A burning heart became frozen within a second. Anxiety flashed across Xing Lou's eyes for the first time.
He stood up, wanting to say something.
However…
"Grand Tutor, remember I had earlier sought your help to look for someone. I am no saint, but I am resolute in certain matters. I hold only one person in my heart." Ji Fengyan eyed Xing Lou steadfastly as she continued in a cold tone. "I respect your status as the Grand Tutor and remain grateful for your help the previous two times. However, I cannot tolerate your actions today. Thus, please understand, you and I owe each other nothing as of now. Things will remain cordial between us, but there is no longer any need for us to meet again."
Having finished her speech, Ji Fengyan walked out of the room without giving Xing Lou a chance to respond.
Xing Lou stared at the opened door with widened eyes.
Ji Fengyan's every word was like an icicle piercing into his heart, but melting into a cold puddle of water at the point of entry such that he felt a chill rather than a stabbing pain.
Abandoning all notions of pursuit, Xing Lou abruptly sat down on a chair. He dipped his head, propping his forehead in one hand. His tightly wound brows revealed an inscrutable frustration.
She hated Xing Lou but yearned for Liu Huo…
However…
If Xing Lou couldn't have her, Liu Huo… couldn't have her either!
After a long silence, Xing Lou slowly raised his head and vanished from the room!
…
Ji Fengyan left the restaurant in a hurry, her slim figure easily navigating the crowded street.
At this point of time, she only wanted to get as far away from Xing Lou as possible. Best if she never saw him again in this lifetime!
"Damn it."
Despite the cooling wind blowing at her face, it could not dispel the mayhem within Ji Fengyan's heart.
She couldn't deny that she had been slightly moved when Xing Lou's lips touched hers. However, Liu Huo's face floating in her mind's eye had jolted Ji Fengyan to her senses.
Ji Fengyan stopped at a small dark alley, her face feeling hot. She frowned deeply as her thoughts and emotions swirled around in a confused flurry.
"When did I become such a flighty person?"
Ji Fengyan was very troubled. She had always believed that she was the woman who devoted herself to only one man for life.
However…
Today's incident proved otherwise.
Not that she was faithful, but she had never met a strong enough temptation!
She fell into a deep gloom…
In the end, Ji Fengyan didn't actually hate Xing Lou's forwardness. In fact… she didn't even dislike it. And that frightened her.
Because of her positive feelings for Xing Lou, she dared not go near him again.
Ji Fengyan leaned against an icy cold wall along the small alley and raised her head to gaze at the bright moon.
"Liu Huo, your fiance cannot resist temptation any longer if you don't come back soon."
Ji Fengyan continued muttering angrily for a while before walking dejectedly back home. She felt like she needed a nice long nap. After that, she would look over Liu Huo's portrait a hundred times to reaffirm her convictions.
Meanwhile, Ji Fengyan didn't realize her earlier words and actions had all been witnessed by Xing Lou, who had been following her since. He watched her leave the little alley without giving chase. Standing there silently in the shadows, he continued looking toward Ji Fengyan's departing profile.