"What's wrong with you?" Xie Jingchu frowned and asked Ruan Jiu.
She had entered the room looking perfectly fine, but now she seemed utterly dejected.
Even though Ruan Jiu had rehearsed countless ways to tell Xie Jingchu about the Huo family before he came in, the moment she saw him, those past events seemed like a mountain weighing down on her heart, making it impossible for her to speak or even breathe.
"What on earth is going on with you?" Xie Jingchu's eyes were full of worry.
Ruan Jiu bit her lip. "A Jing, do you want to know about your origin?"
She gave the decision to Xie Jingchu. As long as he said he didn't want to know, she would keep this secret buried in her heart forever.
Xie Jingchu's heart skipped a beat, and his hands tightened involuntarily.
Ruan Jiu's expression told him that this matter was no ordinary one. It might even change everything. But he was still desperate to know who he really was.
So, he nodded gravely.
Ruan Jiu closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Since that was the case, she would tell him everything.
Then she slowly opened her eyes. Parting her lips slightly, she recounted everything that had happened more than twenty years ago.
Xie Jingchu's eyes changed from solemn to shocked, and then to grief - stricken.
Finally, his eyes were blood - red, like a wounded beast.
He could have grown up happily by his parents' side. His father was strict yet loving, his mother gentle as water, and he had two doting elder brothers and a sister. His life would have been worry - free.
But all of this had been destroyed by Gu Kexing!
He couldn't even begin to imagine how tragic it had been when the entire Huo family was massacred!
The boundless hatred in his heart was like a shackle, tightly binding him and causing him great pain.
"Gu Kexing, I'll make him pay for his crimes with his blood!" Xie Jingchu's eyes were cold and menacing, enough to strike fear into anyone's heart.
Even Ruan Jiu couldn't help but tremble.
Ruan Jiu placed her warm hand on Xie Jingchu's tightly clenched fist.
There was no such thing as truly understanding someone else's pain, so she couldn't console Xie Jingchu from her own perspective.
All she could do was accompany him. No matter what Xie Jingchu wanted to do, she would stand firmly by his side.
"A Jing, for now, we should first find the evidence of Gu Kexing's frame - up of the Huo family back then and clear the Huo family's name."
Ruan Jiu's words woke Xie Jingchu up from the haze of hatred.
Just now, he had almost wanted to go and die with Gu Kexing.
Gu Kexing deserved to die, and even being hacked to pieces wouldn't be enough to relieve his hatred.
But the entire Huo family was loyal and heroic. They must not be wrongly accused!
As the only remaining bloodline of the Huo family in this world, he must seek justice for the Huo family and the one hundred thousand innocent soldiers who died unjustly!
Xie Jingchu grabbed Ruan Jiu's hand and said seriously, "A Jiu, I'll ask Qin Yuan to send you back to Qinzhou later."
The road ahead was fraught with danger, and he couldn't let Ruan Jiu get involved.
"No!" Ruan Jiu refused immediately.
"Be obedient!" Xie Jingchu tightened his grip on her hand.
Angry, Ruan Jiu yanked her hand back. "I'm going to stay with you! I'll help you seek justice for the Huo family!"
Hearing this, Xie Jingchu turned his face away and said coldly, "Who do you think you are! My business has nothing to do with you!"
Ruan Jiu knew that Xie Jingchu didn't want her to be in danger.
So, she raised her eyebrows and said, "Fine. When I get back to Qinzhou, I'll just marry someone at random. When you finally avenge your family, I'll come to congratulate you with my husband and children."
"You!" Xie Jingchu turned his face and glared at Ruan Jiu.
Seeing Ruan Jiu looking at him smugly, he turned his face away again. "Do whatever you want!"
Ruan Jiu curled her lips.
What a stubborn man!
Then, Ruan Jiu stepped forward, reached out her hands to hold Xie Jingchu's face, and joked, "Xie Jingchu, do you know that you're really bad at acting!"
Xie Jingchu averted his eyes. "Who's acting with you!"
Ruan Jiu's eyes narrowed.
The next moment, she opened her mouth and bit Xie Jingchu's lips hard.
Xie Jingchu was so startled that he couldn't help but widen his eyes.
"Do you still want me to leave?" Ruan Jiu asked.
"Yes." Xie Jingchu still insisted.
Ruan Jiu bit his lips again, this time with even more force.
She wanted to see how long this man could keep being so stubborn.
"Do you still want me to leave?" Ruan Jiu continued to ask.
"Yes..."
Although Xie Jingchu still said so, his voice was obviously less confident.
Ruan Jiu squinted her eyes and leaned in again.
But this time, she didn't bite his lips. Instead, she imitated the way Xie Jingchu had kissed her before, pressing her lips against his, prying open his teeth with her tongue and trying to explore inside.
Although she was not very skilled, it was enough to make Xie Jingchu lose his composure and he couldn't help but respond.
Just then, Ruan Jiu suddenly let go of Xie Jingchu.
Her mischievous eyes met Xie Jingchu's longing ones.
"Let this be our goodbye kiss. After all, next time..." Ruan Jiu reached out her finger and touched her pink lips. "I don't know whose lips they'll land on."
After saying that, Ruan Jiu stood up and pretended to walk out.
Hearing this, Xie Jingchu immediately grabbed Ruan Jiu's wrist.
With a hard tug, Ruan Jiu sat on Xie Jingchu's lap.
Xie Jingchu's eyes turned cold. "How dare you!"
Ruan Jiu wrapped her arms around Xie Jingchu's neck and said softly, "Then do you still want me to leave?"
Xie Jingchu looked at her helplessly. "I don't want to put you in danger."
Ruan Jiu bit her lip. "I know you're worried about me, but aren't I worried about you too? Instead of making me worry about you every day back in Qinzhou, it's better for me to fight side by side with you."
After a pause, she continued to persuade him. "Moreover, with your identity, staying in the capital will inevitably draw Gu Kexing's attention. But with me around, it's different. I'm still the legitimate daughter of the Shen family."
Xie Jingchu frowned tightly.
Ruan Jiu was right.
With his identity, it was indeed unreasonable for him to stay in the capital for a long time.
"Even so, if we want to stay in the capital to find evidence of Gu Kexing's frame - up of the Huo family, we still need a proper reason." Xie Jingchu said with a solemn look in his eyes.
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind. "How about we open a clothing store in the capital in the name of the Xie and Shen families? What do you think?"
The Xie and Shen families were both well - known merchants. With Ruan Jiu's connection, it wouldn't be strange for the two families to form a partnership.
Ruan Jiu continued, "Moreover, the female relatives in the mansions of the high - ranking officials in the capital love beauty the most. In this way, I can use the excuse of making clothes to look for some clues in those officials' mansions."
It was indeed a good idea.
Xie Jingchu frowned and instructed, "But you must be extremely careful!"
Ruan Jiu nodded.
Then she suddenly stood up. "I'll go and tell my father that we're going to open a clothing store in the capital."
Time was of the essence. After saying that, Ruan Jiu ran out in a hurry.
But Xie Jingchu's brows remained tightly knitted.
He knew that even if he didn't let Ruan Jiu stay in the capital, with her personality, she would find a way to stay.
But the road ahead was so dangerous.
If it really came to that, he would protect Ruan Jiu with his life, even if it meant sacrificing himself.