Huo Jiayuan's heart skipped a beat, her throat felt like it was tied in knots, her lips moved but she couldn't say anything.

She stared blankly at Meng Yan.

She didn't know how much Meng Yan knew about her identity, but judging from the tone of his question, he probably knew nothing about it, even if he had doubts.

“Yuan Yuan,” Meng Yan smiled bitterly, “from the time we met until now, I still don’t know who you really are.”

“Similarly,” he looked into her eyes, “you don’t know who I am either.”

Huo Jiayuan lowered her head, only a cool breeze brushing past her ears.

"All of this was done by your cousin."

Meng Yan's words were spoken softly, yet they struck Huo Jiayuan's heart like a heavy hammer.

She really wanted to tell him that Xiao Rong wasn't her cousin, that she was the heir to the Huo family, and that Xiao Rong was her bodyguard who had grown up with her since childhood.

He has always been loyal to her, how could he harm her?

This question haunted her like a curse for a long time. From the appearance of the two strange men on the ship to the subsequent notes, she felt as if she had entered a maze. However, there were also signs in the maze, and all the arrows seemed to point to one person: Xiao Rong.

She couldn't believe it, and she didn't want to believe it.

But when Meng Yan finally uttered those words, they shattered her last shred of hope.

"No!" Huo Jiayuan stood up excitedly, her voice trembling slightly. "I...I should go home. I need to find out if it really was him!"

"Do you still believe him now?" Meng Yan also stood up. He was a head taller than her when he stood up, but when facing her, he suppressed his oppressive aura.

"Yuan Yuan, I don't know if he is really your cousin, or maybe... he is just one of your closest relatives?"

"But the one inside..."

Meng Yan hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip and continued, "The person inside, when he was delirious, kept saying that Xiao Rong was the traitor!"

Huo Jiayuan's heart was pounding, as if it were about to burst out of her chest.

“Last time, I almost died in the boxing ring!” Meng Yan emphasized each word. “Do you know why?”

“I never take banned drugs. But that time I knew you were coming to see me, and the opponent was too strong. I was afraid you would see me lose, so I took the drugs that Fatty gave me.”

"That drug isn't some kind of stimulant or illegal substance!" he sneered. "It's a sleeping pill!"

Huo Jiayuan's eyes widened, her ears ringing.

“Because of this, I almost lost my life!” Zhao Ashuang said. “If someone hadn’t stepped in to save me, I would have really died there.”

"Someone stepped in..." Huo Jiayuan asked hesitantly, "Who?"

"Na Bailing".

She was taken aback; this was the second time she had heard this name from Meng Yan.

"Why did Na Bailing save you?" Huo Jiayuan felt a growing unease. "And why... did she save Peng Zheng? Does she want you to join a gang in the north?"

“I don’t know.” Meng Yan shook his head; this matter also puzzled him. He had only heard of Na Bailing by name, but had never seen her. “But I have a feeling that she’s observing us from the shadows.”

“Meng Yan…”

“I don’t have time to worry about that right now.” He looked at her and continued, “As soon as my injuries improved a little, I went to see Fatty. Fatty wouldn’t tell me the truth, and I found out through various inquiries that someone had contacted him before he gave me the sleeping pills, saying they wanted to get rid of me!”

Huo Jiayuan's heart was breaking. "That person is... Xiao Rong?"

Meng Yan didn't speak, but his silence seemed to say it all.

Huo Jiayuan took two steps back, feeling weak all over, as if her whole body had been hollowed out.

She didn't know who to trust anymore.

Meng Yan? Xiao Rong? Peng Zheng?

Or were those random notes again?

“A while ago, A Shuang gave me some medicine,” Meng Yan said in a low voice. “She said it was a prescription you wrote, and Xiao Rong gave it to him.”

Huo Jiayuan suddenly remembered the missing medicines in the kitchen cabinet.

Her heart clenched, and she asked him softly, "Have you...eaten?"

"No," Meng Yan replied. "People learn from their mistakes. I almost lost my life in the boxing ring, so I'm extra careful about what I put in my mouth."

She breathed a sigh of relief, and tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

Xiao Rong had known all along that these medicines were problematic, but he still gave them to Zhao Ashuang, and in her name no less... Xiao Rong probably guessed that Meng Yan would take any medicine she prepared without any suspicion.

If Meng Yan takes these medicines, his injuries will become even more serious!

so……

Are all these accidents not accidents at all, but deliberately created by Xiao Rong?

Is all of this bad news inextricably linked to Xiao Rong?

She felt a tightness in her chest, and a sharp pain spread from her bone marrow to her limbs and bones.

After an unknown amount of time, Meng Yan suddenly grasped her hand. Huo Jiayuan was startled and looked up to meet his gentle gaze. He softly said to her, "Tell me where your home is."

"What?"

"I'll take you home."

Huo Jiayuan was stunned for a moment, then looked at him quietly. The setting sun shone on her face, reflecting the desolation and helplessness in her eyes. She closed her eyes, and the stubborn tear finally rolled down her cheek.

Suddenly, a warm sensation covered her lips, and her mind went blank.

Meng Yan kissed her passionately.

He held her tightly in his arms, as if he were holding a lost treasure that had been found again, but the kiss also felt like an eternal farewell.

He didn't let go of Huo Jiayuan until she was almost out of breath, his eyes filled with reluctance.

“Meng Yan…”

“At first, I was annoyed with you,” he said with a smile. “You’re spoiled and can’t even clean the house. I have to do everything for you. I’ve always lived alone and don’t have the habit or patience to take care of people.”

She lowered her eyes and smiled softly.

"But later, I decided I was willing to take care of you."

"Why?"

Meng Yan shook her head honestly.

He didn't know the answer; perhaps matters of the heart are inherently incomprehensible.

"But I know that... it's impossible between us."

His voice grew softer and softer, and the light in her eyes dimmed instantly.

“I’m telling the truth. We belong to two different worlds.” He looked at her. “But Yuan Yuan, I still want to do everything I can to protect you… I will take you home and hand you over to your family.”

"Mmm." She nodded and leaned against his strong chest.

She thought she might never fall in love with anyone else again.

But before leaving Biandu, she had to find out Xiao Rong's true colors. If he really was a dangerous person, then wouldn't his years of infiltration into the Huo family be a threat to them?

“By the way, Meng Yan,” she suddenly thought, “I’ve been receiving a lot of strange notes lately… Do you think this has anything to do with that Miss Nabaling?”