Gu Ruochu had already gone upstairs. After changing into her pajamas, she flung herself onto the bed, her mind a complete blank.
She was in a daze, and her head was throbbing with pain.
Gu Ruochu reached out and turned off the bedside lamp. After some time, the bedroom door opened.
Huo Nanchen walked in and pursed his thin lips as he looked at Gu Ruochu. He knew that she was not asleep, and her long hair had spread out on her pillow.
Her soft black hair was like a graceful aquatic plant, and it made a charming scene on the bed.
"Ruochu." His slender fingers landed on Gu Ruochu's brows, and she could no longer pretend that she was asleep. She opened her eyes slowly. "You want to sleep in this room?"
"Where else would I sleep? There are so many rooms in our house, but I'll only sleep with you." Huo Nanchen pressed his body against hers. His seductive eyes had a faint luster. "Ruochu, don't say those words to make my mood worse. You said that you believe I have feelings for you, so why do you think that I would sleep with another woman?"
Did she think that he was going to sleep with Ning Tangxi?
"Then what do you want to say?" Gu Ruochu knew that she would not get any sleep. She thought for a moment before deciding to change the topic, "Did Cheng Xi really break his arm?"
"Yes," Huo Nanchen replied after pausing for a few seconds.
Gu Ruochu was not sure that he cared deeply about the child. But she and the other people in the room had been frightened when they saw Huo Nanchen's expression during Ning Tangxi's meltdown. Gu Ruochu did not know what he had experienced.
It looked as if a cruel memory from Huo Nanchen's past had resurfaced in his mind.
Thinking back, Gu Ruochu realized that her mother-in-law also seemed to know about Cheng Xi's existence.
"How do you plan to deal with it?" Gu Ruochu asked as his face drew closer to hers.
"Ruochu, you're asking about Xu Yichen, aren't you?" Huo Nanchen's gaze deepened as he looked at her. He placed his hand on her face and gently stroked it with his thumb. "Regardless of whether it was an accident or not, Xu Yichen hurt the child. What's the point of letting him off easily? However, I won't let Ning Tangxi go too far. Ten years in prison is too ridiculous."
"Then what else does Miss Ning want?" She curled her lips into a faint smile as she thought about his words. "Are you punishing me on Miss Ning's behalf?"
"Ruochu, Xu Yichen hurt Ning Tangxi's child. It's understandable that Ning Tangxi wants to seek justice. Can't we stop meddling?"
"Xu Yichen hurt her child? There was no grudge between Yichen and her. Why would he do such a thing? If you don't think this was an accident, then I'm the one who ordered Yichen to hurt Ning Tangxi's child. I should be the one going to prison."
Huo Nanchen fell silent. His breathing was rough, and he looked unhappy.
He did not understand why Gu Ruochu was willing to risk everything for Xu Yichen's sake.
"Ruochu, do you really have to argue with me? You've already lost your sense of judgment. Why are you protecting him?"
"I'm standing up for what is right. There's nothing to argue about."
Gu Ruochu thought that he was getting impatient with her because he wanted to protect Ning Tangxi. When she remembered his expression during Ning Tangxi's breakdown, Gu Ruochu did not want to argue with him any further.
She tucked herself into the quilt and did not pay him much attention.
Seeing that she had fallen asleep with her back to him, the anger in Huo Nanchen's heart subsided suddenly like a punctured balloon.