Feng Suyin returned home to an almost empty apartment. Since she was mostly at work, there wasn't much furniture or personal belongings to fill the space. As she entered, the dim light from the moon filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow over the room.
She moved through the rooms with a sense of emptiness that mirrored the bare walls around her. The silence felt oppressive, amplifying the loneliness she couldn't seem to shake. She sat on the edge of her bed and covered her face with both hands. The memories of her past life flashed before her eyes.
Everything felt like a dream. But the pain she suffered also felt too real for her to think it was merely a figment of her imagination. It was as if the heavens had allowed her to see how she would end if she remained oblivious to the lies and secrets of those around her.
Feng Suyin realized she'd been naive. She had trusted the wrong people and let down her guard. No wonder she ended up dying at their hands. She had long accepted that she would never be part of high society, but she had at least hoped the Feng family would regard her as one of them.
Ji Yuzhe's face lingered in her thoughts. His once familiar features now twisted into a painful reminder of what could have been. How could she have been so oblivious to his true feelings for her?
The memories of their arguments and late-night study sessions took on a new light. She felt a pang of regret for not realizing sooner. For not seeing beyond the facade he had carefully crafted over the years.
With a heavy sigh, Feng Suyin stood up, picked up a bottle of whiskey from the cupboard, and walked to the window. She drew back the curtains to gaze out at the city below. The twinkling lights seemed to mock her. A cruel reminder of the world she felt so disconnected from.
Was there another reason why she was reborn?
Perhaps this second chance was meant for her to right the wrongs of the past. To uncover the truths she had been blind to before.
Ji Yuzhe lost his eyesight and his life because of her. If that wasn't enough proof of his deep love for her, Feng Suyin didn't know what was. She remembered the day a man saved her from the burning building—his strong arms pulling her to safety despite his own injuries. His whispered words of love as he held her close echoed in her mind. She couldn't shake the guilt that clawed at her heart.
How could she have mistaken Ji Hanjun as her savior when it had been Ji Yuzhe?
She poured herself a generous amount of whiskey. The burning sensation as it slid down her throat was a welcome distraction from the turmoil in her mind. She stared out at the city below, the bustling streets bathed in the glow of streetlights and neon signs. The world continued its relentless march forward, indifferent to the internal battle raging within her.
Guilt gnawed at her insides. A relentless reminder of her shortcomings. She had mistaken his brother for him. A mistake that had cost Ji Yuzhe his sight and his life.
Her hand drifted to her phone in her pocket. The recording was still there. Evidence of one betrayal. But it couldn't undo the other—the one where she had been blind to the man who truly loved her.
Feng Suyin knew she couldn't undo the past or erase her mistakes. But she could make amends. She could help Ji Yuzhe. Stand by his side as he had always stood by hers. She knew now that she had to make things right. To atone. To find a way to honor his sacrifice.
Her dimly lit apartment felt suffocating. She wanted to go out but didn't know where to go. She took her keys and handbag from the coffee table and headed outside. The night air was crisp as she stepped onto the bustling streets below.
As she walked through the city, the noise and chaos faded into the background. A sense of calm washed over her. The familiar sights and sounds took on a new light—each building and street corner holding the promise of a new beginning.
She stood at the edge of the sidewalk, unsure of where to go or what to do next. She felt like a ghost, drifting through the crowds without purpose. But as she gazed up at the starry sky, a sense of determination kindled within her.
She had lived her entire life for others, always putting their needs before hers. But now, standing amid the city's heartbeat, she realized it was time to live for herself.
She continued walking the familiar streets she had taken several times in her previous life. Her feet brought her to a place she hadn't visited for a long time.
Feng Suyin looked up at the high-rise building where Ji Yuzhe's penthouse was located. Memories flooded back. The glass and steel structure loomed over her like a monument to her past mistakes.
She took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy glass doors. The opulent lobby greeted her—marble floors gleaming under the soft glow of crystal chandeliers. A stark contrast to the cluttered chaos of her own thoughts.
As she made her way to the elevator, she couldn't help but feel trepidation clawing at her insides. What would Ji Yuzhe say when he saw her after all this time? Would he even be willing to listen to her explanations and apologies?
The elevator ride up to his penthouse felt like an eternity. Each passing floor heightened her nerves.
The doors finally slid open to reveal the familiar hallway leading to his door. She straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath.
With a hesitant hand, she knocked. The sound echoed through the quiet hallway.
A moment of silence. Then the door swung open.
An old man stood before her. Feng Suyin recognized him as Uncle Jia, the butler who had raised Ji Yuzhe since he was young.
"Miss Feng, what brings you here?" Uncle Jia asked kindly. His expression softened as he took in the sight of her standing before him. A hint of surprise and curiosity in his eyes.
She clutched her handbag tighter. Inside, her phone sat silent. The recording. The proof. But none of that mattered right now.
This wasn't about revenge.
This was about him.