The man sitting on the comfortable sofa looked to be in his early twenties. His sharp black suit gave him an air of authority, and his expressionless face revealed no emotions. Despite his blank demeanor, his good looks were undeniable, drawing an almost magnetic presence to the room. The house was eerily silent, making it clear that no one else was around except for the workers.
"Hello, I am Yang Jiang. How may I help you?" I introduced myself politely, my voice calm though curiosity bubbled underneath.
The man cleared his throat, stood briefly, and gave a slight bow. "I am Fe Ji Lin," he said, his tone even and professional. "I am here to deliver a message for you, as well as this box." He gestured to the small, elegantly wrapped box resting on the coffee table.
"My young master requested that I deliver this to you. He apologizes for not being able to communicate with you directly. Since his return from overseas, he has been preoccupied with business matters. That's all, Miss Yang. I will take my leave now."
I was so taken aback by his words that I stood frozen, trying to decipher the meaning behind them. My gaze darted to the mysterious box. Who could his master be? And how did they know me?
Before I could voice my questions, Fe Ji Lin had already bowed again and left. As the door clicked shut, realization hit me. Could it be… him? My heart skipped a beat. Wen Lin! It had to be him.
I mentally kicked myself for not asking more questions—who his master was, how he knew me, or even a way to contact him. The man had left no additional information except the box. And the contact number provided was unreachable when I tried it later.
I decided to share the incident with Nanny Lin Lan, narrating how I had once met Wen Lin and piecing together my suspicion that he was behind this gesture. The warmth in her eyes as she listened made me feel understood, and I swore her to secrecy. "Don't tell my parents, or anyone else," I insisted.
Curiosity gnawed at me as I carried the box to my room. I set it gently on the bed, staring at it for a moment before noticing a small note attached to the lid.
The note read, "Your birthday is the passcode."
My heart skipped another beat. Memories of that night flooded my mind. I remembered Wen Lin asking me about my birthday during our conversation. I had asked for his in return. A soft smile tugged at my lips as I realized he must have remembered every detail of that brief but meaningful exchange.
I keyed in my birthdate, and with a soft click, the box unlocked. The lid creaked open to reveal something extraordinary.
Inside was a stunning bracelet, its shimmering white pearls intertwined with sparkling diamonds. I stared in awe, my breath catching. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. My fingers brushed over its surface delicately, as though it were a fragile treasure.
Did I tell him I loved collecting bracelets? I couldn't remember if I had, but here it was—a gift that spoke directly to my heart.
Beneath the bracelet lay a neatly folded envelope and a single white rose. My chest tightened. White roses were my favorite. How did he know?
With trembling hands, I opened the envelope and unfolded the letter inside. The note was handwritten in elegant, slanted script.
"To my dearest Jie," it began.
"I am sorry that I couldn't reach out to you personally due to unavoidable circumstances. You are the only woman I have ever come to like, love, and care for."
I reread the words, my eyes wide with disbelief.
Did I read that right? Did he just confess that he likes me? That he loves me? My heart raced as I clutched the letter tightly.
'This can't be real,' I thought, yet the note, the rose, and the bracelet all told me it was. Wen Lin loved me.
I sank onto the bed, a mixture of emotions washing over me—joy, disbelief, and a lingering sense of longing. "Please tell me I'm not dreaming," I whispered to myself, clutching the note and staring at the bracelet.
For the first time in a long while, I felt seen.