"I’m not hungry!" Xiao Zexin said firmly.

Nangong Ruyue glanced at his right hand.

"Why do you always keep your hand behind your back?"

Xiao Zexin’s body became even more rigid, and his hand clenched tighter.

His hand had been gripping so hard that it was almost spasming.

"Show me your hand," Nangong Ruyue demanded.

Xiao Zexin tried to relax himself: "You should hurry and eat, I’m still waiting to go back and take my medicine."

"Chen Fen," Nangong Ruyue called out.

"Madam, what’s the matter?"

"Go across and get his medicine."

"Okay."

As Chen Fen was about to leave, Xiao Zexin frowned and stopped her: "Stay, you don’t need to go, I’ll take it myself later!"

He couldn’t let the servant leave.

If only the two of them were left alone, if he accidentally did something, no one would be able to help Ruyue.

Chen Fen clearly felt Xiao Zexin’s pressure.

She looked at Nangong Ruyue, waiting for her reaction.

Xiao Zexin suddenly reached out both hands and picked up the bowl and chopsticks.

His right hand had clutched for so long that when he opened it, it was very stiff.

"If I eat, can I leave then?" he asked.

Without waiting for Nangong Ruyue’s response, he immediately started stuffing food into his mouth.

He didn’t eat any vegetables, barely chewed the rice, and swallowed it.

He ate large mouthfuls, not worried about choking.

He finished a bowl of rice in the shortest possible time.

Putting down the bowl, he looked at Nangong Ruyue: "I’ve finished eating, you should eat too, don’t ruin your health."

Nangong Ruyue looked at him expressionlessly.

Xiao Zexin dared not meet her clear gaze: "I’m leaving."

Saying that, he got up and left in big strides—

Nangong Ruyue didn’t make a sound, not even any reaction.

She didn’t know why, but her heart felt heavy and achingly sour.

Chen Fen approached her, wanting to say something, but eventually sighed and left.

After a long time, Nangong Ruyue mechanically picked up the bowl and chopsticks, eating like a machine...

However, as she ate, tears fell into the bowl.

One drop after another...

And Xiao Zexin, hiding outside the window, saw her expression, feeling his heart being painfully sliced by a blunt knife.

He watched for a long time, until Nangong Ruyue went upstairs to rest, did he turn away and leave.

...

Returning to his residence, he asked the servant to bring a fruit knife.

Sitting on the sofa, Xiao Zexin slowly extended his hands. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Because he clenched his fist tightly every day, his palms bore deep nail marks.

Those were scars left from repeatedly piercing his palms.

And his finger joints were very stiff, as if they were about to break.

On the coffee table, there was a fruit knife.

His gaze fell on it, his right hand almost uncontrollably went to grab the knife.

His mind was clear, but his body refused to listen.

Had he not used a strong willpower to control himself, he would likely have already grabbed the knife.

Ordinarily, to avoid stimulating his nerves, he didn’t allow the servant to place knives where he could see them.

But today, he wanted to overcome this Heart Demon.

He didn’t want to live like this forever, nor did he want to see Ruyue upset and sad.

Xiao Zexin took a deep breath.

Then he slowly reached out to the fruit knife...

The closer he got to the fruit knife, the harder it was to breathe.

And in his mind appeared images of sharp blades instantly slicing open his abdomen.

Those scenes flashed continuously, blood splattering endlessly—

Xiao Zexin could no longer breathe, his gaze became somewhat unfocused, and more sweat oozed from his forehead.