Xu Xiliu fulfilled his duties to the letter. After their walk, he escorted Qin Li all the way to the study door, as per the man's request.

Fortunately, the villa was equipped with an elevator. Otherwise, it would have been terribly inconvenient for the male lead to navigate in a wheelchair.

Noticing this, Xu Xiliu once again shed an envious tear for the privileges of the damned capitalists.

"We've arrived, Mr. Qin. Remember to take your medicine before bed. Goodnight."

Though Xu Xiliu had promised to supervise the man’s medication, he had no intention of actually doing so. He’d realized he was gradually becoming a nagging caretaker, and he was unwilling to keep getting worked up over it. Someone else—like Uncle Zhong—should be responsible for ensuring the male lead took his medicine.

So, when they reached the door, Xu Xiliu removed his hand from the wheelchair, ready to leave. He was confident the man could manage the short distance inside on his own.

Unexpectedly, just as they arrived, they came face-to-face with someone exiting the study.

Xu Xiliu blinked in surprise. “Hmm? Steward Xue?”

Xue Bo’s steps faltered momentarily, his expression flickering unnaturally before quickly smoothing over.

He smiled. “Ah, Dr. Xu, have you and the master just returned from outside? I happened to pass by and noticed an uncleared cup on the master’s desk, so I tidied it up.” He raised the glass in his hand, still containing some water, then added with a hint of apology, “I’m not sure who was on cleaning duty today—they’ve been quite careless.”

Xu Xiliu arched an eyebrow.

Their walk had been a spur-of-the-moment decision made at the dinner table, with only Uncle Zhong present besides them. How did this steward know about it?

In the wheelchair, Qin Li, who had been withdrawn and indifferent since their return, finally seemed to take notice. He lifted his head, his dark, inscrutable eyes fixing coldly on Xue Bo.

Under that gaze, Xue Bo’s back stiffened.

No matter how composed he tried to appear, the man’s icy scrutiny made him deeply uncomfortable. He couldn’t help but wonder if his smile looked too forced, betraying his unease.

He subtly adjusted his posture, using the glass to obscure the slightly bulging empty bottle in his uniform pocket.

Weren’t these two supposed to be out for a walk? Why were they back so soon?

Xue Bo gritted his teeth inwardly, frustration simmering.

In reality, Xu Xiliu and Qin Li’s walk had lasted less than ten minutes—the awkward atmosphere had cut it short. But Xue Bo wouldn't know that.

The three stood in silence, with only Xu Xiliu and Xue Bo exchanging words. The male lead remained as cold as ice, indifferent to the point of treating everyone around him as though they didn’t exist. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Though Xu Xiliu sensed something was off, he had no intention of meddling in household affairs. As Qin Li’s private doctor—even if he was temporarily staying here—he was still an outsider. He knew his place and, more importantly, lacked the curiosity to pry.

After all, curiosity killed the cat.

So, he pretended not to notice the steward’s odd behavior, nodding politely. “I see. Then I won’t disturb you further.”

His acting was flawless—a perfect ten out of ten for feigned obliviousness.

“Mr. Qin is in your hands now.”

With that, he turned and left without hesitation, his retreating figure almost buoyant with relief.

Qin Li, who had been facing away the entire time, didn’t need to see Xu Xiliu’s face to hear the eagerness in his voice.

His brow furrowed, his pale, handsome features darkening with displeasure.

Hmph.

Running away so quickly.

Clearly unwilling.

“Master...” Xue Bo began with an ingratiating smile, only to be ruthlessly cut off. Qin Li waved a dismissive hand, not even sparing him a glance. His eyes were filled with disgust.

“Unnecessary. Get out.”

Xue Bo stiffened but obediently retreated, his expression twisting viciously the moment his back was turned.

Only when the floor was completely silent did Qin Li slowly wheel himself into the study.

Once the door closed, he rose from the wheelchair. Though he paused briefly upon standing, he quickly steadied himself, moving with deliberate, practiced grace—a far cry from the frail invalid others believed him to be.

With morbid fascination, Qin Li turned on his computer, savoring the images on the screen.

Though his lips curled into a smile, his expression remained chilling.

The study remained unlit, with the glow from the monitor casting his face in a stark, ghostly pallor.

Unbeknownst to him, the night deepened.

Meanwhile, Xu Xiliu returned to his guest room as if nothing had happened. After idly scrolling through his phone, he washed up and prepared for bed.

Just as he lay down in his robe, eyes barely closed, urgent knocking erupted at his door—rapid and relentless, like a summons from the underworld.

A frantic voice followed. “Dr. Xu! Are you there? Something’s happened!”

Annoyed at the disturbance but resigned, Xu Xiliu opened the door.

“What is it?”

The person outside was unfamiliar, but his uniform marked him as a Qin household servant.

The man trembled visibly, his voice stammering with fear. “D-Dr. Xu... The master noticed something wrong with his medicine tonight... He wants you to come immediately...”

Xu Xiliu frowned.

Medicine tampering?

Impossible. Those had been freshly delivered today.

Unless...

Suspicion flickered, but his expression remained calm.

He had nothing to hide.

“Alright, I’ll go take a look.”

The servant exhaled in relief, clearly worried Xu Xiliu might refuse. Curious about the situation, Xu Xiliu followed without delay.

It was now half past eleven, the dead of night. Though the villa blazed with lights, the elongated shadows stretching across the walls lent the place an eerie, unsettling air.

The closer they got, the more people they encountered—Uncle Zhong, Steward Xue, several servants, and at the center, Qin Li.

The man sat surrounded, idly toying with a small white bottle as if it were a rare treasure. The pills inside rattled faintly with each movement.

Xu Xiliu slowed his steps, raising an eyebrow.

Well, well.

Quite the spectacle.

Something must have really happened.

At his arrival, Qin Li didn’t look up, but the others did.

Realizing he’d become the focal point, Xu Xiliu calmly scanned the room.

The servants stood trembling, heads bowed—likely terrified of Qin Li. Uncle Zhong’s expression was grim, his gaze toward Xu Xiliu unreadably complex.

Xue Bo was the first to speak, his tone deceptively amiable yet laced with accusation. “Dr. Xu, the master discovered irregularities in his medication tonight—medication you prescribed. Had he not been vigilant and taken it, who knows what might have happened? Such negligence is unforgivable.”

Xu Xiliu ignored the provocation, his demeanor unruffled.

“Mr. Qin, is this true?” he asked directly, bypassing Xue Bo.

The steward’s face twitched, his smile strained.

Qin Li finally looked up, still fiddling with the bottle, his dark eyes boring into Xu Xiliu with mocking amusement. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that, Doctor?”

His gaze swept over Xu Xiliu, taking in his disheveled state—the ill-fitting robe, the tousled hair, the absence of glasses that revealed strikingly vivid peach-blossom eyes.

Too rushed to hide your fox tail, hm?

After a moment, Xu Xiliu shook his head. “I’ve never neglected my duties regarding your treatment. A mistake like this is beneath me.”

The bottle spun between Qin Li’s fingers, its blank label catching Xu Xiliu’s eye.

He paused.

Qin Li, however, nodded as if accepting the explanation, then fell silent again.

The lavish lighting illuminated the room, casting twisted shadows around the gathered crowd. Even Qin Li’s pallid complexion seemed tinged with warmth under the glow.

Xue Bo gaped, bewildered and frantic.

No consequences?

That can’t be!

He’d planned this meticulously—shifting blame onto Xu Xiliu to avoid suspicion himself. If the drugs had worked as intended, Qin Li would’ve succumbed quickly, and the investigation would’ve pointed straight to the doctor. By then, Xue Bo would have been long gone, safely abroad under his benefactor’s arrangements.

But now, his scheme was unraveling.

Desperate, he pressed on. “This concerns the master’s life! We can’t let the culprit go unpunished! Dr. Xu, as the prime suspect, don’t you have anything to say?”

“Prime suspect? Where’s your evidence?”

“Isn’t this bottle—prescribed by you—proof enough?”

Xu Xiliu’s lips curved oddly. “Actually, Mr. Qin hasn’t been taking this bottle.”

“…What?”