chapter 9 A lingering Heart

Xue Er stepped out of the room, her chest tightening with every step she took away from Ye Fen. The night air was cold, but the turmoil inside her burned hotter than ever. Lin Er, who had been waiting outside, quickly rushed to her side.

"Xue Er, are you okay?" Lin Er asked, concern evident in her eyes.

Xue Er wiped at her damp cheeks, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine. Let's go."

But as they walked away, her heart remained behind, tangled in the embrace of the man she had loved for so long.

Inside the room, Ye Fen stood still, his arms still feeling the warmth of her body. He closed his eyes, frustration and regret gnawing at him. He had hurt her, and he knew that simple words wouldn't heal the wounds he had caused. He had to prove it—prove that she was the one he should have chosen all along.

The next morning, Xue Er found herself restless. She had barely slept, and when the sun finally rose, she decided to go to the riverside, a place where she used to find peace. But peace was the last thing waiting for her.

As she arrived, she saw Ye Fen standing there, his gaze locked on the water. Her heart clenched at the sight of him. Why was he here?

She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her. "Do you really think I never cared?"

Xue Er hesitated but didn't turn around. "You had three years to show me that you did. You never called, never wrote. And now that Roxue is gone, you come back to me?"

Ye Fen exhaled sharply, stepping closer. "I was a coward, Xue Er. I told myself I was doing the right thing, but all I did was run away from my own heart. I thought if I left you alone, you'd forget me and move on."

She clenched her fists, her voice trembling. "And if I had? If I had moved on?"

Ye Fen's hands curled into fists. "Then I would have let you go. Even if it killed me. But tell me, Xue Er—have you? Have you moved on?"

Silence hung between them, heavy and unyielding. Xue Er's lips parted, but no words came. Her heart screamed at her to say yes, to walk away and never look back. But her heart had never been good at lying.

Ye Fen saw the hesitation, the way her body stiffened at his question. He took a step closer. "I won't force you to forgive me. But I need you to know—I'm not going anywhere this time."

Xue Er looked at him then, her eyes filled with unspoken pain and longing. She didn't know if she could trust him again. But a part of her, deep down, wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, this time, he wouldn't leave her behind.

The river continued to flow, just like time, carrying away the past but never truly erasing it. And as the wind carried their unsaid words between them, one thing was certain—this was far from over.

That evening, Xue Er sat alone in her room, staring at the candlelight flickering against the wall. Lin Er had tried to get her to talk, but she had dismissed her with a tired smile. How could she explain the storm inside her? The ache in her chest refused to fade, no matter how much she tried to bury it.

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. She hesitated before getting up and opening it, only to find a servant standing there, holding a small wooden box.

"Miss Xue Er, this was left for you."

She took the box, confusion furrowing her brows. After the servant left, she carefully lifted the lid. Inside was a delicate jade hairpin—one she recognized instantly. Her breath caught in her throat.

It was the one Ye Fen had given her years ago, before everything fell apart.

Her fingers trembled as she traced the smooth surface. Why had he kept it all this time? Why now? Her mind raced with unanswered questions. Was this his way of reminding her of what they once had? Or was it an apology wrapped in nostalgia?

Before she could think further, another knock sounded at her door. This time, it was Lin Er. "Ye Fen is outside. He wants to see you."

Xue Er's heart pounded. She looked at the hairpin once more before closing the box. She wasn't ready. Not yet.

"Tell him… tell him I'm sleeping."

Lin Er frowned but nodded, stepping away. As Ye Fen's sister, she understood the complicated emotions between them. She had watched her brother make mistakes, and she had watched Xue Er suffer because of them.

Xue Er sank onto her bed, gripping the wooden box tightly. She wasn't sure what hurt more—the memories of the past or the uncertainty of the future.

Outside, Ye Fen stood beneath the moonlight, waiting. But as the minutes stretched into an hour, he knew she wasn't coming.

He looked down at his hands, the same hands that had once held her so tenderly, the same hands that had let her go.

Not this time.

With a determined breath, he turned and walked away. If she wouldn't see him tonight, then he would try again tomorrow.

And the day after that.

And for as long as it took.

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