Chapter Five · He Is Not Who He Seems

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Zhou Jingxuan regained consciousness from a daze and was startled by Lin Zhaoyan, accidentally knocking over the candleholder. Lin Zhaoyan's quick reflexes caught the candleholder, and her fingers inadvertently brushed against the back of Zhou Jingxuan’s hand. Zhou Jingxuan withdrew his hand, his ears tinged with red, coughing awkwardly. Lin Zhaoyan noticed nothing unusual and calmly took a seat opposite him.

Seeing Lin Zhaoyan’s healthy complexion, Zhou Jingxuan offered a faint smile. “The general is awake. How do you feel now?”

“Not bad. But does the heir know about the poison inside me?” Lin Zhaoyan asked, for otherwise, why else would he inquire?

Zhou Jingxuan lowered his gaze; Lin Zhaoyan was as perceptive as ever.

“The general was unconscious for four days. I overheard my father and Doctor Xia talking three days ago, so I know a little... But what about you? Have you always known you were poisoned?” His tone was calm and measured, not pressing, merely as if asking something ordinary.

What was he getting at? Concern or curiosity?

Lin Zhaoyan looked up in surprise, but Zhou Jingxuan’s eyes remained lowered, not sparing her a glance.

“I know, but I don’t understand medicine. What can I do?” Lin Zhaoyan’s lips twitched downward, appearing somewhat troubled.

Zhou Jingxuan pursed his lips and comforted her, “Doctor Xia’s skills are excellent; he will surely find an antidote for the general...”

“Besides, the general still looks quite well.”

Lin Zhaoyan concentrated and noticed that her breaths had steadied compared to before, no longer as chaotic, and the stabbing pain in her chest had eased somewhat.

“Has Doctor Xia managed to develop an antidote?” a glimmer of hope appeared on Lin Zhaoyan’s face.

Zhou Jingxuan poured her a cup of warm water and set it before her. “Unfortunately, no... but there should be progress. Please rest assured, general.”

He rested his chin on his hand and slightly bowed his head. In the candlelight, Lin Zhaoyan caught sight of the bruising beneath his eyes.

“During these days, it hasn’t been you taking care of me, has it?” Lin Zhaoyan squinted, her sharp eyes cold and piercing.

Zhou Jingxuan met her gaze calmly and denied outright, “To be honest, I snuck in secretly—to avoid my father’s scolding.”

“You know my father’s biased against me...” Lin Zhaoyan recalled the scene of Zhou Wang fiercely kicking Zhou Jingxuan and stifled a laugh.

“The heir’s reputation precedes him; it’s no wonder the prince is watchful.”

Hearing the teasing in Lin Zhaoyan’s tone, Zhou Jingxuan was not embarrassed but instead shrugged his sleeves. “People don’t care about the truth; they only listen to what they want. They misunderstand me, but please, general, don’t dislike me.”

“I remember we’re not close. Why would you care about my opinion?”

Shielding her from harm, caring for her late at night, showing such concern—should Zhou Jingxuan be called outgoing or simply kind?

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Regardless, after parting ways with Zhou Jingxuan in the modern world, she did not wish to have any further entanglements with him in this ancient era.

Lin Zhaoyan’s eyes deepened. Zhou Jingxuan spread a smile. “I think the general and I are destined, so I say these things with no intention to offend.”

“Not offended,” she replied politely. “How is the heir’s injury? Is there anything I can do?”

At that moment, Zhou Jingxuan’s stomach rumbled loudly, as if complaining.

He pondered a moment. “General, I’m hungry. How about you help find some food?”

He blinked at Lin Zhaoyan with a pitiful look.

She only gave a casual polite reply, yet Zhou Jingxuan really took the hint.

She was injured—how could he order her around?

—Ah, but he was injured too.

Lin Zhaoyan decided to pretend she hadn’t heard and lowered her head silently.

Soon, her own stomach grumbled, creating an awkward atmosphere.

“The general has been unconscious several days and surely needs proper nourishment. How about we go find something to eat together?” Zhou Jingxuan smiled, eyes curved with confidence, as if certain Lin Zhaoyan would not refuse.

After a few moments’ hesitation, Lin Zhaoyan resolved to treat her stomach kindly and reluctantly agreed.

It was just a meal, not a battlefield!

Zhou Jingxuan led Lin Zhaoyan, tiptoeing toward the kitchen, carefully surveying the surroundings like a thief.

“Why are we sneaking around like this?” Lin Zhaoyan asked in confusion.

Zhou Jingxuan’s gaze swept over her, his tone grave. “The camp has rules forbidding wandering freely after the hour of the boar; entering the kitchen without permission is even more forbidden.”

“The general set these rules personally. Even I, a mere playboy, know them. How could you forget?” Lin Zhaoyan paused, quickly adding, “I mean, no one is guarding the kitchen now. We can just slip in without worry.”

Zhou Jingxuan nodded in realization. “Reasonable.”

Hopefully, that dispelled his suspicions. Lin Zhaoyan secretly glanced at Zhou Jingxuan, pressing her lips slightly.

“I’ll count to three, then we dash in.” Zhou Jingxuan said seriously, “Three, two, one...”

Lin Zhaoyan was momentarily distracted, and Zhou Jingxuan instinctively grabbed her wrist and rushed out with her.

This scene reminded Lin Zhaoyan of their past lives.

She and Zhou Jingxuan had once been rivals in business. Lin Zhaoyan had clawed her way up from the bottom, rarely facing competition.

Zhou Jingxuan, a carefree playboy parachuted in, often gained the upper hand, leaving Lin Zhaoyan at a loss.

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Lin Zhaoyan had initially dismissed Zhou Jingxuan, ignoring him. But he relentlessly pursued her, exhausting every effort to get close.

Their truce began at a banquet “elopement.”

At that time, Lin Zhaoyan was vying for a major project, but the person in charge was a drunkard, constantly forcing drinks. Though Lin Zhaoyan was usually immune to alcohol, that day she suffered severe abdominal pain and was staggering after several rounds.

Zhou Jingxuan appeared then, pulling Lin Zhaoyan away with a serious expression. “Do you still want to drink?”

“Don’t steal my business—” Lin Zhaoyan staggered, her awareness blurred.

“If you don’t shake me off, I’ll take you away. Three, two, one...”

Before he finished counting, he dragged her out running.

No, he counted too fast!

Leaning on the railing, Lin Zhaoyan lifted her head from the cold wind. Zhou Jingxuan’s eyes sparkled like stars, harboring a rare tenderness.

The Zhou Jingxuan in her memories overlapped with the figure before her, clad in ancient robes, making her momentarily dazed.

But he was not the same.

And thankfully, he wasn’t.

Having successfully slipped into the kitchen, Lin Zhaoyan found herself with no appetite for late-night snacks.

She shook off Zhou Jingxuan’s hand and resumed her cold demeanor. “Heir, respect yourself.”

Her heart was taut as if stretched by a thin thread, ready to snap with the slightest push.

Seeing this Zhou Jingxuan, she couldn’t help but recall the Zhou Jingxuan of her past life.

She shouldn’t be thinking this way.

Lin Zhaoyan frowned. She didn’t like Zhou Jingxuan—why dwell on it?

Could it be that in this unfamiliar era, the only familiar face was Zhou Jingxuan’s, causing a kind of bridge effect?

She turned away, emptying her thoughts, her mood settling into calm.

Watching Lin Zhaoyan’s distant, aloof back, Zhou Jingxuan lowered his gaze, clenched his fist, but finally let go weakly.

He forced a smile, his tone teasing, yet his eyes betrayed lingering loneliness. “I’ll cook noodles. General, would you like some?”

“No,” Lin Zhaoyan declined. “Heir, suit yourself.”

Hearing this, Zhou Jingxuan stepped forward, grasping her wrist. Lin Zhaoyan turned, locking eyes with his clear gaze as if seeking to peer into his soul.

“Zhou Jingxuan,” she murmured.