Driven by longing, he wanted to see her—whether out of hatred or sorrow. He desperately sought her whereabouts and, recalling her strong sense of family, thought of the wedding. Sui Feng was her only sister, and surely she would come despite her sadness. But after waiting an entire day, she never appeared.
So, he came, just wanting to see her.
“Where is she?”
Si Tu Ying Feng did not ask who she was or why he was in Ru Feng’s room on her and Sui Feng’s wedding night.
With too much grief and anger, he could even laugh, “Ning Yuan, have I not told you that Feng’er cannot do intense exercise? She has a severe heart condition, and doctors predicted she would not live past ten years old. Where is she now?”
Time froze; Ning Yuan stood there, chilled to the bone.
He remembered that day: her disbelieving eyes, her pale complexion, and the moment she closed her eyes and fell. He had not forgotten her hand pressed against her heart.
Si Tu Ying Feng laughed cruelly, “Ning Yuan, you have lost the woman you loved most.”
“Where is she?” Where did she go?
Si Tu Ying Feng’s hand slid over the wine glass shimmering in the light, “She has vanished. Congratulations, you have finally had your revenge.”
His knees went weak, and Ning Yuan collapsed to the ground.
Where is she? Where did she go?
Not a single tear fell, but he felt his world was full of rain.
In the darkness, Qi Feng sat on the stairs and watched Ning Yuan stumble out like a wandering ghost, saying, “Do not grieve for her.”
Ning Yuan’s hand trembled as it supported the wall. Qi Feng’s next words pierced through him: “You are not worthy.” His tone was cold enough to destroy any remaining resolve.
Ning Yuan ran out, unknowing of his destination, propelled only by desperation. On the street, cars whooshed past. He finally stopped, wondering if he would find redemption if those wheels passed over him.
“You are not worthy!” That voice rang out again. Ning Yuan clutched his head and screamed, filled with despair and madness, unable to bridge the gap between life and death to reach her.
He didn’t know how he returned home. Sui Feng opened the door, worry etched on her face. “Ning Yuan, where did you go? You’re so cold; why not wear an extra layer?”
Ning Yuan walked in, completely unresponsive.
“Ning Yuan?” Sui Feng stepped forward, anxious. “What happened?”
When her hand touched his shoulder, he pushed her away.
“Ning Yuan?” Sui Feng fell to the ground.
“Sui Feng, the only woman I have ever loved is her, only her.”
Sui Feng was stunned. After a long moment, she shook her head with tearful eyes. “What are you saying?”
Ning Yuan lowered his head, looking at his trembling hands—the same hands that had embraced his beloved, pushed her away, and could never grasp her again.
“I love her, always only her.”
“No, Ning Yuan, you’re lying to me, right?” Sui Feng cried out.
She could not accept this. Why would her hard-won happiness turn out like this?
“What’s happening?” Ning Yuan’s mother, awakened, rushed downstairs.
Ning Yuan raised his head, admiring his own calmness at that moment. He spoke clearly, “I promised to protect her for life. Those who hurt her, I won’t let go.”
He smiled slowly, “Including myself.”
“Yuan’er,” his mother said, her voice trembling, “What are you saying?”
Ning Yuan looked at her, smiling, “Mother, you didn’t hear wrong. I avenged you. She’s dead. Aren’t you happy?”
Dead? Her face turned pale with fear.
Ning Yuan continued smiling, “She’s dead, but I’m still alive.”
“Yuan’er?” she cried out.
Ning Yuan did not look at her, softly saying, “I’m actually still alive.”
A few days after Si Tu Sui Feng’s wedding, another piece of news about the Si Tu family dominated the newspapers. It was unexpected, a miracle among miracles.
The low-profile second young master of the Si Tu family was engaged to an unknown Cinderella, a fact Si Tu himself reportedly announced.
Holding the newspaper, the elder brother found Qi Feng in the flower room cultivating rouge grass. With a mix of laughter and tears, he said, “This newspaper is too funny. You’re getting engaged, and I didn’t even know.”
Qi Feng replied, “I don’t know either.”
The elder brother shook his head, “It seems this newspaper wants to go out of business publishing such baseless stories.”
Qi Feng looked at him, “Don’t act like you’re all-knowing. Your assistant mysteriously disappeared and still can’t be found.”
Ying Feng paused, “Don’t you think this is strange?”
Qi Feng frowned, “No matter the reason, I will find her. Now, we just need to wait for news.”
Crimson madder flowers bathed in sunlight emanated a scarlet glow. Qi Feng crouched down and softly asked, “Big brother, why won’t Wind’er come back to see us?”
Big brother was stunned by the question, unable to respond. Qi Feng caressed the madder flowers, “I didn’t protect her well, so she doesn’t want me anymore.”
Big brother’s hand pressed heavily on his shoulder. “No, you are her most beloved second brother; she won’t abandon you.”
“Then why won’t she come back?” A slight fear flickered in Qi Feng’s eyes, revealing a vulnerability he seldom showed.
“She will come back; she definitely will.” He comforted both his brother and himself.
Qi Feng looked up, “Brother, she will really come back, right?”
“Yes, very soon!” Big brother nodded.
This morning, Si Tu Jin looked particularly radiant. He urged both sons out of bed to freshen up.
“Dad, what are you doing?” Si Tu Ying Feng asked, still drowsy after discussing Qiu Yi and Ru Feng late into the night.
Si Tu Jin was full of spirit. “Today is a good day; we need to get up early.”
Qi Feng frowned, watching the household servants prepare. Ying Feng noticed too. “What good day?”
Si Tu Jin glanced at them. “Just stay put; you’ll know soon enough.”
Qi Feng sat silently at the dining table, indifferent. Ying Feng suddenly realized, “Is today the day Sui Feng and Ning Yuan are returning home?”
Qi Feng’s expression darkened instantly.
Si Tu Jin nodded, “Double happiness today.”
Ying Feng studied his father’s expression and asked, “Dad, I don’t think you’re particularly welcoming to Ning Yuan. What are you up to?”
Si Tu Jin responded, “Since Ning Yuan and Sui Feng are settled, then so be it.”
Qi Feng put down his bowl and stood to leave. Though Sui Feng was their daughter and sister, he viewed her as the woman who stole Wind’er’s love.
“Qi Feng, stay home,” Si Tu Jin urged.
However, Qi Feng continued to put on his shoes at the entrance. Out of respect, he refrained from confronting the couple, but being asked to stay and welcome them was impossible.
“Qi Feng!” Si Tu Jin called again, but Qi Feng ignored him.
Sighing dramatically, Si Tu Jin dialed a number and let it ring once before hanging up. Then, a phone rang in the room.
With a “slap,” the cup Ying Feng was holding fell, spilling milk everywhere. Qi Feng froze, one shoe still on.
Both were stunned until Ying Feng, trembling, pulled a phone from his pocket. Only Ru Feng knew that number, and due to her heart condition, this phone was almost never turned off. It was a text message.
Ying Feng took a deep breath and opened the message: “Brothers, I’m coming home today. Wait for me for dinner.”
“Brother?” Qi Feng, weak from shock, sat at the entrance.
Ying Feng raised his head. “Wind’er says she’s coming home for dinner.”
The dimness in his eyes was instantly illuminated. Qi Feng’s initial daze turned into a radiant smile. Wind’er was coming back!
Ying Feng tried to call her back, but the phone was off. “Dad?” he suddenly asked, realizing his father knew more.
Si Tu Jin sipped his milk and looked at Qi Feng. “Are you still going out?”
Qi Feng shook his head; he wouldn’t leave now, no matter what.
Si Tu Jin nodded. “I’ve seen Wind’er.”
The news stunned them both.
