*Chapter 67: Return to the Cage*
Li Xue's brief respite ended abruptly as Zhao Liang returned unexpectedly. His presence filled the room before he even spoke, a suffocating aura that immediately drained the warmth of the day. Li Xue froze instinctively, her body rigid with fear and tension. Every instinct screamed caution; every muscle in her body coiled like a spring.
Zhao Liang's gaze swept the room deliberately, noting every detail — the silver necklace hidden beneath her sleeve, the subtle curve of her shoulders, the faint tension in her fingers. "You've been distracted," he said quietly, stepping closer. The words were soft but carried the weight of command, a sharpness masked by calmness.
Li Xue's mind raced. Clause after clause of the contract returned to her memory — penalties, obligations, and restrictions. Fear settled in her chest, heavy and unrelenting, yet beneath it lay a small ember of defiance. She thought of her younger brother's laughter, Mei Yan's teasing, and the fleeting moments of freedom she had just experienced. Those memories gave her strength, however fragile, and allowed her to meet his gaze without fully breaking under it.
For a long moment, silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken tension. Zhao Liang's eyes lingered, searching for the smallest sign of weakness, while Li Xue's heartbeat raced, alternating between fear and a quiet, stubborn resolve.