Seeing that Lin Xihe's expression was strange, Ling Xue quickly put down the children's clothes she was embroidering, with the needle and thread still casually draped over the fabric, and hurried forward to help Lin Xihe up.

Lin Xihe stood up, but gently pushed Ling Xue's hand away, her voice carrying an undeniable firmness: "I want to walk around by myself."

Ling Xue was taken aback, then nodded in understanding, took a few steps back, and gave Lin Xihe enough space.

Lin Xihe dragged her slightly heavy steps and slowly walked towards the backyard.

Her gaze was fixed straight ahead, as if searching for something, or perhaps running away from something. But when she reached the back door, she suddenly stopped, as if pulled back by an invisible hand.

Just then, a voice that was all too familiar rang out from outside the door: "Has this area been thoroughly searched?"

The voice was deep and powerful, carrying an innate authority; it could only be Ji Zhuo.

"Reporting to Lord Ji, this place has been thoroughly searched, and the target has not been found," another respectful voice replied.

After a brief silence, Ji Zhuo's hoarse voice rang out, a voice seemingly shrouded in a thick layer of sorrow, each word carrying endless pain and helplessness: "Step back..."

Upon hearing the word "step back," Lin Xihe seemed to be driven by an inexplicable force and involuntarily took a few steps forward.

At this moment, the two are separated by only a wall. One is inside the wall, filled with entanglement and reluctance; the other is outside the wall, filled with sadness and loss.

Immediately afterwards, a dull thud came from outside the wall, one after another, as Ji Zhuo's fist pounded heavily against the wall.

Those muffled thuds seemed to pierce through the walls, striking Lin Xihe's heart directly.

Each impact made her heart tremble.

"Why......."

Ji Zhuo's voice was trembling with tears: "Why... you promised me you would wait for me to come back."

"I shouldn't have agreed to the engagement, I was wrong, Xi'er..."

His words were filled with remorse: "I will never force you again, really, never again."

The cries from outside the wall were like sharp knives, piercing Lin Xihe's heart.

Her heart ached with each word Ji Zhuo spoke, and tears welled up uncontrollably, streaming down her cheeks.

Lin Xihe's hand trembled as she slowly raised it, gently stroking the wall in front of her, as if she could touch Ji Zhuo outside the wall.

At this moment, Ji Zhuo, outside the wall, had his hands covered in blood from pounding on the wall, but he felt no pain at all, and just subconsciously put his hands on the wall.

Feeling Ji Zhuo's pain and heartache, Lin Xihe's tears flowed like a flood.

The grief gradually overwhelmed her completely; she even had difficulty breathing due to the overwhelming sorrow and couldn't help but sob.

Realizing she had made a sound, Lin Xihe was terrified. She immediately covered her mouth tightly with both hands, her eyes wide open, afraid that Ji Zhuo outside the wall would discover her.

At that very moment, Ji Zhuo's sobbing outside abruptly stopped.

The whole world seemed to stand still at that moment, and the air became heavy.

Lin Xihe didn't dare to move at all, tears were still flowing, her heart was clenched, and she was extremely nervous.

And so, time seemed to stand still, and a very long time passed.

Finally, the sound of footsteps receding into the distance came from outside, one step at a time...