But Ye Qingliu knew that this was only a temporary suppression. The cracks in the core of the rules had not been healed, and the backlash had only been forcibly postponed, like a dormant volcano.
He stood up, his movements barely noticeable, and walked to the bedside table, picking up the silver-rimmed glasses he had taken off earlier and putting them back on his nose.
The lenses instantly blocked the fatigue and inhuman coldness surging in his eyes. He once again regained his calm and self-possessed self.
He walked to the door but did not open it immediately. Instead, he stood quietly for a few seconds, as if trying to calm the surging blood and the cold warning from the rules.
Then he reached out and unlocked the door.
“Click.”
The slight sound of the lock spring popping open was like thunder in the silent corridor.
Outside the door, Mu Xinrong suddenly raised his head like a frightened rabbit, and his tear-stained and despaired face was instantly filled with great tension and hope.
He almost used his hands and feet to get up from the ground, staggered to the door, and stared at the slowly opening door with his red eyes.
The door opened.
Ye Qingliu's tall figure appeared at the door, his face paler than usual, his lips tightly pursed, his gray-blue eyes behind the lenses still deep, but with an indescribable fatigue.
He exuded a clear and calm aura, as if he had just experienced a silent battle.
"He..." Mu Xinrong's voice was hoarse, with a strong crying tone and uncontrollable trembling. He only asked one word, but the rest of the words seemed to be stuck in his throat.
He couldn't say it. He was afraid of hearing the worst outcome.
"It's temporarily stable." Ye Qingliu's voice was steady, carrying a strange soothing power that clearly penetrated Mu Xinrong's panic. "The backlash of the rules has been suppressed, but the core cracks are still there. It's very fragile."
He spoke succinctly, not revealing any unnecessary information. His gaze fell calmly on Mu Xinrong's tear-stained face. "Right now, he needs absolute silence."
It's stable for now!
Mu Xinrong's heart seemed to be grasped by an invisible hand, and then suddenly released! Huge ecstasy and fear swept over him like a tide!
His legs went weak and he almost fell to his knees again. He quickly held onto the door frame to steady himself.
Tears welled up uncontrollably from her red eyes again, but this time they were tears of relief.
"I... I can..." Mu Xinrong looked inside the door anxiously, his voice still trembling, full of cautious hope and pleading.
He wanted to go in and see him, even just for a glance! He wanted to make sure he was still alive and still here!
"No." Ye Qingliu's voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. His eyes swept over Mu Xinrong's agitated and confused state. "Your current mood is the biggest source of stimulation for him."
He paused and added, his tone carrying a hint of unquestionable compulsion, "Go to the restaurant. Eat. Rest."
The commanding tone was cold and direct, but it was like a solid dam, forcibly blocking the surging torrent of Mu Xinrong's emotions.
Mu Xinrong looked into Ye Qingliu's deep and calm eyes, looked at his slightly pale face, and then thought of the terrifying energy fluctuations inside the door and the glaring red at the corners of Ye Qingliu's mouth...
He suddenly realized what price Qingliu had paid to suppress that collapse! A huge sense of guilt and gratitude surged in his heart, overwhelming the strong urge to get closer.
He sniffed hard, wiped the tears from his face, and forced himself to calm down.
He knew Qingliu was right.
If he went in now, it would only make Chao Youye, who had just stabilized, fall into panic and pain again.
"...Okay." Mu Xinrong uttered a word with difficulty, his voice still hoarse, but with a heavy sense of obedience.
He looked deeply and nostalgically at the blurry, quietly lying figure on the bed inside the door.
Then, as if he had used up all his strength, he turned and walked towards the restaurant very slowly, step by step.
Ye Qingliu watched Mu Xinrong's back as he left, and only slowly withdrew his gaze until he disappeared at the door of the restaurant.
He closed the guest room door gently, but did not close it completely, leaving a tiny gap.
Then he walked to the single sofa across the corridor and sat down, relaxing his body into the soft backrest and closing his eyes.
He needed rest. A brief, precious rest. The effort required to suppress the backlash of the rules had far exceeded his expectations. Between his brows, behind his glasses, was a deep exhaustion that could not be concealed.
In the restaurant, the aroma of the food had long since cooled and solidified. Hua Jinyue curled up in the corner of the large sofa, her face buried in the pillow, her shoulders still twitching slightly.
It was obvious that the terrifying alarm and roar just now scared her a lot, and even after returning to the restaurant, she was still unable to calm down completely.
Mu Xinrong walked in distraught, his face pale, his eyes red and swollen, his whole body looking like his soul had been taken away. He ignored the cold breakfast on the table, walked straight to the other end of the sofa, and sat down heavily.
The huge regret, heartache, fear, as well as the deep gratitude and guilt towards Ye Qingliu, were like countless cold vines, entwining his heart and making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
His mind repeatedly replayed the image of Chao Youye curled up in pain, the flickering dark blue mark on his wrist, the glaring blood at the corner of Ye Qingliu's mouth... and the belated, heartbreaking truth outside the door.
Time flowed slowly in the heavy silence. The sunlight outside the window was bright and cold, casting long shadows on the smooth floor.
An unknown amount of time passed, perhaps a few minutes, or perhaps a century. Mu Xinrong's empty gaze slowly focused on a corner of the sofa—the paper bag with the cute bear pattern printed on it that Hua Jinyue had left there.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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