Inside the VIP room of a private hospital.
Ye Fanxing lay on the hospital bed, casually scrolling through her phone, an IV drip attached to the back of her left hand.
Though her allergic reaction wasn't severe, she had deliberately come to the hospital and stayed for two days to receive treatment. The rash on her hands and body had gradually faded away.
Sitting by her bedside, Ji Yunchuan set down a fruit knife and handed her a freshly peeled apple. "Here, have some."
"Thanks," Ye Fanxing replied, taking the apple while her attention remained glued to her phone's Weibo feed.
All the buzz from yesterday's socialite gala revolved around her allergic incident.
That Leon, who had just won the Newcomer Perfumer Award, had hit a career roadblock after her reaction. It seemed unlikely that he would have much of a future in the fragrance industry now.
She scrolled through the news with great interest, clearly enjoying herself.
Ji Yunchuan, after hesitating for quite some time, finally spoke up. "Fanxing, was it really worth it to harm yourself just to target a rookie perfumer?"
"And now even you think I did this on purpose to target her? Do I, Ye Fanxing, look so bored to you that I'd waste time on some nobody?" Ye Fanxing tossed the apple aside, looking at Ji Yunchuan with disappointment.
The last person who should be questioning her motives was Ji Yunchuan—especially over an insignificant woman.
"She's not just some nobody. She's Hannan's wife. That's why you're targeting her," Ji Yunchuan said sternly, deciding to speak the truth.
He had been grappling with this for a while, unsure whether or not to reveal his thoughts. After all, he had loved this woman for many years.
He knew she didn't love him, so he had always masked his feelings with a flirtatious facade.
But deep down, he was a man whose values followed his heart, and he couldn't tolerate deceit—especially not when it involved the woman he loved.
In his eyes, Ye Fanxing was perfect, kind, and pure. She shouldn't have become this—someone consumed by jealousy.
Ye Fanxing's eyes turned cold, gazing at Ji Yunchuan as if he were a stranger. "Yunchuan, what are you implying?"
Her voice carried a hint of anger and defensiveness.
"You've had feelings for Hannan for a long time. He's an exceptional man, so it's no surprise you'd be attracted to him. I'm not upset about losing to him. But what I can't accept is you stooping so low, hurting others and staining your own integrity in the process."
Ji Yunchuan's firm sense of morality demanded that he stop Ye Fanxing from continuing down this path.
He wanted to pull her back from the edge, to steer her back toward what was right.
"Ji Yunchuan! Do you even know what you're saying? When did I ever say I liked Fu Hannan? And you—always out there flirting with other women—are you really going to stand here and tell me you like me?" Ye Fanxing shouted, her anger a deliberate mask.
Ji Yunchuan let out a bitter laugh. "Yes, I like you. I've liked you for ten years. Did you really think the three of us shared nothing but pure friendship all this time?"
Yesterday, when she had intentionally tripped him to prevent him from attending the gala, he had realized just how much of a hindrance he was in her eyes.
But only he knew how much courage it took to finally end this ten-year-long secret crush.
So whether they'd move forward together or part ways for good, it would all depend on what happened after his confession.
Faced with Ji Yunchuan's unexpected declaration of love, Ye Fanxing was momentarily stunned. Then, a faint smile crept across her lips. "Yunchuan, stop joking. How could you possibly like me?"
"And why couldn't I? Am I not good enough for you?" he asked, his voice tinged with sadness.
"That's not what I meant. I've just always thought of you as an older brother. I never considered anything beyond that," Ye Fanxing said, twisting her fingers nervously, clearly unsettled.
She didn't want to accept Ji Yunchuan's confession, but she also didn't want to lose him as a friend.
Over the years, Ji Yunchuan had helped her and supported her in countless ways.