After finishing her meal, Feng Suyin bid Ji Yuzhe goodbye and apologized for her actions last night. Ji Yuzhe said nothing. She hadn't expected him to. She turned to leave and thanked Uncle Jia for hailing a cab for her.
As the cab pulled away from the curb, Feng Suyin watched the scenery blur past her window. The words she had spoken to Ji Yuzhe last night replayed in her mind. Even though he insisted she wasn't responsible for his condition, she wanted to help him regain his eyesight. She also knew she had hurt him. She wished she could take it all back.
Lost in her thoughts, Feng Suyin didn't realize when the cab stopped in front of her apartment building. She paid the driver absentmindedly and made her way inside, the events of the evening replaying in her mind like a broken record.
Then she stopped.
Feng Yilan stood outside her door.
Feng Suyin kept her expression neutral despite the simmering rage inside. Feng Yilan had no idea that Feng Suyin knew about her affair with Ji Hanjun.
"Sis!" Feng Yilan beamed at her with a bright smile. She went to Feng Suyin's side and hooked her arm through hers.
"Where have you been? Brother Jun and I have been calling you since last night, but neither of us could reach you. Don't you know how worried we were about you?" Feng Yilan's voice carried a fake concern that grated on Feng Suyin's nerves.
In the past, Feng Suyin had thought their relationship had improved. That Feng Yilan had finally accepted her as her sister. Who knew it was all a facade to make a fool of her?
Feng Suyin forced a tight smile, her eyes narrowing. She could feel the anger bubbling inside her, threatening to spill over. But she also knew she had to stay calm. For now.
"You went missing last night. If I hadn't asked the store attendants, I wouldn't have known you ditched me." Feng Yilan pouted. "I was worried, you know."
Feng Suyin's eyes flashed cold. Her sister didn't see it.
Worried? She thought. Feng Yilan was so busy making out with Ji Hanjun that she didn't even notice they'd been caught. Feng Suyin had no doubt that the cheating couple had thrown her to the back of their minds.
She sneered inwardly. She removed her arm from Feng Yilan's grasp.
"I had to leave. Xia Lingling called me and needed help. I didn't realize I needed to report my every move to you."
Feng Yilan's smile faltered, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Oh, well, we were just worried, that's all."
Feng Suyin clenched her jaw, her fists tightening at her sides. She couldn't stand the sight of her sister standing there, pretending everything was fine.
"Well, thank you for your concern," Feng Suyin said through gritted teeth. "But I'm really in a hurry. My shift starts in an hour. Let's talk later. I need to get ready."
She brushed past her sister. Feng Yilan grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Suyin, what's going on? Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?"
"Did you?" Feng Suyin's eyes were cold and calculating.
Feng Yilan was taken aback, surprised by her sister's sudden demeanor. She could feel that Feng Suyin wasn't in a good mood. She seemed angry. Feng Yilan wondered if her sister knew anything.
She hesitated, unsure how to respond to that piercing gaze. Something about the way Feng Suyin looked at her made her uneasy. Almost as if she could see through all of Feng Yilan's carefully constructed lies.
Swallowing nervously, Feng Yilan tried to maintain her innocent facade.
"Suyin, I don't know what you're talking about." She feigned confusion. "I've been worried about you, that's all. Are you still nervous about your wedding? Is that why you never picked up our calls last night?"
But Feng Suyin could see right through it. The way her eyes darted away for a split second. The slight tremble in her voice. All the confirmation she needed.
She felt anger at the blatant lies spewing from Feng Yilan's mouth. She had lived in her sister's shadow for too long. Endured her manipulation and deceit. Feng Yilan and their family had made a fool of her.
"I have no time for this." She pulled her arm free, intending to end the conversation. She had given Feng Yilan a chance. But Feng Suyin thought she was a fool for believing the Feng family was ever truly concerned about her.
Feng Yilan refused to give up.
"Sis, tell me what I did. I promise to make it right." Her voice tinged with desperation.
"Don't worry about it." Feng Suyin brushed her off. "Is there a reason why you are here?"
Feng Yilan looked wronged and bit her lip. In the past, Feng Suyin would have felt bad for her. But knowing the truth, she felt no sympathy. She had been treated as her sister. In this world, there were two types of people—those who played their part well, like Feng Suyin, and those who hid behind a mask, like Feng Yilan.
Since Feng Yilan cared so much about her reputation, Feng Suyin would hit her where it truly hurt.
She would never forgive this woman. She would ruin her. Just as Feng Yilan had done to her in her past life.
"Mom said you should come home for the banquet. She wanted to ensure that everyone would see our Feng family united as one."
Feng Suyin's blood ran cold at the mention of their mother.
She knew all too well how manipulative and cunning their mother could be. This was just another ploy to maintain their facade of a perfect family—regardless of the secrets and lies that festered beneath the surface.
For a fleeting moment, she considered not playing along. She didn't want to keep up appearances for the sake of their family's reputation. But then she remembered. She needed to understand the Feng family's standing in society.
Their father had recently secured the position of mayor of Longyu City. Feng Suyin had no doubt he wanted to solidify their influence even further by showing a united front at the upcoming banquet. As much as she despised playing a part in their twisted games, she knew she had to bide her time. Play along for now.
It was the only way she could gather the information she needed. Eventually, she would bring down the facade of the Feng family.
With a forced smile, Feng Suyin nodded.
"Of course, I'll be there tomorrow. Anything for the family." Her voice laced with false sweetness.
Behind her back, her fingers brushed against her phone in her pocket.
The recording was still there.
Waiting.