When she reached the Feng family estate, Feng Suyin wasn't surprised by the crowd. With her father's current position in the government, many people wanted to get close to the family in hopes of gaining favor. As she weaved through the guests, she caught sight of her adoptive father, Feng Xian.
She didn't dare make her presence known. Instead, she went to a secluded corner with a glass of champagne in one hand. She wanted to see if she could overhear any interesting conversations that might shed light on Feng Yilan tonight.
Feng Suyin spotted her sister with their mother. Li Xinlian was introducing her daughter to everyone with a broad smile, clearly proud of Feng Yilan. The old Feng Suyin would have felt envious and wronged by the attention her sister always seemed to attract. But now?
Not anymore.
The hatred she felt for them was irreconcilable.
She didn't want to waste time trying to win her adoptive parents' affection. She wouldn't be surprised if they were aware of Feng Yilan and Ji Hanjun's plan to kill her in her past life. None of her attempts or efforts had ever mattered to them. She kept her distance, observing the scene with detached curiosity.
It wasn't long before a familiar voice caught her attention.
"Suyin." A whisper behind her. Sending shivers down her spine.
Her heart used to skip a beat whenever she heard Ji Hanjun's voice. But now? All she felt was contempt. This man had purposely deceived her, taking advantage of her feelings for his own gain.
Feng Suyin slightly turned her head to look at him. He stood before her, a charming smile playing on his lips.
She used to think she was so lucky that someone like Ji Hanjun had chosen to be with her. Now she saw him for who he truly was—a manipulative schemer who had fooled her with honeyed words and false promises.
She smiled at him. But her grip on the champagne flute tightened.
"Hey," she greeted him. "I didn't know you were here."
Ji Hanjun shrugged and buried his hands in his pockets, his eyes sweeping the crowd until they landed on Feng Yilan. Feng Suyin saw the slight curl of his lips. The admiration in his eyes as they settled on her sister.
She felt a surge of anger. But she kept her composure.
"I wasn't going to miss this event." He smiled at her. "And how could I resist the chance to see you, my dear Suyin?"
Looking at her fiancé, Feng Suyin couldn't help but compare him to Ji Yuzhe. While Ji Hanjun was popular and friendly, his elder half-brother was reserved and mysterious. But there was an undeniable depth to Ji Yuzhe that drew her to him like a moth to a flame.
She pushed the thought aside and glanced back at Ji Hanjun.
A wave of revulsion washed over her. She couldn't believe she had ever been so blind to his true nature. Standing before her now, his once-charming smile seemed sinister. His words hollow.
"I'm sure you found plenty of reasons to stay," she retorted coolly.
Ji Hanjun stared at her for a moment, thinking she was acting unusually cold. It was far from her usual demeanor. He couldn't quite understand why. Shrugging it off, he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Are you still upset that I didn't accompany you dress shopping yesterday?" His voice laced with feigned concern.
Feng Suyin maintained her cool facade, hiding the turmoil within.
"Not at all." She sipped her champagne to keep herself composed.
In her past life, she had been upset that Ji Hanjun stood her up. But she knew now that he had come—he had just chosen to fool around with her sister behind her back.
Feng Suyin wondered how many times Ji Hanjun had betrayed her trust. Kept things from her. Conspired against her. She had seen glimpses of his true nature in her memories. But now the rose-tinted glasses had been shattered.
Every charming word. Every calculated smile. They only reinforced her conviction that she needed to distance herself from him once and for all. She couldn't afford to be swayed by his charm or false promises any longer.
She couldn't forget the look on his face when Feng Yilan killed her.
The realization brought a bitter taste to her mouth. He had once been the center of her world. Now he was nothing more than a despicable manipulator in her eyes.
"Your mom suggested we announce our engagement tonight," she heard Ji Hanjun say. "My parents agreed. I see no reason we shouldn't go along."
Feng Suyin scoffed inwardly at his audacity. How could he suggest such a thing when she knew the truth about his affair with her younger sister?
Her grip on the champagne flute tightened as she looked at his eyes—now devoid of any warmth or affection toward her.
"Is that necessary?" she asked impassively.
Her words took him aback. He had thought she would be thrilled. He assumed she would be over the moon. But the reality was different from what he'd expected.
Feng Suyin looked annoyed and irritated. As if the wedding itself was nothing but an inconvenience.
Ji Hanjun's smile faltered for a split second. A flicker of annoyance crossed his features before he composed himself.
"But why not, Suyin?" he asked. "Don't you think this is the perfect opportunity to solidify our families' ties and bring us closer together? Don't tell me you are having second thoughts about our wedding."
Feng Suyin saw through his words. Recognized them for what they were—another manipulation in his intricate game. Perhaps he wanted to ensure she was still under his influence until she completed the research with Professor Xu.
She shrugged, as if their conversation held no importance to her.
"I don't know, Hanjun." She paused. "I feel it isn't the right time for me to get married. I'm behind in my performance at the hospital. With the research approaching its completion, I can't help but think I don't have enough time to do everything."
Across the room, Feng Yilan watched them. Her eyes narrowed.
She didn't like what she was seeing.