Chapter 192: Return To The Past

It was already midnight when they arrived at the residence.

As they walked toward their courtyard, Wang Gege had already yawned several times, her steps gradually becoming slower as the tiredness from the long night finally caught up with her.Xie Rong noticed immediately.

"Furen is tired?"

Wang Gege covered her mouth after another yawn and nodded. "A little... I didn’t realise the festival would take that long and, of course... the shock from that assassin really drained my energy."

Xie Rong stopped in his tracks and turned toward her.

"Then, do you want this husband to carry Furen?"

Wang Gege blinked at him. "Carry me?"

"Hmm." He nodded, as though it were the most natural suggestion in the world. "Furen has been walking for hours, and your neck has only just recovered. This husband doesn’t want you exhausting yourself."Wang Gege looked at him for a moment before glancing down at herself.

"But... I am... heavy..."

"Heavy?" Xie Rong looked her up and down before raising both hands as though weighing something in the air. "Where?"

Wang Gege’s eyes widened. "What do you mean, where?!"

"This husband is looking for the heavy part."

"Ethan Xu!"

He immediately laughed, his shoulders shaking slightly."Furen is so small. This husband doubts I would even feel the weight."

With a swift movement, Xie Rong bent down and scooped her up, holding her against his chest with her legs wrapped around his waist.

"No... why carry me this way?" Wang Gege immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, her face flushing as she turned her head to check whether anyone was nearby. "This is embarrassing..."

Xie Rong chuckled softly.

"Isn’t this more romantic?" He leaned closer, pressing a gentle kiss against her forehead.

Wang Gege’s face grew even warmer. "How is this romantic? You are carrying me like a child!"

"No..." Xie Rong shook his head, continuing to walk as they headed toward their courtyard.

However, as they reached the entrance, his steps gradually slowed.

Wang Gege noticed the sudden change and turned her head to see what had caught his attention.

A familiar figure stood quietly beneath the lantern light at the entrance of their courtyard.

It was Master Xie.

Wang Gege’s eyes widened.

"Father..."

She immediately realised the position she was currently in and hurriedly tried to get down from Xie Rong’s arms.

"Put me down!"

Xie Rong tightened his hold instinctively. "Furen, be careful."

"I know!" Wang Gege whispered urgently, her face already burning with embarrassment. "Your father is right there!"

Xie Rong glanced toward his father before looking back at her. "This husband can see that."

"Then put me down!"

Only then did Xie Rong finally lower her carefully onto the ground.

Wang Gege immediately straightened her clothes, trying to compose herself as though she had not just been carried into the courtyard like a child.

Master Xie stood a short distance away, his expression unreadable.

His gaze moved from Wang Gege to Xie Rong before settling briefly on his son’s blindfold.

"You two are finally back."

Master Xie gave them only a brief glance before turning toward the chamber.

"There is something important I need to discuss with both of you."

His serious tone immediately made Wang Gege’s expression change. She followed Xie Rong inside, and the three of them soon took their seats around the table.

For a moment, Master Xie remained silent, as though deciding where to begin.

"Xie An’an has awakened."

Wang Gege’s eyes immediately widened. "She has?"

Master Xie nodded. "She woke up not long after both of you left for the festival. The physician has examined her, but her condition is still not good."

Xie Rong remained quiet, his expression thoughtful.

Master Xie, however, did not look relieved.

Wang Gege noticed his expression and slowly frowned.

Master Xie lifted his gaze toward them. "That is not the reason I came here tonight."

The relief that had just appeared on Wang Gege’s face slowly disappeared.

Xie Rong leaned back slightly, his expression turning serious.

Master Xie took a deep breath before finally speaking.

"Since Madam Liu’s death was not related to either of you, this father wishes to have it reported as the same cause of death as before... that she took her own life."

Both of them froze.

"Father—"

Xie Rong could not finish before Master Xie raised a hand, asking him to listen first.

"I promised her mother that I would take good care of her." His voice was heavy. "Just this once... this father promised that this would be the last time. I swear on my life that this will be the last time I protect her."

Xie Rong’s expression darkened.

"Father..."

Master Xie lowered his hand.

But before he could say anything else, Xie Rong’s voice suddenly thundered across the chamber.

"Your promise has already cost another person her life!"

Wang Gege flinched slightly at the force of his voice.

Xie Rong’s hands clenched tightly at his sides.

"That was just a promise you made to her mother—to take care of her. Why did that promise become a reason for you to carry every sin she committed on her behalf?"

His breathing had grown heavier.

"How many more people have to suffer before that promise is finally enough?"

Master Xie remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, his voice carrying a trace of exhaustion.

"Everyone already believes the cause of her death was suicide. The physician’s report has been written, and no one is questioning it anymore."

He looked directly at Xie Rong.

"Just this once..." His voice softened. "This father is not asking you for anything more."

Xie Rong’s expression remained cold. "You want me to stay silent."Master Xie nodded slowly. "Yes."

"And after that?"

"After that, this father will deal with An’an myself. I will make sure she never causes something like this again."

Xie Rong let out a bitter laugh.

"Please..." Master Xie shook his head slowly. "Since she woke up, she has been saying strange things."

Xie Rong’s brows furrowed. "What kind of things?"

"She kept asking what day it was, what year we were in, and whether certain people were still alive." Master Xie paused, his expression becoming increasingly troubled. "At first, this father thought she was simply confused after being unconscious for so long."

Wang Gege listened quietly.

"But she kept insisting that something was wrong. She said she had already died once..."

Xie Rong’s expression immediately changed.

Master Xie continued, "She said she should have been dead already and somehow returned to a year ago."

The chamber fell silent.

Wang Gege’s eyes widened slightly.

’She thinks she has returned to the past?’