"Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, I'm full. You can continue eating." Having lost her appetite, Ji Fuying simply moved her chair away and headed towards the back garden.
She walked along the cobblestone path until she was stopped by a pond. When she came to her senses, she was standing in front of a hibiscus tree.
My memories slowly drifted back to nine years ago.
She was still in high school at the time. Once, she casually remarked that hibiscus flowers were pretty, and two days later, a double-petaled hibiscus appeared in the garden.
This hibiscus was planted by Ji Yan for her; it blooms exceptionally well.
But things didn't go well between her and him.
She picked a flower and held it in her hands, casually saying, "Your flower symbolizes eternal beauty. Why can't I be like you?"
"Why can everyone else have a perfect love, while I have to go through so many ups and downs and suffer so much? Is it because God sees that my life is too good, so He is taking something away from me?"
Her lonely figure and sorrowful sighs caused Ji Yan's heart to ache.
It wasn't that fate was deliberately taking anything away from her; the real culprit was him.
All her misfortunes and grievances were caused by him, so what right does he have to ask for her forgiveness?
Ji Fuying stood under the hibiscus for half an hour, and Ji Yan also hid behind the corridor to keep her company for half an hour.
Just as Ji Fuying was about to walk back, her phone rang. She answered it.
"Mommy, Mommy, where did you go? I can't find you anywhere!" A childish voice came from the phone.
Ji Fuying could imagine that at this moment, Buyi must be pouting and frowning, and maybe even with her little hands on her hips.
"I've come to Country Z on business and will be going back in a few days. Will you be a good boy/girl?"
She kept glancing around while on the phone, not even daring to utter the word "Mom."
On the other end, Bu Yi was standing with her hands on her hips and stamping her feet, her star-like eyes filled with anger. "I knew it! Mommy, you never want to take me with you when you go out to play. Humph, from now on you can sleep alone. I'm not going to stay with you anymore."
"How can that be? I can't sleep without you by my side to protect me."
"Now you realize how important Bu Yi is? But it's too late, Bu Yi is already angry."
"What's the point of me apologizing? If it's not, I won't bother saying it, to save myself the trouble of talking."
There was a pause on the other end before continuing, "Grandma said to give yourself a way out, so I'll forgive you this once."
"Wow, Bu Yi is so generous, thank you. I'll bring you a gift when I come back."
After finishing her phone call, Ji Fuying left the garden.
Ji Yan, behind the corridor, felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, chilled from her heart to her toes.
Who is Bu Yi?
Why did he sleep with Yingying?
The way she spoke to that person was so gentle; even he had never seen her so tender three years ago.
He took his phone out of his pocket, stared at Han Xiao's number for a long time, but didn't dial it.
What if Yingying ends up with someone else...? He was afraid he wouldn't be able to accept that fact.
Ji Fuying took a nap and didn't know until afternoon tea that Ji Yan seemed to have left.
"It's strange, really. Why would he suddenly leave? It shouldn't be like this," Anhe said thoughtfully, taking a sip of her flower tea.
He had been persistent for three years. If he could have let go, he would have done so long ago. But if he couldn't let go, why did he leave?
The old lady held a piece of white jade cake in her hand, her eyes glancing intentionally or unintentionally toward the back garden. She clearly remembered that Fuying went to the back garden at noon, and Ji Yan followed her not long after.
"He didn't leave; he must be in the garden."
"In the garden?" Ji Fuying's heart skipped a beat. When did he go to the back garden?
Did he overhear his conversation with Buyi?
No, if he finds out about Bu Yi's existence, he will definitely bring her back at all costs.
She couldn't afford to take that risk. Bu Yi was her life, her pillar of support; without Bu Yi, she truly wouldn't be able to survive.
"Grandma, Mom, I'm going to take a look."
She needed to confirm whether Ji Yan had overheard her conversation with Buyi; judging from the current situation, he probably had.
Ji Fuying walked into the garden and, sure enough, saw Ji Yan under the hibiscus tree.
He sat leaning against the tree trunk with his eyes closed, his hair disheveled and scattered on his forehead. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell on his high nose, making him look less aggressive than usual.
Is he asleep?
Should I wake him up? If I do, how should I ask him about his amnesia?
Well, she couldn't bring herself to ask, so she decided to just take it one step at a time.
“Yingying, I think I can understand how you feel now.”
Just as Ji Fuying was about to leave, a low, husky voice came from behind her.
Ji Yan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with affection and guilt as he looked at her.
Back when he dragged Xingchu into acting, she, unaware of the truth, must have been a hundred times more tormented than he was.
He didn't know how to love someone, selfishly believing that love was about possessive dominance. He was completely wrong.
Ji Fuying stopped in her tracks, a hint of brilliance flickering in her clear eyes, her voice remaining distant.
"Ji Yan, it's too late to say anything now, do you understand?"
"I understand, but I still want to try to win him back one more time." He tried his best to keep his expression from crumbling, closed his eyes again, and two lines of tears spread down his cheeks to his chin.
It turns out she really fell in love with someone else, which is why it's too late to say anything. What can he do?
Should he grant his wish? He couldn't.
To destroy her? To hurt her again.
"Let's leave it at that. If you're willing, we can be family, just like before. Let's not make things difficult for each other anymore."
He lowered his head, his eyes revealing the fragility and helplessness of someone struggling against fate, and then slowly nodded with all his might.
"Alright, I will grant your wish."
If his entanglement only causes her pain, then he is willing to withdraw. As long as she can be happy, he will bear all the pain himself.
Only now does he understand that true love is selfless devotion, and that one would be willing to pay the price of one's life for her.
Therefore, he will become her strongest support in the future, clearing away all obstacles for her, only hoping that she can live a happy and joyful life.
Ji Fuying turned around in shock, staring blankly at the man with his eyes closed. "You're willing to let go?"
From that phrase, she knew he had misunderstood. Perhaps he was treating Buyi as a man, which was why he said he was willing to let her go.
She had gotten what she wanted most, but for some reason, she felt a pain quietly spreading in her heart.
Ji Yan finally opened his eyes and looked at her, a layer of pain creeping into his eyes. "If I'm not willing to let go, can you give me a chance to atone for my sins?"
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