Feng Ran looked at the person before her, who regarded her with a confused expression. The unfamiliarity in his eyes was not feigned.
He seemed to genuinely not recognize her.
"Feng Jin..." Feng Ran called out dazedly. Although she had heard his answer clearly just moments ago, she couldn't help but ask again, needing to confirm.
As Feng Ran stepped forward to grasp Feng Jin's hand, her eyes widened in terror upon seeing the man standing behind him.
Bang. Her mind went blank.
Feng Ran turned and left.
The man before her frowned, reaching out to grab Feng Ran's hand. But upon meeting Feng Ran's hostile gaze, he slowly withdrew his hand.
He bowed to Feng Ran, speaking with polite deference, "Miss, you seemed to recognize me just now. Is that correct?"
The man looked up, fixing his gaze on Feng Ran. He seemed to have many more words to say, yet hesitated, as if afraid of frightening her, and moderated his demeanor slightly.
"Miss, do you know me?"
Feng Ran looked at the man before her in surprise. She hesitated, even wondering if she had mistaken him for someone else.
Her gaze then fell upon the birthmark on the man's neck. Seeing it, Feng Ran was certain she hadn't mistaken him.
Yet, the man's gaze clearly indicated he did not know her.
"Miss, it appears you truly do recognize me. If you didn't, you wouldn't know my name."
"Miss, I..."
"Shut up, don't speak," Feng Ran finally lost her composure and cried out loudly.
"Miss, you recognize me, don't you? Then can you tell me, do I still have family?"
Do I still have family?
Feng Ran was certain the person before her had completely forgotten her.
The once fair-skinned child, who used to follow her around, sweetly calling her "Jiejie," had grown up and forgotten her.
Seeing Feng Jin now, living so well, she felt it was best not to reveal herself to him.
Her existence would only bring him shame.
Feng Ran thought for a long time, and finally, as if a decision had been made, she looked up, a smile gracing her lips as she faced him. She smiled, a smile of extraordinary charm. She waved the handkerchief in her hand, letting it fall onto his face, and said with a laugh, "Sir, I was just speaking casually. You don't actually believe me, do you?"
"Heh, sir, how could someone as lowly as I know you?"
"Sir, have you come here looking for someone to serve you? Sir, what do you think of me?"
"You... you... how can you say such shameless things?"
"I did not come here to..."
"Then please, sir, move aside and do not block my path." Feng Ran said calmly, "Sir, this is not a good place, and it would be best for you to leave."
If she could, Feng Ran wished she could embrace Feng Jin right then and have a good talk with him.
To ask him all that was in his heart. But the appearance of Xuanyuan Heng made her instantly calm down.
She wanted to know what had happened to him over the years.
Feng Ran yearned to ask, her eyes reddening.
However, her gaze fell on Xuanyuan Heng not far away, and her expression shifted. After a long pause, she spoke, "Sir, I must have mistaken you. Someone as lowly as I could never know someone like you."
As Feng Ran prepared to leave, Xuanyuan Heng, who had walked over, blocked her path.
She looked up at Xuanyuan Heng with confusion, a sense of unease stirring within her. But she couldn't shake off Xuanyuan Heng's hand, so she could only bow and say softly, "Regent, I'm afraid I cannot serve you. Today, I am to attend to a guest from the Heaven-tier room."
"If the Regent requires my service, perhaps it will have to wait for another time."
Upon hearing Feng Ran's words, the Regent did not get angry but instead let out a loud laugh, "Is that so?"
"What if I were to say that the guest from the Heaven-tier room is me, what would you think?"
Feng Ran's smile vanished instantly. Xuanyuan Heng had said he was the Heaven-tier guest. The hand she held by her side clenched tightly, her entire body trembling.
Feng Ran could barely believe what she was hearing, staring blankly at Xuanyuan Heng, "Regent, is what you just said true?"
"Feng Jin, come and tell this young lady whether what I said is true or false?"
"Miss, the Heaven-tier room is indeed where we are going," Feng Jin said earnestly. After a moment's thought about their previous conversation, Feng Jin's face broke into a smile. "Miss, our fate is truly deep. We are going to the same place."
To the same place?
"Heh, Feng Jin, remember, she is going to serve someone."
"Feng Jin, do not pity these people. Their misfortune in ending up here is due to their low fate."
Feng Ran's hands clenched tightly, digging into her palms, causing her sharp pain.
She desperately wanted to scream out, "No, I am not such a person!"
She looked up and met Feng Jin's gaze of disgust and wariness. Feng Ran felt a chill from head to toe.
As Feng Jin was about to say more, Xuanyuan Heng said coldly, "Feng Jin, remember, we have important matters to attend to here today."
"If a mere individual can unsettle you to this extent, then Feng Jin, to me, you are as useless as a cripple."
"I never keep useless people by my side."
Feng Jin's steps faltered, and he stopped advancing. He stood rooted to the spot, watching Feng Ran being humiliated.
Although he didn't recognize the person before him, listening to her being insulted made his heart ache immensely.
Feng Jin couldn't bear to see it and looked at Xuanyuan Heng, speaking softly, "Your Highness, she has done nothing wrong. Please don't make things difficult for her anymore. To fall into such a state, she must have had a tragic experience. Why should we add to her suffering?"
Feng Ran was certain the person before her was her brother, Feng Jin. But why had Feng Jin forgotten her, and why was he standing with Xuanyuan Heng? Yet, looking at him, he seemed to be doing quite well.
Because of her, the Feng family had been ruined. Everything that belonged to Feng Jin had been destroyed. Now, she could not ruin Feng Jin as well.
She had made a mistake once, and she could not make another.
"Sir, there are plenty of people who would find me appealing. You are wasting your efforts."
"With your destitute status, I wouldn't even spare you a second glance."
Feng Ran glared at Feng Jin fiercely and said, "I don't need you to speak up for me."
"Let me tell you, those who want to please me are not you. I look down on you."
"From now on, do not presume to speak for me."
"Your actions are not helping me, but harming me."
After speaking, Feng Ran walked forward directly.
Her only thought now was to escape this place.
At this moment, Xuanyuan Heng, who had been standing silently by the side, smiled, a gleam of amusement in his eyes.