Feng Suyin bit her lip, not knowing how to explain her sudden visit. She was thankful Uncle Jia didn't give her a hard time. He welcomed her warmly.
"Is Ji Yuzhe still up? Can I have a word with him?" she asked after a moment of silence.
"He's still up, Miss Feng. Please come inside. Let me inform him of your arrival." Uncle Jia led the way down a dimly lit corridor.
Feng Suyin followed closely behind, her heart pounding with anticipation. She knew she was taking a risk by coming here. But she wanted to see Ji Yuzhe badly.
They reached his study. Uncle Jia knocked gently on the door before opening it. The room was bathed in moonlight, casting an ethereal glow over the familiar surroundings. Ji Yuzhe sat on the couch, surrounded by books and scrolls, his face illuminated by the soft light.
But if one paid close attention, one would notice his eyes were unfocused. His expression distant.
Feng Suyin's heart sank at the sight of him lost in his thoughts. She couldn't help but blame herself for his condition.
If she was right, his eyes had been affected when he rushed through the burning building where her old lab was. She had lost consciousness in the fire, but she remembered the fear and desperation in his voice as he carried her to safety. A pang of guilt. Knowing that her work had put him in harm's way.
"Master, Miss Feng Suyin is here." Uncle Jia announced her arrival.
Before Feng Suyin could react, she heard the door close behind her. She was alone with Ji Yuzhe.
"Ji Yuzhe," she called softly, stepping further into the room.
Surprise flickered in his eyes. He looked up. Recognition dawned on his face.
"Feng Suyin, what are you doing here?" His voice tinged with confusion and guardedness. She could see the emotions warring within him, mirroring her own.
He looked toward her, but Feng Suyin knew he was following her voice. She stepped further into the room, feeling the weight of his gaze on her like a physical touch.
She noticed he, too, had been drinking alone. Did he feel lost and alone, just like she did?
"I needed to see you, Ji Yuzhe," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "There are things we need to talk about."
She took a deep breath, gathering her courage.
"I had to see you." Her words hung like a delicate thread. "Please tell me the truth. Tell me it was you. Tell me that you were the one who saved me and not Ji Hanjun."
Ji Yuzhe's eyes widened in surprise at her words. A myriad of emotions flitted across his face before settling into a deep sadness. He didn't utter a word. But his silence was answer enough.
Feng Suyin could see the turmoil in his eyes. The unspoken truths and burdens he carried. She moved closer to him, her eyes pleading for confirmation. For closure.
"Why does it matter to you, Feng Suyin?" Ji Yuzhe finally asked, his voice devoid of emotion. "Why does it matter who saved you that day?"
"Because it changes everything," she replied softly, her eyes locked with his. "I thought I knew you, Ji Yuzhe. But if you were the one who saved me that day... it means so much more."
Ji Yuzhe turned his head away, refusing to explain further. Instead, he reminded her why she shouldn't be at his home.
"You shouldn't be here. Shouldn't you be planning your wedding with Ji Hanjun?"
A hint of bitterness in his tone. Feng Suyin would have missed it if she hadn't known his true feelings toward her. But she refused to be deterred.
She stepped closer, her eyes locked on his. Determined to break through the walls he had built.
"This isn't about Ji Hanjun," she said firmly. "This is about us. About what happened that day. I need to know the truth, Ji Yuzhe. Please don't push me away."
"As I said, why does it matter? So what if I saved you from that fire and not Ji Hanjun? You took his word in a heartbeat and didn't bother to doubt." His voice was tinged with hurt and frustration as he finally turned to face her, his eyes searching hers for understanding. "Why now?"
"I'm sorry." Feng Suyin couldn't stop her tears from falling. She reached out to touch Ji Yuzhe's hand. "I was confused. I was afraid. But now, knowing the truth changes everything. It changes how I see you. How I feel about you."
"Ji Hanjun wouldn't like it if he knew you were here. You should go."
Feng Suyin shook her head, her tears still glistening in the moonlight.
"No!"
She shortened the distance between them and moved to sit next to him. She knew she might never have another chance to speak with him like this. She held his arm, surprising him with her sudden bold move.
"Please, Ji Yuzhe." Her voice raw with emotion. "I need to understand. I need to know why you've kept this from me."
Ji Yuzhe turned his head and faced her. He stiffened under her touch but didn't pull away.
"Because I know you wouldn't believe me. You've made it clear you hate me, Feng Suyin. I know you wouldn't trust anything I have to say." His words were laced with resignation. A bitter acceptance of their fate.
Feng Suyin was taken aback. She stared at him in disbelief.
The realization hit her like a sudden gust of wind. Knocking the breath out of her lungs.
"What are you talking about?" She furrowed her brows in confusion. "We might have some disagreements, but I never hated you. Not even once. What made you think you were right to make such an assumption about me, Ji Yuzhe?"
Her voice trembled with hurt and frustration. She couldn't understand how he had come to believe such a thing about her feelings toward him.
"But your sister said..."
"What did Yilan say?!"
Feng Yilan?
It was her sister's doing too?
The pieces clicked into place. Cold and sharp.
Feng Yilan had been playing a longer game than Feng Suyin ever realized. Not just stealing Ji Hanjun. Not just planning the explosion. She had also poisoned Ji Yuzhe against her—convincing him that Feng Suyin hated him, ensuring he would never confess the truth about the fire.
Her hands trembled. Not from fear.
From rage.