“Yes, of course. What did you expect? Su Zhaozhao, hiding something this big from me is one thing, but to think you don’t trust me… Did you really think I’d leave you just because you’re not from this world?”

Xie Huaizheng was a little hurt by Su Zhaozhao’s lack of trust.

That was why she had kept all of this locked away in her heart, refusing to tell him.

“I was wrong, honey.” Su Zhaozhao clung to Xie Huaizheng’s arm.

Xie Huaizheng’s reaction let Su Zhaozhao breathe a sigh of relief, but at the same time, an even deeper sorrow filled her heart.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner. It’s not really that I was afraid you’d stop loving me… I was just worried that discovering this world is actually just a novel would be a huge blow to you.”

‘Of course, she was also worried that Xie Huaizheng wouldn’t love her anymore after finding out the truth.’

But Xie Huaizheng’s quick acceptance had taken her completely by surprise.

Now, however, that surprise was followed by the sudden realization that she hadn’t trusted Xie Huaizheng enough.

‘Xie Huaizheng must be very hurt.’

“So, Zhaozhao, what have you decided? Are you going to stay here with me, or go back to your original world?” Xie Huaizheng looked at Su Zhaozhao with a serious expression.

“I… I want to stay with you.”

‘But she was greedy. In her world, she had her parents, relatives, and friends. They were all so, so good to her. Su Zhaozhao wanted that life, too.’

‘But if she couldn’t have both, she would definitely still choose Xie Huaizheng.’

‘After all, he was her husband and the person she loved most. He was so good to her; she couldn’t bear to leave him.’

“Then what about your parents?” Xie Huaizheng asked. “I don’t know the specifics of your family, but, Zhaozhao, I’m sure you must have a very open-minded family, right? Your parents probably treat you very well?”

“Yes, my family was quite well-off, and my parents always respected my choices growing up.” Su Zhaozhao haltingly began to tell Xie Huaizheng about her past.

“In my world, I was a criminal psychologist, an expert who studied the minds of criminal suspects.” Su Zhaozhao told Xie Huaizheng all about her past life and career.

It dawned on Xie Huaizheng. “No wonder you were so calm when you faced those suspects the first time we met.”

‘So that’s why. Su Zhaozhao was already used to this sort of thing.’

‘Dealing with people like that also meant she was often in danger herself.’

Xie Huaizheng couldn’t help but pull Su Zhaozhao into a hug, whispering, “Zhaozhao, you’ve really been through a lot all these years. Not many women would choose that kind of profession, would they?”

‘It’s dangerous, after all, and involves dealing with the most vicious criminals. Most women would probably find it terrifying.’

“It wasn’t so bad. I considered it my contribution to society. But sometimes, seeing their brutal methods, I’d find it terrifying too. Still, since I chose that path, those things were unavoidable.”

Even for someone as battle-hardened as her, some of the most horrific crimes would sometimes sicken her to the point she couldn’t eat dinner.

“You’re truly special. It’s no wonder I was drawn to you from the very first moment.”

Xie Huaizheng recalled their first meeting. Back then, Su Zhaozhao had gone right after the criminal herself.

She showed no mercy, not pulling a single punch. At the time, he’d been worried that she would be frightened.

But her mental fortitude was astonishingly strong.

Thinking of this, Xie Huaizheng’s eyes curved into a smile. ‘She really is so much stronger than I ever imagined.’

“You said you were drawn to me from the first moment?” Su Zhaozhao blinked, looking up at Xie Huaizheng.

“If you were drawn to me right away, then why were you so awful to me back then? Just look at that stinking attitude of yours.”

‘Su Zhaozhao hadn’t forgotten how happy she’d been when she realized she’d found the male lead so easily. She’d been ecstatic, thinking she could just coast through life. Ah, even though I know now that was a terrible way to think, back then I had just transmigrated. I had no one to rely on, and the original owner’s fate was so horrific. I just wanted to latch onto Xie Huaizheng’s coattails.’

‘Who would have thought that back then, Xie Huaizheng would just keep telling me to go back, hurry up and go back.’

‘He said it so much I got sick of hearing it.’

Xie Huaizheng hadn’t expected Su Zhaozhao to suddenly dredge up the past. He immediately put on a pitiful expression. “Back then, I just thought, you were a young woman all by yourself, coming to such a remote and dangerous place. The Northwest isn’t exactly a hospitable region. It’s dry, with strong sandstorms. How could someone like you, who came from the lush Jiangnan Water Village, possibly endure a place like this?”

“But you still shouldn’t have tried to chase me away like that! If I hadn’t been so persistent, you would have actually driven me off.”

“I’m sorry, Zhaozhao. It’s a good thing you were persistent,” Xie Huaizheng said, feeling a wave of relief.

‘If Su Zhaozhao hadn’t been so persistent back then, their paths might never have crossed.’

Xie Huaizheng suddenly felt incredibly fortunate that Su Zhaozhao had been so stubborn back then.

But then a thought occurred to Xie Huaizheng. “So… back then, you thought I was the male lead, right? And in novels, the male lead usually gets a pretty good ending. Did you think that by sticking with me, you could live a good life? Is that why you were so nice to me?”

Su Zhaozhao was speechless.

‘Well, she’d originally wanted to call him out on his past actions, but she never expected him to turn the tables and call her out on hers.’

She felt a pang of guilt. “Well, I… I did think that way at first. You have to understand, I was suddenly thrown into this world, saddled with the identity of someone who was about to die. I was terrified and didn’t know where to go. My first instinct was to find the male lead. After all, the original character died so quickly because she offended him.”

Watching Su Zhaozhao’s candid confession, Xie Huaizheng gently ruffled her hair.

He wasn’t angry, really. His heart just ached for her.

“You must have felt so lost when you first arrived, didn’t you?”

Su Zhaozhao nodded. “I did. I just appeared here out of nowhere. I wasn’t familiar with the plot, and I even remembered the male lead’s name incorrectly.”

‘That was why she had sought out Xie Huaizheng.’

“Then I suppose I should be thankful that you found me, and not Xie Huaizhen? Thank goodness you got the name wrong. Otherwise, I really don’t know what I would’ve done.”

‘What if she had known it was Xie Huaizhen back then and chosen him instead?’

‘Later on, it was obvious that Xie Huaizhen liked her too…’

The thought made him feel both immensely grateful and terrified in retrospect.

‘Thank goodness she got the wrong person.’

“Yes! I think it was fate. So, honey, don’t overthink it! There are no ‘what ifs.’ The fact that we’re together now proves that this is our destiny.”

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