When she reached the Feng family estate, Feng Suyin wasn't surprised by the crowd she found there. 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 crowd of guests, Feng Suyin caught sight of her adoptive father, Feng Xian.
She didn't dare to make her presence known. Instead, Feng Suyin 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 some 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 effortlessly, but now, not anymore. The hatred she felt for them was irreconcilable.
Feng Suyin didn't want to waste time 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 mattered to them for the past years. She kept her distance, observing the scene with a detached curiosity. It wasn't long before a familiar voice caught her attention.
"Suyin," a voice whispered 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 purposely deceived her, taking advantage of her feelings for his 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, but now she saw him for who he truly was - a manipulative schemer who had fooled her with his honeyed words and false promises. Feng Suyin 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 hand in his pocket, eyes sweeping around the crowd until he spotted Feng Yilan. Feng Suyin saw the slight curl of his lips and 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," Ji Hanjun smiled at her, "And how could I resist the chance to see you, my dear Suyin?"
Looking at her fiance, 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.
Feng Suyin pushed the thought aside as she glanced back at Ji Hanjun. A wave of revulsion washed over Feng Suyin. She couldn't believe she was ever so blind to his true nature. But now, standing before her, his once charming smile seemed sinister and his words hollow.
"I'm sure you found plenty of reasons to stay," She retorted cooly.
Ji Hanjun stared at her momentarily, thinking she was acting unusually cold towards him. It was far from her usual demeanor, and he couldn't quite understand why. Shrugging it off, he leaned in closer to Feng Suyin, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Are you still upset that I didn't accompany you with dress shopping yesterday?" Ji Hanjun inquired, his voice laced with feigned concern.
Feng Suyin maintained her cool facade, hiding the turmoil within her.
"Not at all," she replied evenly, sipping her champagne to keep herself composed.
In her past life, she was upset that Ji Hanjun stood her up, but she knew now that he had come but had chosen to fool around with her sister behind her back. Feng Suyin wondered how many times Ji Hanjun betrayed her trust, kept things from her, and 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 only served to reinforce 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.
Feng Suyin couldn't forget the look he had on his face when Feng Yilan killed her. The realization brought a bitter taste to her mouth as she looked at him, once the center of her world, now nothing more than a despicable manipulator in her eyes.
"Your mom suggested we should announce our engagement tonight," she heard Ji Hanjun say. "My parents agreed, and 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 towards him.
"Is that necessary?" She asked impassively.
Her words took Ji Hanjun aback. He thought she would be thrilled to hear that they would announce their impending marriage. He assumed she would be over the moon, but the reality differed from what he'd expected.
Feng Suyin looked annoyed and irritated as if the wedding itself was nothing but an inconvenience to him.
Ji Hanjun's smile faltered for a split second, a flicker of annoyance crossing 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, recognizing 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 replied. I feel it isn't the right time for me to get married. I'm behind in my performance at the hospital, and with the research approaching its completion, I can't help but think I don't have enough time to do everything."