The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
—
Xueying sat on the edge of her bed, her hands resting in her lap.
Still.
Unmoving.
—
Qingyu stood nearby.
Worried.
Silent.
—
"…Princess?"
—
No answer.
—
"Do you want me to—"
—
"I'm fine."
—
The words came quickly.
Automatically.
—
But her voice—
Wasn't steady.
—
Silence filled the room again.
—
Then—
Slowly—
Xueying lowered her head.
—
"…Why does it hurt?" she whispered.
—
Qingyu's chest tightened.
—
Because this—
This was the first time.
—
The first time she had asked.
—
"You trusted him," Qingyu said softly.
—
A small laugh escaped Xueying's lips.
—
"…I did more than that."
—
Her fingers tightened slightly.
—
"I believed him."
—
The words broke.
Just slightly.
—
"And now?"
Qingyu asked gently.
—
A pause.
—
Then—
"…I don't know what to believe anymore."
—
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
—
For a moment—
It felt like she might cry.
—
Like everything she had held in—
Would finally fall apart.
—
But then—
She inhaled slowly.
—
Lifted her head.
—
And stopped it.
—
"…No," she whispered.
—
Qingyu blinked.
—
"No?"
—
Xueying's gaze steadied.
—
"I won't break over this."
—
Her voice wasn't soft anymore.
—
It was controlled.
—
Cold.
—
"Not now."
—
Not again.
—
Something had changed.
—
Again.
—
Because this time—
The pain didn't destroy her.
—
It hardened her.
—
—
Outside—
Gu Yichen stood in the shadows.
—
He had come.
—
But he hadn't entered.
—
Because he had heard it.
—
Every word.
—
And for the first time—
Something twisted in his chest.
—
Regret.
—