Tian Ruyi was quietly looking from Lu Mengjie to Si Hongqi. They were both her friends now. This time, she got a better understanding of the man standing beside her after she heard what Lu Mengjie said. Aside from that, she could tell that it was not only Si Hongqi who was having a hard time but also her other friend… Something was going on between them. Anyone could tell.

"Like what you have said earlier, we can't change what already happened," Tian Ruyi interrupted.

She held Si Hongqi's hand before she dragged him towards the other woman. She reached out and grabbed Lu Mengjie's hand as well. "Regrets are pointless now. All you can do is look forward."

Both Lu Mengjie and Si Hongqi ended up looking at her who was now gazing down at their hands as she brought them together. Tian Ruyi became quiet for a second, it was as if she was contemplating speaking out the rest of the words she had in mind.

"Yiyi…"

"You guys need to talk with each other about your feelings..." She looked at Si Hongqi and smiled a bit. She felt a prick in her chest, the strange ache brought a heaviness to her body. She felt a lump in her throat that gave her a hard time speaking up the next words. She gulped down the saliva in her mouth and tried to continue, "You… you have to be honest, Si Hongqi. It's… it's not good to hold back. You told me that you've been keeping them for years but now… You have to speak out."

Tian Ruyi finally released their hands. "And Mengjie… as your friend, I think you should also be honest with yourself too. You need to stop lying to yourself. It's what brought you to this situation, right? I know that both of you are important to each other… if you want to take the first step to move on, then I think you two need to be true to yourselves. I'll… be outside." She stomped her way out of the room to give them some privacy.,

After Tian Ruyi left the two by themselves, Lu Mengjie didn't know what to say afterward. Her mind was filled with her worries about the people behind the attack and protecting her family. That's why it took time for her to process what Tian Ruyi just said.

"You already knew about my feelings…" Si Hongqi started. "Before you were taken away."

Lu Mengjie averted her gaze from him. Yes, she already knew that was why she wanted him to find someone who deserves him.

"Would you still choose him back then if… you weren't taken away?" Si Hongqi inquired as he continued to stare down at her.

"I would have chosen you, Si Hongqi." She arched her neck to meet his gaze. "But there are no 'what ifs' now. I have a husband and a son. I love them both so… I can never choose you now."

"Huh…" A faint bitter smile appeared on his lips. Her words were like daggers that stabbed through his heart.

"I… I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you for so many years… For only being able to see my father's shadow and not you…" She sank her nails in her palms as her eyes become glossy. "I'm sorry for giving you a hard time all these years, gege…" Even after all the pain she caused him, she realized that he was one of those people who remained loyal to her, who tried to protect her. She felt terrible for even doubting him when she shouldn't have. Han Xukun and Si Hongqi were some of the few who would never betray her.

He heaved out an exhausted sigh. He took a step towards her, then another until he finally stood in front of her. "Don't cry…" He reached out and gently pulled her into a hug. "Even if… you will never choose me, I'll always be here for you…"

"But Si Hongqi… I want you to be happy… You deserve better…" She whispered as she buried her face on his shoulder. "I… I can never love you back…"

"I know. I'm not asking you to love me back, Mengjie…" he gently patted her back. For some reason, he wasn't feeling so affected as much as he had back then. Was it because he had already poured out everything to Tian Ruyi last night in the KTV bar? "I'm only asking you to allow me to be by your side… even if it's only as your friend. Anything will do… if one day, I fall in love with someone else, then so be it... But you're always going to be my priority."

Si Hongqi could feel the shoulder part of his shirt getting wet. He could also hear the soft sobs coming from her so he tightened his embrace around her to comfort her.

"Y-you... have to make that lover of yours your priority you know!" She looked at him with her teary gaze. "I... I have someone who can protect me..." She sniffled. "Who do you think will protect her? Even if you deserve better than this, Yiyi deserves the best!"

"Huh?"

"You... You don't need to make me happy... I have my husband to do that for me! He can protect me... You only have to focus on your lover! You better give the best to Yiyi!"

Si Hongqi finally loosened his hug around her. A crease ended up forming between his brows as he denied, "Tian Ruyi is not my lover."

Lu Mengjie brushed off the tears from her face and glared at him with her red eyes. "Then go make her your lover! You said that you want to make me happy, right? I'll be the happiest person in the world if I see you having a lovely relationship with Yiyi! She's smart, beautiful, lovely, and warm!"

"..."

He could only sigh inwardly. This was the Lu Mengjie he knew alright. She effortlessly shifted the heavy atmosphere around them and lighten it up.

"But really, I'm serious, gege… I want to see you happy as well… Even if it's not Yiyi… as long as you can love someone again... I was once blinded by my father's shadow that I saw in you, gege... I don't want you to be blinded by me."