2563 Side Story 67: Start to Lose
The night breeze was slightly cold.

The surroundings fell silent.

Tuan Zi walked alone on the marble path, back to her residence.

The moonlight elongated her figure, revealing her coldness.

While walking distractedly, her head was lowered as if she was thinking.

Suddenly, a figure appeared before her, and she was about to bump into it.

Tuan Zi immediately recovered her senses. In her panic, her body fell back uncontrollably.

However, the other party was faster than her. The warm palm caught her arm and lightly stabilized her figure.

“Why didn’t you watch where you’re going?” The familiar low voice sounded above her head.

Tuan Zi heaved a sigh of relief. She looked up and saw that it was Zi Chen.

She shook her head. “I was thinking of some things.”

Zi Chen’s brows knitted undetectably. “What happened?”

She had always been active and happy with a smile on her face, but she seemed troubled now.

“What made you unhappy?”

Tuan Zi immediately shook her head, but when she met Zi Chen’s eyes, she seemed rather weak. Is it… that obvious? It seems like I can’t hide my troubles at all…

Zi Chen saw her expression and was caught between laughter and tears. She really doesn’t know how much her emotions are shown on her face. This time, she seems like she engraved the words ‘why do you know so clearly that I’m upset’ on her face.

Tuan Zi opened her mouth and wanted to ask about him and Miao Xuanxuan. But for some reason, there was hesitation in the depths of her heart, as if… she did not really want to hear it.

Even though she was confused, she also felt that it was not suitable to speak about her secretive intentions. Hence, she swallowed the remaining words and changed the topic. “Nothing. I’m j-just tired…”

Zi Chen stared at her for a while.

She did not know how to lie. When she spoke, she did not even dare look at him.

However, it did seem like she was unwilling to say it, so Zi Chen did not force her.

He nodded. “I heard that you did a lot at Godly Phoenix Mountain. How amazing.”

As he spoke, he instinctively wanted to reach out and pat her soft head. But halfway, his expression changed slightly, and he retracted his hand silently.

Tuan Zi saw it clearly. She could not pinpoint it in her heart, but this time… Zi Chen seemed rather different when he came back.

She could not specify what was different, and she could only be upset.

She acknowledged him without much energy.

Heard?

Tuan Zi suddenly thought of what Yi Ming said during the day. Was he really so busy that he did not have the time to find me? Did he have too much confidence in me, or… he doesn’t care at all?

Originally, she absolutely trusted Zi Chen. But after talking to A’Yue previously, she finally realized that she seemed… to have neglected something.

A’Yue said that Zi Chen might not like Miao Xuanxuan now, but it did not mean that he would not in the future. He seemed to have tried to accept other people.

A’Yue even said that recently, Zi Chen spent a lot of effort on Miao Xuanxuan’s matters. What did this mean?

“It’s very late. Go back and rest.” Not having Tuan Zi’s reply, Zi Chen did not seem to mind either. “I’ve prepared your food and items.”

Tuan Zi followed his gaze and realized that they were standing in front of her courtyard. And Zi Chen seemed… to have come out from inside?

Tuan Zi asked, “Ah! Zi Chen, did you help me prepare it?”

Zi Chen nodded and said, “You came back in a hurry today, so I couldn’t prepare too much. Just take these first.”

Tuan Zi hurriedly shook her head and broke out into a bright smile. “That’s great! Zi Chen, you don’t know how much I couldn’t sleep and eat when you weren’t around for the past three months!”

She pouted and unwittingly whined.

Zi Chen’s eyes flickered.

Tuan Zi pulled his hand and wanted to walk in. “Have you eaten? If not, let’s go together!”

However, Zi Chen did not move.

He twisted his wrist slightly and easily broke free from Tuan Zi’s hand.

Tuan Zi’s hand was suddenly empty, which caused her to be in a daze. “Zi Chen?”

“I have something on. I can’t accompany you today,” said Zi Chen.

Tuan Zi’s eyes widened slightly. She had never, never heard such words from Zi Chen. “But—”
But weren’t we together in the past? Why is he suddenly busy now?

Looking at that nonchalant and prideful face, Tuan Zi suddenly thought of something and shouted out, “Are you busy with Miao Xuanxuan?”

Zi Chen was about to deny it when he suddenly stopped and looked into her eyes.

The tip of his tongue lightly hit the upper roof of his mouth as he lightly acknowledged it.

He directly gave an affirmative answer, which caused Tuan Zi to not know what to do next.

She really asked casually. Who knew—

Her mind was suddenly a mess, and there was something surging in her heart. After a while, she finally said, “Okay.”

Then, she raised her hand, and her thumb touched her brow bone. “You can do your things then. I’ll go back first!”

Zi Chen stared at her closely and saw her emotions very clearly.

It wasn’t that his heart did not ache, but—

“Rest well. Also, remember that you can’t casually let anyone enter your room.”

Tuan Zi was dazed. “You’re not just anyone.”

Zi Chen seemed to laugh, but he did not say much and still turned around to leave.

His figure was quickly swallowed by the night sky. It was until he couldn’t be seen that Tuan Zi retracted her gaze and walked to her courtyard.

Very clearly, the room had been cleaned. There were all sorts of food she liked on the table.

Zi Chen had taken care of her for many years and knew her likings the best. He naturally did such matters conveniently.

Tuan Zi sat down beside the table.

When she saw food in the past, she would definitely eat happily. But for some reason, she did not have an appetite today.

In the past, Zi Chen always ate with her. Even if there were many items he did not like. It was great that he just sat there.

Tuan Zi thought in a daze and gently rubbed her stomach. I seem… upset., and it doesn’t seem like I’m upset here.

She lay on the table in defeat.

The surroundings were silent.

She rested on her shoulders, and her eyes were dazed when she saw the night sky outside.

She knew that she was upset, and it seemed to be because of whatever Zi Chen said.

Does Zi Chen mean that he thinks Miao Xuanxuan is more important? Does that also mean that he cares about her more? But didn’t they just meet not long ago?

Are people all the same, and there is a limit to the amount of goodness they can give?

She did not quite understand, but she faintly had a guess. They just started, and Zi Chen has already stopped accompanying me to eat. If Zi Chen really gets together with Miao Xuanxuan, then… Will I not even have any of this?