Jian Yufei carefully washed her father’s face and hands.

There weren’t many things she could do for him, but she was determined to do whatever she could.

Just as she finished, her phone rang—

"Hello, Mo Lan?" Jian Yufei put the phone to her ear.

"Yufei, I heard everything, don’t be too sad, the dead can’t come back to life, you must take care of yourself. Where are you staying now? May I come to see you?"

Jian Yufei felt bewildered: "What do you mean the dead can’t come back to life? I don’t understand what you’re saying; who died?"

"..."

Mo Lan clearly realized that Jian Yufei still didn’t know about the matter. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

It must have been Ruan Tianling who kept it from her.

Oh no, she had caused trouble...

Jian Yufei thought of Ruan Tianling’s eccentricities last night.

Her premonition worsened: "Mo Lan, tell me quickly, who died?!"

"...Did I say something? Haha, I don’t remember, I was just kidding with you." Mo Lan made a clumsy excuse.

"Honey, who are you on the phone with?" Ruan Tianling walked into the bedroom.

Jian Yufei hung up the phone directly and turned around.

"Ruan Tianling, who died?"

Ruan Tianling felt his heart skip—

Jian Yufei stared intently into his eyes: "I’m asking you, who died?!"

"Didn’t I say last night, one of my men..."

"It’s not your men who died, you’re lying to me! Quickly tell me, who died?!"

"It’s really my men..."

"You’re still lying to me!" Jian Yufei shouted loudly.

If one of his men had died, he wouldn’t have been melancholy for so long.

Yesterday, she felt something strange, and it turns out there was indeed something wrong.

Jian Yufei dared not guess who that person was.

Yet her eyes suddenly reddened...

"Tell me, who died, don’t hide it from me." Her voice was choking.

"Who just called you?" Ruan Tianling asked back.

"Mo Lan."

"What did she say to you?"

"She said the dead can’t come back to life, told me to take care of my health, told me not to be too sad... If it’s your men who died, I wouldn’t be that sad, right?"

Ruan Tianling knew that things had reached this point and could no longer be concealed.

He didn’t plan to hide it from her all along.

He just hadn’t figured out how to say it yet...

"You’re still not willing to tell me?" Jian Yufei stared at him.

Ruan Tianling pressed his lips together, his expression heavy: "I told you, you need to hold on."

Jian Yufei’s legs suddenly went weak, she could no longer hold on...

She quickly sat by the bed, her hands grasping the sheets in panic.

"You say... I can hold on..."

The man sighed and came forward, holding her head.

"Yesterday, Nangong Castle caught fire, and mother-in-law... didn’t make it out..."

"..."

"I didn’t mean to hide it from you, I just didn’t know how to tell you."

"...Really, you’re not lying to me?" Jian Yufei’s eyes looked vacant.

"I’m not lying to you. Everyone in the castle witnessed it, the fire was very intense, mother-in-law was standing by the window, and then the house collapsed..."

"Where is the body?" Jian Yufei’s body was trembling violently.

"...It’s already burnt to ashes."

"..."

"Honey, if you’re sad, let it out and cry, don’t hold back." Ruan Tianling hugged her body even tighter.

"Wah—" Jian Yufei suddenly burst into loud sobs.

None of them noticed that Xiao Zexin, lying on the bed, had one hand trembling, a trace of fresh blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

******************

Nangong Ruyue’s burial is set for three days later.