The wind suddenly stopped. The courtyard was silent, and only their heavy breathing could be heard.

However, at this moment, there was no ambiguity in the sound of their breathing. Instead, it was extremely tense, as if the thread connecting them was already on the verge of collapse.

Cold sweat seeped out from the depths of his skin. At this moment, not only Li Yinian, but even Qiao Yanze felt a bone-chilling fear, accompanied by an extremely ridiculous feeling.

Perhaps it was this absurdity that made him ignore the danger. He said in a low voice, “My father… He had many lovers when he was young…”

“Don’t go on anymore,” Li Yinian interrupted him. Her voice was almost pleading. She closed her eyes and trembled so much that her teeth were chattering.

“Yinian…” The man’s voice was hoarse.

“Stop it,” she repeated, as if the words had exhausted all her strength and courage. “I beg you to leave.”

Qiao Yanze felt more and more sweat on his palms. He almost couldn’t hold the woman’s wrist.

From his angle, the woman’s face was shockingly pale and desperate, as if her world had shattered.

At this moment, Qiao Yanze suddenly understood everything.

All his doubts were answered, including why she wanted to hide this fact—because the truth was so despairing. If she was the only one who knew, it would be fine, but if the secret was no longer a secret, it meant that she would never be able to face him again. Even all their pasts had become taboo. Even memories were a sin.

It was even more so for him.

It was only at this moment that Qiao Yanze truly realized what despair and suffocation were. He had thought of all the reasons, but he did not expect the truth to be so unbearable. No wonder she was always resisting him. No wonder every time she could not reject him, she would always reveal an expression of self-loathing. After knowing their true relationship, she was still forced to lie under him—Qiao Yanze could not imagine how she felt at that time.

However, he was the one who had brought all of this to her. He had even been angry at her coldness many times.

He was so ridiculous and self-righteous.

Qiao Yanze suddenly felt his heart ache until it was numb, and the strength in his hands was disappearing bit by bit.

The woman’s wrist finally broke free from his palm.

Li Yinian never looked at him again.

She stared at the white door not far away and finally walked over. Her steps were very slow, and her slender body seemed like it could collapse at any moment.

Qiao Yanze looked at her back before clenching and unclenching his fists several times, but he still resisted the urge to step forward.

He reckoned that she must hate his touch at this moment.

Qiao Yanze was surprised that he could still smile.

Li Yinian finally walked to the door.

However, her strength seemed to have been exhausted the moment she knocked on the door. She fell to the ground and held the door with both hands to prevent herself from falling.

Qiao Yanze’s pupils constricted. In the end, his instincts took over. He strode over and grabbed her armpits, trying to help her up.

Li Yinian’s reaction was unprecedentedly intense.