Preparing a birthday gift for him every year? A hint of bitterness seeped from her lips.

In two days, I’ll be leaving.

"Why so quiet? Already thinking about what gift to prepare for me next year?" Si Yuheng raised an eyebrow.

She stood up, businesslike like a secretary: "Yes, I’ll go back to my room and plan it properly."

His hand grasped at empty air, he frowned: "What are you doing? Who allowed you to leave?"

"Finished eating, let’s go downstairs, it’s windy on the terrace in the evening, easy to catch a cold..."

The word ’cold’ hadn’t left her mouth when he reached out, pulled her back into his arms, murmured, "Holding like this won’t catch a cold."

"You’re this drunk, better go downstairs and rest..."

"You’re not allowed to leave, who says I’m drunk..." He wanted to pick her up to prove that he wasn’t drunk, and could go three hundred rounds without asking, just as he tried to stand, his body swayed, he fell back into the high-backed chair, consciousness scattered, thoroughly drunk.

She laughed angrily, supported him, let him lean on the dining table, and draped his removed suit jacket over his back.

He mumbled a few sounds, within minutes, unconscious.

She alone couldn’t move him, just about to turn and call for a servant’s help, her finger was grabbed by him in a muddled daze.

Turning around, she saw his closed lashes, drunkenly speaking: "Told you not to leave, not listening again, don’t leave. Stay, accompany me..."

She quietly tested: "Si Yuheng?"

"... Don’t leave..."

"Si Yuheng, can you hear me?"

"Not allowed..."

"Si Yuheng?"

"... Whew whew..."

Truly dead drunk.

All was silent, his long eyelashes drooped, sleeping like a peaceful young man, completely different from his daytime demeanor.

Terrace, night scene, pin drop audible.

So quiet it seemed there was only her and him in the world.

Her heart moved slightly, spoke towards the sleeping man: "If you weren’t the Hall Master of Beiming Hall, maybe I wouldn’t leave."

The gentle voice blended into the night wind, scattered instantly, leaving no trace.

As if it wasn’t spoken.

Finished, she stood up, towards the terrace door, raised her voice to the servants outside:

"Your Hall Master is drunk, someone come, help him back to his room."

————

Si Yuheng awakened at dawn.

Holding his heavy head, he climbed from the big bed.

Though his temples still throbbed from hangover pain, sleeping for several hours, he felt much better.

The female butler and inner circle immediately stepped forward: "Hall Master, feeling better?"

The female butler sent over the freshly warmed hangover soup.

Si Yuheng patted the bed, frowned: "Where is she?"

The female butler immediately replied: "Miss Liang helped us bring you back from the terrace, stayed for a while, I saw it was getting late, let her return to her room to rest. ...Oh, right, this hangover soup was made by Miss Liang herself."

Hmm, not bad performance.

He took the hangover soup, had a couple of sips, instructed the two: "You guys go out first, I’ll take a nap."

The female butler left the room.

The inner circle hesitated and didn’t leave.

Si Yuheng saw he had something to say, rubbed his temples impatiently, spoke bluntly: "Just say it."

The inner circle spoke up: "It’s about yesterday’s Miss Liang visiting the Huo Family’s young mistress at the municipal hospital."

His finger tilted, hangover soup slightly slanted, eyes deepened.

"When Miss Liang returned, her earrings fell off, asked me to return to the hospital to find them, she said she walked back to the castle alone. Does the Hall Master know this?"

"She mentioned it to me. Why?"

"When Miss Liang and I parted, it was not yet four o’clock. From the place where she got out of the car and walked back to the castle, it should be no more than ten minutes. I found the earrings, drove back to the castle, entering, casually asked the duty person what time Miss Liang returned. The duty personnel said, around 4:45 pm... I thought, best to inform the Hall Master."

Si Yuheng’s face slightly moved.

So, the journey that should take less than ten minutes took her forty-five minutes.

The extra half hour, such a long duration, where did she go? Doing what?

The inner circle said: "However, maybe Miss Liang lingered a bit along the way, spent some time."

Linger along the way?

The private road is a straight path from top to bottom, apart from woods on both sides, there’s nothing to linger at.

Even if spending time, it shouldn’t take over half an hour more.

His gaze darkened, silent for a long time.

Finally, he spoke, shifting the topic: "Did you finish the investigation I asked you to?"

"Investigated. That person... indeed currently in the Capital. Stayed long-term in a city hotel some time ago."

Not seen for long, thought that person had faded away, truly returned.

So, when Anya encountered danger in the private forest some days ago, if she really met a stranger... that stranger was likely him.

Yesterday deliberately sent the subordinate away when returning, that missing half-hour...

Did she meet that person too?

If so, that person is closer with Liang Anya than imagined.

Si Yuheng’s face slowly paled, fingers clenching tightly.

The inner circle guessed the Hall Master’s thoughts: "Should we tell Miss Liang, remind her the person she met might be..."

If it’s truly that person, contacting Miss Liang, surely for revenge against the Hall Master!

"No need." Si Yuheng’s voice cut sharply, cold like iron.

That woman repeatedly connected with that person, surely had purposes too.

She—is she using that person to escape?

She ultimately wants to leave him?

Yet last night, she willingly made the birthday cake, so compliant, even soothing his scars.

All that just acting, letting him drop his guard, for her easy escape?

Alcohol surged, gasping for breath, he propped his long arms on the bed, gaze dark, teeth clenched.

The inner circle watched the Hall Master’s expression, sighed, knowing the Hall Master is extremely conflicted now, suspecting Miss Liang’s secret dealings with that person, thinking of escaping, but unwilling to believe it, still wanting to give Miss Liang a chance.

**

Two days later.

From waking in the morning, every cell in Liang Anya’s body was on edge.

Finally reached the afternoon. Daily at this time, it’s when Vivi lets the nanny carry Xiaoxiao downstairs for a walk.

She called Beth half an hour earlier: "Beth, go tell Si Yuheng, I want to take Xiaoxiao for a walk today."

He said, any issues report to Beth, let Beth inform him.

These days, her relationship with him eased quite a bit, he even agreed for her to take Xiaoxiao out to play, such a small matter, surely will agree.