第29章 第29章

**29th Chapter: The Hidden Truth**

Lin Qingxue's eyes lingered on Ye Gucheng's face, her heart still racing from the sudden encounter. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off, that this man standing before her was more than just a stranger.

"You...you're Ye Gucheng?" Lin Qingxue asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Ye Gucheng's expression remained calm, but his eyes seemed to gleam with a hint of amusement. "I am indeed Ye Gucheng," he replied, his voice low and smooth. "And you, my dear, are Lin Qingxue. Though I must say, you look different from the last time I saw you."

Lin Qingxue's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" she demanded, her hand instinctively reaching for the book on her hip.

Ye Gucheng chuckled. "Oh, come now, Lin Qingxue. Don't play coy with me. I know exactly what I'm talking about. You're hiding something, aren't you?"

Lin Qingxue's face reddened. "What are you talking about?" she spat.

Ye Gucheng's smile grew wider. "Let's just say that I have a certain...memory, shall we say, of our previous encounter. One that I'm sure you'd rather forget."

Lin Qingxue's eyes flashed with anger. "You're lying!" she shouted, her hand tightening around the book.

Ye Gucheng shrugged. "Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. But one thing's for sure – you're not as innocent as you seem. Are you hiding something from me, Lin Qingxue?"

Lin Qingxue's face paled, and for a moment, she seemed to teeter on the edge of collapse. But then, something seemed to snap inside her, and she regained her composure.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she lied, her voice cold and detached.

Ye Gucheng's eyes seemed to bore into hers, as if searching for any sign of truth. And for a moment, Lin Qingxue felt like she was drowning in the depths of his gaze.

"I think you do, Lin Qingxue," he whispered, his voice low and menacing. "And I'll make sure you remember it too."

The atmosphere in the room seemed to grow thick with tension, as if the very air was charged with electricity. Lin Qingxue felt her heart pounding in her chest, and she knew that her world was about to be turned upside down.

And as she turned to leave, she felt a cold hand grasp her arm, holding her back.

"You're not going anywhere, Lin Qingxue," Ye Gucheng whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "Not until you answer my questions."

The hand around her arm tightened, and Lin Qingxue knew that she was trapped.