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Whether or not Duan Xing was having an affair, he would find out the truth.

As long as he was there, no one would bully his family.

By evening, the setting sun had turned the clouds orange. Xie Liuzheng woke from her dream and spent a while gazing at the horizon. She declined her nephew's suggestion to return to the Xie Residence and drove back to her home in the city center.

The moment she stepped inside, the aroma of food filled her senses.

She knew that familiar scent. It was her favorite: corn and pork rib soup.

"Honey, I'm home."

Duan Xing came out of the kitchen carrying a plate. He had taken off only his suit jacket and wore a gray apron over the rest of his work clothes. Handsome and refined, he looked right at home.

His eyes lit up when he saw Xie Liuzheng. "Welcome home, honey."

He set down the plate and took her bag. "Are you still feeling unwell? What did the doctor say?"

Xie Liuzheng handed him her bag as she usually did. She had regained her composure.

Their relationship of more than ten years was real. She could feel his love and concern for her at every turn.

Whatever happened, she could not condemn Duan Xing over a little suspicion.

"My head still hurts a bit. The doctor prescribed some medicine."

Xie Liuzheng sat down and quietly enjoyed the head massage Duan Xing gave her. "Do you think my old problem is acting up again?"

"I know a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. Shall we go see them when we have time?"

Xie Liuzheng frowned. "No. I don't like bitter medicine."

"Just rub my head for me and it won't hurt anymore."

She fell back on her familiar wheedling, and Duan Xing could never resist her. "You..."

"If it hurts again, I'm dragging you to a traditional Chinese medicine clinic." Duan Xing pretended to be angry.

Xie Liuzheng raised a hand as if taking an oath. "I promise."

She wrapped her arms around Duan Xing's waist and caught the faint scent of cedarwood on him. "Honey, I'm hungry. Let's eat."

Duan Xing smiled indulgently. "Your head doesn't hurt anymore?"

"Nope."

Xie Liuzheng let go of him and noticed a scratch on his arm. She caught his hand. "How did you get hurt?"

Duan Xing showed her the wound on his arm. "A stray cat scratched me."

"I've already treated it."

Xie Liuzheng sighed. "Did you go feed the strays again? How many times have I told you? Feeding them is fine, but don't just reach out and pet them. Cats are wary."

Duan Xing said, "This one knows me. She was just being naughty."

Xie Liuzheng knew she could not talk him out of it. "You're always so stubborn."

"Remember to get a rabies shot."

"The cat and I have both been vaccinated, Your Ladyship. Don't worry."

Xie Liuzheng drank two bowls of soup. Duan Xing knew exactly what she liked.

Even as he ate, Duan Xing kept putting more greens in her bowl.

Xie Liuzheng was picky and did not like vegetables.

Duan Xing always put a great deal of thought into how he cooked them so she would eat more.

The greens tasted sweet and fresh, without the bitterness she hated.

Duan Xing was still the same as ever. He had never changed.

For a moment, Xie Liuzheng felt guilty for suspecting him.

"Honey, would you like some rice tonight?" Duan Xing served himself a bowl, then glanced at Xie Liuzheng's empty one.

She usually did not eat rice at night, but for some reason she wanted some today. "Honey, give me half a bowl."

Duan Xing took her bowl to fill it. "Did you go to the company to see Zhiyu today?"

The question sent a chill down Xie Liuzheng's spine. "How did you know I went to see Zhiyu?"

Duan Xing handed her the bowl without a trace of alarm. "Eat a little more. It's good for you."

After fussing over her, he explained, "I wanted to ask how your examination went this afternoon, but you didn't answer my messages or pick up the phone. I had to ask Zheng Nuan. She told me."

When he finished, he gave Xie Liuzheng an aggrieved look, as if to say, How could you do this to me?

Xie Liuzheng looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, honey. I silenced my phone during the examination and forgot to turn the sound back on."

"Then eat a little more today, and your generous husband will forgive you."

"Okay! My husband has a heart big enough to hold a boat."

Xie Liuzheng picked up her chopsticks and ate in small bites.

After dinner, Duan Xing surveyed the results of his cooking with great satisfaction, then put the dishes in the dishwasher.

Once they had walked off their meal, the two of them strolled home.

Under the warm orange streetlights, their shadows receded into the distance.

Lying in bed, Xie Liuzheng remembered something.

She had only told Zheng Nuan she was going to the company. She had not said she was going to see Xie Zhiyu.

Why had Duan Xing been so sure she was going to see him?

The next morning, Duan Xing and Xie Liuzheng went to visit the welfare institutes as planned.

Xie Liuzheng did not make another excuse to avoid going. There was something there she needed to confirm.

They were scheduled to visit two welfare institutes that day and spend half a day with the children.

At the first welfare institute, Xie Liuzheng did not meet a child she felt drawn to. But the institute and its staff left a good impression on her, so she donated five hundred thousand yuan to improve the children's living conditions.

It was already quite late when they arrived at the second welfare institute.

The children there were perceptive. They knew what the adults' visit meant, and they gathered around Xie Liuzheng and Duan Xing to tell them about their lives.

Duan Xing responded gently to each of them. Amid the bustle, Xie Liuzheng found herself inexplicably drawn to a little boy sitting in a corner, clutching a stuffed toy.

He looked like the porcelain dolls she had loved as a child—beautiful and fragile. Though surrounded by people, he seemed utterly alone.