Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

He sighed softly, turned around, and looked at the dining table. The fish soup, which had already cooled, seemed unusually quiet, as if silently telling something. Li walked forward, picked up the soup bowl, and took a sip. The soup still tasted light, but it no longer had the warmth it once had. The warmth that originally belonged to home had long been replaced by an invisible anxiety.

"Xiang Qian, what are you thinking about?" Song Wen's voice came from the door, with a hint of tenderness, but also mixed with some doubts. She stood there, still wearing white home clothes, with no makeup on her face, looking particularly natural. Her eyes were clear, looking at Li Xiang Qian, as if waiting for his words.

Li Xiangqian put down the bowl and turned to look at his wife. There was a familiar worry in her eyes, and he knew that she must have noticed his uneasiness. "Nothing, just feeling a little tired." He said, although he knew that he was not really tired in his heart, but was overwhelmed by a series of unsolved mysteries.

"Are you really okay?" Song Wen walked closer and gently stroked his arm, her eyes still filled with worry.

Li Xiangqian felt her warmth, but he was also confused. He knew that his wife cared about him, but this concern made him even more uneasy. Did she know something, or did she just want everything to be as peaceful as before, or even ignore those unknown dangers and continue to live an ordinary life. But can all this really continue?

"It's okay, I said it." Li Xiangqian tried hard to force a smile, trying to hide his inner struggle.

Song Wen looked down at the fish soup on the table, her eyes seemed a little dim: "Are you really not going to tell me what happened? These days, you look more and more strange."

Her gaze was like a beam of light, piercing straight into Li Xiangqian's heart. Li Xiangqian felt suffocated. He hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to speak: "Actually... I'm not sure what to do next."

Song Wen was silent for a while, then walked to his side and gently held his hand. "Can you tell me what made you like this? We are husband and wife, we should face it together."

Li Xiangqian felt a little heavy-hearted. Although he wanted to tell his wife all his confusion, he didn't dare to. If he told Song Wen about He Yuzhu's affairs, Xu Damao's obscure words, and a series of seemingly unrelated but intricate details, would she be able to bear it?

"I don't know." Li Xiangqian's voice was low, his thoughts surging like the tide, "I feel like something is happening quietly, and we haven't noticed it yet. Everyone is trying to hide something, and I can't find the truth from it."

Song Wen listened quietly, her eyes gradually becoming deeper. "Are you talking about the Siheyuan?"

Li Xiangqian was startled and nodded slightly. "Yes, about this place, about everyone. I think everyone is not as simple as they seem."

Song Wen's face flashed with surprise, but she did not respond immediately. She lowered her head and was silent for a long time, as if digesting Li Xiangqian's words. She knew that Li Xiangqian was not the kind of person who doubted others easily, and he must have his reasons for saying so today. She slowed down her tone: "So, what are you going to do?"

Li Xiangqian was silent for a while, his eyes fell on the bowl of cold fish soup again. He felt as if he was trapped in a vortex from which he could not escape, and all his efforts seemed futile. "I don't know. I really don't know what to do. I want to protect you and this family, but everything has become too complicated."

Song Wen looked at him, a barely perceptible pain flashing in her eyes. "You don't have to bear all the responsibilities alone. We are a family and should face it together."

Li Xiangqian felt as if his heart was oppressed by heavy pressure. He took a deep breath and said, "But I'm afraid. I'm really afraid..."

Song Wen gently held his hand, giving him a little strength. "What are you afraid of? What are you afraid of?"

Li Xiangqian lowered his head, his eyes revealing deep confusion and fear: "I'm afraid that the choice I make will eventually harm all of us."

Song Wen did not speak any more. She knew how much pain Li Xiangqian was in, but she could not make a decision for him. She only hoped that Li Xiangqian could find his own answer as soon as possible, instead of being entangled in these unsolvable confusions.

Li Xiangqian raised his head and looked deeply at Song Wen. At that moment, a strange feeling suddenly rose in his heart - this is what he wants to protect. No matter how the outside world changes, home is always his only support. But how can he really protect this home? All doubts and fears will eventually have to be faced by him alone.

He sighed softly, "I will, Wen. I will definitely protect you."

Song Wen nodded, with a hint of worry still in her eyes, but she didn't say anything else. She knew that Li Xiangqian had endured too much and he needed time to sort out everything.

At this time, the wind outside the house blew gently through the curtains, bringing a hint of coolness. Li Xiangqian stood up and walked to the window, looking through the street outside the window to the gradually blurred sky in the distance. His heart was still full of doubts, but he knew that no matter how complicated the road ahead was, he had to keep going, for his family, for his wife and daughter, and for himself.

Beside the blue brick path in the courtyard, several potted plants have lush branches and leaves, and the curved vines seem to spread unconsciously, verdant and full of vitality. The window of the old house is half open, and a ray of warm yellow light shines through, shining on the table beside it, where several yellowed books are spread out, and next to it is an oil lamp that is still swaying slightly.

Before Li Xiangqian entered the house, he looked up at the stars in the sky, and a trace of deep thought flashed in his eyes, but he did not stop and walked straight into the house. The house was not big and the layout was simple. Although it was an ordinary place, he had an indescribable sense of belonging in his heart. When he was young, his father often took him to play in this courtyard. Now, this house has become the place where he can put his thoughts.

Hanging his coat behind the door, he picked up an unlit pipe from the windowsill and sat down on the wooden chair silently, twirling the pipe with his fingers, his mind still thinking about what happened today.

These days, busy work has occupied almost all of his time, and the pressure of the past few days has made him feel restless and irritable. Just a few hours ago, he had an argument with several colleagues in the company at a regular meeting. The colleague's eyes were full of disdain and his tone revealed a hint of sarcasm, but he himself did not refute it again, and he felt a kind of unspeakable uneasiness in his heart.