Chapter Sixteen

In the instant she turned away, a fleeting sneer crossed her lips, her mouth stiffening, her gaze deep and lingering.

Yingyue stared blankly in the direction Arthur had left. Her eyes grew hot—why did she feel as if she had been abandoned?

"Yingyue," came a breathless voice. She turned around. "Xi—" At last, her tears broke free, and she threw herself into Yu Wenxi's embrace. He held her tightly, his chin resting atop her head.

"Xi, take me away from here."

"Alright." He did not ask why; he simply agreed, unwavering.

Suddenly she remembered something. Lifting her face from his chest, tears still glistening at the corners of her eyes, she avoided his gaze, her eyes flickering. "Could you come for me tomorrow instead? I want to go back and pick up a few things." He gazed at her for a long time. "Alright." Still, he asked nothing, trusting her completely.

She returned to the hotel in a daze and sat quietly at the edge of the bed, gently stroking the linens. Yingyue herself did not know why she wanted to wait until tomorrow to leave. She had no lingering attachments, and yet—she just wanted to come back, to wait until tomorrow.

Twilight slowly fell, the dim room growing eerily silent. The violet in her eyes, once sparkling, faded away until, devoid of any light, they blended into the darkness of the room.

Outside the window, neon lights shimmered in a dazzling array. In the faint reflection, she could see the curve of mocking lips.

Morning sunlight filtered through the fluttering gauze curtains, casting its glow across the spacious bed, bathing the solitary figure curled upon it. The shape on the bed stirred gently, eyelids slowly lifting. Drowsy violet eyes swept across the empty room, their depths hollow and void. Rising slowly, she stretched out her legs but fell to the floor. Expressionless, she raised her hands and gently massaged her legs, stiff from sleeping in an awkward position. Her lips curled into a cold, indifferent smile.

She stood again and went to the bathroom.

Turning on the faucet, she watched the water rush forth. She lifted her hands, catching the stream and splashing her cheeks—once, twice, over and over, faster and faster, until she lost count, finally stopping.

She looked up at her reflection in the mirror: her face pale, her eyes veined with red.

Suddenly, in the mirror, appeared a man with a metallic sheen in his eyes and his habitual, devilish smile at the corner of his mouth. Yingyue's previously calm expression faltered. For just an instant, the man's face shattered into countless fragments before her eyes. Yingyue clenched her fists at her sides so tightly that fresh blood welled and dripped to the floor.

One drop. Two drops...

She did not look at her hand. She simply walked quietly back to the bedroom, took out the first aid kit, and calmly bandaged herself. Then she went to the wardrobe and chose a violet casual outfit, changing with graceful movements.

The doorbell rang right on cue. She glanced at herself in the mirror, checking her expression, and went to open the door.

"Yingyue—" The moment the door opened, she was enveloped in a wide embrace, the warmth almost suffocating her.

"Xi," her voice muffled, "you're holding me so tightly." The hint of playfulness in her tone tugged at Yu Wenxi's heart, yet it also filled him with a vague unease, as if she were ephemeral, an illusion. Was Yingyue truly in his arms? But the warmth was real, reassuring him. She was truly there, and Wenxi's lips curved in happiness. Yingyue seemed to sense his joy, and her heart warmed in spite of itself. By his side, she always felt so warm, so secure—not like that other person...

Unknowingly, sorrow touched her lips. That person had not returned last night. He had promised, and yet...

"Xi, let's go to the Blue Moon Pavilion."

"The Blue Moon Pavilion?"