Chapter 45: A Glimmer of Light in the Rift
Ever since that near-destructive confrontation in the study, the air in the apartment seemed frozen. Su Yan had become unusually silent, like a wandering spirit, minimizing his presence as much as possible. He no longer tried to approach Huo Shen, even avoiding eye contact. Every casual glance reminded him of Huo Shen's eyes, brimming with rage, that threatened to devour him.
Huo Shen also returned to his usual coldness and aloofness, even more so than before. He no longer allowed Su Yan to enter the study, and rarely even spent time in the living room. He spent most of his time locked up in the study, handling official business, as if the uncontrolled rage that night had never happened, or perhaps he was deliberately sealing that memory with a thicker layer of ice.
Assistant Zhou showed up on time, reported, and left. His expression was always impeccable, but Su Yan could sense the scrutiny he received from him, more frequent and colder than before. It was like evaluating an item about to lose its value, calculating how to dispose of it for maximum profit.
Su Yan knew that he had to do something to break the deadlock. Otherwise, when Huo Shen's patience ran out or Assistant Zhou found conclusive evidence, his fate would be unimaginable.
The opportunity presented itself one evening. Huo Shen, having finished work early for a rare occasion, sat on the sofa in the living room, his eyes closed, a look of deep fatigue between his brows. Su Yan hesitated for a long time, but ultimately walked over cautiously, carrying a cup of hot milk.
Instead of moving closer like before, he stopped a few steps away and gently placed the milk on the coffee table.
"Sir," he said in a soft voice, with obvious timidity and uneasiness, "drink some milk, maybe... you will sleep better."
Huo Shen didn't open his eyes or respond, as if he didn't hear anything.
Su Yan's heart sank, and he was about to retreat silently, but Huo Shen suddenly spoke, his voice a little hoarse and tired:
"Are you afraid of me?"
Su Yan's body stiffened, he clenched the corner of his clothes and answered honestly: "... I'm afraid."
This was the truth. After passing by the study that time, his fear of Huo Shen had penetrated deep into his bones.
Huo Shen slowly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on his slightly trembling fingers, his expression complex and indistinguishable. "Being afraid is a good thing." His tone was flat, and no emotion could be heard.
He picked up the glass of milk, but didn't drink it. He just held it in his hand, feeling the warmth coming from the wall. "Su Yan," he suddenly called him by his full name, which made Su Yan's heart jump even more. "I'll give you one last chance."
Su Yan suddenly looked up and looked at him.
Huo Shen's gaze was as sharp as a knife, as if he wanted to completely dissect him from the inside out: "Behave yourself and stay within the circle I've drawn for you. I won't pursue the past."
This was an ultimatum, but also... a disguised promise. As long as he didn't cross the line again, Huo Shen was willing to maintain the status quo.
Su Yan's heart pounded in his chest. He knew this was the best offer he could get. But he also knew that the so-called "keeping to himself" was nothing more than a slow death. Assistant Zhou would never let him go.
He had to take a gamble! He bet that Huo Shen's suspicion of Assistant Zhou had surpassed his anger towards him!
He took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind. He raised his head and looked directly at Huo Shen. His voice was still filled with fear, but with a hint of desperate determination.
"Sir, I... I want to be content. But..." He paused, as if he couldn't bring himself to speak, but eventually he said, "I'm afraid... of Assistant Zhou. I always feel... that the way he looks at me, he doesn't look like he's looking at one of 'his own'."
He offered no evidence, merely expressing his "feelings." Under normal circumstances, this would undoubtedly have seemed like a clumsy provocation. But at a moment when Huo Shen had already developed subtle suspicions about Assistant Zhou, it was like a stone thrown into a lake.
Huo Shen's grip on the cup tightened imperceptibly, his eyes suddenly becoming deep. He didn't immediately refute Su Yan, nor did he agree. He just looked at him silently, as if his eyes were measuring the truth in his words and... his motives for saying this at this moment.
This silence is a signal in itself!
Su Yan knew that he had made the right bet! Huo Shen listened to it!
He didn't dare to say anything more, and immediately lowered his head, returning to his timid look: "I... I'm just afraid... If the master thinks I'm talking too much, I..."
"That's enough." Huo Shen interrupted him, his tone unrecognizable. He placed the slightly cold cup of milk back on the coffee table and stood up. "Remember my words. Do what you should do, and don't worry about anything else."
After saying that, he turned and left the living room without even looking at Su Yan.
Su Yan stood there alone, his palms covered in sweat. Those few short words had almost drained all his courage.
He didn't know how effective his risky warning would be, but at least he had planted a clearer seed of suspicion about Assistant Zhou in Huo Shen's heart. At the same time, in a nearly self-destructive way, he also made it clear to Huo Shen that he only wanted to protect himself.
It was a risky move, but he had no way out. He could only pray that this seed would take root and sprout quickly in Huo Shen's heart, before Assistant Zhou could strike him. He also had to hurry and find substantive evidence that could truly protect him, or even strike back. The speculation about Ah Xi's death and Huo Shen's secret medication were his last and most powerful trump cards, and they had to be revealed at the most crucial moment.
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