Xia Yuqing blinked, startled. Her lips parted, but only a soft whisper came out. "I… I'm sorry. It's just a habit."
He leaned back, his tone turning icy. "Some habits are scary, don't you think? It's better to let them go before they start hurting you."
His words hit her harder than a slap.
Xia Yuqing stared at him, her throat tightening. She understood perfectly—he wasn't talking about habits. He was talking about her. About them.
For a moment, she couldn't speak. The silence between them grew thick, suffocating.
Tang Xiyu glanced between them, sensing the tension but choosing to act oblivious. With a soft giggle, she leaned closer to Lu Jinchen. "Jinchen, shall I wait outside while you finish your… conversation?"
But he didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained locked on Xia Yuqing—cold, distant, and painfully unfamiliar. Then, with a calm, almost careless tone, he said, "There's no need. We're going to get engaged soon. There's nothing here that you can't hear."
