Ning Yuan lowered his eyes, revealing his emotions through trembling eyelashes. “I’ll help you.”
He was jealous of that man, so intensely that it made his whole body ache, but he no longer had the right to express this feeling. He could no longer expect her love, yet he still tried to fulfill her wishes. As the sun set, Ru Feng felt his already desolate heart nearing despair.
He had spent the afternoon in the study with another woman while his wife waited outside, consumed by suspicion and pain. All her hopes had turned to ash. What were they treating her as?
“Ru Feng, who is that woman? Why did she come to see Yuan?” Ning Yuan’s mother asked, unable to understand. Surprisingly, she felt somewhat pleased. Since that incident, her son had become cold and distant, isolating himself in the study.
“Who is that woman?” she thought. It was rare for him to connect with a woman, which seemed like a positive sign.
Ru Feng shook her head, her voice hoarse, “I don’t know.”
Ning Yuan’s mother sat beside her, trying to comfort her, “Don’t overthink it. If Yuan had something with that woman, he wouldn’t have brought her home so openly, right?”
“Mm!” Ru Feng responded softly.
It wasn’t until after ten at night that Ning Yuan finished the letter, standing up and swaying slightly.
Ru Feng hurried to support him, “What’s wrong? I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time.” Ning Yuan forced a smile, “The more you say that, the more painful it is for me.” Ru Feng lowered her head, “I’m sorry for your injuries too.” The second brother had acted because of her.
Looking at her, Ning Yuan suddenly stretched out his arms and hugged her tightly. Ru Feng was startled, but his trembling voice halted her struggle, “Let me hug you once, just this last time.”
Ru Feng stopped moving, allowing him to hold her. “Feng’er, goodbye. Be happy!” His hands loosened and quietly slid down. He knew this time he was truly letting go—of his love, the only love of his life. What had once been the warmth in his years, he had extinguished and lost forever!
The door opened, and the two women in the living room stood up. Ru Feng walked out and shot a cold look at the other woman before rushing into the study. Ning Yuan’s mother, however, smiled and asked, “May I ask your name, miss?”
Ru Feng looked at her. This woman was the source of all the tragedy involving Ning Yuan, her, and the second brother. “Miss?” Ning Yuan’s mother, sensing Ru Feng’s hateful gaze, asked again.
Ru Feng walked past her as if she hadn’t heard, then opened the door and exited.
“Ning Yuan, what’s wrong with you?” Ru Feng asked, noticing Ning Yuan collapse into the chair.
Ning Yuan opened his eyes, their dead and gray look tightening Ru Feng’s heart. “Ning Yuan?”
“Ru Feng, our separation agreement takes effect tomorrow. When the time comes, our marriage will be invalid, whether you agree or not,” he replied.
“Ning Yuan, what have I done wrong? How can you treat me like this?” Ru Feng pleaded, grabbing his arm.
Ning Yuan let out a miserable laugh. “Do you know? She’s dead!”
Ru Feng’s hand trembled. “Actually, you already knew, didn’t you? Why have you never dared to ask your eldest brother about her whereabouts? Why have you never dared to enter her room?”
Swaying his hand away, Ning Yuan retorted, “What qualifications do you have to question me? You killed her. She deserved to die; her mother was lowly, and she wasn’t any better. Now she’s dead, yet still clinging to you, causing great harm.”
“Yes, she should have died. She can neither hear nor care anymore,” Ning Yuan said, closing his eyes. “Go ahead, I’m tired.”
“Ning Yuan, do you know that without me, you’ll lose everything?”
The brothers won’t give you any chance, and Qi Feng’s second brother will make you pay for Ru Feng’s life.”
Ning Yuan leaned back in the chair, motionless.
“Ning Yuan, do you know you’ll be left with nothing?”
“I already have nothing,” he replied.
“Fine, Ning Yuan! Never regret this!” Sui Feng slammed the door and cried loudly.
“What happened?” Ning Yuan’s mother rushed over.
“Because of her, your son wants to drag us all into hell. Ru Feng died! Now you must be happy, right?” Sui Feng pushed away her mother’s hand and shouted.
Dead? That pale-faced Ru Feng is dead?
Ning Yuan’s mother stepped back and suddenly laughed, “Yes, I should be happy. One life for another, using his beloved daughter to repay a life.”
She was so happy that her tears wouldn’t stop.
Ru Feng had just reached the cake shop’s entrance when a shadow startled her. She covered her chest, eyes wide, “Second Brother?”
Qi Feng walked out from the shadows, his expression unseen in the dim light.
However, Ru Feng sensed the low atmosphere. She stuck out her tongue, “Second Brother, are you angry?”
“Hmph!” he snorted.
Ru Feng tentatively linked her arm with his. He remained silent but didn’t pull away.
Ru Feng brightened, resting her head on Qi Feng’s arm. “Second Brother, why didn’t you call me? You waited here for me?”
Qi Feng remained silent, took her bag, and pointed at the screen of her phone, which displayed 35 missed calls. Ru Feng glanced at Qi Feng’s face, saw calls from her brother, dad, autumn mom, and several from Qi Feng.
Ru Feng realized she was in trouble; Second Brother must be angry. She put the phone back in her bag. “Second Brother, don’t be angry. I put my phone on silent.”
Suddenly self-conscious, she blushed and said, “Hello!” It wasn’t her fault; who could have expected such a refined person to appear in this wild mountain wilderness?
The man examined her curiously. “I’m Situ Qiwu.”
So, he was the guide of this estate. Dad had mentioned that after reaching the parasol tree, finding the path oneself was impossible, and one had to wait for the guide, with waiting times being entirely fate-dependent. She never thought her luck would lead her to wait a lifetime, but she also didn’t expect it to be this fortunate.
Her waiting time was probably less than three minutes. Ru Feng pointed at herself, “You came specifically to pick me up?”
Situ Qiwu smiled warmly, “Yes, please follow me.”
As they walked, Ru Feng asked, “How did you know someone was coming?”
“The Grand Elder said so.”
Ru Feng inquired further, “How did the Grand Elder know?”
“Careful!” He called out, grabbing her hand just as she was about to bump into a tree. Startled, she quickly withdrew her hand and thanked him.
“The Grand Elder naturally would know,” he replied while pushing aside tree branches.
Ru Feng continued, “I had heard that the guide Situ Qiwu was a woman.”
Situ Qiwu turned back, smiling shyly, “I am a man,” and offered no further explanation.
Ru Feng, merely curious, chose not to press on. However, she noticed Situ Qiwu stealing glances at her. She felt it was odd and dismissed the notion that he found her attractive—she considered herself far less remarkable. When she got home, she’d take a photo of him to tease her older brother.
They walked for nearly twenty minutes, and Ru Feng felt disoriented, bumping around in the bushes. If Situ Qiwu hadn’t cleared the path for her, she might have been swallowed by the grass.
Her clothes were slightly disheveled, but Situ Qiwu’s white clothes were probably ruined. Remembering how radiant he had looked earlier, Ru Feng asked, “How did you get here earlier?” Wasn’t he on a different path?
Situ Qiwu opened his mouth but didn’t know how to explain. Facing her puzzled gaze, his face reddened slightly. He suddenly leaped up, treading on the grass. After a few steps, he turned back, landing gracefully in front of her and softly said, “Like this.”
Ru Feng was dumbfounded. After a long moment, she uttered, “The legendary light skill?” No wonder he had flown on the grass when he came to get her. Situ Qiwu shook his head, “I don’t know what people outside call this.”
