Silence.
The room felt heavier than before.
Like the air itself had changed.
Li Xian didn't move.
Didn't speak.
The words still echoed in his mind—
He used him.
He never loved him.
He became king.
His father.
For a moment—
He couldn't connect the two.
The man he knew…
And the man the chief described.
"…You're lying."
The words came out quietly.
Almost instinctively.
The chief didn't respond.
Li Xian's fingers tightened slightly.
"That's not…" he continued, voice lower now,
"…the man I know."
His eyes darkened.
"My father is strict. Cold, maybe."
A pause.
"But he's not…"
The word stuck.
"…that."
Silence.
The chief watched him.
Saying nothing.
Because this—
Was something Li Xian had to face alone.
Li Xian let out a slow breath.
"…No," he murmured again.
But this time—
It wasn't as certain.
Fragments surfaced in his mind.
His father's silence.
His cold decisions.
The things he never explained.
The sudden marriage.
The quiet meetings.
Things he ignored before—
Now felt different.
"…Why didn't he tell me?"
The question slipped out.
Soft.
The chief's gaze lowered slightly.
"Some truths…"
A pause.
"…are not meant to be spoken."
Li Xian let out a quiet breath.
Almost a laugh—
But without warmth.
"…Then why tell me?"
"…Because you asked," the chief replied simply.
Silence.
Li Xian's eyes lowered slightly.
Everything felt heavier now.
More real.
But one thing stayed unclear.
"…Does anyone else know?"
The question was careful.
The chief's gaze returned to him.
"…That is not something you need to concern yourself with," he said calmly.
No confirmation.
No denial.
Just distance.
Li Xian didn't push further.
Because somehow—
He already understood enough.
Slowly—
He stood up.
"…I need some air," he said quietly.
The chief didn't stop him.
Li Xian walked toward the door.
Step by step.
His hand reached the handle—
And paused.
"…If this past comes back," he said without turning,
"…I won't ignore it."
Silence.
"…I know," the chief replied.