The moment those words left Xi Wenzhe’s mouth, the entire courtyard fell into complete silence.

Meanwhile, Su Yueqing stood rooted to the spot.

Her face was completely blank.

Inside her mind, something exploded.

[WHAT DID HE JUST SAY?!]

The system immediately answered.

[Host, based on my analysis, he appears to have invited you to his chamber.]

[I HEARD THAT PART!]

[Then why are you shouting?]

[I’M NOT SHOUTING!]

[You are.]

[I’M PANICKING!]

The system thoughtfully considered this.

[That seems accurate.]

Across the courtyard, Xi Yunchen immediately rubbed his forehead.

"Finished."

Gu Xiang sighed.

"Completely finished."

Xi Yunhao looked toward his elder brother’s retreating figure.

For the first time in years, he genuinely could not understand what Xi Wenzhe was thinking.

After all, wasn’t his relationship with Su Yueqing terrible?

Didn’t he hate her or something?

Then why had he suddenly announced such a thing in front of everyone?

Meanwhile, Su Yueqing finally found her voice.

"Wait!"

Xi Wenzhe’s footsteps paused.

Slowly, he turned his head.

His expression remained calm.

"Something else?"

Su Yueqing pointed at herself.

"You want me to go where?"

Xi Wenzhe raised an eyebrow.

"My chamber."

The answer was simple.

Inside Su Yueqing’s mind, another explosion immediately followed.

[NO.]

[ABSOLUTELY NOT.]

[OVER MY DEAD BODY.]

[DOES THIS MAN HAVE NO BOUNDARIES?]

[NO SENSE OF PERSONAL SPACE?]

[NO FEAR OF HEAVEN?]

The system quietly interrupted.

[Host, you are his wife.]

[STOP REMINDING ME.]

Xi Wenzhe watched her changing expressions with increasing amusement.

One moment she looked angry.

The next she looked horrified.

Then confused.

Then horrified again.

It was honestly difficult to tell what she was thinking if one ignored the fact that everyone in the Xi family could hear her thoughts.

Unfortunately for her, they could.

Which made the entire performance significantly more entertaining.

Su Yueqing took a deep breath.

Then another.

Finally, she forced herself to calm down.

"No."

The answer came immediately.

Xi Wenzhe looked at her.

"No?"

Su Yueqing nodded firmly.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t want to."

A faint smile appeared in Xi Wenzhe’s eyes.

"You don’t want to?"

"Exactly."

Su Yueqing folded her arms.

"I am very comfortable in my own room."

"That is unfortunate."

His response was so calm that Su Yueqing nearly choked.

"What do you mean unfortunate?"

Xi Wenzhe looked at her steadily.

"It means your opinion does not change the arrangement."

Su Yueqing’s eyes widened.

[TYRANT.]

[ABSOLUTE TYRANT.]

[THIS IS HOW TYRANTS ARE BORN.]

The system sounded impressed.

[Host, your vocabulary becomes more creative whenever you’re angry.]

[I’M GOING TO THROW SOMETHING AT HIM.]

[Please don’t.]

[WHY NOT?]

[You will probably miss.]

Su Yueqing almost fainted from frustration.

Not far away, Xi Yunchen had already turned around because he was afraid he would laugh out loud.

His shoulders shook violently.

Gu Xiang looked no better.

Even Xi Yunhao had to lower his head to hide his expression.

Meanwhile, Li Mei remained silent.

However, her gaze unconsciously followed Xi Wenzhe.

A trace of worry appeared in her eyes.

The situation was becoming increasingly difficult to understand.

She had expected Xi Wenzhe to be angry after Su Yueqing openly called her his lover in front of everyone.

Yet not only had he ignored the accusation, he had calmly announced that Su Yueqing would accompany him tonight.

No matter how she looked at it, things were no longer developing according to her expectations.

Xi Wenzhe’s attention returned to Su Yueqing.

The young woman was still glaring at him as though she wanted to bite him.

For some reason, that thought nearly made him laugh.

’She’s becoming bolder every day.’

’A day ago she could barely look me in the eye.’

’Now she’s arguing with me in front of an entire courtyard full of servants.’

At that moment, the head maid finally recovered from her shock.

She quickly bowed.

"This servant understands."

Xi Wenzhe nodded once.

"Good."

Then he looked toward Su Yueqing one final time.

"Do not be late."

The words sounded harmless.

Yet somehow they felt like a threat.

Su Yueqing immediately pointed at him.

"You can’t just decide these things by yourself!"

Xi Wenzhe raised an eyebrow.

"I already did."

Then, before Su Yueqing could continue arguing, he turned around and resumed walking away.

This time he did not stop.

Xi Yunhao offered Su Yueqing an apologetic smile before following after his brother.

"Young Madam, please don’t be angry. Elder Brother is not usually like this."

"That doesn’t help!"

"It was worth a try."

Before he could say anything else, Xi Yunchen grabbed his arm and dragged him away.

"If you value your life, stop talking."

"But—"

"No."

The two brothers disappeared down the corridor together.

Gu Xiang followed behind them while trying very hard not to laugh.

Soon only the servants remained. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

And at the center of the courtyard stood Su Yueqing.

Motionless and completely pale.

Inside her mind, only one thought remained.

[I’m doomed.]

The system immediately responded.

[Host.]

[What?]

[On the bright side, you still gained Villain Points today.]

There was a long pause.

.....

The atmosphere inside Xi Wenzhe’s study was completely different from the chaos that had unfolded in the courtyard earlier.

Xi Wenzhe sat behind his desk with a stack of documents spread before him.

Although his eyes appeared focused on the report in his hands, his thoughts were not entirely on estate matters.

Every now and then, images from the courtyard resurfaced in his mind.

Su Yueqing’s expression after hearing she would accompany him to his chamber.

The disbelief.

The horror.

The look of betrayal.

For some reason, the memory was strangely amusing.

’She looked as though I had sentenced her to execution.’

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly before returning to normal.

At that moment, a knock sounded outside.

Dong Li entered after receiving permission.

The trusted guard immediately noticed the relaxed atmosphere surrounding his master and almost found it unbelievable.

Since when had the Young Master been in such a good mood?

After bowing respectfully, he spoke.

"Young Master."

Xi Wenzhe set down the document in his hand.

"What is it?"

Dong Li hesitated briefly before answering.

"Li Mei is here."

The moment those words left his mouth, the faint amusement disappeared from Xi Wenzhe’s face.

His expression immediately became serious.

The change was so obvious that even Dong Li noticed it.

For a moment, silence filled the room.

Then Xi Wenzhe finally spoke.

"Let her enter."

Dong Li bowed.

"Yes, Young Master."

Without another word, he turned and left the study, closing the door quietly behind him.

Several moments later, the door opened again.

A familiar figure stepped inside.

Li Mei entered with her usual calm and graceful bearing.

She was dressed in the maid uniform assigned to Xi Wenzhe’s residence—a light yellow hanfu layered beneath a pale green outer robe, the colors soft and elegant rather than plain. The simple uniform could not conceal her natural beauty.

Her features were delicate and refined, with clear skin, gentle eyes, and neatly arranged hair secured with modest jade ornaments suitable for a servant of higher standing. Unlike many of the younger maids who relied on cosmetics and accessories to attract attention, Li Mei possessed a quiet attractiveness that appeared effortless.

Anyone seeing her for the first time would likely mistake her for the daughter of a respectable family rather than a servant.

Years of serving within the Xi household had also given her a composed temperament that made her stand out from the others.

Unfortunately, at this moment, there was a trace of worry hidden beneath her usual calm expression.

After stepping into the room, she lowered herself into a respectful bow.

"This servant greets Young Master."

Xi Wenzhe studied her silently for a moment before speaking.

"You may rise."

Li Mei stood.

Neither of them spoke immediately.

The atmosphere felt somewhat unfamiliar.

In the past, conversations between them had been easy.

Xi Wenzhe trusted her.

Li Mei understood him.

Neither needed to choose their words carefully.

Now, however, things had changed.

Ever since the fire incident, an invisible distance had appeared between them.

Neither had acknowledged it aloud.

Yet both could feel it.

Li Mei lowered her eyes.

"Young Master..."

Her voice was softer than usual.

"I came because there is something I wish to explain."

Xi Wenzhe remained seated.

His gaze was calm, but not as warm as it once had been.

"What is it?"

Li Mei’s fingers tightened slightly within her sleeves as she stood quietly before the desk, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

She had rehearsed countless explanations before coming here. She had imagined every possible reaction from him.. anger, disappointment, coldness, but now that she was actually standing in front of him, none of those prepared words seemed sufficient.

The man seated before her was still the same Xi Wenzhe she had known for years.

Yet somehow, he also felt like a stranger.

Finally, she lowered her head.

"Young Master, I know you are already aware of my misdeeds."

The moment the words left her mouth, Xi Wenzhe’s expression hardened slightly.

"Misdeeds?"

His voice was calm, but it carried a sharpness that immediately made Li Mei’s heart tighten.

He placed the document in his hand aside and looked directly at her.

"No."

The single word made her nervous.

"What I am aware of are your crimes."