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On the sixth day of the fifth month, it was supposed to be Wan Xia's day to return home. Zhou Tangyan noticed her furrowed brows and couldn't help but find it amusing. She must have been frightened by the events of last time, which made her hesitant to bring up the topic of returning home in front of him. He wondered how long she would hold her tongue.
"Since there's still time, aren't you going to visit your family?" Unable to bear her restless demeanor any longer, Zhou Tangyan casually asked, pretending to look at his account book while making a show of preparing to leave, his eyes secretly glancing at her.
Her face lit up with surprise, her eyes widening in shock and delight. This made Zhou Tangyan chuckle softly, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. Just as he was about to step out with the account book in hand, he heard her timid voice behind him, "Aren't you coming back with me?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, tinged with a hint of fear as she nervously twisted the hem of her clothes.
Accompany her? That would mean meeting her parents. He wasn't sure he could maintain even the slightest semblance of politeness.
He fell silent, his brows knitting tighter as he lifted his foot to leave. However, she suddenly tugged at his sleeve, halting him in his tracks.
"Please..." Her eyes shimmered with an irresistible hope and plea, slightly reddened around the edges, her lips trembling gently. Even he, who prided himself on having a heart of stone, felt a sudden softness wash over him. His gaze softened as he paused.
Since the distance wasn't far, Wan Xia insisted on walking instead of taking a carriage. Strolling down the bustling street, she tightly linked her arms with his, wearing a content smile and leaning into him unconsciously, relishing the closeness they shared.
He seemed somewhat uncomfortable; his body stiffened slightly and his gaze flickered around nervously.
"Isn't that Miss Jiang? What a beauty! It's such a shame she married the lame young master of the Zhou family; what a waste!"
"It's really Zhou family's second young master who is foolish for letting such a beauty go; he's just giving his brother an easy deal."
Gradually, more voices joined in the gossip as they moved from one end of the street to the other.
His face flushed crimson, teeth clenched tightly as he remained silent, fists unconsciously balling up. He felt her hand cold and weakly gripping his arm, almost like a silent protest but more like an unwavering determination. A warmth surged within him at that moment. He couldn't help but glance down at her, noticing a complex mix of emotions reflected in his eyes.
Her fair cheeks flushed slightly with anger. When she saw him looking at her, she felt a bit flustered. Her gaze was filled with both apology and heartache as she looked back at him. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed her words.
Finally arriving at the Jiang family home, Wan Xia's tense expression relaxed a little. She let out a long breath, and her steps became lighter.
However, Zhou Tangyan's expression grew more serious. His face darkened, and his steps became heavy, each one taken slowly.
He had never been here before, not once.
This place only welcomed Shiyu; it would not welcome him, the illegitimate son with no ties to the Jiang family.
“Father, Mother—” She dashed into her familiar home like a joyful child, her voice bright and cheerful, filled with delight.
Yet unexpectedly, she did not receive an equally warm response from her parents.
Madam Jiang abruptly grabbed her arm and pulled her into the inner room with a rough motion. Wan Xia stumbled slightly, her face filled with surprise and confusion.
Zhou Tangyan sat silently across from Mr. Jiang in the front hall. He had not spoken a word, his gaze sharp and cold, sending chills down one's spine. He sat upright like a cold statue.
“You silly girl, you really are confused! How could you do something so ridiculous on your wedding day?”
“Mother, I know what I’m doing.”
“But he is just an illegitimate son of the Zhou family, someone who cannot inherit the family business. Besides, he is a cripple.”
Madam Jiang's voice instantly rose an octave, seemingly intended for Zhou Tangyan outside to hear, her face filled with disdain and dissatisfaction.
"Mother—" Wan Xia waved her hand, lowering her voice in reproach. "Don't forget, he became lame while saving me."
"That doesn't mean you have to sacrifice yourself to repay him!"
Their conversation reached Zhou Tangyan's ears, and he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He instinctively shifted in his seat, and upon hearing the words "repay," he could no longer remain seated. He abruptly stood up, causing his chair to scrape back with a harsh sound. Without saying a word, he stepped out the door, his footsteps hurried and swift.
The loud noise caught Wan Xia's attention. Realizing he was angry, she disregarded her mother's attempts to stop her, forcefully breaking free from her grip as she rushed after him, calling out, "Wait for me! Please wait!"
He wasn't walking fast; after all, his leg was injured, making it easy for her to catch up. This served as a reminder of his lameness, which only fueled his anger and embarrassment further. His brows furrowed tightly, and his expression grew increasingly dark.
She caught up and linked her arm with his, but he coldly pushed her away with a strong sweep of his arm.
Ignoring the mocking gazes of passersby, she tried to link arms again, only for him to push her away once more. The two of them tugged at each other all the way back to Zhou Residence, both panting heavily by the time they arrived.
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