Chapter 51

— The Qin Family, Study — Qin Shizhou sat behind his desk, the white light from his laptop screen casting his face in a stark blend of highlights and shadows. He looked away from the monitor, his gaze falling upon a framed photograph on the desk—a picture of him and Chu Zhao. In the photo, the young girl had used pearl-studded clips to pin back her long bangs, revealing a delicate brow and eyes that were dark, quiet, and still. She wasn't smiling; in fact, she looked almost rigid. Although her aphasia had healed by that time, sixteen-year-old Chu Zhao had still been deeply withdrawn from the world. She feared the gaze of others, feared loud noises, and feared blinding light. She didn't like having her picture taken—she was, in truth, terrified of it.