Feng Suyin started sorting out her finances, ensuring she could stand independently once the Feng family turned their back on her. By now, she knew well that Li Xinlian would throw a fit once she found out she wished to delay her wedding with Ji Hanjun. She also knew the news would greatly please Feng Yilan, but Feng Suyin didn't care anymore.
The weight of familial expectations and obligations that had bound her for so long felt less suffocating now, replaced by a newfound determination to change the course of her life.
She sat at her desk, meticulously reviewing each detail of her financial accounts, the light from her computer monitor casting flickering shadows on the walls around her. Her mind was consumed with conflicting emotions as she calculated her assets and considered the implications of her decision.
Feng Suyin hadn't touched the allowance her parents gave her since high school. She tried to earn money discreetly while keeping up with the facade that she was the pampered adopted daughter of the wealthy Feng family. While her younger sister, Feng Yilan, basked in the attention everyone was giving her, Feng Suyin sacrificed her own desires for the sake of family peace. She tried her best not to compete with Feng Yilan for attention.
She closed her eyes briefly, trying to steady her racing thoughts. In the stillness of the room, memories of past arguments with Li Xinlian and veiled threats from Feng Yilan resurfaced, gnawing at the fraying edges of her resolve. Even with her eyes closed, Feng Suyin could still remember clearly Feng Yilan and Ji Hanjun's faces as she slowly died in her past life.
Whenever she thought about it, a chilling shiver ran down her spine. Feng Suyin's heart clenched with sorrow and anger, remembering the betrayal that had cost her everything. She took a deep breath, steeling herself against the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
As the memories faded into the recesses of her mind, Feng Suyin reopened her eyes, focusing on the task at hand. The next morning, she had an appointment with Xia Lingling, Jiang Yunyi, and Alex Xia, and she was eager to start her plan to reveal Feng Yilan's true face to the public.
The following day, Feng Suyin arrived at the quaint café where she had arranged to meet Xia Lingling, Jiang Yunyi, and Alex Xia. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the sound of quiet chatter, creating a comforting ambiance that eased her nerves.
Xia Lingling was the first to spot Feng Suyin, her welcoming smile lighting up her face as she waved her over to their table. Jiang Yunyi and Alex Xia looked up from their conversation, curiosity flickering in their eyes as Feng Suyin took her seat.
"I'm surprised you managed to arrive in time." Xia Lingling teased Feng Suyin with a grin, while Jiang Yunyi laughed beside her.
Feng Suyin tried her best not to roll her eyes, but she knew she had no excuse for that. She always came late or never showed up whenever they had an arrangement, but not this time. Feng Suyin couldn't afford any delays; her plan required meticulous timing and commitment. She was determined to set things right for herself and the ones she cared about.
"Have you started without me?" she asked in return, giving Jiang Yunyi a curious look.
Jiang Yunyi gave her a slight nod and said, "I already gave Mr. Xia the details he might need."
She looked uncomfortable in her seat, but Feng Suyin could see the resolve in her friend's face. Jiang Yunyi was determined to find the root cause of her marriage problem. Feng Suyin could only hope her friend could keep her composure once the truth about her husband's betrayal was revealed.
"What about you, Suyin? Have you made up your mind?" Xia Lingling asked; her earlier cheerful reaction was now replaced with worry.
"I just need an unrefutably reason why I shouldn't marry Ji Hanjun," Feng Suyin started. "At the same time, I want to reveal his affair with Yilan."
Jiang Yunyi's eyes widened, while Xia Lingling frowned. Alex Xia remained silent, his golden brown hair and warm brown eyes betraying a quiet observance.
Feng Suyin took a deep breath, her gaze steady as she met the eyes of each of her companions.
"My parents surely wouldn't forgive me after this." She sighed.
Xia Lingling scoffed, "I suspect they are also aware of your boyfriend and your sister's affair and just tolerating it."
Feng Suyin smiled, but her fists were clenched tightly under the table while trying to maintain her composure. If she wavered now, she did not doubt she would receive the same end in this lifetime. To avoid death, Feng Suyin knew she needed to move forward with her plan, no matter the cost.
"You have to be careful, Alex," she told Xia Lingling's cousin. "If my parents found out I'm digging dirt on the family, they won't hesitate to remove you from the equation.
Alex Xia nodded silently, and he clearly understood what Feng Suyin was implying. Now that Feng Xian had established himself as the newest mayor of Longyu City, it would be a dangerous game to play. The power and influence of the Feng family had started to extend far and wide. Alex knew that helping Feng Suyin could potentially endanger his life, but he was determined to support her.
"I'll see what I can do to help you, Miss Feng," Alex said calmly, firmly. "But we have to tread carefully. Exposing the truth between Ji Hanjun and your sister would earn the ire of the entire Feng family. Are you sure you want to proceed?"
Feng Suyin nodded. She knew the risks involved but had reached a point of no return. She could sense the gravity of their conversation, knowing that her chosen path would be fraught with challenges and consequences.
"I have thought long and hard about this," Feng Suyin began, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions raging inside her. "I cannot continue to live a lie, to pretend like everything is fine. I also want to live my life on my terms and not for others."
Xia Lingling and Jiang Yunyi nodded in agreement. They had been friends with Feng Suyin for a long time and knew about her inner struggles within the Feng family. Everything Feng Suyin was always for the Feng family, not for herself. However, now that it was clear to her that the Feng family only saw her as a mere pawn in their games, both Xia Lingling and Jiang Yunyi were relieved that Feng Suyin had finally decided to take control of her own life.