*Chapter 48: Shadows in the Classroom*
School had been Li Xue's temporary refuge, a place where equations and numbers kept her mind occupied. Yet even here, fear followed. The subtle fear of being noticed by someone who might relay her movements to Zhao Liang haunted her.
In her math class, she focused intently on the professor's voice, solving integrals mechanically. But behind her calm demeanor, memories of Zhao Liang's presence, the clauses of the contract, and the last night's tension replayed relentlessly.
A classmate, curious about her distant behavior, asked, "Li Xue, are you okay? You seem… tense."
She forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just tired."
Even here, her freedom was fragile, under constant shadow. Each return to the penthouse was like stepping into another world — one where a glance, a touch, a word from Zhao Liang could dominate her senses.
Meanwhile, Mei Yan and Shen Wei had dinner together, discussing the complexities of legal ethics and the unsolvable sadnesses they both faced in different ways. Mei Yan spoke of the widow again, her tone heavy with empathy. Shen Wei listened quietly, his usual banter muted, realizing that for some battles, laughter could not heal.
Back home, Zhao Liang observed Li Xue silently, noting how her body stiffened even when he did not touch her. It was enough for him — the tension, the subtle fear, the restraint — all recorded in the quiet spaces of the penthouse.