Chapter 23: Just Broke a Vase

The man bent over even lower, and only then did I see the box in his hand.

The four corners of the black wooden box were wrapped in metal, and there was a small bronze lock in the very center.

What was inside?

I didn't understand why Xie Yan had suddenly become so distant and cold. Just as I was about to open my mouth to ask, Xie Yan spoke again, "I've told you that you just need to follow my words..."

Xie Yan didn't finish his sentence. He just paused for a moment and then waved his hand. The strange man, understanding the situation, stood aside, still bowing his head respectfully.

I looked at Xie Yan and then at the strange man, feeling completely confused.

Xie Yan walked towards me. He gently took my hand and told me in a low voice, "Mianmian, I have some things to deal with. I need to leave for a while."

Now?

Thinking of that strange man, I guessed that it might be because of him.

It's just that what on earth was going on between them that couldn't be told to me? "But..."

But I was worried.

"Mianmian." Xie Yan interrupted me. There wasn't much expression on his face, but facing Xie Yan, for some reason, I felt that Xie Yan seemed to be suppressing something.

"I'll be back soon." Xie Yan said.

I frowned, wanting to retort, but when I saw Xie Yan's distant and cold expression at this moment, I held back. I nodded and said, "Okay, then come back early."

"Okay." Xie Yan smiled faintly and then walked straight out of the door.

The strange man didn't even look at me. He just followed Xie Yan out of the door as soon as Xie Yan made a move. The moment the glass door closed, I heard the strange man say, "Your younger brother is just worried about your safety. This is something that suits your taste..."

Something that suits the taste? What could it be?

I listened carefully, but the sound disappeared the moment the door closed.

I went back to the kitchen and continued making the cake. The delicate and soft cream took on different shapes in my hands.

If he was talking about taste, it should be food, right?

The sun outside was big and hot. Xie Yan shouldn't have gone far. I quickly finished the cake in my hand and went out to look for Xie Yan. Xie Yan's car was still parked in front of the store.

Sure enough, Xie Yan was nearby.

I searched for Xie Yan along the path.

"You were the one who placed me beside the young mistress. I have no right to choose what to do or not to do. Master, this is your lunch." I heard the familiar voice and suddenly stopped in my tracks.

What master?

What was this lunch about?

I followed the direction of the man's voice and found where they were standing. Xie Yan had his back to me at this moment, and the man in the black robe was still half-bowing in front of Xie Yan.

"Go back and tell him that if I find him approaching Gu Mian again, I won't show any mercy."

This was Xie Yan's voice!

I suddenly froze in place, thinking about Xie Yan's words. Who was going to approach me?

Who sent this person?

What exactly was Xie Yan's identity, and what was his purpose for getting close to me?

The wind howled past my ears, and I couldn't hear clearly what they were saying. Driven by curiosity, I took two steps forward gently.

I hid behind the corner, trying my best to conceal my figure. I leaned sideways and looked in Xie Yan's direction. I saw that the man said something, and suddenly Xie Yan grabbed the man's neck.

"I shouldn't have given you away." Xie Yan's tone was as cold as ice and snow.

My mind was in a mess. Was there really such a thing as giving someone away?

If it wasn't giving someone away, what else could it mean?

Before I could figure out what Xie Yan meant, suddenly Xie Yan pressed the man down forcefully, and the man tilted his neck and passed out.

"Ah!" I was so scared that I lost my wits and ran away screaming.

Before I could steady myself after taking a step, my wrist was instantly grabbed by Xie Yan.

My wrist hurt, and I instinctively struggled. "Xie Yan, let me go."

Xie Yan looked at me coldly. "What are you doing?"

There were bright red pinch marks around my wrist. I waved my hands and shouted, trying to get away from Xie Yan. "Go away. What did you do to him?"

"Gu Mian." Xie Yan said in a sinister tone. "Who told you to come out?"

"I just wanted to come out and find you. I saw that your car hadn't left, so I guessed that you should be nearby." I said tremblingly, explaining. "Xie Yan, are you killing someone?"

I clearly saw it.

When Xie Yan heard this, his face suddenly froze. But in an instant, he regained his usual calmness. "Mianmian, you saw it wrong. I was just giving him a lesson."

"I don't believe it." I saw the man fall down. How could it be just a simple lesson?

I forcefully shook off Xie Yan's restraining hand and moved away from him in fear. I even kept scolding him, "I won't believe you. Xu Qiang also said that you killed someone, and now I've seen it with my own eyes."

As soon as I finished speaking, I wanted to run, but suddenly a force appeared around my waist, and I was pulled into an embrace.

"Xie Yan, let me go. You're a murderer." I shouted.

Xie Yan didn't loosen his arms around me at all. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Xie Yan's palm moving up and down. Soon, I heard the man's voice.

"Mr. Xie, thank you."

The familiar tone and voice made me freeze instantly, and my mind went blank.

The man wasn't dead?

I stopped struggling, and Xie Yan slowly put me down. I turned around and looked at the man. He was still wearing the cloak, and I couldn't see his face.

But if a person could stand up on their own and stand steadily, they should really be okay.

"Xie Yan, what on earth is going on?" I asked Xie Yan with lingering fear.

Xie Yan didn't say anything. He just raised his hand and hooked it backward. The man walked over slowly. He stopped in front of me, bent slightly, and said respectfully, "I'm Jiang Huai. Miss Gu, don't be afraid. I'm Mr. Xie's servant. I was ordered to deliver something today."

Deliver something?

I remembered the retro and exquisite box in his hand and asked Jiang Huai, "What are you delivering?"

"..." Jiang Huai lowered his head and glanced in Xie Yan's direction, as if waiting for Xie Yan's permission.

I turned around and looked at Xie Yan. Xie Yan looked at me and shook his head slightly. "I can't tell you what's inside for now, but I believe that one day, you will definitely know."

Xie Yan's tone was determined, and he didn't leave me any room for rebuttal.

I felt a pang of bitterness in my heart. I turned around and was about to leave. "Fine. Since you have something to deal with, go ahead and deal with it. I still have work in the store. I'm going back now."

The journey that should have taken seven or eight minutes actually took me more than ten minutes to get back to the store. The colorful and sweet cakes in the showcase now seemed tasteless to me.

Did Xie Yan really consider me his wife?

What exactly was he hiding?

The store was empty. Besides the sound of my own heartbeat, there was no other sound in my ears. I locked the store door and was about to go home. I just wanted to go back and sleep.

Then I could sort out my relationship with Xie Yan properly.