Su Yueqing blinked at him.
Inside her mind—
[Wow.]
[Not even a "are you alive?"]
[Cold even during rescue missions.]
Xi Wenzhe’s expression tightened again.
The woman was impossible.
Even now, she was still provoking him without trying.
"Walk," he ordered shortly.
Su Yueqing hesitated for only a second before nodding, mostly because another part of the ceiling had just begun to crumble dangerously close behind them.
Inside her mind—
[Fine.]
[We survive first.]
[Then I resume judging him properly.]
Xi Wenzhe: "..."
They moved quickly through the burning kitchen, stepping over collapsing debris and weaving through smoke until finally the entrance came into view.
Outside, chaos waited.
The moment they stepped out—
A wave of voices erupted immediately.
"Young Master!"
"Young Madam!"
"They’re out!"
The entire Xi family was gathered outside, faces filled with tension and relief as servants rushed forward while still trying to control the spreading fire.
Lin Meiyun immediately stepped forward, her expression shaken.
"Wenzhe!"
Xi Qianqian exhaled sharply, as if she had been holding her breath the entire time.
Even Xi Jianyu’s expression loosened slightly at the sight.
But Su Yueqing barely took a step forward before realizing something strange.
Xi Wenzhe was still holding her wrist.
She looked down at it.
Inside her mind—
[Why is he still holding me?]
She tilted her head slightly.
[Is he afraid I will run back inside to admire the fire?]
Xi Wenzhe immediately released her hand as if he had been burned.
The reaction was so fast that Xi Yunchen almost laughed under his breath.
Almost.
Because the fire was still burning behind them.
And no one was fully relaxed yet.
Su Yueqing, however, rubbed her wrist lightly and turned her gaze back toward the burning courtyard.
The flames were still spreading, swallowing what remained of her residence.
She stared quietly for a long moment.
Inside her mind—
[My residence is gone.]
A pause.
[The bed was new.]
Another pause.
[The blankets were soft.]
Another pause.
[And my hidden snacks... definitely gone.]
For the first time since escaping the fire—
Her expression turned genuinely, deeply sorrowful.
Not because she almost died.
Not because the house was burning.
But because of the snacks.
Behind her, Xi Yunchen slowly looked away.
Xi Qianqian pressed her lips together to hide her reaction.
Even Xi Lanyin’s expression turned complicated.
Because after everything that had just happened—
The thing that looked like it hurt Su Yueqing the most...
Was not the fire.
It was her snacks.