Song Wan's heart skipped a beat, and she quietly agreed before hanging up the phone.

Later that evening, Bai Ruogu called, his tone as hurried as ever. Song Wan checked the time; a day and a night had passed since she had called him.

"Ruogu," she asked him softly, "don't you think there's something... a little... between us..."

This is not normal.

She hesitated for a few seconds before swallowing those three words back.

Bai Ruogu paused, as if realizing something, "Song Wan, did you encounter any difficulties over there?"

“No,” she forced a smile, “I moved.”

"oh."

"Next time you come back, don't go to that old house to look for me."

"You got promoted?" Bai Ruogu chuckled. "Did you get a raise? Congratulations!"

Song Wan let out a long breath and smiled helplessly.

She and Bai Ruogu seemed to live in two different worlds.

"Okay, I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm a bit busy here."

"Busy?" Song Wan wondered. It was the middle of the night there. What was he busy with in the middle of the night?

"Ruogu, I..."

"Song Wan, let's leave it at that for now." Bai Ruogu's tone was urgent. "I'll call you back in a couple of days. Um... I'll be going back at the beginning of next month to discuss our wedding, okay?"

"Um."

Song Wan nodded.

That "hmm" carried a hint of perfunctoriness and dejection.

She didn't know what the problem was between her and Bai Ruogu, but she knew there must be something wrong between them.

Perhaps from the very beginning, the problem lay in a lack of love.

Song Wan leaned back on the soft sofa, with the sea visible through the window. Gazing at the beautiful scenery in the distance, her fatigue was instantly dispelled.

Lin Zhaojiang arrived as promised over the weekend.

He didn't come alone, but brought Huo Jiayuan with him. He was afraid that Song Wan would feel uncomfortable.

Huo Jiayuan hugged Song Wan as soon as he entered the door, like a happy little rabbit.

"Teacher Song! Your house is so big!"

Song Wan, still holding a spatula, smiled and nudged Huo Jiayuan.

"Yuan Yuan, stop fooling around, I'm still keeping the engine running!"

"Teacher Song, what delicious food are you making for me?"

You'll find out soon enough!

Song Wan hurriedly ran back to the kitchen.

Lin Zhaojiang took out slippers from the shoe cabinet, put them on, and walked into the living room, where he smelled a delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen.

She's making soup.

But this tastes different from the soup she used to make for him.

His feet moved uncontrollably, and he found himself at the kitchen doorway. The sight of the young woman bustling about in the kitchen stirred a flutter in his heart.

"What kind of soup is this?" he asked with a light laugh.

Song Wan was taken aback. "Oh, I made ginseng chicken soup. This ginseng was brought from my hometown by my sister; it's of very good quality. Try it in a bit!"

Lin Zhaojiang noticed the peeled yams beside him. "Don't we need to put these in the soup?"

"What, you like it?" Song Wan was a little surprised and couldn't help but laugh. "Haha, I was originally planning to stew yam and pork ribs! But my sister said that many people don't like the taste of yam, and I was afraid you wouldn't like it either, so she wouldn't let me make it."

Lin Zhaojiang's eyes flickered slightly.

He really didn't like eating yams, but the yams Song Wan made were especially delicious, with none of the flavors he disliked.

He almost craved that taste.

It's a pity she's forgotten everything.

"Mr. Lin, please don't stand here," she said with a smile. "It's too smoky in here. Why don't you go to the living room and have some fruit? I have another dish, it'll be ready soon!"

Lin Zhaojiang nodded and walked out.

He looked up and saw Song Xi standing timidly in the center of the living room, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

At this moment, Song Wan brought out the soup and placed it on the table.

Lin Zhaojiang's brow twitched, and he smiled as he looked at Song Wan, "Do you have chili sauce?"

"Mr. Lin, you still won't give up?" Song Wan smiled. "Didn't I tell you that your wound hasn't healed yet, so you can't eat spicy food? Besides, chili peppers are irritating and bad for your stomach."

I'll just eat a little!

"Hmm... okay." Seeing that he was such a good student, Song Wan smiled and agreed, "Then I'll just eat a little bit, but we don't have any chili sauce at home, so I have to go downstairs to buy some."

"Then I'll trouble you to make the trip." Lin Zhaojiang called Huo Jiayuan over, "Take Yuanyuan with you, she knows which brand I like."

Huo Jiayuan was lively and active, so she was naturally willing to accept this task.

The two walked out of the house, and Lin Zhaojiang turned back to look at Song Xi. Song Xi's face was full of sorrow; she wanted to say something, but when she moved her lips, she couldn't utter a single word.

"You're not at ease?" Lin Zhaojiang raised an eyebrow, his voice low and stern. "Afraid those debt collectors will be waiting downstairs?"

"I……"

Song Xi had never dared to look Lin Zhaojiang in the eye before, and now that they were in the same room, she was even more timid.

"Come and take a look." Lin Zhaojiang turned on the monitor screen by the door, and the screen showed the scene downstairs.

Song Wan led the bouncy Huo Jiayuan, and the two walked one after the other toward the neighborhood supermarket, with Huo family bodyguards behind them.

"Now you can rest assured," Lin Zhaojiang said calmly. "That child is the Huo family's little princess, pampered and precious. Do you think the Huo family would put her in danger? The bodyguards with them are all top-notch experts selected from thousands. Song Wan will be fine with Yuan Yuan by her side."

Song Xi lowered her eyes and gently rubbed her hands together.

After a long silence, she said in a low voice, "Mr. Lin only kept me behind. Is there something you want to say? That's perfect, I also have a few words I'd like to say to Mr. Lin alone."

Lin Zhaojiang sat elegantly on the sofa, legs crossed, quietly watching her. "Then you go first."

“Mr. Lin…” Song Xi stammered, “Mr. Lin, are you… are you serious about Wanwan this time?”

Lin Zhaojiang glanced at her. "Do I need to answer that question?"

He remained as arrogant and condescending as ever.

“Song Xi, this trouble was clearly caused by you. If you could control your husband, if you weren’t so weak-willed, Wanwan could be living a peaceful life now.”

"Yes, it's all my fault. Our whole family is a burden to her." Song Xi lowered her head, bit her lip, and then looked up at him. "But Mr. Lin, since meeting you, has Wanwan ever had a peaceful day? Whether in the past or now, you always barge into her life without even a word. How can she live a peaceful life?"

Lin Zhaojiang suddenly looked at her, his eyes filled with anger.

“Mr. Lin, we used to...we were indeed supported by you, but Wanwan followed you for three years, and then you ruined her life so badly…”

"Enough!"

Lin Zhaojiang stood up and strode towards the balcony. Song Xi only glanced at his back before she could feel the chill and powerful pressure emanating from him.

“Mr. Lin…” She wanted to say something more, but Lin Zhaojiang raised his hand, signaling her not to continue.

Song Xi turned around and went back to her room, silently closing the door.

Lin Zhaojiang gazed at the distant sea, his thoughts drifting back to that autumn three years ago.