idea what happened. They're just too much!""She gasped, a sound like a buzzing hornet. Her chest constricted, an angry lump rising in her throat. The sudden rage nearly caused her teeth to grind toget..."Won't you say anything" Fu Yan stared into his eyes, thinking of the pressure she had faced moments ago when surrounded by people, and felt suffocated. She withdrew her hand from his.

"Don't let me touch you" Huo Mingzheng forcefully pulled her back, and the door of the tea room slammed shut.

The gurgling sound of boiling water continued, and a window in the tea room was left open. The wind blew into it, and Huo Mingzheng pulled her into his embrace. "What's wrong"

He touched her forehead again, she wasn't burning.

Fu Yan couldn't bear his false warmth, her chest heaving as her emotions calmed. Inhaling the faint scent of water lilies from him, her eyes welled up.

"I'm fine."

Fu Jing said you fainted downstairs at home, is that nothing

"Do you care" Fu Yan choked back tears.

She shook her head, "You don't have time to care about me."

Huo Mingzheng furrowed his brows, his eyes darkening.

"You fell asleep in the bathtub yesterday, didn't you"

Fu Yan's heart skipped a beat.

He guessed that because there had been a time before, when they were finished in the bathroom. He put her in the bathtub to wash, and received a call from their old house while he was out taking the phone call. When he came back, she was asleep leaning against the edge of the tub.

Fortunately, the water was still hot after a short while. Otherwise, I would have caught a cold on such a cold day if I took a bath in cold water.

Admitting that she fell asleep in the bathtub yesterday afternoon and caught a cold, he would think she was being childish.

What right does she have to make a scene in front of him Li Qin is back, and there is no place for her by his side.

"No," she denied, looking at the long-spouted teapot billowing with steam. The bubbling sound had ceased, just as her heart beat like a dying ember.

"I've asked Qin Heng to give you a full checkup," he said. Fu Yan had been getting sick frequently lately, with frequent colds and fevers. Before this, she hadn't gotten sick more than twice in an entire year, and her body wasn't as weak as it was now.

"What kind of identity are you acting under to care about me" She couldn't take it anymore. "Do you plan on rekindling your old feelings with Li Qin while also keeping the same relationship with me Now that she's back, you should kick me, this stand-in, to the curb!"

These words have finally been said.

Li Qin is a thorn that has been lodged in Fu Yan's heart. Because of this thorn, she entered Huo Mingzheng's world. Now, this thorn deeply rooted in flesh and blood is going to be pulled out by her own hand.

She didn't care, even if she was bloodied and bruised, in excruciating pain, she would eradicate this thorn.

She no longer wants to live in Li Qin's shadow.

"What's your relationship with Li Qin" Huo Mingzheng's voice dropped.

Fu Yan smiled wryly.

Before she mentioned Shen Wei, he remained indifferent. She only said that he was going to rekindle his old flame with Li Qin, and his emotions became immediately apparent. It's clear she spoke about someone she shouldn't have.

Li Qin really is the apple of his eye.

"Second Brother is so protective of Li Qin, and it's hard for him to have the energy to take care of my affairs. I hope Second Brother can maintain a good distance between siblings in the future. If this happens again, just let's all go down together!"

Huo Mingzheng's eyes were deep and dark, his voice hoarse: "Do you dare to say it"

"What do I have to be afraid of"

"Why were you lying just now" Huo Mingzheng gripped her wrist, his cold and sharp gaze fixed on her face.

Fu Yanqiang endured the sourness in her eyes, "You don't want me to say it out loud, do you"

Thinking of that moment's heartbreak, her eyes welled up.

Huo Mingzheng's phone on the coffee table rang. Fu Yan saw the caller ID: Li Qin.

She held her breath for a moment and looked away.

In the fading light, Huo Mingzheng leaned forward, taking out his phone and swiping across the screen. protect me. But now I only believe in myself. While you hurt me, you also made me realize that relying on nothing is better than relying on oneself."Huo Mingzheng had guessed the intention behind tho...