Her eyes were dark and clear, like obsidian immersed in water. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, clearly waiting for an answer, yet they were as beautiful as a piece of translucent amber, making it impossible for him to look away.

His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice slightly hoarse but exceptionally clear: "I don't blame him, after all, he saved you."

Xu Zhuohua stared at him intently.

She frowned slightly, as if carefully assessing his emotions, her eyes as clear as the sky after the rain, staring intently at him without moving.

The love surging in his eyes was so overwhelming, like a rising tide, washing over her with unstoppable force, instantly enveloping her and almost drowning her in this burning affection.

I couldn't hold back any longer.

Xu Zhuohua took a deep breath, stood on tiptoe, tilted her head slightly, and gently covered Cheng Muyun's lips with hers.

The kiss was light, like a feather brushing against my heart, carrying a cautious exploration and a longing that had been suppressed for too long.

The moment the soft touch came, both of them were slightly taken aback.

But the body's memory awakens faster than reason.

This familiar temperature, this perfectly fitting curve, it's clearly the touch of a lover etched into my very bones.

Cheng Muyun tightened his arms around her, pulling her closer into his embrace. His kiss instantly became domineering and forceful, filled with an irresistible possessiveness, as he gently captured her lips.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

The sounds of the wind, cicadas, and distant noises all became blurred background noise.

They kissed for a long time, so long that it seemed as if they had witnessed the changing of the world, so long that their tongues could taste the salty tears on each other's lips, yet they still couldn't bear to let go even for a moment.

In the brief moment between their intertwined breaths, both of them knew clearly that at this moment, distance, misunderstandings, and obstacles had all become fleeting clouds.

From this day forward, no one can separate them anymore.

They were a match made in heaven, as if bound together by the red thread of fate from birth, a bond that no storm could tear apart, no distance could sever. This bond was etched into their very bones, becoming the strongest support in each other's lives.

The road ahead is long, it may be sunny and clear, or it may be stormy and thunderous; it may be smooth and open, or it may be full of thorns, but they both know clearly in their hearts—no matter what lies ahead, they will never let go of each other's hands again. Whether they walk side by side to see the flowers in full bloom, or hand in hand to traverse the mud, this determination to stay together is stronger than gold and stone.

They remained tightly embraced, forehead to forehead, their breaths mingling. The promise of "never to be apart" needed no words; it had already flowed into their souls through their veins the moment they reunited, becoming an unspoken understanding.

Xu Jixin stood not far away for a long time, watching the two figures who seemed oblivious to their surroundings and reluctant to part, patiently waiting and waiting.

Only when the two finally separated by a small distance did he step forward and his gaze fall on Xu Zhuohua's face—that familiar yet somewhat haggard face that made even this usually stubborn man's eyes uncontrollably redden.

"You brat!" Xu Jixin's voice was deliberately stern, but he couldn't hide the tremor in his tone. "You're still too green to play the 'golden cicada shedding its shell' trick with your brother! So what? In the end, I still managed to find out."

As soon as he finished speaking, tears welled up in his eyes and streamed down his face, soaking his clothes and leaving a small, dark, wet stain.

From the moment he boarded the ship, he firmly believed in his heart that Xu Zhuohua was still alive and waiting for them somewhere.

But when I actually saw her standing in front of me, her breath warm and her eyes clear, the emotions that had been suppressed for so long exploded, bringing an indescribable shock.

The feeling of losing something and then getting it back was like a jumble of flavors—sour, astringent, bitter, and sweet—all rushing up at once, making him unable to stop his tears from falling.

Looking at her second brother's red eyes, Xu Zhuohua felt as if her throat had been rubbed with sandpaper, and she managed to squeeze out a hoarse sentence: "Second brother, I'm sorry."

Xu Jixin abruptly raised his hand to cover his eyes, quickly turning his head away as if he didn't want her to see his loss of composure. His voice was muffled: "Don't apologize to me. If you have to blame someone, blame your second brother for being stupid and not noticing something was wrong sooner, leaving you to suffer so much alone outside..."

Xu Zhuohua was prepared to be scolded.

After all, she had kept it a secret from everyone and hidden away without saying a word. Even if Xu Jixin gave her a severe scolding, she deserved it.

But to her utter surprise, what awaited her was not angry accusations or disappointed complaints, but rather an overflowing heartache.

The words "I've made you suffer so much" were like a gentle needle, lightly piercing her long-held strength, and tears instantly blurred her vision.

Tears streamed down her face again. "Second brother, it was I who asked Father to keep it from everyone."

Xu Jixin sighed, "If it weren't for the old man's obstruction, I probably would have found out long ago. Xu Zhuohua, you're really something, managing to hide right under my nose."

Xu Zhuohua was a little embarrassed. "Second brother, I really didn't mean to avoid you."

Xu Jixin waved his hand, "Forget it, I'm magnanimous and won't hold it against you. You should think about how to explain this to the others."

Xu Zhuohua found it strange, "What other people?"

“Everyone, Xin Haicheng, your family, your wife’s family, your husband’s family, and Xiao Wuxin, he was heartbroken for a long time because of your death, saying things like he lost a close friend and that it was like Bo Ya breaking his string.”

Xu Zhuohua felt even more guilty towards everyone after not expecting Xiao Wuxin to value her so much.

Among the people I've met, there may be some who have left a deep impression on me, but I haven't considered their feelings at all. My attempt to fake my death is actually the most insignificant kind of escape.

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