The silence didn't leave when they did. It stayed, lingering over the table and the untouched food, settling into the space they had just occupied as if nothing had actually ended only paused.
Zhou Yiran didn't move right away. Her fingers rested loosely against the edge of the table, her gaze lowered, unfocused. The food in front of her had already lost its appeal, the warmth rising from it barely noticeable now.
"…That was fast," she muttered quietly.
The way Xu Shen had come in breath uneven, composure gone that wasn't normal. And Zhang Weiyu hadn't hesitated at all. No extra questions, no explanation. He had simply left, as if whatever it was demanded immediate attention. As if it mattered more than anything else happening here.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the table once, then again.
"…And he looked at me first."
That brief glance replayed in her mind, clearer now. It hadn't lasted long, barely a second, but it hadn't felt random either. People didn't look at someone like that without a reason. Unless "…No," she murmured, shaking her head slightly.
"…What, did I suddenly become suspicious overnight?" she muttered under her breath. "Or is this some kind of trend I wasn't informed about?"
A small pause. "…Or maybe it's him."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Did Zhang Weiyu say something?" she wondered quietly. "No… he doesn't look like someone who explains things to people."
Another thought followed immediately.
"…Or worse—he didn't say anything, and they just decided on their own."
She let out a soft breath through her nose.
"…Great. That's even more reassuring."
Her fingers tapped lightly against the table.
"…What exactly did I do?" she continued, her tone turning more serious. "Stand there? Exist? Breathe in the wrong direction?"
A pause. "…Or is this about last night?"
Her brows drew together faintly as she leaned back in her chair, exhaling softly. "…Something happened," she said under her breath, "…and somehow, I'm involved?" The thought didn't feel baseless. It felt uncomfortable like a piece of something she couldn't see yet but could still feel pressing against her thoughts.
She glanced toward the corridor where they had disappeared, her gaze lingering there a moment longer than necessary.
"…Not my problem."
The words came easily. Too easily. A small pause followed.
"…Right."
She pushed her chair back and stood up. "…Definitely not my problem."
And yet she didn't walk away from it.
The corridor was quiet. Not empty, just still in a way that made every small sound more noticeable. The faint echo of her own footsteps followed as she walked, unhurried, her expression calm. On the surface, nothing about her seemed out of place, but her direction said otherwise. She wasn't wandering. She knew exactly where she was going.
"…Just walking," she muttered under her breath, as if saying it out loud made it more convincing. To who, she wasn't sure. Herself, maybe.
Her pace didn't change as she turned the corner. The study room came into view, the door closed as expected. Zhou Yiran slowed slightly.
"…I'm not curious," she added quietly. "…Just passing by."
Her steps softened as she approached not enough to draw attention, just enough to blend into the silence. The closer she got, the quieter everything seemed, until the faint sound of voices reached her.
Not loud enough to fully make out, but enough to know the conversation inside wasn't casual. She didn't stop directly at the door. She didn't need to. Standing slightly to the side was enough.
"…found early this morning."
Xu Shen's voice. His voice was lower than usual.
A brief pause followed. "…The guard I followed last night… is dead."
Zhou Yiran's breath stilled for a fraction of a second. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her focus sharpening immediately.
Dead?
Inside, there was a short silence before Zhang Weiyu spoke.
"…is this same guard who you followed before and he went to Zhou mansion?"
His voice was calm, flat but different.
"Yes, he is same guard and last night he was going to Zhou mansion again when I was following him," Xu Shen said.
Zhou Yiran's gaze shifted slightly, her thoughts catching on one word.
Zhou mansion?
Her fingers tightened faintly at her side.
"…My family?" she thought, a flicker of confusion crossing her mind. "Why would a guard from here keep going there?"
A brief pause. "…And twice?" Her brows drew together slightly. "That's not normal."
Her expression didn't change much, but her thoughts were already moving faster.
"…Was he watching them?" she wondered quietly. "…Or passing something?"
Another thought surfaced, colder this time.
"…Or was he watching me?"
Xu Shen continued, steadying himself. "…He was discovered near the east boundary. No signs of struggle. No external injuries that match a typical attack." A pause. "…It doesn't look normal."
Zhou Yiran frowned faintly.
Not normal?
Her fingers curled slightly at her side.
"…So no fight… no injuries…" she thought, her gaze lowering just a little. "…Then how did he die?"
A quiet pause. "…Poison?" she guessed internally, then immediately frowned deeper. "…No… that would leave something."
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"…Or something else entirely."
Another thought followed, sharper than the rest. "…If he was heading to Zhou mansion again… then whatever killed him was waiting for him."
A brief pause. "…Or silencing him."
Her lips pressed together faintly.
"…Then what exactly did he know?"
Then Inside room Zhang Weiyu asked after a moment."…Time of death?"
"Between two and four in the morning."
"…After you lost him."
"Yes."
Silence followed again, heavier this time.
Zhou Yiran's thoughts moved quickly. Last night… the guard Xu Shen followed… that meant that's connected.
Inside, Xu Shen spoke again. "…He was fine when I left." A pause. "…Someone got to him after."
Zhang Weiyu's voice came next, steady and certain. "…so what happened after this? "
Zhou Yiran's eyes darkened slightly. The same person…? Her mind immediately returned to the figure from last night the one she hadn't clearly seen, the one who had spoken like he knew more than he should.
So it wasn't just them.
Inside, Xu Shen hesitated before continuing. "…There's something else."
Zhou Yiran leaned slightly closer not enough to touch the door, just enough to hear more clearly.
"…He was assigned near Miss Zhou's side of the estate."
Her breath caught, subtle but real.
Me? But why ?
"…Recently?" Zhang Weiyu asked.
"Yes."
"…Since when?"
"…About two weeks "
Zhou Yiran's mind stilled. Two weeks…? That meant before everything that had happened last night.
"…Coincidence?" Xu Shen asked.
"…No," Zhang Weiyu replied.
Her fingers tightened slightly. So even he didn't think it was a coincidence.
Inside, Xu Shen spoke again, more cautious this time. "…Do you think she's involved?"
Zhou Yiran didn't move. Didn't react outwardly. But inside, everything stilled.
There was a longer pause before Zhang Weiyu answered. "…I think she's connected."he added.
"…Whether she knows it or not… is a different question."
Zhou Yiran's lips pressed together faintly. So that's how he saw it. Not accusing but not trusting either.
"…Should we tell her?" Xu Shen asked.
"…No," Zhang Weiyu said immediately. "…If she's being watched, we don't alert anyone."
Being watched?
Her brows furrowed slightly.
By who?
Before she could think further, the conversation inside stopped abruptly.
Zhou Yiran's eyes lifted.
The door opened, and she walked straight into him. It was a soft, abrupt collision that halted them both. Zhang Weiyu stopped instantly, his hand lifting slightly on instinct as Zhou Yiran stumbled half a step back. Her eyes widened for the briefest moment before she forced her expression back under control.
For a second, neither of them moved.
"…You're here?" he said, his gaze dropping to her, sharp and assessing.
Zhou Yiran froze for exactly half a second before responding.
"…Water," she said suddenly. "I...I came for water."
The words came out a little too fast.
A brief silence followed.
Zhang Weiyu looked at her, then said calmly, "…You came here for water?" His tone wasn't loud, but it carried just enough doubt. "…Do you think I'll believe that?"
Zhou Yiran blinked once, then straightened slightly, forcing her composure back into place. "…I'm just walking," she said, her voice steadier now. "It's my house. I can walk anywhere."
A small pause lingered between them.
Zhang Weiyu held her gaze for a moment longer before replying, "…Yes. You can."
The agreement came too easily to feel reassuring.
Zhou Yiran hesitated for a fraction of a second, then added casually, "…Something happened?"
Zhang Weiyu didn't answer. Not a word. Not even a shift in expression.
That silence was answer enough.
"…I see," she muttered lightly, though her eyes flickered once.
Then she turned a little too quickly. Her steps lost balance for a second, her foot catching slightly against the floor as she nearly stumbled. She steadied herself just in time.
"…water? Seriously what I had just said. " she muttered under her breath, barely audible.
And then she walked away, faster than before. Zhang Weiyu didn't stop her. He simply stood there for a moment, watching her retreating figure, his gaze unreadable. Only after she disappeared around the corner did he turn and step back into the study.
The door closed behind him, soft and quiet, as if nothing had happened at all.
Inside, Xu Shen was already watching him.
"…Miss Zhou?" he asked.
Zhang Weiyu gave a small nod.
Xu Shen hesitated, then asked more carefully, "…Did she hear everything?"
A brief pause.
"…Maybe," Zhang Weiyu replied.
She didn't look back. Didn't slow down. But her expression shifted slightly not confused, not surprised, just more certain.
Zhou Yiran continued walking, her posture relaxed, her gaze forward as if she had heard nothing, as if she knew nothing.
But inside, the questions were no longer vague they were forming. And slowly leading somewhere she hadn't expected.
…Interesting.
And this time she meant it.
Zhou Yiran returned to her room, closing the door softly behind her. For a long moment, she simply stood there, letting herself lean against the cool wood, her hands brushing lightly over the surface as if grounding herself to something real.
The events of the morning replayed in her mind in fragments the hurried footsteps, Zhang Weiyu's unreadable gaze, the collision at the doorway, and the way her own pulse had thumped in panic even when she tried to mask it. She let out a quiet exhale, sinking down into her chair by the desk. Her fingers rested against the surface, tapping idly as her thoughts swirled.
She didn't move for minutes, caught in the silence, staring at nothing in particular, letting the weight of everything press against her chest.
The sudden vibration of her phone startled her. She picked it up slowly, brow furrowing as she saw the caller ID. A member of her family. She answered, the voice on the other end warm but tentative.
"…Is everything okay there?" the family member asked, concern clear in the tone.
Zhou Yiran blinked, her lips pressing into a thin line. "…Why? It's not meant to be okay, so do you expect something to happen?" Her tone was sharper than she intended.
"No, no! I didn't mean that!" the voice hurriedly replied. "We are just… worried about you."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "…Worried?" she repeated, her voice taking on a dry edge. "…You weren't worried when you decided I would marry Zhang Weiyu, so don't pretend now. Don't act like you care about me all of a sudden."
There was a pause on the other end, and then Zhou Yiran hung up without another word. She set the phone down deliberately, her fingers lingering over the surface of the desk as if she could feel the echo of the conversation lingering in the room. Her chest rose and fell, steadying her emotions. "…Typical," she murmured under her breath, leaning back into her chair. "…All concern is conditional."
Elsewhere, Zhang Weiyu and Xu Shen were already moving with purpose. The morning sun had barely reached the horizon, casting long shadows as they made their way toward the outer compound. Their expressions were tense, precise, unyielding.
"Sir," Xu Shen began cautiously, keeping pace, "are we going to the Liang mansion?"
Zhang Weiyu's eyes remained focused ahead. He nodded once, sharply. "Yes."
Xu Shen's brow furrowed slightly. "Is he really there?"
"Yes," Zhang Weiyu replied, his tone calm and flat. "Our men confirmed it."
A pause hung between them, the quiet weight of anticipation pressing in. Xu Shen glanced at Zhang Weiyu again. "Is it safe to go there?"
Zhang Weiyu's gaze flicked toward him, sharp and assessing. "Why? Are you afraid?"
"No," Xu Shen said quickly, straightening his posture. "I'm just… worried. They could be up to something."
Zhang Weiyu's lips pressed into a thin line, his steps unchanging. "Leave it to me."
Xu Shen's steps were deliberate, keeping pace with Zhang Weiyu, who moved like a man who had calculated every second before even leaving the house. The air between them carried a silent understanding they were going toward danger, but the nature of it was unclear even to them both until they arrived.
Back in the house, Zhou Yiran was left alone, the quiet stretching around her like a tangible weight. She turned back to her desk, picking up her notes and sketches that she had been working on, her mind half-focused on work, half-drifting back to the events of the morning.
The house was empty except for her and the occasional creak of wood settling. She didn't mind. The stillness gave her a moment to think, to strategize quietly in the background, and to breathe.
A sharp knock on the door broke her concentration. She straightened immediately, her pulse tightening just slightly. "Who is it?" she called out.
The maid's voice answered promptly, carrying a note of respect and urgency. "Miss, Lina is here."
Zhou Yiran's expression softened just slightly. "…Take her to the living room," she instructed, her voice calm but firm. "I'll come down in a moment."
"Why is she here?" she murmured.
Moments later, Lina entered the living room. She paused, sitting silently for a few seconds as her eyes swept across the familiar surroundings. Every detail seemed to register, though she said nothing. Her gaze lingered on the furniture, the polished surfaces, the subtle arrangement of décor. She had seen this house before, of course, but this time it was different she was here, inside it, closer now to Zhang Weiyu's presence even if he wasn't physically in the room.
Zhou Yiran descended the stairs quietly, stepping into the living room with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hello," she said softly, acknowledging Lina as she moved to take the seat Zhang Weiyu usually occupied.
Lina's gaze swept the room again before settling on Zhou Yiran. "This house… it's still the same," she said thoughtfully, almost as if remarking to herself rather than addressing her directly. "It hasn't changed at all."
Zhou Yiran's lips curved slightly into a small, controlled smile. "Yes," she replied softly. Beneath the surface, her thoughts churned. She's showing off that she's here first. That she's close to him, in his space. Not that it matters to me… but why does it feel like it matters to her? She shifted subtly in her seat, closer to where Zhang Weiyu would normally sit, letting the space feel claimed, deliberate but quiet.
After a moment, Lina's gaze sharpened. "Where is Weiyu? I mean… Zhang Weiyu."
Zhou Yiran's eyes flicked to the side, her voice calm but precise. "He is not at home."
"Then… where is he?" Lina pressed, leaning forward slightly.
Zhou Yiran shrugged lightly, maintaining her composed demeanor. "He didn't tell me."
Lina's lips pressed together, a hint of judgment in her voice. "It seems like he doesn't care about you that much."
Zhou Yiran's smile deepened slightly, practiced and controlled. "I don't care about him either," she replied, her tone casual, almost indifferent. Her eyes, however, flicked briefly to the window, then back to Lina, calculating and watchful.
Lina raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"Of course," Zhou Yiran said lightly, almost too easily. "Why would I lie?"
The conversation lulled after that. Lina sat silently for a moment, her gaze lingering on the surroundings and on Zhou Yiran herself. Eventually, she rose. "I'll leave you be for now," she said lightly, more observation than farewell.
As Lina exited, Zhou Yiran's thoughts lingered on the interaction. She wants to measure me, to test how close I am to him… to test how much space I claim in this house. But this house is mine too… he doesn't need to be here for that. I know it. She exhaled slowly, a soft smile playing at the corner of her lips as she let the tension ease slightly.
The gates opened silently for them, the inner courtyard as still as a held breath. Inside, several members of the Liang family were gathered, their expressions serious, wary.
One man was tied, seated in the center of the room, and Zhang Weiyu's hand rested on the gun pointed directly at him, unflinching, his eyes sharp and measured.
"Sir," Xu Shen said quietly, his gaze sweeping the room, "he is here."
Zhang Weiyu gave a single, curt nod.
Xu Shen glanced around, tense. "Where is Mr. Liang?"
Zhang Weiyu's eyes didn't waver. "I came with you. How should I know?"
A few moments passed, the silence thick and heavy. Then, the door opened, and Mr. Liang entered the room, his movements cautious, his eyes flicking nervously between Zhang Weiyu and the tied man.
"He is here," Xu Shen said again, a little more urgently.
"I know," Zhang Weiyu replied, his tone flat but unmistakably sharp. "I'm not blind."
"But.." Xu Shen began, hesitation in his voice, though he didn't finish.
Zhang Weiyu's gaze swept the room again, unblinking, taking in every detail, every expression. Xu Shen fell silent, recognizing the calculated weight behind those few words.
"Sir," Xu Shen whispered, leaning slightly forward. "Should we… make a move now?"
Zhang Weiyu's eyes didn't leave the tied man. "…Patience," he said calmly. "Let them speak first."
Xu Shen frowned slightly, his tension obvious. "Are you sure, sir? He looks ready to bolt the second we look away."
Zhang Weiyu's gaze flicked to him, sharp, precise. "Do you think I came unprepared?"
"No, sir," Xu Shen said quickly, swallowing. "…But it's just…"
"It's just what?" Zhang Weiyu prompted, voice low, almost deadly.
"…They are dangerous. The Liang family, sir. We don't know what they're capable of if provoked."
Zhang Weiyu's eyes narrowed. "…I know what they're capable of. That's why I'm here."
A subtle silence followed, broken only by the faint creak of the wooden floor beneath the tied man's shifting weight. His breathing was shallow, measured, but the tension in his body betrayed every thought racing through his mind.
Then one of the standing Liang family members, a tall man with sharp features, stepped forward cautiously. "Zhang… Weiyu," he began, voice steady but wary, "you come here like this. What is the meaning of this intrusion?"
Zhang Weiyu's eyes swept over him, unblinking. "…Intrusion? I think you'll find it's called accountability." His tone was flat, but the weight behind it was unmistakable.
The tied man's head turned slightly, a flicker of recognition passing through his eyes. "…You…" he started, voice trembling. "…Why..why are you here?"
Zhang Weiyu's gaze landed on him. "…You know why," he said coldly. "…And if you don't, you'll find out soon enough."
Xu Shen stepped slightly closer, keeping careful distance from the gun. "…Sir, he's shaking. Should we.."
"No," Zhang Weiyu interrupted sharply. "Let him. Fear is a good teacher."
The tall Liang family member's lips tightened. "…We have nothing to hide," he said slowly. "Ask what you want."
Zhang Weiyu's finger moved slightly on the trigger, not enough to threaten, but enough to make the tied man flinch. "…Then answer me clearly. Who orchestrated last night's events? The one who killed the guard I told you about?"
The man swallowed, hesitation flickering across his face. "I… I don't know what you mean."
Xu Shen's eyes narrowed. "…Sir, he's lying."
Zhang Weiyu's expression didn't change. "…I don't need you to tell me that." His voice carried a subtle edge, warning and promise in the same breath. "…You will tell me everything, or this ends badly for the both of you."
Another pause. The tension stretched so thin it felt like the walls themselves might crack.
The tied man's breathing hitched. "…It… it wasn't us!" he stammered. "…We didn't kill anyone!"
Zhang Weiyu's eyes flicked toward Xu Shen for a second. "…Careful," he murmured. "Do not underestimate them. But do not overreact either. We are here to find answers, not create chaos."
"Yes, sir," Xu Shen replied quietly. His gaze remained on the tied man, noting every micro-expression, every flicker of deceit or truth.
Zhang Weiyu's attention returned fully to the Liang family. "…And yet the guard is dead. That cannot be ignored."
One of the younger Liang men shifted nervously, fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve. "…He… he followed instructions. He was supposed to report to our east outpost. That's all we know."
Zhang Weiyu tilted his head slightly, considering. "…All you know. Yet he ended up dead. Convenient, isn't it?"
The room stiffened, tension spiraling. Even Xu Shen's usually calm composure was taut, every muscle ready to react.
"…You think we are lying?" the older Liang man said finally, voice low and controlled, but with a hint of fear.
"I don't think," Zhang Weiyu replied flatly. "I know there's more to this than you're saying. And I will find out what it is. Every detail. Every lie. Every omission."
The tied man's eyes widened, panic flashing through them. "…Sir… please.."
"Enough." Zhang Weiyu's voice was low, dangerous. "…I will hear from you when I ask, not before. And if you attempt to hide anything…" He let the words hang. The threat needed no finishing it was understood.
Xu Shen's hand rested lightly on his sidearm, his own vigilance heightened. "Sir, do you want me to .."
"Not yet," Zhang Weiyu said sharply. "Let them understand the cost of their silence."
Another pause. The tied man shifted again, and this time a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. His eyes were wide, desperate. "…It… it was Mr. Liang!" he blurted suddenly. "…He ordered the guard followed… and… and the rest..."
Zhang Weiyu's gaze snapped to him, unblinking. "…Go on."
"I… I don't know everything!" the man admitted. "…I was only told to watch… nothing else!"
Xu Shen's jaw tightened slightly, but he remained silent, waiting for Zhang Weiyu's command.
Zhang Weiyu's gaze swept the room once more, measuring the reactions. "…Enough for now." His voice was calm, but each word carried authority. "…You will remain here. And I will confirm everything personally."
"Yes, sir," Xu Shen said immediately. He stepped back, eyes scanning the room, ensuring no sudden movements could catch them off guard.
The tied man sagged slightly, relief and fear mixing in his expression, while the rest of the Liang family exchanged glances, unsure whether to challenge him or cower. Zhang Weiyu's hand did not lower, not yet. Every detail had to be precise. Every reaction measured.
"…Do not attempt to escape," Zhang Weiyu said finally. "…I will know. And if you do, the consequences will be… severe."
The quiet returned, heavier now, thicker. The morning sun had climbed higher, but inside, the tension remained, unbroken. Each heartbeat, each subtle movement was amplified. No one spoke, no one dared breathe too loudly.
Zhang Weiyu's eyes never left the tied man. His mind was calculating, analyzing, predicting the next moves, both theirs and his own. Xu Shen's presence at his side was silent but constant, ready to act the moment anything shifted.