The table remained silent after Hong Yi's warning to Emma.
But Emma wasn't done.
She forced a sweet laugh, swirling her wine.
"Oh well… speaking of gifts," she said lightly, looking at Xiamen with fake innocence,
"I once heard that long ago, Hong Yi gave you a bracelet, didn't he?"
Xiamen froze.
Hong Yi's eyes slowly lifted.
Emma smiled, satisfied with the tension she created.
"A romantic little bracelet," she continued, "from years ago. Before everything became… messy."
The words pulled Xiamen backward in time—
back to the memory she had buried deep, deep down.
Flashback — When Xiamen Was 8
It was the winter festival.
The sky smelled like snow, and the courtyard was filled with warm lantern light.
Xiamen, just eight year old, bright-eyed and shy, stood wrapped in a white scarf.
She waited by the garden pond, nervous and excited.
Hong Yi appeared from the shadows, a little awkward back then, still growing into his height, but kind-eyed.
He held a small velvet box behind his back.
Xiamen's heart fluttered.
"Hong Yi?" she whispered.
He stepped closer and opened the box.
Inside was a delicate silver bracelet — simple, beautiful, shining like moonlight.
Hong Yi looked nervous.
"Xiamen… will you accept my gift?"
She covered her mouth in surprise, eyes glowing.
"Sure," she said softly. "I… I like it."
He gently held her wrist, ready to clasp it on—
But suddenly—
A hand grabbed Hong Yi's arm roughly.
Xiamen gasped.
Her father stood there, face dark with cold authority.
His grip was tight, painful.
"Hong Yi," he said with a chilling smile, "you want to give something to my daughter?"
Hong Yi swallowed but didn't back down.
"Yes, Uncle. I bought it for her."
Xiamen's father laughed — a cruel, mocking sound.
"You really think you can approach her without my permission?"
He snatched Hong Yi's wrist and twisted it.
Hong Yi winced.
Then Xiamen's father leaned in close, whispering so only Hong Yi could hear:
> "Do you want to change your fate, boy?
One wrong move… and everything you have will end."
He pressed his thumb into Hong Yi's palm.
And when he let go, Hong Yi looked down—
A streak of red smeared the bracelet.
Blood.
Hong Yi's blood.
A warning.
A threat.
A promise of destruction.
Hong Yi's eyes shook — hurt, anger, and helplessness all crashing together.
Xiamen didn't understand.
She only saw Hong Yi's expression change suddenly.
He shoved the bracelet toward her, voice cold.
"Take it."
"H-Hong Yi?" she whispered, frightened.
He didn't meet her eyes.
Didn't give her a smile.
Didn't explain the red stain.
He simply clipped the bracelet onto her wrist and stepped back.
"I need to go."
He walked away without looking back.
Xiamen stood alone under the lantern light, holding the bracelet that was supposed to be sweet…
now stained by the red warning her father gave him.
Her heart broke that night, He leaves without saying a word, without turning back.
Present — Back at the Dinner Table
Xiamen blinked, snapping back to the present.
Her hand subconsciously touched her wrist — the place that once held that bracelet.
Emma noticed and smirked.
"Oh? So it is true. How nostalgic."
Hong Yi's expression darkened.
He remembered everything—the pain, the humiliation, the helplessness of being threatened by the man who controlled their lives.
He stared at Xiamen.
She looked away quickly.
Their past hung between them like shards of broken glass.
Hong Yi's jaw tightened.he want to hear about He wanted to hear how he had brought the bracelet for her. but Xiamen didn't say anything.
"Emma," he said quietly, dangerously,
"leave."
Emma's smile faltered.
"But—"
"Now."
She stood up stiffly and walked out, furious.
Haoyu clung to Xiamen's sleeve, sensing the tension.
Hong Yi looked at Xiamen with emotions he couldn't hide anymore:
Pain.
Regret
And something deeper — something he couldn't name yet.
Finally, he whispered:
"Xiamen… about that bracelet—"
But she stood abruptly, her chair scraping the floor.
"Don't," she said softly, voice trembling.
"Please don't bring the past back."
Hong Yi froze.
Because she looked like she just want to forget everything
And he had no idea how to heal a wound he never meant to cause.
Not then.
Not now.