Ji Ting had not let Zhang Jian and the others follow him, so the three men in the car could only watch Ji Ting and Lu Yanchu silently through the windows.
They could not hear a word, only catch the subtle shifts in their movements and expressions.
At first, Lu Yanchu stood frozen in place. Then Ji Ting took a few steps toward him and seemed to say something. Lu Yanchu kept his gaze lowered throughout, deliberately avoiding Ji Ting's eyes even when he answered. Every so often, he drew a deep breath, as though struggling to steady the turmoil inside him.
The two spoke for several minutes in the cold night. During that time, Qin Zaiye, sitting in the back seat, heard only two thoughts.
[From what he's said, this was an unforeseen incident. It does fit the characteristics of being deprived of agency.]
[Hmm... that explanation is logically consistent. I can accept it...]
When those final words, "I can accept it," rang clearly in Qin Zaiye's mind, a thicker layer of frost abruptly settled over his eyes, deep as an icy pool.
He had willingly revealed the truth, only to receive Ji Ting's cold threats and a soul-crushing lecture about atonement.
Yet Lu Yanchu needed only a few words of explanation for Ji Ting to say so calmly, "I can accept it"?
That stark difference in treatment drove a cold spike straight into Qin Zaiye's nerves. He pressed his thin lips together, an indescribable, frigid fury churning in his chest.
Just then, the conversation in the courtyard seemed to end, and Ji Ting turned and returned to the car.
As the heavy gates of the Old Residence slowly opened, the car carrying the four of them entered the Manor first, with Lu Yanchu's car close behind.
Once they