“Feng’er, you must never let Sui Feng know about your identity!” After the initial shock, her brother’s first thought was this. His heart was chaotic, filled with unease.
After hanging up the phone, he stood and paced the room, then picked up the phone again. “The bodyguards arranged for the young lady must protect her safety and report any unusual behavior to me. Understood?”
Ru Feng had no idea about her brother’s conflicted thoughts; she just knew to listen to him. But lying in bed, she couldn’t fall asleep. She lamented that it’s easy to go from simple to luxurious, but hard to go from luxurious to simple!
Without the warmth of her second brother, she couldn’t get through the night. She closed her eyes and turned over, already missing him as he was leaving for a business trip tomorrow. His body temperature was so comforting that she would fall asleep immediately next to him.
The next day, upon landing, Qi Feng received frequent texts from Feng’er asking if he was okay and if he could come home on time. The care felt wonderful.
His smile was so warm that even the assistant noticed, wondering if winter was ending. However, when discussing the return trip, the assistant expressed worry: “This negotiation will take at least a week! It involves the year’s contract; it can’t be settled in a day. Just sitting on the plane takes five hours—how can you expect a same-day round trip?”
Qi Feng’s smile faded, and the atmosphere grew cold again. “I’ll go back tonight and come again tomorrow!” he insisted.
“The agenda starts at 8 am every day!” the assistant responded, noticing Qi Feng’s deepening frown.
The assistant guessed, “Boss, are you missing Miss Qiu? You could bring her along for a vacation.”
“I want to,” Qi Feng admitted.
But she seemed reluctant to trouble him, so he could only trouble himself. He called to tell her he might be back two days later. Her voice on the phone lacked spirit, and she hung up after a few brief words.
Qi Feng looked at his phone, realizing that perhaps he was the only one suffering from lovesickness.
Unexpectedly, Ru Feng rushed to Si Tu Ying Feng’s office. “Big brother, why did you send second brother away for so many days? I miss him!”
Ying Feng, seeing his sister’s reddened eyes, felt helpless. “Feng’er, can you be more reasonable? That’s his job.” Ru Feng lay on the desk, pouting.
Sighing, Ying Feng said, “Okay, I’ll get off work early today and have dinner with you, alright?”
“Okay!” she agreed reluctantly.
You always think the person you can see by turning around will always be there. Only when you turn around and they’re not there do you realize how indispensable they are. Without him, you suddenly feel an emptiness in your heart.
“So this is missing someone!” Ru Feng whispered.
“What did you say?” Ying Feng didn’t hear clearly.
Ru Feng raised her head. “Big brother, is it true that when you fall in love, you start to feel lonely?” She propped her chin. “No appetite and no spirit—these are symptoms of lovesickness!”
Ying Feng was instantly petrified.
Ning Yuan submitted his resignation.
In fact, he should have left long ago, when he hurt Wind’s choice to follow the wind. However, he still harbored a faint hope of seeing her, even in a different capacity. Only now did he realize that one wrong step leads to total failure.
Situ Ying Feng sat behind his desk, looking at Ning Yuan, silent for a while. Ning Yuan was someone he had recruited and cultivated. He admired Ning Yuan’s flexible and decisive work style and was optimistic when he saw him getting close to Wind. Yet, he never expected it would lead to this outcome.
“I accept your resignation,” Situ Ying Feng finally spoke. “But can you tell me your plans? My sisters have been deeply hurt by you. What do you think I should do to calm my anger?”
Ning Yuan met his gaze. “Haven’t I already been punished?” He glanced at the sunshine outside, his voice soft, “I pushed away my happiness that was within reach.”
“So, you’ve wronged Wind, and now you’re going to wrong Sui Feng?”
“I’ve already wronged her,” he closed his eyes gently. “Binding two people who don’t love each other will only torture them. I’ve made a mistake and don’t want to continue.”
Ying Feng tightened his hand. “You and Sui Feng are really impossible now?”
“I never loved her, not before, and never will.”
Ying Feng let out a cold laugh. “You said the same thing to Wind.”
Ning Yuan, only you understand your love and lack of love. If this continues, you’ll either destroy Sui Feng or be destroyed by her. I accept your resignation and won’t interfere in your matters with Sui Feng, but you must leave Z city and never return.”
His words left no room for negotiation. Though seemingly arrogant, coming from Situ Ying Feng, they were indeed believable. Ning Yuan recognized that Situ Ying Feng had already shown him mercy.
Situ Ying Feng suddenly stood, “Ning Yuan, don’t think I won’t act against you.”
Ning Yuan met his gaze steadily, “I won’t leave as long as she’s here.”
Situ Ying Feng’s expression turned dangerous, “What are you saying?”
Ning Yuan replied, “I know she’s here.”
After a brief silence, Ying Feng warned, “You think you still have a chance to stand by her side? One more time, and I’ll completely destroy you.”
Ning Yuan lowered his head, “Big brother, I can’t leave her. I thought I could, but I can’t.” Thinking about her made his heart ache. He clenched his fist, “Give me one more chance. If Wind allows me to approach her, I swear I’ll treasure her and never hurt her again.”
“Impossible!” Ying Feng shouted, accompanying his words with an angry palm strike.
Ning Yuan blocked with his arm, “What if Wind still loves me? If she does, won’t you give us a chance?”
Situ Ying Feng gritted his teeth, his hand tightening, “I won’t agree.”
“If I can’t, then Situ Qi Feng can’t either!” Ning Yuan stared at him intently. “Wind is kind, but you can’t use her kindness to restrict her entire life. She’s different from Situ Qi Feng. His world is dark and twisted, and it will destroy Wind.”
Ying Feng’s hand trembled, slowly standing straight. “What are you saying?”
Ning Yuan replied, “I know everything!”
A moment of silence filled the room. Ying Feng’s mind was in chaos, especially since Wind referenced lovesickness. He worried about Qi Feng’s dependence on Wind and whether it might restrict her freedom.
“Big brother, give me a chance, and give Wind a chance, okay?”
At this moment, Situ Ying Feng truly didn’t know how to respond. Ning Yuan bowed and walked out the door.
“Ning Yuan, this must not be known by anyone, especially Sui Feng!”
Ning Yuan paused, “I know!”
Left alone, Ying Feng sat back in his chair, rubbing his forehead. He didn’t know if he was right or wrong.
The phone rang, and his mouth curved slightly, “Wind?”
“Big brother, when can you leave? Dad and I are planning to eat seafood, waiting for you.”
“Wind!” he called her.
“Hmm?”
“You know, all your brothers want you to be happy.”
“There was a brief silence on the other end, then her cheerful voice replied, ‘I know. My brother is the best brother in the world.’
‘So every decision you make should come from your heart, not be influenced by others, even if it’s your brother.’
‘Big brother, don’t worry. Now, are you coming to eat or not? If you don’t, I’ll be too happy to starve.’
Ying Feng picked up his jacket, saying, ‘Okay, coming right now. Can’t let my baby sister starve.’
Her happiness, let her decide for herself. He’ll just watch from the side! After all, it belongs to her, and no one has the right to interfere!
In the evening, Wind hugged the packed stir-fried scallops for Autumn’s mom, said goodbye to Ying Feng, and watched his car disappear into the night.
Turning around, she suddenly stopped, ‘Ning Yuan?’
