Chapter 258 Honesty
"...How did you know?" Xia Mian asked the most idiotic question.
"Get in the car first and we'll talk about it later."
To avoid alerting their target, Zhou Pingchuan chose a very discreet car: a white Kia made in South Korea, the kind you see everywhere on the street. No one would guess that a top-tier tycoon and his most popular young actor were inside.
The interior of the vehicle was surprisingly spacious, filled with bulletproof glass and equipped with a high-powered engine. Furthermore, in addition to the main vehicle, the other vehicles were arranged in groups of four, forming a convoy to provide comprehensive, unobstructed protection for the family. Judging by this setup, unless heavily armed, no one could harm Xia Mian.
Before getting into the car, Zhou Pingchuan gave Jack a brief explanation. Xia Mian clicked her tongue, about to speak to Zhou Pingchuan, when he shoved her into the car.
"The surroundings look pretty safe, is it really necessary?" Xia Mian muttered to herself.
"As for it." Zhou Pingchuan's tone was indifferent, but Xia Mian could hear the deep regret hidden in his voice.
“It’s my fault this time. I insisted on coming to South Korea for training. There are plenty of good coaches in China. I’ll be more careful in the future,” he comforted Zhou Pingchuan.
In China, aside from filming dramas and recording variety shows, Zhou Pingchuan would always arrange bodyguards to protect Xia Mian.
However, this training session was completely closed off, and bodyguards couldn't enter the dance troupe's building. Coupled with visa issues, Zhou Pingchuan became negligent.
Little did I know that my one and only oversight would almost lead to a terrible disaster.
"Alright," Xia Mian glanced at the two mercenaries in front of her and secretly took Zhou Pingchuan's hand, "Don't overthink it. I'm sitting right next to you. Tell me how you noticed that Xia Mingzhao was acting strangely."
Zhou Pingchuan gripped Xia Mian's hand tightly, their fingers intertwined. "Xia Mingzhao is perfectly normal, but you seem to care a lot about him. So I guess you've discovered something."
Ever since Zhou Pingchuan stumbled upon Xia Mian and Xia Mingzhao's "secret conversation" in the tea room, he has had people watching Xia Mingzhao closely, keeping a close eye on his every move. Unfortunately, Xia Mingzhao is perfectly normal, living his life earnestly, working hard, and occasionally going out for a stroll or to see a movie, just like any other ordinary young man.
Including just now, because he wasn't present, Zhou Pingchuan didn't hear what Yu Xingtong said, so naturally he didn't know what key information Yu Xingtong revealed.
He could only guess, based on his understanding of summer sleep.
Summer hibernation feels like a fishbone stuck in my throat.
"Mianmian," Zhou Pingchuan pondered for a long time before finally asking, "What exactly is your connection with Xia Mingzhao?"
In terms of insight, Xia Mian was far inferior to Zhou Pingchuan. He knew that those little tricks would be exposed sooner or later, but because Zhou Pingchuan didn't ask, he pretended to be ignorant.
Even now, he still chooses to play dumb: "It's just my intuition. I always felt that he was hostile towards me, which may be related to our background. You know, the hospital switched the babies, it's super dramatic."
“Mianmian,” Zhou Pingchuan turned to look at Xia Mian, “I don’t want to experience the fear of losing you again. Tell me.”
After saying that, he closed his eyes briefly. Inside the unfinished building, he had to manage the mercenaries and issue orders, requiring him to remain calm and collected. Now, back in the absolute safety of the environment, a profound weariness washed over him, impossible to conceal.
My voice started to become hoarse.
Xia Mian had marveled at Zhou Pingchuan's energy more than once. Despite the intense work day after day, Zhou Pingchuan was still able to maintain his professionalism, focus, and make accurate decisions, which was something that ordinary people could not do.
Zhou Pingchuan's existence is like a mountain; no matter how hard ordinary people try to climb it, they can never reach even a tenth or a twelfth of his achievements in their entire lives.
Now, this mountain is in grave danger, teetering on the brink of collapse before him.
Xia Mian's nose stung terribly, and she really wanted to slap herself twice.
You're so foolish, so incredibly foolish!
I always felt sorry for Zhou Pingchuan, always afraid he would collapse after learning the truth about the "paper doll." But Zhou Pingchuan wasn't that fragile.
Is it fair for Zhou Pingchuan to keep the truth hidden in his heart?
The most basic requirement for couples—or rather, husbands and wives—is to be honest with each other. How honest can he be with Zhou Pingchuan?
One-sided "for your own good" is actually the most selfish behavior!
Xia Mian took a deep breath: "Brother Chuan, what I'm about to say might be a bit absurd..."
Xia Mian then told Zhou Pingchuan that she was a transmigrator. She also explained the world-building, character settings, and general plot of "Love in the Palm" to Zhou Pingchuan in detail.
Zhou Pingchuan was calmer than he had imagined: "How did you come into this world? In your words, the world of a book."
“I…” Xia Mian was reluctant to face it, “In real life… I should be dead.”
Zhou Pingchuan: "Does it hurt?"
“I don’t remember, I guess it didn’t hurt,” Xia Mian smiled. “Sorry, Brother Chuan, I’m only telling you now.”
From the moment Zhou Pingchuan met Xia Mian, he realized that she was different from the description in the background check. He thought that "Xia Mian" had been replaced by someone else, but the DNA comparison results of the physical examination refuted his guess.
I never expected it to be for this reason, which was both unexpected and perfectly logical.
"So, Brother Chuan," Xia Mian asked cautiously, "won't you... feel disappointed?"
“There’s nothing to be disappointed about,” Zhou Pingchuan said calmly. “No matter what happens in the world, I am in control of my own life.”
Xia Mian once again redefined her understanding of Zhou Pingchuan. How could his core as a lover be so stable and confident?
How long would it take to cultivate to this level?
Looking into the child's sparkling eyes, Zhou Pingchuan's fatigue vanished instantly. He pinched the child's cheek and said, "Back to Xia Mingzhao. Do you think he attacked you because he couldn't complete the 'forced acquisition' plot and was controlled by the plot?"
“That’s part of the reason. Of course, Yu Xingtong also confirmed my guess. She said that Zhou Ting wanted to divorce his wife for me, and only you, me, Zhou Ting, and Xia Mingzhao knew about this. No one except Xia Mingzhao would tell Yu Xingtong.”
"So what are you planning to do next?"
Xia Mian shook her head: "I, an outsider, have completely messed up the plot. To be honest, I can only take it one step at a time."
He knew this was too passive, but the plot had already gone off track, and he couldn't think of a good solution for the time being except to deal with things as they came.
"Mianmian, you have a misconception."
"Misconception? Where?"
"ending."
Xia Mian was stunned for a moment.
—Yeah, how could he not have thought of the ending!
Stories, after all, have a beginning and an end, and all the processes in between are moving towards the ending set by the author.
In the ending of "Love in the Palm," Xia Mingzhao and Zhou Ting become husband and wife in a grand wedding, Xia Mian dies, and Zhou Pingchuan lives out his days alone.
The former has now been achieved, the latter two...
"I can't really die... Wait, I can create a false impression, since I have hostages anyway."
"Thank you, Brother Chuan!" Xia Mian understood immediately, took a big sip of Zhou Pingchuan's liquor, and finally knew what to do next!
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