Li Yinian’s mood was in a mess, so she couldn’t care less about such details and just strode forward.

Qiao Yanze closed the door and followed her.

There was a small garden outside the house with a bench in the middle. Li Yinian stopped in front of the bench. She shook off the man’s hand and turned to face him. There seemed to be some emotions burning in her eyes, making them surprisingly bright.

“What did you find out?” She deliberately lowered her voice in an attempt to soften her tone, but it was still obvious that she was nervous and anxious.

Qiao Yanze stared at her with an obscure gaze. After a while, he swallowed and said, “It seems that I was right. It’s indeed related to your background, right?”

Li Yinian’s pupils constricted and she stopped breathing.

“…No.” She forced the word out. “I just thought you had found out some incredible truth. So you were just lying to me.”

Qiao Yanze laughed hoarsely. “Do you think you can get away with this?”

Her shock and fear were obvious.

Li Yinian bit her lips and looked away at the unknown flowers on the ground, as if to calm herself down. If he was just lying to her, it meant that he hadn’t found out the truth.

“You wouldn’t mention my background for no reason.” She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she seemed to have regained her composure. She looked up at him. “You’ve gained something, haven’t you?”

“That’s right.” Qiao Yanze smiled. “Perhaps you’re willing to tell me?”

Li Yinian clenched her fists. After a while, she said in a low voice, “I’m not related to the Li family by blood. They raised me, so they don’t love me and only treat me as a tool for benefits. You should understand now that I’m an orphan. I’ve never been from the same world as you.”

Qiao Yanze’s breathing became heavy and his eyes darkened. His face was covered in gloominess.

The evening breeze was very comfortable. As the afterglow shone, even the small courtyard became cute.

However, none of them were in the mood to appreciate it.

Qiao Yanze said slowly, “So, you mean that because you’re not a real member of the Li family, nothing will happen between you and me?”

“That’s right,” Li Yinian said. “You should know how much your mother dislikes me.”

Qiao Yanze seemed to laugh softly.

There was another layer of obscureness in his cold gaze, as if he was mocking her, but also as if he was pitying her.

“If she likes you, your background will no longer be an obstacle?” he suddenly asked.

“No.” Li Yinian sounded tired. “There’s only one reason for me to reject you. You should know.”

“That’s right, I know very well.” Qiao Yanze nodded slightly. “But there’s still something I find strange. Perhaps you can enlighten me.”

Li Yinian looked up at him without any emotion in her eyes.

“My mother really doesn’t like you. It’s not because of your background or any other reason. She just doesn’t like you. This is very unusual,” Qiao Yanze said calmly, still staring at her.