Huo Ruiyang didn’t expect Xia Anran to ask him so directly. He remained silent, his expression stern, eyes slightly narrowed as he scrutinized her.

Meeting his deep, dark gaze, Xia Anran spoke calmly,

“Don’t be nervous. In this situation, I’m a victim too—I also want to know who’s behind this.”

Don’t be nervous?

Huo Ruiyang frowned. Did she just say he was nervous?

Seeing the shift in his expression and his look of disbelief, Xia Anran guessed that her words had startled him. She smiled and added,

“Just a reminder—I’m not the only young woman in this household.”

Huo Ruiyang raised an eyebrow, analyzing her words. Was she referring to Ye Lingling? Before he could ask, Xia Anran continued,

“We were in the same car just now. When she saw that man, she got nervous and quickly found an excuse to leave. Here’s my advice: don’t just stand at the door. Find a place to wait. When she comes back, step out then. Otherwise, if she sees you both here, she might not dare to return home.”

There was a playful mockery in Xia Anran’s bright eyes, and her tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked inside, not stopping for even a second. She didn’t look back at him either.

Smart people catch on quickly. She had already given all the hints she could—there was no need to linger around this iceberg of a man.

Huo Ruiyang only retracted his gaze when she entered the house. That was when he noticed that the veterinarian beside him was staring intently at Xia Anran’s retreating figure, unwilling to look away even after the door closed.

It was the kind of gaze a man gives a beautiful woman—burning with desire and admiration.

Unhappy, Huo Ruiyang’s face darkened. He ordered coldly, “Come with me.”

The veterinarian shuddered in fright. Sensing the chilling aura radiating from Huo Ruiyang, he instantly regretted his lack of self-control in front of a beautiful woman.

But honestly, who could resist? That girl’s smile was like thousands of peach blossoms blooming at once—breathtakingly beautiful, captivating to the soul.

He sneaked a glance at Huo Ruiyang. Soldiers had remarkable self-discipline—faced with such a stunning woman, he still refused to show any warmth.

Huo Ruiyang noticed the man still standing there, seemingly reluctant to look away from Xia Anran. His gaze turned icy.

Terrified, the veterinarian immediately lowered his head, staring at the ground and not daring to glance around anymore. He obediently followed Huo Ruiyang into the car.

…

Xia Anran had no interest in what was happening outside, nor did she care. Huo Ruiyang was smart enough to know what to do.

As soon as she entered the house, she saw the Huo family’s housekeeper, Aunt Li, and greeted her politely,

“Aunt Li.”

Aunt Li looked at her in disbelief. Only then did Xia Anran recall that the original owner of this body had always looked down on Aunt Li, treating her with arrogance and only addressing her dismissively. She had never once called her “Aunt Li.”

Since she had already said it, there was no taking it back. So, Xia Anran continued,

“Aunt Li, I was young and ignorant before. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”

Aunt Li was both surprised and flattered. She quickly waved her hands,

“Ah… it’s nothing, it’s nothing… Are you thirsty? I made some mung bean soup with rock sugar this morning and chilled it in the fridge. Would you like some?”

On a scorching day like this, having a chilled glass of sweet mung bean soup was a real treat!

Xia Anran smiled and thanked her. “Yes, please. Thank you.”

Aunt Li once again looked at her in disbelief. How could a trip to the hospital make someone change so much? Not only had she become more beautiful, but she was also suddenly so polite. Looking at her and Ruiyang now, they actually seemed like a good match.

She had spoken badly about Xia Anran in the past, but now she felt a little guilty. Aunt Li quickly ran to the kitchen—being treated with respect felt really nice. From now on, she would make sure to say good things about Miss Anran.

The chilled mung bean soup was deliciously sweet, refreshing both body and mind. Xia Anran didn’t hold back in praising Aunt Li’s skills, making her beam with happiness. The more she looked at Xia Anran, the more she liked her.

After spending two days in the hospital, Xia Anran felt the lingering smell of disinfectant on her. She wanted to take a shower first.

The bathroom on the first floor was well-equipped with toiletries, so she only needed to bring fresh clothes and a towel. After a quick rinse, she stood in front of the mirror, towel-drying her damp hair.

The original owner of this body had amazing hair—thick, glossy, and jet black. After washing, it felt silky smooth. As Xia Anran brushed through it with a wooden comb, she finally got a clear look at her current face.

Her features were delicate, her skin smooth and fair. Though she resembled her past self, the slight roundness of her cheeks gave her a hint of baby fat, making her look rather cute.

In her previous life, she had also been beautiful, but her beauty had an intimidating sharpness—cold and distant, keeping people at bay.

Compared to that, she actually preferred her current appearance—it was much softer and less aggressive.

Despite her natural beauty, Ye Lingling had tricked her into thinking she needed makeup, even going out of her way to buy her powder, brow pencils, and lipstick. She sweet-talked her into wearing makeup every day.

The original Xia Anran had been such a fool, blindly following Ye Lingling’s advice, painting her face in a mess, and thinking she looked gorgeous!

Xia Anran towel-dried her hair until it was about seventy percent dry and braided it into two neat plaits, just like the original owner used to. She let her bangs down to cover the bandage on her forehead. Then, she changed out of the gaudy red blouse and into a simple, plain-colored shirt.

While she was in the bathroom washing her dirty clothes, someone knocked on the door. Aunt Li’s voice came from outside.

“Miss Xia.”

“Coming,” Xia Anran responded as she stepped out.

Aunt Li’s eyes lit up the moment she saw her. This girl was truly stunning. She couldn’t help but smile.

“Commander Huo is back. He wants to see you in the study.”

“Alright,” Xia Anran replied and headed upstairs, already guessing what Huo Zhenping wanted to talk about. This was the perfect opportunity to bring up breaking off the engagement.

While Xia Anran was being summoned by Huo Zhenping, Ye Lingling had returned from the hospital. Since there was no deposit refund issue, she hadn’t wasted any time.

Arriving back at the Huo residence, she saw that Huo Ruiyang’s car was no longer parked outside. Letting out a sigh of relief, she smiled and thanked Xiao Wu before getting out of the car.

“Thanks, Xiao Wu.”

Xiao Wu nodded without speaking. He used to think Ye Lingling was nice—polite and good-tempered. But after hearing her encourage Xia Anran to deceive Commander Huo, his impression of her had plummeted. He didn’t want anything to do with her.

Sensing his cold attitude, Ye Lingling cursed Xia Anran in her heart a hundred times over. That wretched girl had ruined her image!

When Xiao Wu got out to carry the luggage, Ye Lingling tried to help. “Let me carry something.”

Xiao Wu refused with a cold face. “No need.”

She was momentarily embarrassed, but she quickly swallowed her annoyance. To maintain her good-girl image, she couldn’t walk into the house empty-handed. So, she grabbed a thermos and followed him inside.

Just as she was about to enter, a tall figure blocked her way. Looking up, she met Huo Ruiyang’s icy gaze. Behind him stood the veterinarian.