Xia Yuqing froze.
Rong Xi's words echoed in her ears like a scream she couldn't silence. What if he's already trying to drag you back?
Her heart skipped a beat. No—no, that couldn't be. That man… Long Mingzhe, the emperor. He couldn't come here. Why would he? There was no reason for him to. He had killed her with his own hands. Why would he want her back?
Her chest tightened, her breath coming faster. Panic crept into her mind like cold water seeping into her bones. She had escaped him, escaped that life. The palace, the rules, the lies… that was all in the past.
This was her new life.
She was no longer a puppet tied to his hand.
She had freedom now.
Here, she could laugh when she wanted, do whatever her heart desired. She could eat junk food, wear anything she liked, stay out late, and live for herself. No one told her what to do. No one controlled her every step. No one locked her in golden cages or whispered commands behind her back.
