At that moment, Lang Feng was dutifully guarding the door. Upon seeing Lin Xihe return, he immediately raised his voice and shouted into the house, "Master, Miss Lin is back."

Upon hearing the sound, Lin Xihe instinctively stopped in her tracks.

Almost instantly after he finished speaking, Ji Zhuo rushed out of the house like a gust of wind.

He remains as charming as ever, and every time he appears, his outstanding appearance easily attracts everyone's attention.

However, at this moment, Lin Xihe lowered her eyes guiltily, avoiding his gaze and not daring to look him in the eye.

Seeing Lin Xihe, whom he had longed for day and night, so close at hand, with that face he had dreamed of so vividly before his eyes, Ji Zhuo's heart was overflowing with joy.

Especially when he saw a piece of paper with his surname written on it hanging on the wall in Lin Xihe's room, he became even more certain that Lin Xihe must also be thinking of him day and night.

Overwhelmed with emotion, he strode forward and pulled Lin Xihe into a tight embrace.

"Xi'er, I miss you so much."

Ji Zhuo's voice was deep and full of emotion, carrying the longing that had accumulated over two months of separation.

Lin Xihe clearly sensed the undisguised joy and longing on Ji Zhuo's face when he saw her, but as he held her tightly, her body stiffened slightly uncontrollably, and for a moment she was so flustered that she forgot to respond.

Ji Zhuo noticed her unusual behavior, gently loosened his embrace, and asked softly with a puzzled look in his eyes, "What's wrong? I've only been gone for a little over two months, and you don't recognize me anymore?"

"Ah Zhuo, you're finally back."

Lin Xihe forced herself to remain calm and took a step back, but her expression betrayed her unease.

At this moment, Yue Feng wisely withdrew quietly, leaving the space to the two people who had been separated for so long.

When only the two of them remained in the courtyard, Ji Zhuo's longing remained undiminished, and his eyes were filled with love as he looked at Lin Xihe.

"What's wrong?" Ji Zhuo asked again.

"Ah Zhuo, let's go inside and talk." After saying that, Lin Xihe took a few steps forward first.

After taking a few steps, he realized that Ji Zhuo had not followed and was standing still, his eyes filled with increasing doubt.

"Come in."

Helpless, Lin Xihe could only urge him again before going straight back into the house.

With a heart full of trepidation, she waited inside for a while before Ji Zhuo slowly walked in from outside.

Ji Zhuo managed to maintain that smile as he slowly sat down next to Lin Xihe.

"You don't seem too happy to see me? What's wrong? Do you think I came back too late?" Ji Zhuo's tone was somewhat indulgent.

"no."

Lin Xihe shifted slightly to the side, her voice barely audible, as she racked her brains trying to figure out how to bring up the matter.

Ji Zhuo, however, wouldn't allow her to dodge. He stretched out his long arm and gently pulled Lin Xihe back, asking, "Why are you hiding? What exactly happened?"

Lin Xihe slowly raised her eyes, meeting Ji Zhuo's gaze. Her lips were about to open, but she hesitated for a moment. All the words in her heart were on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't know where to begin.

"What's wrong? Is there anything you can't say in front of me?" Ji Zhuo's eyes were full of anxiety.

"Ah Zhuo, I..."

Lin Xihe had only uttered two words when she stopped again.

"Um?"

Ji Zhuo leaned slightly forward, urging her to continue.

"I......."

Lin Xihe hesitated again, unable to speak due to her inner struggle.

"Speak."

Ji Zhuo's voice also carried a hint of hesitation. He really couldn't figure out what was making Lin Xihe so reluctant to speak.

"I...I'm hungry..."

Lin Xihe ultimately couldn't muster the courage to tell the truth and what had happened between her and Gu Qinghuai.

As soon as she said that, she quickly stood up, trying to change the subject: "You came back so suddenly, you must not have eaten yet, go eat first."

Ji Zhuo, however, wouldn't let it go. He pulled her back, his strong arm encircling her waist, his gaze fixed on her flickering eyes. He said earnestly, "Tell me first before you eat. This stammering can't be anything good. What trouble have you gotten yourself into?"

"Or did you go out and get into a fight?"

"You went to my house and argued with my mother?"

Ji Zhuo blurted out a series of questions.

Lin Xihe panicked and pushed him away forcefully, saying with a hint of helplessness, "I really don't know what to say right now."

"We absolutely have to make this clear today."

Ji Zhuo's tone was resolute. He pulled Lin Xihe back again and made her sit beside him. Then he stood up, strode to the door, and slammed the door shut with a "click." His posture seemed to say, "Don't even think about leaving until you explain yourself."

After closing the door, Ji Zhuo slowly walked back and sat on the other side of the daybed.

He reached out and poured Lin Xihe a cup of hot tea, then poured one for himself as well.

At this moment, his gaze was fixed intently on Lin Xihe. He appeared calm, but the hand holding the teacup trembled involuntarily.

He was actually in a state of panic, and his nonchalant attitude was just a facade of composure. In reality, his heart was in turmoil.

Ji Zhuo thought to himself that he could accept whatever Lin Xihe did.

Even if, as I jokingly said, I did go to his house and have a fight with his mother, it wouldn't be a big deal. I could just put in more effort to appease both sides in the future.

Even if he accidentally offends someone, or loses something as crucial as a city defense map, he is confident that he can resolve the issue with his own abilities.

Just please, it must not be related to Gu Qinghuai. As long as her heart is still with me and she hasn't changed her mind, that's enough...

Lin Xihe took a deep breath, steeled her resolve, and thought that whether she faced the knife or not, she would be killed anyway.

If you want to continue this relationship with Ji Zhuo, he will find out about this sooner or later.

“Ah Zhuo, I... I have consummated my marriage with Gu Qinghuai.”

After Lin Xihe finished speaking, she was filled with guilt and fear, and dared not look Ji Zhuo in the eye.

In an instant, time seemed to freeze in the room, falling into a deathly silence, so quiet that even the sound of each other's breathing could be clearly heard.

Suddenly, a crisp cracking sound of ceramic breaking broke the deathly silence.

Ji Zhuo unconsciously squeezed the teacup in his hand until it shattered, tea splashing everywhere and flowing down his hand.

Immediately afterwards, bright red blood slowly seeped from Ji Zhuo's clenched fist, drop by drop, falling onto the table, as if also striking Lin Xihe's heart.

At this moment, the air pressure inside the room was so low that it was suffocating. Lin Xihe felt as if she were being pressed down by an invisible mountain, and she dared not move at all.