Mu Xia, pretending to be absorbed in a book at the desk, looked up in confusion, her gaze locking with Situ Hai’s. A flicker of panic flashed in his eyes. He masked it in an instant, but not before Mu Xia caught it. “Father, what brings you back?” she asked, her voice carefully neutral. Seeing her engrossed in a book, Situ Hai felt a wave of relief. He cleared his throat. “I just remembered I have