Behind the inn was the swift Grand Canal, its turbid waves churning. Occasionally, burning pieces of charred wood fell into the water, extinguished before they could even produce smoke, and were quickly swept away by the current.

Yixiao roughly wiped her face with her sleeve, straining to open her eyes which were red and tearing from the smoke and fire. She urgently asked, “Are we jumping into the canal?”

Feng Suige chuckled softly, “Yes, and—” He held Yixiao firmly at his side. “I can’t swim. If you can, it’s time to repay me for saving your life!”

Before Yixiao could even finish shouting “Hey!”, she was propelled forward by an immense force. She only had time to hold her breath before plunging into the icy, murky waters of the canal.

Not daring to let go of her tight grip, Yixiao struggled to surface, managing to drag Feng Suige above water. “Relax your limbs,” Yixiao spat out a mouthful of canal water and said urgently, “I’ve got everything under control.”

With Yixiao’s strength, she could barely keep them both afloat in the rapid current, preventing them from being separated. It was the summer flood season, and in an instant, they had been swept far downstream.

Yixiao tread water relentlessly, her arm around Feng Suige’s neck, trying her best to keep his nose and mouth above water as she attempted to reach the high embankment on the shore. However, the swift current repeatedly thwarted her efforts.

“Silly woman,” Feng Suige suddenly muttered, “The canal flow will slow down when we reach the outskirts of the city.” He coughed a couple of times and continued, “For now, save your strength.” Yixiao didn’t respond, but her movements slowed down.

As they continued to drift, the embankment grew lower, the river wider, and the current less rapid. Yixiao made a few powerful strokes towards the shore.

Supporting each other, they stumbled through the shallows onto a rocky beach. Once on dry land, Yixiao felt her limbs go weak. Not caring about the hard pebbles, she collapsed on the ground, relaxing her limbs. Feng Suige, looking equally exhausted, lay down beside her.

After resting for a moment, while Yixiao was still catching her breath, Feng Suige suddenly started laughing. Yixiao turned her head to look at him, seeing his joyful laughter, and couldn’t help but gently kick him. “What are you laughing at?”

Feng Suige lazily rolled over. “Earlier in the water, I was thinking about how I would scold you severely once we reached the shore. But now, for some reason, I can’t bring myself to say a single harsh word.” Yixiao was silent for a moment, then asked softly, “How did you know to come?”

“Ye Duanfang,” Feng Suige said simply, his voice calm. “He thought that identifying the mastermind would only make them more desperate to harm you, so he set up secret lookouts on all the streets surrounding the Prince’s mansion. You were spotted by his men as soon as you appeared.”

Seeing Yixiao’s silence, Feng Suige turned on his side, propping himself up on his elbow, and looked into her eyes earnestly. “Can you tell me who it was, and what reason they gave, that made you sneak to such a place so secretively, even to the point of being oblivious to being locked in a room?”

Yixiao opened her mouth, words almost escaping several times before she swallowed them back. Finally, she sighed, “Why ask like this? You just want to hear me say it myself, but…” “I understand,” Feng Suige’s expression changed, the last glimmer of light in his eyes instantly fading. He seemed to be suppressing a cruel impulse as he said with difficulty, “I understand.”

Yixiao, not yet noticing the change in his expression, said frustratedly, “But I don’t understand how that person knew so much—I just wanted to see him once…”

“And then,” Feng Suige calmly interjected, “continue your tryst with him.”

Yixiao looked up at him in surprise. Feng Suige slowly pushed himself up to a sitting position. “I’ve had enough—you’ve never forgotten Xia Jingshi. No matter how hard I rack my brains to please you, it’s all in vain. I thought you had finally changed your mind, but while I’ve been doting on you and loving you, you’ve been secretly toying with my sincere feelings.”

His sharp words were like a double-edged sword, piercing Yixiao while also causing Feng Suige unbearable pain. Yet he continued numbly, “Now I finally understand. Your heart belongs entirely to Xia Jingshi; there’s no room for anyone else.” He looked up at the somewhat bewildered Fu Yixiao, enunciating each word, “But it’s truly a pity. You think you belong only to him, yet he belongs to Xiyang. He’d rather watch you die than marry you, isn’t that right?”

Yixiao remained silent. His words were too sharp; she couldn’t defend against them. She only felt that the wounds she had painstakingly healed were being mercilessly torn open again. That pain, that coldness, penetrated her bones and invaded her very core…

“I misspoke,” seeing her still silent, Feng Suige laughed coldly again. “You don’t have a heart at all, and you never will. You liar!” As he said this, he grew agitated again, shouting out the last sentence. He forcefully pushed Yixiao down onto the rocky beach and pressed his lips hard against hers.

A salty, metallic taste spread in her mouth with Feng Suige’s invasive kiss—the taste of blood. Yixiao’s eyes gradually darkened. Wasn’t this what was most familiar between them? The never-ending suspicion, the equally stubborn pride. This kind of passion, this kind of love—when would it ever find balance?

At this moment, he was forcefully biting at her neck. The sharp pain, mixed with the disappointment and melancholy in her heart, made her close her eyes. She said softly, “Since you already know so clearly, why not be magnanimous and let me go?” Perhaps this was punishment for her past neglect of his sincere feelings, punishment for not cherishing every bit of emotion he had entrusted to her.

“Let you go?” Feng Suige’s voice was full of barely suppressed resentment. “Are you so eager to return to his side?” “Yes,” Yixiao sighed inwardly, but her words remained calm, “Just as you said, I’m a poisonous flower. Once my blooming season is over, no matter how hard you try, I won’t bloom again.”

A fleeting look of utter brokenness passed through his eyes. Releasing Yixiao, Feng Suige rolled over and sat up. “You always say I broke the rules of the game,” he said with a bitter smile. “Maybe that’s true. Fine, the game ends here. You can go!”

“Alright,” Yixiao slowly stood up. She fumbled in her pocket and pulled out a soaked handkerchief, offering it to him. “For the wound on your forehead. Wrap it with this for now.”

“Keep your kindness to yourself,” he snapped, angrily swatting her hand away. Feng Suige’s response was simple and calm. His fingers, still covered in coarse sand, slowly traced over the wound that had turned pale from the water. The pain brought a slight sense of vindictive pleasure. “A scar in exchange for a truth—it seems worth it.”

Yixiao sighed and said softly, “Take care of yourself.” She turned gracefully and began walking towards the main road. Feng Suige forced himself to stand, watching her retreating figure with a cold smile. The pain slowly, layer by layer, pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe. It was like sinking into deep water, descending into despair and numbness.

“Feng Suige!” Suddenly, Fu Yixiao ran back, grabbing hold of him. “What’s wrong with you?” “It’s none of your business!!!” he growled, trying to shake off her supporting hand. Before losing consciousness, he heard Fu Yixiao calling out in panic, “Feng Suige? Feng Suige!”

Stop calling, he thought. You don’t love me at all.