I just broke up with my boyfriend and then I transmigrated into the world of "The Lost Tomb&quo

Ling Xiao took two seconds to process what had happened. He spoke quickly, with a hurried tone that suggested he was eager to explain but deliberately avoided the core issue.

He avoided mentioning his time-travel experience, but even so, the thought of recounting it himself felt pretentious. What he wanted to do wasn't... it wasn't necessarily about gaining anything.

"I just didn't want it to happen. Cheng Xiaoli was also intentionally covering it up for me." Ling Xiao's voice lowered. It was clearly the truth, but in front of Xie Yuhua, it carried a sense of powerlessness that even he couldn't convince himself.

Jieyuhua listened quietly without interrupting. His insightful peach blossom eyes fell on Ling Xiao's slightly flustered yet forcedly composed profile, taking in every subtle expression and every pause in his breath.

After a long while, Xie Yuchen let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh. There was no blame or doubt in that sigh, only a deep understanding that seemed to encompass everything and...heartache.

He raised his arm, this time not passively accepting the embrace, but actively and firmly encircling Ling Xiao's slightly tense body. He held Ling Xiao in his arms, an embrace filled with comfort and absolute trust, not forceful, but enough to become the only fulcrum in Ling Xiao's shaky world at this moment.

"I know." Xie Yuchen's voice rang close to his ear, still gentle, yet carrying a power that pierced through all the fog. "Only you believe me." These words were like a key, gently turning open the door in Ling Xiao's heart that had been tightly closed by concealment, releasing the suppressed bitterness and grievances.

He paused, his arms tightening slightly in his embrace, as if trying to dispel the unfamiliar atmosphere of this place from Ling Xiao, leaving only the reality of this world. Then, his voice lowered, carrying a precise, unavoidable probing, gently striking the most sensitive chord in Ling Xiao's heart:

"Did you touch that thing?" Xie Yuchen's lips were almost touching Ling Xiao's earlobe, his breath warm, but his words were as clear as ice beads falling on a jade plate. "The reason you suddenly hugged me, is it because you've already used that thing?"

Ling Xiao's body stiffened abruptly in Xie Yuchen's arms, as if struck by an invisible electric current.

Xie Yuchen felt the intense tremor. He didn't urge him, but simply maintained the embrace, waiting quietly. He could almost feel the sudden acceleration of the heartbeat in the person in his arms.

Ling Xiao felt as if something was blocking his throat, unable to make a sound. "How perceptive," he thought.

"It's a good thing you're still so cautious. Let's go home." Xie Yuhua gently patted his shoulder and then walked towards the car door.

"I'm sorry, I didn't tell you again," Ling Xiao admitted his mistake.

Xie Yuchen opened the car door smoothly without any hesitation. He turned to look at Ling Xiao, who was standing by the car, his face filled with guilt and unease. The dim streetlights cast shadows on his sharply defined profile, half bright and half hidden in shadow.

He didn't immediately respond to the apology, but instead gave Ling Xiao a deep look with his captivating, almond-shaped eyes that seemed to reflect the depths of human nature. His gaze was calm and serene, yet it seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words. Then, the corners of his lips curved upwards very slightly, a faint smile carrying an almost helpless indulgence, and a hint of barely perceptible weariness.

“This time is different,” he said softly, his voice carried slightly by the night wind, yet reaching Ling Xiao’s ears clearly. It wasn’t forgiveness, nor indifference, but a painful understanding—he understood Ling Xiao’s sacrifices, every single time.

Ling Xiao followed and got into the car. The dull thud of the car door closing shut out the outside world, and the car was immediately filled with the crisp scent of fir trees and milk candy emanating from Jie Yuhua.

The car drove smoothly into the night. The journey was silent, save for the low hum of the engine.

The car finally stopped in front of an elegant courtyard. Xie Yuchen got out of the car first and walked straight to the gate, with Ling Xiao silently following behind.

As the two crossed the courtyard and entered the brightly lit, elegantly furnished living room, exuding understated luxury, Xie Yuchen didn't pause, nor did he even glance at Ling Xiao. He simply uttered a single sentence in an extremely calm tone, as if saying, "We'll have porridge tonight":

You'll be sleeping on the sofa tonight.

After saying that, he walked towards the kitchen, seemingly to get a glass of water.

This sudden "punishment" was like a pebble thrown into the already oppressive and stagnant air.

Ling Xiao was taken aback at first, but then an indescribable sense of relief instantly dispelled the heavy guilt and unease in his heart. He knew Xie Yuhua too well. This seemingly disdainful "sleeping on the sofa" was more like a signal than any questioning or blame—a signal that Xie Yuhua had relented, that "this matter is temporarily over for me." This was Xie Yuhua's way of "appeasing anger," carrying a touch of awkward indulgence and a unique intimacy.

His tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and Ling Xiao responded almost reflexively. He abruptly straightened up, exaggeratedly drew a half-circle in front of his chest with his right hand, then bowed deeply and dramatically, and loudly proclaimed in an extremely flamboyant voice, imitating the tone of an eunuch in an ancient costume drama:

"Thank you—Lord—for your—great—benevolence!"

The sound was exceptionally loud in the quiet living room, even echoing slightly.

Xie Yuhua, who was walking towards the kitchen, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

He didn't turn around, but Ling Xiao clearly saw that his straight back seemed to tremble very slightly and with extreme restraint. Then, a very faint, short, almost forcibly swallowed exhale came, as if he had choked on the exaggerated performance, or as if he finally couldn't help but let out a smile.

Ling Xiao maintained that exaggerated bowing posture, but the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up, revealing a relieved yet slightly sly smile.

He knew that Xie Yuchen had finally calmed down.