Ji Yuzhe fell silent, his heart pounding with hope and anxiety. During the graduation party at the Feng mansion, he mustered all his courage to confess his feelings to Feng Suyin. He had rehearsed his speech countless times in his head, eager to convey his feelings to the woman who had captured his heart.
He had sent a bouquet of white roses to Feng Suyin, but when he went to the Feng mansion to see her, he found Feng Yilan was holding the flowers and was about to get rid of them.
Ji Yuzhe confronted Feng Yilan, questioning why she was holding the flowers he intended to gift to Feng Suyin for finishing medical school. Feng Yilan's eyes narrowed as she looked at Ji Yuzhe, her grip tightening on the bouquet of white roses.
"Why do you care so much about who receives these flowers?" she asked, a hint of malice lacing her words.
Ji Yuzhe stood his ground, his heart pounding with nerves and determination.
"Because those flowers are for Feng Suyin," he replied, his voice steady despite their tension.
Feng Yilan's gaze flickered momentarily before a sly smile curved her lips.
"Oh, Feng Suyin," she drawled, emphasizing each word as if savoring a secret. "I'm afraid you're a little too late, Ji Yuzhe. Feng Suyin is no longer here. She left with your brother. Our parents have given them their blessing to date. Besides, why would she want to date someone like you?"
Feng Yilan smiled mockingly.
"Don't you know my sister hated you for stealing the spotlight from her at medical school? She resented the way you always seemed to outshine her in every way," she continued, her words cutting through Ji Yuzhe like a knife.
Ji Yuzhe felt his world shatter around him as he struggled to comprehend the scene unfolding before his eyes. The woman he loved had left with his brother, and now it seemed that even her family was against him.
No, he never meant any harm to her. His mind raced to make sense of the bombshell Feng Yilan had just dropped. Feng Suyin, the woman he cherished and admired, was dating his brother.
He was aware that they were friends, but since when did their relationship turn into something deeper? Was he wrong to assume that he and Feng Suyin were getting along despite their fierce competition in med school?
Ji Yuzhe tried to push down the wave of hurt and confusion threatening to consume him. He clenched his jaw, his hands curling into fists at his sides as he faced Feng Yilan, his eyes searching for any hint of deception in her words.
Feng Yilan watched him closely, enjoying the turmoil evident in his expression. She took a step closer, the scent of the white roses mingling with her perfume and filling the space between them.
"You see, Ji Yuzhe, Feng Suyin was never really interested in you," she said, her voice low and taunting. "It was always your brother she admired, always him she wanted by her side.
She was only pretending to be nice to you out of politeness. But in reality, she couldn't stand the sight of you."
His brother. The realization struck Ji Yuzhe like a lightning bolt. He remembered the countless times Feng Suyin and his brother had spent together, studying late into the night or sharing quiet conversations that seemed to exclude everyone else. How could he have been so blind?
Feng Yilan's laughter echoed around them, grating against Ji Yuzhe's ears as he tried to make sense of the situation. As Feng Yilan's words echoed in his ears, a storm of emotions raged within him.
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he tried to make sense of the situation. He had assumed his brother liked Feng Yilan, so why did Ji Hanjun pursue Feng Suyin instead?
A bitter taste filled his mouth. Was it true? Did Feng Suyin truly harbor such resentment towards him? Had he been so blind to her feelings all this time?
His gaze shifted from Feng Yilan's smug expression to the white roses clutched tightly in her hands. The flowers that were meant to convey his deepest feelings for Feng Suyin now seemed like a bitter mockery of his unrequited love.
Turning away from Feng Yilan, Ji Yuzhe strode purposefully out of the mansion, feeling his heartache with a pain he had never known before. The revelation of Feng Suyin's true feelings, or lack thereof, left him feeling lost and empty.
The stars twinkled above, oblivious to his turmoil, as Ji Yuzhe wandered down the path lined with blooming cherry blossoms. Memories of moments shared with Feng Suyin flickered through his mind like a cruel slideshow, each image now tainted by the knowledge of her supposed facade.
He had been so sure of his love for her, so confident that their connection ran deep. But now, faced with the harsh reality of her indifference, Ji Yuzhe felt a seed of doubt take root in his heart. Was everything between them just a charade? Had he been nothing more than a fool clinging to false hope? The questions echoed in his mind, each one a painful stab to his already wounded heart.
The cool night air did little to soothe the turmoil brewing within him as he made his way to the one place he knew would offer some solace - the old willow tree by the riverbank where he and Feng Suyin used to spend countless hours reading their medical notes far from distractions.
As he reached the familiar spot, Ji Yuzhe sat on a stone bench beneath the willow tree, his hands trembling as he ran them through his hair in frustration. The moon cast a soft glow over the river's rippling waters, its gentle whispers mingling with the rustling of the willow leaves above him.
How could everything have gone so wrong in an instant? As tears threatened to spill from his eyes, Ji Yuzhe clenched his jaw, refusing to let himself break down completely. He was not one to wallow in self-pity, but this blow was almost too much to bear.
However, if Feng Suyin truly loved and hated his brother, Ji Yuzhe could only find solace in the fact that she had found happiness, even if it wasn't with him.