Xiao had been in an accident!

The leaves whispered in rustling tones, their sound blending with the distant clamor of construction into a web of irritating noise. As Han made his way toward the house, he waited for the great matter the butler had mentioned.

Behind him, the butler said, “Miss has been in a car accident on her way to school!” The butler looked frantic. What was the matter with the young master? Today, he was behaving with such little patience. Yet right now, the young lady’s safety mattered far more.

The moment Han heard that his sister had been hurt, he spun around at once, seizing the butler and asking in agitation, “Where is she? Take me to see her immediately!”

Even as he spoke, he hurried toward the door. The butler could not spare a thought for etiquette and quickly grabbed the departing Shangguan Han. He hastened to explain, “There’s no need to go! The young lady wasn’t injured, and she has already gone to military training!”

Shangguan Han stopped in place, his face cold and expressionless. At that moment, where was his usual grace and composure? He looked like a demon emerging from hell, radiating a terrifying aura.

His hands clenched tightly into fists, Shangguan Han turned and went straight upstairs. The crystal spiral staircase rang beneath his steps with sharp, heavy echoes. After returning to his room and forcing himself to calm down for a moment, he picked up the phone on the desk and called the Shangguan family residence.

After a few rings, the call was answered.

A pleasant female voice came from the other end. “Hello, this is the Shangguan residence. May I ask whom you are looking for?”

He knew from the voice immediately that it was Baili Meixi who had answered. Shangguan Han did not waste a single extra word. In a chilly tone, he said, “It’s Han. Put Shangguan Xiong on the phone.”

His hand remained in his pocket, his face devoid of warmth.

He was utterly unlike the man people usually knew. Stripped of that gentle and refined exterior, what remained was a coldness like the cruelest winter, seeping chill straight into one’s bones.

This was Shangguan Han’s true nature.

Hearing that long-absent, bone-deep frost in his voice, Baili Meixi ignored his disrespect toward her husband and said excitedly, “So it’s you, brother! How have you been lately? Have you grown taller? Have you become even more handsome?”

Listening to these childish questions, Shangguan Han gave no response at all. He let Baili Meixi continue her one-woman performance, and when she had nearly exhausted herself talking, he finally said, “Hand the phone to Shangguan Xiong. I have something to tell him. Hurry up.”

At his words, Baili Meixi was suddenly filled with endless doubt. What could possibly have happened to make this child, who had never once gotten along with her husband, take the initiative to call?

And besides, it was the dead of night in S Country. To be calling at such an hour—could something have happened? Had Shangguan Xiao run into trouble? The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. She asked anxiously, “Has something happened to the baby? Tell me quickly!”

Her urgent voice echoed through the lavish living room. Antique vases of exceptional value stood everywhere, along with many carved wooden ornaments.

Delicate carved decorations encircled the lamps, casting reflections onto the floor like a field of blossoms in full bloom—so beautiful it was impossible to look away. The finely crafted sofa was so large that even dozens of people could lie on it and still find it spacious. Baili Meixi sat with her hair loosely draped over her shoulders.

Because of her agitation, the facial mask on her face had slipped crookedly and hung askew.

Anyone who saw her like that would have drawn a sharp breath in disbelief—was this really the renowned beauty of first rank, Baili Meixi? The contrast was simply too great.