Three days later.
The capital was covered by a cold morning fog.
Li Xinyue stood inside the Li Group office, looking at the financial report in front of her.
Her expression was calm.
But her eyes were sharp.
The missing document from the company archive was not an accident.
Someone was testing her.
Someone wanted to know if the new Li Xinyue was still the same person from before.
A cold smile appeared on her lips.
Unfortunately for them…
They had underestimated her.
“Chen Wei.”
“Yes, Miss Li.”
“Find out who accessed the archive room that night.”
Chen Wei hesitated.
“Miss Li, that area is restricted. Only senior executives have access.”
Li Xinyue tapped her finger lightly on the table.
“Exactly.”
The enemy was not outside the Li family.
It was someone inside.
That afternoon, Li Xinyue received a call.
“Madam.”
The familiar deep voice made her heart pause.
Gu Zhen.
She immediately stood up.
“You’re back?”
There was a short silence.
Perhaps even Gu Zhen was surprised by the happiness in her voice.
“Yes.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
“I arrived at the military base.”
Li Xinyue relaxed.
At least he was safe.
“Are you injured?”
Another silence.
Gu Zhen looked at the small wound on his arm.
“It’s nothing.”
Li Xinyue frowned.
She knew that answer.
Military men always said the same thing.
“Gu Zhen.”
Her voice became serious.
“You promised me you would return safely.”
His wife was worried about him.
Not because of duty.
Not because of their family names.
But because she cared.
“I know.”
His voice softened.
“I kept my promise.”
That evening, Gu Zhen returned to the Gu mansion.
Li Xinyue waited at the entrance.
When the car stopped and he stepped out, their eyes met.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
In his previous life, this scene never happened.
She never waited for him.
She never smiled when he returned.
But now…
She was there.
Waiting.
Gu Zhen walked closer.
“You didn’t have to wait.”
Li Xinyue shook her head.
“I wanted to.”
Those simple words affected him more than she knew.
Later that night, Li Xinyue noticed the injury on his arm.
Her expression changed.
“You were hurt.”
Gu Zhen looked away.
“It’s a small injury.”
She carefully cleaned the wound.
The room was quiet.
Neither of them spoke.
But the silence was no longer cold.
It was peaceful.
Gu Zhen looked at her lowered eyelashes.
He remembered the first month of their marriage.
The distance.
The rejection.
The coldness.
He had thought perhaps this was how their marriage would always be.
But now…
“Xinyue.”
She looked up.
“Why did you suddenly change?”
Her hand paused.
She knew this question would come eventually.
Because the truth was impossible to explain.
She couldn’t tell him:
I died once.
I watched you suffer because of my mistakes.
I came back to fix everything.
So she only said:
“Because I finally realized…”
She looked into his eyes.
“That I was wrong.”
Gu Zhen was silent.
For a long time.
Then he gently placed his hand over hers.
“You don’t have to force yourself.”
His words surprised her.
“What?”
“You don’t have to become a different person just because you are my wife.”
Li Xinyue’s heart ached.
Even now…
He was still thinking about her feelings.
Not his own.
Meanwhile, in a hidden office across the city…
Lin Meiqi looked at the information in her hand.
Her expression became darker.
“She changed.”
The person beside her asked:
“Are you sure?”
Lin Meiqi crushed the paper in her hand.
“Yes.”
“Li Xinyue is no longer the same foolish woman from before.”
She looked at Gu Zhen’s picture.
“But it doesn’t matter.”
A dangerous smile appeared.
“Everyone has a weakness.”
“And I will find hers.”
That night, Li Xinyue slept peacefully beside Gu Zhen.
She didn’t notice his hand quietly covering hers.
As if even in sleep…
He was afraid she would disappear.