Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The next day, I brought the red ginseng chicken soup I had simmered myself to Ping’an Lane.

Liang Xi didn’t seem surprised by how quickly I’d come. After a few polite words, he led me inside.

I set the chicken soup on the table and ladled him a bowl.

He picked up the bowl and was just about to drink when his hand suddenly began to tremble ever so slightly.

He had never had this problem before. His hands had always been steady. It must have been an aftereffect of the poisoning.

He set the bowl down and said, looking somewhat embarrassed, “I’m sorry. I’m feeling a little… unwell. Could you help me?”

I quickly leaned forward and picked up the bowl. “Oh, oh, of course. Then I… I’ll feed you?”

I lifted the spoon to his lips.

Liang Xi said, “Mm… All right.”

He parted his lips and closed them around the spoon.

His head was clearly lowered, yet his eyes were lifted, fixed on me without blinking.

“How is it? Does it taste all right?”

“It’s delicious.”

As if to prove just how “delicious” it was, he drank two bowls in a row and even tried to ask for a third.

I tactfully stopped him. “There’s red ginseng in this soup, so it’s quite potent. It won’t be good for you if you drink too much.”

Liang Xi looked a little regretful, but he didn’t ask for more.

I put the bowl away and asked casually, “Speaking of which, how did you end up poisoned? Don’t the attendants and guards around you protect you?”

He didn’t answer. He only asked, “Are you worried about me?”

“Of course.”

Liang Xi leaned back against his chair.

“If you’re worried about me, then why did you leave back then?”

Since our reunion, this was the first time I had heard such a sharp edge in his voice.

It wasn’t exactly an accusation, but it was filled with resentment.

I knew that back then, I had left in a hurry without giving him any explanation.

It was only reasonable that he wanted an answer.

Why had I left?

Because I was scared, of course.

I had been pretending to be my younger sister. Every day, I’d been terrified, treading on thin ice. Then she had shown up to reveal her true identity and expose my lie.

If I hadn’t run, what was I supposed to do? Wait to be caught and punished?

I picked at my fingers and answered honestly, “I was afraid. And I felt guilty.”

He frowned.

“If that’s the case, then you should have apologized to me, acted cute with me, and told me not to be angry or hold it against you.”

I didn’t believe him.

“This isn’t something that can be fixed with an apology and a little coaxing.”

He looked at me quietly. After a long silence, he said softly, “It can. With me, it can.”