CHAPTER 17: A CRACK IN THE FACADE

The rain-soaked yard glistened like a mirror, reflecting the despair etched on Nuan Nuan's face. She knelt beside Si Kong, guilt gnawing at her heart. If not for her, he wouldn't be suffering alongside her.

As the minutes ticked by, her body swayed, weakened by the cold. A sneeze escaped, and her nose reddened. Si Kong's gaze flickered toward her, his thoughts hidden behind a mask of indifference. For an instant, he saw her – truly saw her – vulnerable and fragile.

But he suppressed the spark of compassion, reminding himself of his own circumstances. He wasn't free to care.

Nuan Nuan's collapse broke the silence. Si Kong's instincts screamed to support her, but he restrained himself, wary of revealing his true emotions.

As she struggled to rise, their eyes met. Hers searched for answers; his hid behind a frosty facade.

"Why are you suddenly so different, Si Kong?" Nuan Nuan's voice trembled.

His response cut like a dagger. "I've never been kind to you. You mean nothing to me. I've only helped you because I'm not heartless. But if you keep fabricating emotions, I'll show you my worst side."

Each word shredded Nuan Nuan's heart, leaving her breathless and shattered. Tears streamed down her face, and Si Kong's gaze drifted toward her, his expression unyielding.

Yet, his heart twisted, heavy with an unspoken pain. His throat constricted, and his eyes burned with a fire he dared not reveal.

When the punishment ended, Si Kong rose, leaving Nuan Nuan behind, lost in a sea of despair. His departure severed the fragile thread connecting them.

As his figure vanished, Nuan Nuan's blank stare remained, her soul crushed beneath the weight of Si Kong's words.