In the past two days, Mu Ruoyan has become more and more like an inseparable shadow, sticking to Lin Xihe's side all the time.
Lin Xihe, however, was extremely anxious, like an ant on a hot pan.
She had no chance to inform Gu Qinghuai; with only one day left before the plan was to be implemented, she could only guess at Gu Qinghuai's recovery progress.
With the escape plan set to be executed tomorrow, Mu Ruoyan has barely stepped out of the door in the past two days.
At dinner time, Lin Xihe sat at the table, looking at Mu Ruoyan across from her, weighing her options repeatedly, hesitating whether to ask him to go see Gu Qinghuai.
Her hands unconsciously tightened around the chopsticks, but the food in the bowl didn't decrease at all.
"Why aren't you eating? Is something on your mind?"
Mu Ruoyan broke the silence first, speaking softly as she picked up a piece of food from in front of her and placed it into Lin Xihe's bowl.
"No...."
Lin Xihe forced a smile, mechanically picked up the food Mu Ruoyan gave her, and put it in her mouth.
Before she could swallow, she heard Mu Ruoyan say casually, "Just eat in peace today. Your people from Da Hao have already made arrangements all around. I'm afraid you won't be in the mood to eat tomorrow."
Lin Xihe's hand suddenly froze, and she almost dropped her chopsticks. Her heart jumped into her throat, and she felt a panic running through her.
She slowly raised her head and looked at Mu Ruoyan. Her lips were slightly open, but her throat seemed to be blocked, and she could not make a sound.
Why are you so surprised? Don't you already know?
Mu Ruoyan remained calm and composed, as if discussing something completely ordinary, while continuing to serve food to Lin Xihe.
"When did you find out?" Lin Xihe finally managed to find her voice and asked, but her hands were already trembling slightly, and she couldn't even hold her chopsticks properly.
"Before we even arrived in Nanzhao, your lover was already waiting there. It seems they couldn't find Gu Qinghuai's location. Once we reached Diancang Mountain, people started following us. Every time I took you out, their people would follow us even in the bustling city."
Mu Ruoyan spoke slowly and deliberately, then a smile appeared on her lips as she gently reminded, "Swallow what's in your mouth quickly, or you'll choke."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xihe mechanically chewed the food in her mouth. Looking at Mu Ruoyan's nonchalant expression, her inner panic intensified.
She suddenly remembered the words Mu Ruoyan had said that night half a month ago.
She knew that if Mu Ruoyan turned against her now, the consequences would be unimaginable, and she simply could not bear it.
The smile on Mu Ruoyan's lips gradually disappeared. He picked up a small bowl from the table, filled it with chicken soup, and then handed it to Lin Xihe.
"The mushrooms in this chicken soup were picked from the mountains west of the courtyard while you were still asleep. How does it taste?"
Lin Xihe subconsciously took the bowl, her eyes full of vigilance as she stared intently at Mu Ruoyan.
“You’re too thin, it’s uncomfortable to hold you. You need to gain some weight.” Mu Ruoyan’s tone seemed concerned, but to Lin Xihe, it was full of coldness.
She dared not drink the soup, convinced that Mu Ruoyan must have poisoned it.
“I… I didn’t know they were in Nanzhao,” Lin Xihe explained, her voice trembling slightly.
“You really didn’t know before, but two days ago, when you deliberately sent me away, didn’t you find out? I don’t like it when you lie like this.” Mu Ruoyan then stopped smiling, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.
"Then... then will you punish me?"
Lin Xihe held the soup bowl, her voice so soft it was barely audible, and her body trembled slightly.
"Eat more, and I won't be angry anymore." Mu Ruoyan's tone softened a bit, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
Hearing this, Lin Xihe dared not disobey. Suppressing her fear, she drank the soup in the bowl in one gulp and ate all the mushrooms inside. She knew in her heart that the man in front of her was unpredictable and she was really afraid that this pervert would throw her to his subordinates to suffer endless torture.
"Can you still eat?" Mu Ruoyan asked softly, but her gentle tone sent chills down Lin Xihe's spine.
Lin Xihe shook her head hurriedly, her movements hurried and flustered.
"If you're not going to eat, then go home."
Mu Ruoyan then got up, took Lin Xihe's hand, and returned to the courtyard where the two of them lived.
Upon arriving in the courtyard, the two did not go inside. Mu Ruoyan led Lin Xihe to sit on the stone steps in the courtyard. The dim light under the eaves made Lin Xihe's face appear even paler than paper.
Mu Ruoyan suddenly spoke up: "Lin Xihe, there are a total of 112 people, I will only leave 50 people tomorrow."
Lin Xihe didn't reply, but just let Mu Ruoyan pull her along, her mind blank.
“I’ll put two men in each of the empty courtyards, and thirty men in the courtyard guarding Gu Qinghuai. Xu Liu and Xu Qi will guard you and me. What do you think of this arrangement?” Mu Ruoyan tilted her head and asked Lin Xihe, discussing with her how to prepare for tomorrow’s attack.
Seeing the panic in Lin Xihe's eyes, Mu Ruoyan reached out and ruffled her hair: "How did you have the courage to come out and save people when you're such a coward?"
Lin Xihe swallowed hard, her voice choked with emotion, looking like she was about to cry: "I didn't know it would be this difficult."
Mu Ruoyan sighed, feeling that the woman in front of her was deliberately clumsy, timid, and prone to crying, yet she couldn't help but feel heartache for her.
However, there are some things he has to say today.
"There are many things you don't know. Your father, Lin Bin, died on the battlefield. Do you know why he died?"
"You know?" Lin Xihe's voice suddenly rose as she stared intently at Mu Ruoyan.
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