Xu Zhuohua stood rooted to the spot, her feet seemingly nailed to the ground.

The moonlight outlined Chen Hede's tall and slender figure, and his image was reflected in her pupils. Although he was so close, there was an inexplicable sense of distance between them.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but her throat seemed blocked, and she could only utter a barely audible whisper: "I..."

All the doubts, worries, and unspeakable probing thoughts swirling in my mind were stuck on the tip of my tongue, and I couldn't bring myself to say them.

But Chen Hede seemed to be able to see through her thoughts, a faint smile curving his lips, with a hint of understanding: "You want to ask why I stood on Cheng Muyun's side without reservation, right? You're afraid I have other intentions, afraid I'll switch sides at the crucial moment, aren't you?"

Xu Zhuohua didn't speak, but her hands, hanging by her sides, clenched quietly.

Silence spread in the night, yet it was the most straightforward acquiescence.

Chen Hede slowly turned around, his back to the door, looked up at the waning moon in the sky, and sighed softly, his voice tinged with self-mockery: "How should I put it... Xu Zhuohua, your worries are not without reason. Lan Qingyi did indeed approach me, promising me high-ranking official positions and generous salaries, saying that as long as I was willing to help him bring down Cheng Muyun, I would have a share of half of Dongzhou in the future."

"What?" Xu Zhuohua's heart jumped into her throat, her voice trembled slightly, and she looked at him with panic in her eyes, as if she were seeing this person for the first time.

Chen Hede's gaze fell on the distant wall, his tone as calm as if he were talking about someone else: "You should know that I climbed up from the very bottom step by step. Only I know how much hardship I have endured and how many scornful looks I have suffered. The things that Lan Qingyi Xu offered were temptations that I never dared to even think about."

He paused, turned to look at Xu Zhuohua, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—a mixture of self-mockery, determination, and a barely perceptible sting.

He could tell that her concern for Cheng Muyun was ingrained in her very being; her nervousness was almost instinctive.

“But I know even better what kind of person Cheng Muyun is.” Chen Hede’s voice suddenly turned deep, with an almost devout solemnity. “He is willing to hide in the shadows and shield everyone from open and hidden attacks; he is willing to bear the infamy just to protect this land beneath his feet; he is even willing to risk his own life to gamble on a future that we all want to see but may not necessarily come to pass.”

“I’m not a saint, but I know what’s worthwhile and what’s not.” His eyes shone brightly, like the brightest star in the night sky. “He and I share the same land and protect the same people. We believe in the same ideal and hope for the same tomorrow. So rest assured, I will never betray him.”

“I am his believer, and even more so, his fellow traveler.”

The wind blew through the yard, swirling up a few fallen leaves that gently landed at their feet.

Looking into Chen Hede's eyes, which reflected the moonlight, Xu Zhuohua suddenly felt that all the heavy doubts in her heart had been blown away at that moment.