Casper stared at Zixuan for a long, unreadable moment. Then he sighed—deep, quiet, and resolute. A sound of surrender.
"I understand now," he murmured, dropping his gaze to the floor. "If you've already made up your mind about my consequences… I'll be in my house."
His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable fracture beneath it. Not bitterness. Just the ache of a man retreating before he shattered completely.
He lingered there, standing still as if hoping—desperately—that she would say something. That she would stop him. But the room remained silent, and her lips stayed sealed.
So he nodded to himself, turned on his heel, and took a step toward the door, yet he didn't make it far.
A sudden tug at the back of his shirt stopped him mid-step.
He gasped and slowly turned around.
