Su Qinglan did not raise her voice again. Instead, to Rong Ye's complete surprise, she suddenly stepped closer and sat down right in front of him.
Before he could react, her hands reached out and gently cupped his cheeks.
"Huh.."
Rong Ye froze. His ears stood straight up, and his entire body went stiff as she turned his face toward her, forcing him to meet her eyes.
There was nowhere left to hide. Her touch was warm and, most importantly, comforting.
Completely different from the cold pressure he had imagined just moments ago.
"Look at me," she said softly.
Rong Ye's breath hitched. He looked into her eyes, wide and uncertain, like a fox caught in the open.
Su Qinglan's expression had softened. There was no anger in it now. Only quiet seriousness… and something gentler beneath.
"Tell me," she said, her voice low and calm, "what happened?"
She paused slightly, her thumbs brushing lightly against his cheeks.
"Did you forget what I told you last time?"
