The sun hung low in the blue sky and shone mildly, apparently not as wild as it was in the summer. The warmth of the sunlight spread throughout the land, as if giving the people a soft cotton underwear that had been worn for some time to wrap them up warmly. Even when a cold breeze blew, they wouldn’t feel the coldness at all.
It was perfectly warm in the sun, and a woman with black hair was sitting at the balcony in the courtyard. Although the windows were opened and she could enjoy fresh air, she looked rather miserable.
Since the balcony that wasn’t large was installed with a solid security window, her movement was constrained in the house of which the door was locked. Here was the only place that she could look outside.
Apart from a maid, there was only He Ruize here. He had never left the house ever since she was captured and brought here. But she wasn’t sure about the reason that he left the place today.
On the surface, he believed that she lost all memories and didn’t give her an injection. However, the fact was that he almost wouldn’t let her out of his sight for even a second, and the maid would follow her even when she went to the toilet.
For instance, when He Ruize wasn’t around today, she thought that she could take a breath of fresh air or find a way to leave this place, yet He Ruize had locked her in the house.
The only window of the house was the balcony that was sealed, as if she could only escape if she turned herself into a butterfly.
She slowly closed her eyes and thought to herself. When she’s not around, will Lin Xichen and Lin Ruixi look for her?
Will they miss her?
What are they doing now…
And will Zong Jinghao worry about her and look for her…
She would never know.
The door opened.
Lin Xinyan immediately opened her eyes and showed only a blank look, while her pain and uneasiness vanished.
She clenched her hands at her back and stared at the door.
He Ruize was wearing a black casual outfit, a cap and sunglasses. Once the door was opened, he took down his cap and sunglasses.
“Yan, I’m back.” He put down his belongings in his hands on the table, closed the door and walked towards Lin Xinyan.
Lin Xinyan quietly stepped back and pretended to be unhappy as she said, “You didn’t bring me with you when you went out and locked me in the house. You said you love me, yet why do I feel like I’m being held captive?”
He Ruize came up to hug her and said, “My poor girl, I was just protecting you. Since there are too many bad guys out there, I’m worried that you might get hurt. Shouldn’t you be grateful that I care for you so much?”
When He Ruize was still talking, he pinched her nose and lowered his head to kiss her on her forehead…
Lin Xinyan’ body was stiff. She wanted to push him away but was afraid that he might suspect she didn’t lose her memories and gave her the injection because of it.
She could just be patient no matter how much she loathed him. So, she pretended to be shy, pushed him away gently and said, “I haven’t had my lunch, and I’m hungry now.”
She wasn’t really hungry but was merely using it as an excuse for him to let her go.
He Ruize frowned as he checked the time and said, “It’s almost two o’clock now. Why haven’t you had your lunch?”
Lowering her head, Lin Xinyan quirked her lips and sneered, “Since you locked the door and the maid couldn’t open it, how could I have my lunch?”
He Ruize totally forgot about it. In order to ensure that Lin Xinyan couldn’t escape, he didn’t trust anyone, including the maid whom he hired and paid handsomely. So, he was the only one who had the key for the room upstairs.
“Are you angry?” He Ruize lifted her chin so that she could look at him.
Blinking her eyes, Lin Xinyan took the chance to vent her dissatisfaction and said, “What do you think? You lock me up like a prisoner and don’t provide food for me. Would you be angry if you were me?”
He Ruize apologized to her smilingly as he said, “It’s my fault as I was careless. Punish me.”
“I dare not do it.” Lin Xinyan looked down.
“There’s nothing you should be afraid of. Tell me, and I will fulfill your wish.” He Ruize patted his chest and promised her.
She looked at him expectantly with her big innocent eyes and asked, “I wish to go out. Can you bring me with you?”
“Sure.” He Ruize promised her right away, placed his arms around her shoulders and said, “Before going out, you’ll have to eat. Let’s go. What do you want to eat? I will ask the maid to prepare it for you.”
Lin Xinyan was excited as she never thought that he would promise her so easily, and she might have the chance to escape. She said randomly, “Udon noodles.”
He Ruize put his arms around her while walking downstairs, and said, “Aunt Hua, prepare a bowl of udon noodles.”
“Sure.” Aunt Hua who was wearing an apron was cleaning the television when she heard him. She immediately put down her cloth and went into the kitchen.
He Ruize grabbed Lin Xinyan by her waist and sat on the couch. Then, he lifted her hair to smell and kiss it. He was obsessed with her smell and face, so much so that whenever he was with her, he would always want to hug her, caress her hair, kiss her face and so on.
Lin Xinyan put up with it and tried to sound him out when she asked, “When are you bringing me out?”
“Tomorrow.” He Ruize glanced at her when he was smelling her hair.
Lin Xinyan lowered her eyes when her eyelashes were slightly shivering. She couldn’t believe that He Ruize would agree to her demand so soon and asked, “Really?”
“Yes.” After taking a deep breath, He Ruize took her in his arms and said, “I went out just now to make arrangements for this. I will bring you and leave tomorrow.”
He cut off his communication with everyone, and that’s part of the plan.
Any communication might leave some traces. Whether Zong Jinghao had realized that the Lin Xinyan in his house was an impostor, he wouldn’t take any chances that might expose Lin Xinyan’s whereabouts.
All proper channels, whether bus tickets or flight tickets, would need their identifications and could easily expose their whereabouts under the real-name system. Therefore, he had prepared a car to leave B City, not using the highway but the country lane instead. After reaching a county in Chuan Province which was hilly, far from B City and with underdeveloped transportation, they could live there for some time.
When the situation became less tense, he would bring Lin Xinyan and leave the country so that no one would be able to find them.
By then, he could finally live with her together forever and have their own children in future.
He would have no regrets in his life.
Lin Xinyan was stunned. He wants to bring her and leave this place?
“I think it’s not bad to stay here…”
“This isn’t our home.” He Ruize interrupted her.
Aunt Hua came up to them with a bowl of udon noodles and said, “The noodles are ready.”
“Put it on the table,” He Ruize said. Then, he took the chopsticks from Aunt Yu, handed them over to Lin Xinyan and said, “Eat it now, or else it won’t taste as good when it isn’t hot anymore.”
Lin Xinyan took the chopsticks from him and pretended to enjoy eating even though she didn’t feel like eating at all. After finished eating the noodles, she had a stomachache, as the noodles were as hard as rocks and could hardly be swallowed and digested.
“Are you feeling unwell?” He Ruize asked.
Holding her stomach, Lin Xinyan looked pale but didn’t say a word.
“Let me help you walk up the stairs to take a rest.” He Ruize helped her up.
As she looked very unwell, Aunt Yu suggested, “Should we get a doctor to check up on her?”
He Ruize gave her a sideways glance and warned, “Would I not know if she’s unwell? Do I need your reminder?”
No outsider should know anything in here, and he won’t allow any stranger to be present.
He won’t allow any accident to happen.
Aunt Yu immediately lowered her head when she realized that she talked too much.
Lin Xinyan knew herself well. She might just have indigestion since she wasn’t in a good mood.
When they were in the room, she lay on the bed and said, “Can I stay in the room alone?”
Since he didn’t get a doctor for her, He Ruize found it difficult to refuse her humble request and said, “Alright. Get some rest. I’ll come again later.”
Lin Xinyan closed her eyes firmly and didn’t want to say anything.
She curled up in her quilt and opened her eyes later until He Ruize locked the door.
She felt very sleepy and tired. Since He Ruize slept here while cuddling her last night, she almost didn’t fall asleep and didn’t dare close her eyes for the entire night. She was afraid that he would do anything to her once she fell asleep.
And now, even though she felt sleepy, she was troubled by her upset stomach.
