zhu Jin picked up the top book, "The Meaning of Life," and ran his fingertips along the cover without saying a word.

His heart sank little by little.

She started showing him psychology books.

He looked up, trying to find a trace of a joke on Shen Shuangmiao's face, but only saw worry in her eyes.

“Shen Shuangmiao,” Zhu Jin sighed, putting down his book, “tell me, has something happened? Or do you know something?”

Shen Shuangmiao's heart skipped a beat.

She met Zhu Jin's gaze, giving him a puzzled and slightly confused expression.

"What could possibly happen? What are you thinking about? I just think we've both been too tired lately, and reading these books might make us feel a little better."

Shen Shuangmiao avoided Zhu Jin's probing gaze, turned around to organize the bookshelf, her back to him, but her fingers trembled slightly.

She recalled the things about Zhu Jin's background.

He was Zhu's father's illegitimate son, and his mother died early, leaving him in an awkward position within the family.

His childhood was filled with indifference and loneliness, and his father never gave him much warmth.

It seems that the most important people in his life have all left.

Or perhaps it never truly belonged to him.

That's why he's so obsessed with a relationship and willing to go all in.

Zhu Jin only chooses to completely sink into darkness when he feels that even the last glimmer of light is about to be lost.

Shen Shuangmiao quickly lowered her head, using the act of tidying up the books to hide her eyes that were instantly reddening.

Zhu Jin looked at her quietly, his gaze becoming serious.

She found out.

She learned of his plan to contact euthanasia organizations and his desire to end his life.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have suddenly changed her attitude and willingly stayed here with him.

Zhu Jin took a deep breath, slowly calmed down, and looked at Shen Shuangmiao.

"Come here, stop tidying up, let's sit down and talk."

Shen Shuangmiao went over curiously and sat down in front of him.

What do you want to tell me?

Seeing her obedient demeanor, Zhu Jin narrowed his eyes, took a deep breath, and asked, "Tell me, have you discovered something, or is there some other reason? Why is your expression towards me, and your attitude these past few days, so strange?"

Shen Shuangmiao's eyes flickered: "No, I don't know what you're talking about."

Zhu Jin held her hand, preventing her from turning away, and said, word by word, "You can't fool me. If you don't tell me, I'll keep waiting until you're willing to tell me. Only then will I be willing to listen to you, eat properly, and read properly."

"You can't suddenly feel sorry for me and want to let go of the past, can you?"

Shen Shuangmiao's breathing became slightly sluggish, and she couldn't utter a single word.