"If you're not feeling well, you should go back. The Xia family has plenty of good doctors. Go back and let them take a good look at you; it might be much better than staying here."
The smile that had been plastered all over Zhao Guodong's face vanished as if swept away by a gust of wind, replaced by a slightly somber expression, his demeanor like branches and leaves touched by frost, exuding a chill.
His tone already hinted at a touch of displeasure, like an undercurrent quietly surging beneath a calm lake surface—seemingly undisturbed, but actually harboring turbulent undercurrents.
He knew perfectly well that if he couldn't even handle Xia Shuhua, he wouldn't be able to explain himself to Xia Xiong when he got back.
The thought of Xia Xiong's imposing face and unquestionable gaze caused his brows to furrow involuntarily, and deep wrinkles to appear on his forehead.
He then began to truly realize that Xia Shuhua this time seemed far more difficult to fool than ever before.
Seeing that Zhou Jing remained unmoved, silently lowering her head and constantly clutching the hem of her clothes as if it were her only support at that moment, ignoring his words, Zhao Guodong's anger suddenly flared up.
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, like the gaze of a hungry beast eyeing its prey in the dark, cold and greedy, but this glint was so fleeting that it was almost impossible to catch.
Immediately afterwards, he abruptly released Zhou Jing's hands. Those hands, which he had just been tightly gripping as if they were a lifeline, were now like hot irons, which he dismissed with disgust and impatience.
He stood up abruptly and paced back and forth in the living room, his heavy, hurried steps making a thud on the floor. The sound echoed in the quiet room, as if it were a manifestation of his inner turmoil and anxiety, each sound venting his dissatisfaction and anger.
"Shuhua, are you hiding something from me?" He suddenly stopped, turned around abruptly, and looked straight at Zhou Jing. His voice rose eight octaves instantly, carrying a hint of accusation, as if he were a powder keg that could explode at any moment.
"We're husband and wife, and the most important thing between husband and wife is trust. You can't even trust me?"
His gaze was like a sharp knife, fixed on Zhou Jing, trying to find even the slightest flaw in her evasive eyes and subtle changes in expression, like an experienced hunter searching for the tracks of his prey.
“I’ve already promised your dad, and now you suddenly say you’re not going. How am I supposed to explain this to him? Aren’t you deliberately pushing me into a fire pit and putting me in a difficult position?” His voice echoed in the empty living room, making Zhou Jing’s ears ring, as if the whole world was trembling at his roar.
Zhou Jing was startled by Zhao Guodong's sudden change, her body trembling slightly like a leaf in the wind. A strong sense of grievance welled up in her heart, overwhelming her like a surging tide, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
"I'm not hiding anything from you, I just really feel uneasy." Her eyes were slightly red, like a ripe peach, full yet fragile, as if tears could fall at any moment.
Her voice was choked with sobs, like a stream whose source was blocked; each word seemed to be squeezed out of her throat with great effort, carrying a strong sob.
At this moment, she was incredibly conflicted. She desperately wanted to tell Zhao Guodong all the fears and secrets in her heart, to release the immense pressure she had been under. But reason stood like a solid wall, firmly blocking her way, telling her that she absolutely could not say it. Once she did, what awaited her might be an abyss of no return.
"Uneasy? What's there to be uneasy about? What danger could there be in your own home? You're just too timid and always overthinking things."
Zhao Guodong sat back down next to Zhou Jing. He deliberately softened his tone, trying to sound gentler, but his words were still full of pressure, like layers of cold shackles ruthlessly around Zhou Jing's neck, making her feel increasingly suffocated.
He reached out and gently patted Zhou Jing's shoulder, seemingly to comfort her, but the strength under his hand was undeniable, as if reminding Zhou Jing that she had no choice.
“If you don’t go back, your dad will definitely think that I, as your son-in-law, haven’t taken good care of you. With his temper and methods, he might make things difficult for me at work and sabotage me. You know that this is a critical period for my career. If I make a mistake now, everything will be over. Please help me out of our marriage, okay?”
His voice was almost pleading, trembling slightly, as if he were begging fate, but his eyes revealed a resolute determination to achieve his goal, like a warrior who had made up his mind to conquer the world.
Zhou Jing lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes like a flood about to burst forth.
She knew better than anyone that Zhao Guodong was using her, taking advantage of her feelings for him, and exploiting her kindness and soft heart.
Yet she also harbored a deep love for Zhao Guodong, a love like a vine deeply rooted in her heart, intertwined and impossible to sever.
She couldn't bear to see him lose his chance in the Xia family because of this. The thought that Zhao Guodong might become disappointed, frustrated, or even despondent because of her rejection made her heart feel like it was being cut by a sharp knife, and the pain was so intense that she could hardly breathe.
Under Zhao Guodong's combination of coercion and persuasion, and his constant verbal attacks, her psychological defenses were like a castle that had been under continuous bombardment for a long time. The walls were already riddled with holes and finally began to crumble.
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