The coldness inside his body, after its initial fierce spread, gradually faded and stabilized as the pill took effect. Although he still felt cold, it was finally no longer unbearable.

Some color returned to Yu Zhen's face, and his limbs also started to warm up.

Resisting the cold seem to have exhausted his energy. Under the lingering effects of the medicine and the comforting warmth around him, he unconsciously tilted his head and fell asleep. The arm holding onto Yin Yan's slipped down, coming to rest at Yin Yan's side.

Yin Yan noticed and slightly shifted his gaze away from him. He freed a hand to tuck Yu Zhen's hand into the blanket, then adjusted his posture so he could sleep more comfortably.

The plane cabin wasn't quiet, but it was as if Yin Yan couldn't hear anything at all. There was only the sound of Yu Zhen's shallow breathing in his ears, and his gaze couldn't help but fall back on his face.

Yu Zhen's eyelashes were very thick and long, and the corners of his eyes tilted up slightly. It was clearly a rather charming eye shape, but because of its owner's upright and kind gaze, no one had ever noticed it.

But this was all temporary. Once Yu Zhen shed his immaturity and broke free from the timidity and dullness brought on by his soul loss, these eyes would be so beautiful that everyone would be compelled to stop and stare.

Mine.

Yin Yan lowered his head, hovering above those eyes. The calmness in his own eyes melted away, layer by layer, as his arms slowly tightened.

Yu Zhen slept very soundly, except that in his dream, someone he didn't know was constantly beating a drum next to his ear. Although the "dong, dong, dong" sound was very rhythmic and not too annoying, it made his blood boil. When he woke up, he felt as if he had just run a marathon; his whole body was limp and devoid of strength.

The plane arrived in B City on time. After deplaning, Chou Feiqian dragged Yin Yan to get the luggage, Weng Xiping went to contact their pick-up vehicle, and Yin Hexiang went to the restroom. Thus, the only ones left standing there were the surprisingly energetic Yin Le and Yu Zhen, who looked like he hadn't woken up yet.

"Brother Yu, you're amazing, you actually slept the whole way back. Look at the imprint on your face from sleeping." Yin Le pointed at the crease pressed into the side of Yu Zhen's face, laughing foolishly as if he had seen some rare treasure.

Hearing this, Yu Zhen quickly raised a hand to touch his face and indeed felt a crease. Guessing it was from pressing against Yin Yan, he rubbed it in embarrassment. Just as he was about to speak, a gentle female voice—one he had only heard once but found deeply memorable—suddenly sounded from behind him.

"H-hello, can we talk?"

Yu Zhen froze, turning to look back. He saw the woman who had been crying at Yin Yan on the plane standing behind him, looking at him with a hesitant expression.

He struggled to recall what the Yin Family had called her, then nodded politely and replied, "Miss Han, hello."

"You know me?"

Upon hearing his greeting, Han Ya's expression froze for a moment. Then she became even more flustered, with a hint of guilt. She suddenly bowed to him and said, "I'm very sorry for letting down Yan's affections. Yan has suffered a lot for me over the years. Although I don't know why he got together with you so hastily, since this is his choice, then... I hope you can treat him a little better. I... please tell Yan for me, I'm sorry!"

Yu Zhen struggled to process her words with his just-awakened brain. Since he was completely clueless about the situation, he politely stuck to what he knew and explained, "Actually, I don't know you, so what you're saying... uh, Miss Han, did Yin Yan like you before? During the car crash, were you the one he protected under his body?"

Yin Le, standing beside them, had felt that things were about to go south the moment he saw Han Ya appear. Hearing Yu Zhen's question, he quickly stepped forward to shield him, glaring fiercely at Han Ya. He said angrily, "Are you ever going to stop? My brother is married! Married! He's a married man, do you understand? Go away, and stop bothering Brother Yu!"

Tears instantly welled up in Han Ya's eyes. She took a step back, lowered her head, and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything else. Xiao Le, please don't be angry. Yan did like me before, and it is true that I caused his car accident. I just wanted to come and apologize..."

"Enough! Stop talking and get lost!"

What Yin Le couldn't stand the most was this act of hers—never confronting people head-on, but crying and playing the victim the moment she was in the wrong! Outsiders would think the Yin Family was ganging up to bully a girl!

And every time! Every single time! While acting weak, this Han Ya would always say something to make people uncomfortable. His big brother had finally managed to bring Brother Yu back, and now she was here spouting all this. What if Brother Yu heard it, overthought things, and left in anger!

How many times had this happened? Every time his older brother came to his senses a little, or their lives got a little better, or he started listening to advice, this Han Ya would pop up and cause trouble. It had been so many years. Sometimes, he even wished Han Ya would just die; their family's life would be so much better then.

The rims of Yin Le's fiercely glaring eyes had unknowingly turned red. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he looked like a little rooster stretched to its absolute limit. Unsure how to vent his emotions, he looked as if he was about to cry from sheer anger.

Yu Zhen hadn't expected this sudden outburst. He quickly stepped forward to place his hands on Yin Le's shoulders, then moved to block his glare towards Han Ya. He hugged him briefly and patted him, then stepped back and rubbed his face, smoothing away the tense expression. "Don't worry," he said soothingly. "I'll talk to her. It's nothing serious. She came to apologize, so let's just accept it. Don't be angry."

His fierce expression softened. Yin Le looked at Yu Zhen, who was clumsily trying to comfort him with furrowed brows, and his heart ached. His voice dropped, and he called out with a sob, "Brother Yu... don't leave. My brother really likes you, don't abandon him..."

"I won't leave. From now on, I'll be wherever Yin Yan is. Don't be angry. I'm here."

From the Yin Family's reaction, Yu Zhen could more or less guess what kind of trouble Han Ya had caused. Remembering the sight of blood everywhere and a body gradually growing cold from the night of the accident, the politeness he felt toward Han Ya vanished. In its place was a fundamental sense of disapproval and dislike.

He turned, shielding Yin Le behind him. Frowning slightly and with a stern expression, he looked at Han Ya and said solemnly, "Miss Han, if you are sincerely here to apologize, then on behalf of the Yin Family, I must say we do not accept. If you are not, then I can only tell you this: the Yin Yan who once liked you is gone. Please stop exploiting the sincere feelings he once placed in your hands."

Han Ya never expected him to say something like that and was stunned for a moment. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Catching sight of the onlookers in her peripheral vision, tears threatened to fall.

"Big brother!" Yin Le suddenly shouted.

Everyone's attention was immediately drawn over.

About a dozen meters away, Yin Yan was walking toward them with a cup of hot coffee. Chou Feiqian was nowhere to be seen.

Hearing Yin Le's call, he quickened his pace. When he reached them, he first pushed the coffee into Yu Zhen's hands, then looked around and asked, "What's wrong? You guys..."

Yu Zhen didn't answer. He suddenly threw his arms around Yin Yan's neck, preventing him from looking toward Han Ya, and tilted his head up to give him a kiss on the cheek. Then, he turned his head to look at Han Ya, gestured to the ring on his hand, and said, "Don't come and pester my lover and his family again. I don't like it."

After speaking, he tugged on Yin Yan's arm and turned, saying, "Let's go. Where's Mom? Weren't you helping her with the luggage?"

Yin Yan didn't move. He looked down at him, then suddenly raised a hand and ruffled his hair vigorously. Then, he turned and strode in Han Ya's direction.

Yu Zhen: "???"

"Yan..." Han Ya called out with a tremor in her voice, an emotional expression that was halfway between a laugh and a cry on her face. She took a step forward to meet him.

Swish.

Yin Yan brushed past her, walking right by as if she were nothing but a puff of air. He went over to Chou Feiqian, took the luggage cart, and helped push it.

"Did you get the coffee for Xiao Zhen?" Chou Feiqian asked.

Yin Yan nodded.

"You're the thoughtful one." Chou Feiqian smiled and gave him a sideways glance. Her gaze swept over Han Ya, who stood frozen with a pale face. A cold sneer touched her lips as she said coolly, "Some people are never satisfied with what's in their bowl; they're always eyeing what's in the pot. They're not afraid their appetite is so big they'll eat themselves to death."

The mother and son once again walked past Han Ya as if she were mere air, meeting up with Yu Zhen who was waiting, and headed for the airport exit together.

Han Ya caught the stares of the onlookers in her peripheral vision, and her face burned as if it had been slapped. Her gaze landed on Yin Yan's retreating back, a flicker of resentment in her eyes.

On the way back, Yin Yan and Yu Zhen once again rode in a car by themselves. Yin Le had wanted to squeeze in with them but was forcefully dragged away by Chou Feiqian.

Once the car was on the road, the driver tactfully raised the partition.

Yu Zhen glanced sideways at Yin Yan, who sat as still as a mountain beside him. He gave a low cough, scooted a bit closer, and explained, "Back at the airport, I just wanted to help the Yin Family vent a little. So... I'm sorry if I overstepped."

Yin Yan gave a faint "mm" and said nothing more.

Is he angry or not?

Yu Zhen silently moved back to his spot. After looking out the window for a while, he faintly felt his heart acting up again. He glanced at Yin Yan once more and subtly slid back over. "It's like this..." he said, "I've discovered that after the Peace Bead broke, not only do I have this new problem of feeling cold, but I also occasionally have an irregular heartbeat and inexplicable mood swings. Our fates are linked, so you..."

Yin Yan whipped his head around to look at him, his gaze burning. His usual composure was completely gone.

Yu Zhen was startled by his seemingly glowing eyes and shot back to his original position.

"So what?"

"Ah?"

"You didn't finish what you were saying just now."

He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but Yu Zhen felt that Yin Yan's tone was a bit rushed and somewhat strange.

His heart started acting up again. His will to live overcame his curiosity, and he stopped dwelling on the other's tone. He quickly asked, "So, do you have similar symptoms? Is this a new symptom of Soul Loss Disorder?"

"...Yes."

Yin Yan silently withdrew his gaze, his expression returning to a state of calm—so calm it bordered on listlessness. The "immortal aura" about him grew even stronger.

"I knew it." Yu Zhen frowned and pressed a hand to his chest. "Just like now. We're obviously having a normal conversation, not discussing anything upsetting, but my mood is swinging from excited to dejected, and I even feel a little aggrieved. It's so strange..."

"I am not aggrieved."

Yin Yan slightly lifted his chin, folded his hands over his abdomen in a reserved and elegant posture, and the aura around him suddenly became domineering.

As a former Master of a Sect, the word 'aggrieved' did not exist in his dictionary. It was impossible for him to feel aggrieved.

Seeing this, Yu Zhen paused. He looked Yin Yan's expression up and down and asked with concern, "Is... something wrong with your throat?"

Otherwise, why are you mumbling and stretching your neck?

Yin Yan: "..."