This man had been quietly making plans for her behind the scenes all along. Everything he did was meant to help her escape this dark maelstrom as soon as possible.
At the thought, Qian Renxue's heart fluttered like a startled fawn, and a blush spread across her cheeks, the color of being moved and the sign of shyness.
At that moment, Qian Renxue's tone softened noticeably. An almost imperceptible tremor entered her voice. "Then... couldn't you have told me beforehand? Acting without a word like this only fills me with worry. I can't find a moment's peace."
As Chen Xuanqing listened to Qian Renxue, he secretly rejoiced. He knew his scheme had succeeded.
But he also understood that he had to keep up the act now. He couldn't abandon it halfway.
So Chen Xuanqing deliberately made his voice hoarse, as though it carried endless weariness and helplessness, and said slowly, "My plan is already in motion. There's no turning back. All I can do is try my hardest to seize that slim chance of survival. If possible, of course I hope to live, because I still have so much left unfinished, and so many people I want to protect."
With that, Chen Xuanqing gave Qian Renxue a long, searching look, his eyes brimming with sincerity and affection.
That look left Qian Renxue flustered. She dared not meet Chen Xuanqing's eyes and could only instinctively avert her gaze.
Yet Chen Xuanqing had no intention of letting her off so easily. He advanced toward Qian Renxue step by step, as though determined to seal off every avenue of retreat.
Qian Renxue was forced backward until her back pressed firmly against the tent and she could retreat no farther.
Just then, Chen Xuanqing suddenly reached out and gently planted a hand against the