Seeing Zhou Xing leave, Qin Xiaoyu sat up abruptly, her head spinning, and she almost fell off the bed.

"How much did you drink?" Zhou Yue asked angrily.

"It's okay, it's not that serious. I'm not sleeping here, I'm going back. Are they asleep?" Qin Xiaoyu stood up, but stumbled again, and Zhou Yue pushed her back onto the bed.

"Those two brothers went to bed early. You better behave yourself. It's so late, do you think I'll let you go?" Zhou Yue knew Qin Xiaoyu would be back late, so she deliberately left the child behind.

"Yes, I have to go. Tonight... never mind, I'll tell you in detail tomorrow." Qin Xiaoyu squeezed past Zhou Yue.

Although it was already June, the night breeze was still a bit chilly. Qin Xiaoyu was much more awake now. She tidied her messy hair and walked steadily.

She already regretted it. Tonight, she originally wanted to save face for Tang Wenwen, but she unintentionally became ambiguous with Zhou Xing, which would cause him to misunderstand.

Qin Xiaoyu sighed. She had people who liked her too, but Wang Lei had appeared earlier, so she hadn't paid him any attention, and felt no remorse for the hurt he had suffered.

But why is Zhou Xing different? She always considers things for him, afraid that he will be in pain, hurt, or tired.

Could it be...?

"Little Fish, why are you running around like that! If you want to go back, wait for me to take you! Have you forgotten what happened in the provincial capital last time?" Zhou Xing chased after him, panting.

"Go back and rest, I'm fine. It's just a few more steps." Qin Xiaoyu turned her head, looked at his cold face in the moonlight, stared at him for a while, and suddenly had the urge to touch him again.

Alcohol is really a bad thing; her mind is in turmoil.

She shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off those unwanted thoughts.

"You're really stubborn." Zhou Xing's tone was stern, but his eyes softened.

"Are we going to stand here until dawn? I'm leaving." As soon as Qin Xiaoyu turned around, she felt her body lighten, and after a spin, she was in Zhou Xing's arms.

Zhou Xing had run out of courage, so he just held her like that, not daring to move.

Qin Xiaoyu's heart began to pound wildly, like a drumbeat. Her vision was completely dark; she could see and hear nothing, only the joyful sound of her heartbeat enveloping her.

"Silly girl." She felt her body lighten as Zhou Xing released her and whispered in her ear.

Qin Xiaoyu was so embarrassed that she didn't dare to look up, burying her face in his chest and remaining motionless.

"Do you want to stand here forever?" Zhou Xing teased, twirling her hair. Qin Xiaoyu turned and ran. She had just worked up a sweat and was completely sober. Her steps were light, like a deer, and Zhou Xing had no choice but to chase after her.

"We're almost there, you don't need to see me off. Let's just pretend today's events never happened." Seeing the school gate, Qin Xiaoyu stopped. She was worried about gossip if a student who was getting up in the middle of the night saw her; she wanted to be careful.

"Okay, whatever you say, nothing happened." Zhou Xing grinned mischievously.

"You..." Qin Xiaoyu stomped her foot angrily, and Zhou Xing's mouth widened even more as he backed away and waved to her.

Zhou Xing was happy at this moment, and so was Qin Xiaoyu. Despite all the suppression she faced, a sweet feeling slowly filled her heart. She was truly in love.

The courtyard was quiet. Qin Xiaoyu paused under the tree for a moment, looked up at the moon, and knew that she was both beautiful and lonely at that moment, like Cinderella who fled in panic after the clock struck twelve. Let the dream never end.

She suddenly felt uneasy and turned around sharply. A tall, dark figure emerged from the shadows and approached her step by step.

"Brother," Qin Xiaoyu called out in a panic, her confidence waning.

She had no idea how much Qiao Si had seen. She wasn't unaware of Qiao Si's feelings for her; she had simply been avoiding them.

It's not a good thing for Qiao Sichuang to see her with Zhou Xing now; he might not even give her a chance to explain.

Recalling the rumors about his ruthlessness in the martial arts world, Qin Xiaoyu couldn't help but imagine a bloody scene with intestines spilling out on the ground. So when Qiao Si reached out his hand to her, she subconsciously shrank back.

Qiao Si's hand froze.

Qin Xiaoyu realized that she had just made a fatal mistake. The trust she had worked so hard to build with Qiao Si had been destroyed in an instant, and now she was in a very dangerous situation.

She couldn't help but glance at the dark two-story building, but it was no use; none of the people there could save her.

Qiao Si's eyes were narrowed, as if he could read her every thought, but he hesitated to make a move, like a cat toying with its prey.

"Let's go." Qiao Si only said one word.

Qin Xiaoyu's legs went weak; she knew there was no hope.

She knew struggling was futile. Rather than dying a gruesome death in the courtyard and becoming the subject of gossip, she preferred to leave quietly. Her departure from this world in her previous life had been unbearable; she couldn't let others talk about her again in this one.

Qin Xiaoyu obediently followed behind Qiao Si, step by step.

If someone saw them at this moment, they would mistake them for a couple returning home late, neither too close nor too far, with a subtle connection and a certain tacit understanding.

Qin Xiaoyu tried to sort out her thoughts and find a way to save herself, but her mind was too chaotic. Whenever she thought about it, Zhou Xing's image would immediately appear. She worried that he would blame himself for the rest of his life after he found out about her accident, and that he would fight Qiao Si to the death.

She bit her lip hard. Going mad was her just desserts. She shouldn't have made such a bold promise. She had sworn to Qiao Si that she would never remarry, and now even the heavens were punishing her.

Fortunately, there is one thing to be relieved about: if she were to pass away, Hanhan and her younger sister would receive the best care from the Zhou family and would not have to worry about them in the future.

Qin Xiaoyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Qiao Si seemed to notice and turned around to stare at her.

They had reached the entrance of an old warehouse, surrounded by factory walls. Even if she screamed at the top of her lungs, no one would come to save her.

Qiao Si opened the door, but it was pitch black inside, and he couldn't see anything.

Qiao Si tilted his head slightly, gesturing for Qin Xiaoyu to go inside.

Qin Xiaoyu had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk inside.

The moonlight outside was bright, but entering the dark room meant complete darkness. She tripped over a chair, leaning forward, and frantically reached out for support, finally touching a table. But what was this soft, creaking thing?

mouse!

Qin Xiaoyu screamed and turned to rush towards the light coming from the doorway, where the rats she feared most were.

Her emotions were in turmoil that night; she had been drinking, she had been emotional, and now she was filled with endless fear.

She felt a tightness in her chest, wanted to vomit but couldn't, saw stars before her eyes, and felt as limp as a lump of mud.

When she slowly regained consciousness, she was shocked to find herself curled up in Qiao Si's arms, clinging tightly to his neck.