Zhan raised his gaze to find Ziyi standing at the entrance of his room. The moment she caught sight of his expression, the smile that had adorned her lips vanished. Her brows furrowed in concern as she stepped inside.
"No skilled artist could paint the sorrow on your face. What's wrong?"
"I just talked to Dad, he was quite furious. He demanded that I fly back home right away. He was not pleased with my official engagement to Yibo..." With a heavy sigh, Ziyi sat down on the edge of his bed.
"I know sooner or later I will face the wrath of my parents, Zhan," Ziyi said in a confused tone. "Especially Mama. However, the deed is done. And though I am relieved to have escaped the commitment made between my parents and Yibo's parent, I am still confused as to why Yibo announced that you are his fiancé. How did it happen?"
"I-I begged him to let you go. That it was Zhoucheng you love, and you were only here because your parents forced you." He leaned against the headboard and hugged a pillow. "Yibo agreed on the condition that—"
"You took my place as his betrothed," Ziyi added shaking his head. "I am so sorry, Zhan, because of me you got into this difficult situation..."
Zhan faced his cousin, grasping her hands gently. "Don't worry about me, Ziyi. What's important is that you're free from Aunt Linran's manipulation. Your life with Zhoucheng will be filled with happiness, just like—" Wangyin and Wen Qing, he was about to say but stopped on time. "As it should happen."
"But why do you have to sacrifice yourself?"
Zhan smiled at his cousin. "Do you think having Yibo as a fiancé is a sacrifice? You've got to be kidding..."
Ziyi raised her eyebrows, and her eyes widened slightly. "Y- you're attracted to him!"
"Kind of," he responded with a slight shrug, accompanied by a sigh and a worried smile. He frowned and hugged the pillow tighter. Memories of what happened to them in the guest room last night flooded back to him. "Oh, honestly, it is beyond a simple attraction. I am bewildered by my feelings for him, Ziyi. Words fail to convey the depth of my emotions. But don't think that I helped you because of my personal feelings," he said worriedly as he gazed at his cousin.
Ziyi smiled. "Silly you. Why would I think that? Besides, from the moment Yibo brought you here, it was evident to me that he had been paying you unusual interest. And I have also seen the way he gazes at you when you are not looking. You are the same with him. In short, my dear cousin, you are both attracted to each other."
"I admit the strange feelings Yibo evokes in me. I've never felt like this before, Ziyi... But he puzzles me. I don't know why he made that announcement..."
"I am confident that he felt a mutual attraction towards you. All I'm worried about is whether Yibo is serious about your engagement. And I am worried about you, just in case. You might get hurt if-"
"Don't worry about me. I can handle my feelings for him," Zhan replied, pausing to reflect. Can he truly manage his feelings regarding Yibo?
Zhan sighed and stared at his cousin. "You, how about you and Zhoucheng, what are your plans?" he changed the subject.
"We need to leave the island as soon as possible, Zhan," she expressed, her voice tinged with gratitude towards her cousin. "Zhoucheng insists that we leave without delay to prevent my parents from finding us. We can't be married until I reach the appropriate age. And my mother was so set that I married Yibo. And now that what she wanted didn't happen. We are uncertain what she will do next..." said Ziyi worriedly.
Zhan nodded in agreement. Ziyi would soon turn twenty, while he himself would be reaching twenty-one shortly thereafter. Both of them are still considered minors. And his cousin was right, if her parents decide to take her back, there's nothing anyone can do. In such a scenario, all their efforts would be in vain.
"I'm going to talk to Yibo now, Ziyi. I will convey to him that you wish to leave. Uncle Quiren is coming back to Beijing later. You can go with the chopper."
"Without you, I don't know what would happen to me... to Zhoucheng and I," said Ziyi.
Zhan smiled, unable to disclose to his cousin that she likely would not end up with Yibo, even if Zhan refrained from intervening. Yibo admits that he has no love for Ziyi. And he feels that Yibo is not the type to be forced into something he doesn't like.
He paused to collect his thoughts at that realization. If Yibo doesn't like Ziyi, then there could be no announcement of his engagement with his cousin!
And he doesn't have to replace Ziyi. But why did Yibo make the announcement? Did Yibo use him to avoid his engagement with Ziyi or will he believe his cousin that Yibo is also attracted to him?
He sighed heavily. "Ziyi, return to your room. I will find Yibo, and we will discuss this matter."
"Thank you, but don't you think we should raid the kitchen first? It's almost two in the afternoon. What about a late lunch?" asked Ziyi, glancing at the clock on the night table.
"Get dressed and eat first. I wish to speak with Yibo immediately," Zhan replied.
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