The man's gaze was utterly devoid of warmth. He turned his head away impatiently, refusing to spare her even a single glance.
Wen Qian was happily playing with a Xuan Beast, her laughter echoing through the tranquil landscape. She was so absorbed that she failed to notice the person who had appeared before Chi Heng.
The Xuan Beast thrashed joyfully in the water, splashing Wen Qian's pant legs, but she paid it no mind. She was bent over, her hands submerged as she tried to snatch a fish from the stream.
Just moments before, while speaking to the woman, Chi Heng had kept glancing unconsciously toward Wen Qian, his eyes filled with visible delight.
But Xi Zhen, standing opposite him, keenly caught the subtle movement. In an instant, a flash of venomous resentment flickered in her eyes, a hatred as cold and deadly as a viper lurking in the shadows.
