CHAPTER 312: CHAPTER 312: ALL ALONE

Bian Yue did not notice that, in the bedroom on the second floor, Li Sihe was standing by the window, silently watching her leave.

His expression was calm, noble and gentle as if he was above the mundane world.

Behind him, the black-clothed bodyguard stood straight and spoke in a deep voice, "You asked me to have someone follow Miss Bian. I’ve already had my subordinates on it. Don’t worry, I’ll inform you of Miss Bian’s whereabouts immediately."

"Have you arranged the residents along the way, as I asked?" Li Sihe said indifferently.

"It’s been arranged," the bodyguard paused, then continued, "There’s nobody within a hundred miles from here. Miss Bian is pregnant and can’t run far; she is bound to stay overnight there."

Li Sihe nodded and said, "Good, you may go now."

The night was deepening, and the snowflakes were falling thick and fast without any sign of stopping.

Li Sihe stood by the window, silently watching the snowy scene for a long time, suddenly letting out a smile.

Bian Yue understood him so well, yet how could he not understand Bian Yue.

He was all too aware of Bian Yue’s current distrust of him. Any slight improper move from him, and Bian Yue would surely retaliate.

Her choice to leave was entirely within his expectations.

However, he still had a slight hope in his heart, hoping that Bian Yue would trust him, hoping she would... stay for his sake.

And now, those hopes had all come to naught...

The next moment, the subordinate who had departed suddenly came back with a panicked look, his voice grave, "Mr. Li, the acquaintance you mentioned... has arrived."

Li Sihe chuckled, feeling a multitude of emotions well up inside him.

His smile deepened as he turned around, serene and composed, "Then let’s go meet this old friend."

The extensive snowstorm filled the sky with whirling flakes.

Li Sihe stood under the Marble carved eaves, watching Shen Jinci descend from the private plane, his innate hostility turning into murderous intent the moment he saw Li Sihe.

Li Sihe, however, smiled gently as if unaffected, his eyes gazing at Shen Jinci from afar, smiling indicating his composure, "Long time no see, Shen Jinci."

Zhuang Jie Ning, following behind Shen Jinci, watched the scene unfold before her, her face pale.

Li Sihe’s smile remained as snow fell onto Shen Jinci’s shoulders, his already cold aura becoming even more chilling.

"In such a heavy snowstorm, you’ve come all the way to see me, day and night. I’m truly touched," Li Sihe smiled, his voice easygoing, "Why don’t we sit down and have a long talk?"

"Li Sihe, where is Bian Yue."

"Bian Yue?" Li Sihe raised his eyebrows, his gaze fell on Zhuang Jie Ning, and with a thoughtful smile, he said, "Did Zhuang Jie Ning tell you something? How could Bian Yue be here with me? You really are worrying too much."

Shen Jinci’s expression turned even colder; he had anticipated that Li Sihe would not hand her over easily. At this moment, his anger was far from being as deep as his worry.

He feared that Bian Yue might have encountered trouble at the hands of Li Sihe.

"Li Sihe, I don’t care whether you live or die. You want to fight me, I’m ready, but Bian Yue is my bottom line. If you’re not willing to hand Bian Yue over to me, I’m not sure what I’d do."

"Kill me?" Li Sihe’s smile deepened. He lifted his head, gazing at the snow in front of him, his expression desolate, "Shen Jinci, do you think that someone like me, who has already died once, truly cares about his own life or death? Perhaps, there might have been a time when I cared, but now that I’m all alone, what difference does it make whether I’m alive or dead?"

"Li Sihe! Stop saying that!" Zhuang Jie Ning, pale as a ghost, cut him off decisively, "Is Bian Yue more important than your own life?"

Li Sihe did not respond. His gaze retracted from the snowy scene, still composed and calm. "What’s the point of talking outside? A guest from afar should be welcomed in. Mr. Shen, please come inside with me."

The moment Shen Jinci heard Li Sihe’s invitation, he guessed that Bian Yue wasn’t there.

The cold was biting, and Shen Jinci’s heart was clenched tight.

He was genuinely afraid something might have happened to Bian Yue, and he was truly worried that Li Sihe, in a moment of extremism, might do something to her.

So, containing his emotions, he followed Li Sihe’s words and entered the hall.

Everyone else tactfully withdrew, leaving only the three of them in the vast hall.

Zhuang Jie Ning sat huddled to one side, lightly dressed; after the snowy scene just now, she was already too cold to speak.

Li Sihe was making tea for the two of them, his posture graceful. Smiling, he said, "This island is surrounded by the sea on all sides. Winter is especially long here. When I bought it, all I thought about was seeking a little peace in the lengthy winter."

Shen Jinci’s gaze fell on the teacup before him, where his own reflection was tinged with hostility.

"Where have you hidden Bian Yue?" Shen Jinci asked, his voice tense.

"Did Zhuang Jie Ning tell you that Bian Yue is with me?" Li Sihe smirked. Under Zhuang Jie Ning’s astonished gaze, he slowly said, "Could it not be that Zhuang Jie Ning is the one who kidnapped Bian Yue and is trying to frame me?"

"Li Sihe! You should take responsibility for what you say! How can you accuse me of kidnapping Bian Yue?" Zhuang Jie Ning’s face turned red with anger. "Why would I kidnap Bian Yue! If I had that ability, I wouldn’t have been played by you in circles before, even my own child getting dragged into your schemes!"

"It sounds like Miss Zhuang harbors deep resentment towards me." Li Sihe chuckled. Looking at Shen Jinci, he said gently, "With such a grudge against me, Mr. Shen, do you really think her words are credible?"

"You’re not willing to admit it?"

"There’s nothing for me to admit." Li Sihe’s eyes and eyebrows showed his candidness: "Because Bian Yue is indeed not with me."

As soon as Li Sihe finished speaking, Shen Jinci overturned the teacup in front of him, spilling tea across the table, creating a mess.

Li Sihe looked momentarily surprised, then sighed and said softly, "This is really wasteful."

"Apart from you, Li Sihe, no one else has the capability to sneak Bian Yue out of Xiangjiang unnoticed. If you really thought Bian Yue was kidnapped by Zhuang Jie Ning, could you still sit here and talk to her so calmly?"

Shen Jinci’s tone was cold as his gaze dropped to the wound on Li Sihe’s hand, his voice steeped in hostility, "The cut on your hand, that’s because of Bian Yue, isn’t it? Such a cut must have been made by shards of porcelain, you must have had some argument with Bian Yue, which led you to hurt yourself."

Shen Jinci’s conjecture was so precise that even such minute details were not overlooked.

Li Sihe chuckled softly, sat down, and leaned back on the sofa, speaking dismissively, "Then you should know, if I would rather be both hurt and bleeding than let go of Bian Yue, my answer to you now can only be that Bian Yue is not with me."

Having suppressed his emotions all this way, in this moment, Shen Jinci finally exploded with rage, suddenly rising to his feet as the dark barrel of a gun pointed directly at Li Sihe’s face.