The moonlight bathed the courtyard in pale silver, but Ye Fen's heart was far from calm. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, staring at the night sky as if it held the answers to the storm inside him.
Dinner had been warm, filled with laughter and forgiveness, but once he was alone again, the voices from earlier returned to him. Chen Roxue's scorn. His parents' disappointment. And now—worst of all—Shen Xuer's cold eyes.
They had met again, after so many years. He had longed for it, dreaded it, and dreamed of it all at once. But instead of joy, her first words had been sharp with hurt.
"You should have told me, Ye Fen. All those years I waited—and you said nothing. Was I so unworthy of the truth?"
Her voice still echoed in his chest. He had no excuse. He had thought distance would protect her, that silence would keep her heart safe. Instead, his silence had wounded her more deeply than he ever imagined.
The door creaked open, pulling him back from his thoughts. Lin'er strolled out, balancing two cups of tea like a waiter from a tavern.
"Here," she said, handing him one. "Before you freeze out here and I have to drag your corpse inside. Do you plan on becoming a ghost poet? 'Oh moon, pity my tragic fate!'" She waved her arms dramatically and made her voice deep and sorrowful.
Ye Fen blinked, then chuckled despite himself. "Do I really look that ridiculous?"
Lin'er tilted her head, pretending to inspect him like a piece of art. "Ridiculous? Hmm… not quite. More like dramatic. You've got the pose perfect—standing stiff as a statue, glaring at the sky, hoping the stars will write you a love letter."
Ye Fen shook his head. "You truly don't know how to be serious, do you?"
"Seriousness is for boring people," she replied, sipping her tea. "Besides, if I don't make fun of you, you'll just sink deeper into your own thoughts. Someone has to drag you back."
Ye Fen smiled faintly. "You always did ruin my sulks."
"Of course," Lin'er said proudly. "That's the sacred duty of a younger sister: ruin sulks, steal snacks, and keep older brothers from turning into statues."
They both laughed softly. For a moment, the heaviness in his chest eased.
But then Shen Xuer's face returned to his mind, and the smile faded. His grip tightened on the tea cup.
Lin'er noticed immediately. She leaned against the railing, her eyes flicking toward him. "Thinking about her?"
He didn't answer, but his silence was enough.
Lin'er sighed and poked his arm. "Brother, don't look so stiff. She's mad at you—of course she is. If I disappeared for years without explanation, you'd be furious too."
Ye Fen lowered his head. "I thought… I was protecting her. I thought keeping my distance was the best way. But now I see—I only hurt her."
"Mm." Lin'er tapped her chin thoughtfully. "So you're saying you acted like a fool?"
He gave her a look. "Do you have to put it that way?"
"Yes," she said brightly. "Because sometimes the truth needs a little comedy to make it easier to swallow. You were a fool, Brother. But the good news is, fools can learn. And if Shen Xuer really cares for you, she'll see that you've changed."
Ye Fen exhaled slowly. "If she'll even give me the chance."
Lin'er bumped her shoulder lightly against his. "Then make her. Not by forcing her, but by proving yourself. She's mad now, but anger comes from caring. If she didn't care, she wouldn't bother being upset at all."
Her words sank deep into him. For all her joking, Lin'er often struck at the truth sharper than anyone else.
"Lin'er…" he began, his voice low.
She cut him off with a grin. "Don't get sentimental. Just promise me one thing—when you finally win her over, and you're busy being rich, powerful, and terrifying… don't forget to buy your dear sister a new wardrobe. Or three. Actually, five wardrobes."
Ye Fen let out a laugh, the sound echoing through the quiet courtyard. "Five? You'll bankrupt me."
"Ha! As if. You're Ye Fen," Lin'er said smugly. "The richest man's son. You can afford it."
They shared another laugh, softer this time, but genuine.
As Lin'er stretched and yawned theatrically, heading back inside, she called over her shoulder, "Don't stay out too long, Brother. If you catch a cold, Shen Xuer will just scold you more. And honestly… you deserve it."
Ye Fen watched her disappear through the door, warmth spreading in his chest despite the weight of his regrets. Alone again, he lifted his gaze to the stars.
"Shen Xuer," he whispered. "I was blind before. But I'll prove to you that my heart was always yours."
His vow floated into the night, silent but firm, as the first true step of his redemption began