After Marrying the Officer Chapter 4: Narrow Road Encounter

Despite everything Xia Chuyi had mentioned, Huo Shiqian seemed fixated solely on the word fiancé.

"That is correct; the individuals outside are my fiancé and my sister," she replied, turning her face away from his gaze. "The two people closest to me are the ones who colluded to frame me this time."

She gripped her fists until her knuckles turned white, the haunting memories of her prior existence flickering through her mind like a disjointed film.

"I apologize for involving you in this mess."

She lowered her head, shielding her eyes to conceal the turbulence of her emotions.

Nevertheless, I swear that I will not let you be dragged down by my burdens in this life.

The vow echoed silently within her heart.

Regaining her composure, Xia Chuyi raised her head to fix him with an intense, unwavering look as she commanded, "Let me go."

Huo Shiqian remained stoic and silent.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted just beyond the door.

"Chuyi? Chuyi, are you inside?"

Damn it! That was Xia Lan’s voice.

Knock, knock, knock!

The shouts were accompanied by rhythmic, heavy thumping against the door.

"Chuyi, Chuyi, it’s Sister Lan! Please, open the door. What happened over there? Are you alright?"

Her tone was cloaked in false concern, yet a keen ear could detect a tremor of genuine, sinister excitement hidden underneath.

Xia Chuyi’s grip tightened so severely that her fingernails bit into her skin, leaving stinging red marks. How blind, deaf, and naive she had been in her previous life!

She composed herself with a ragged breath.

"I have to leave right now!" Without a second thought, Xia Chuyi bolted toward the window.

Before she could escape, a firm hand clamped down on her arm.

"I will take you out of here."

"What?"

Before she could register his intent, Huo Shiqian swept her into his strong embrace.

The banging on the door intensified into brutal thuds. "Chuyi! If you don’t open this door immediately, we are going to break it down!"

Suddenly, she felt weightless as Huo Shiqian lifted her up. She held onto him tightly as he vaulted out the window, sliding down the exterior pipe with fluid, expert precision until their feet touched the ground.

"Stay here and don’t move a muscle."

After lowering her to the ground, he gave her a stern order.

Then, she watched in awe as he scaled the wall with effortless strength, vanishing back through the second-story window.

Gazing up at that window, she could still sense his faint, reassuring scent lingering on her skin, and she could not help but offer a small, appreciative smile. Despite his icy exterior, there was a hidden, profound warmth within him. It was a pity, she mused, that for the sake of his future, it was better for them to remain strangers.

Instead of obeying his command, she walked calmly around to the guesthouse entrance and stepped inside with bold confidence.

Meanwhile, on the second floor, Huo Shiqian had re-entered the room, quickly arranging the space to make it look as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

Thud!

As the pounding reached a frantic tempo, Huo Shiqian yanked the door wide open.

The woman outside beamed, her eyes sparkling with malice as she pushed past him, pretending to be a worried sister. "Chuyi!"

The moment she crossed the threshold, she was yanked by the collar and sent flying through the air in a miserable arc.

"Lanlan!" He Qing rushed in to catch her before she hit the floor.

"Which bastard dares to strike—" the comrade accompanying He Qing snarled, rolling up his sleeves, but before he could charge, a dark shadow delivered a savage kick to his stomach, sending him sprawling into the corridor.

The man doubled over in agony, but when he lifted his face and realized who was standing in the doorway, his arrogance evaporated.

"Huo, Huo..."

He didn’t dare finish the name. Everyone knew Huo Shiqian—the dreaded 'Huo Yama'—was the most influential and youngest officer in the region, a man whose absolute authority was never to be challenged.

"Is there a problem here?" Huo Shiqian’s frigid voice cut through the air.

By now, He Qing had also recognized the man, his voice trembling involuntarily. "We... we were just looking for someone. Just searching for someone."

He Qing’s gaze darted nervously around the room behind Huo Shiqian.

The room was sparse and simple, offering nowhere to hide. The bedsheets were slightly rumpled, and a military jacket lay discarded on the edge of the mattress, suggesting that the officer had been rudely awakened by their racket. However, there was absolutely no sign of Xia Chuyi.

He Qing felt a surge of bitter disappointment. If only she had been here, he could have ruined Huo Shiqian’s reputation. What a wasted opportunity.