1am, Skyway Medical Center
"Miss? Do you have an emergency contact we can call?" she asked gently. "Your blood pressure is low. After the check-up, it would be best if someone escorts you home."
Almost instinctively, a name surfaced in her mind.
Zhou Yang.
Her fingers twitched weakly.
Then the voices she had overheard crashed back into her consciousness—I love you, Lan Xin… even if I marry her… she still has value…
Her chest tightened painfully.
Call him?
The man who had just sworn his love to another woman?
The man who had let her stand in the rain believing she was cherished, while he was in someone else's arms?
The nurse waited patiently, her voice gentle but firm. "Miss, I really recommend we contact someone. You're still in shock, and it's not safe for you to be alone tonight."
Yi Han's fingers tightened around the edge of the blanket. She wanted to refuse. Every instinct screamed not to let him be the one called—not after what she had heard, not after the truth had torn through her so mercilessly.
If she went home alone like this… she wasn't sure she would even make it through the door.
Yi Han swallowed hard.
"…You can call him," she said at last, her voice barely above a whisper. "My fiancé."
The word tasted bitter on her tongue.
The nurse nodded with relief. "Alright. What's his name?"
"Zhou Yang," Yi Han replied quietly, turning her face away toward the window so the nurse wouldn't see her eyes glisten. She recited his number from memory—each digit painfully familiar.
As the nurse stepped aside to make the call, Yi Han closed her eyes.
Let him come.
She wanted to see his face.
Wanted to hear what excuse he would give this time.
Wanted to know whether the man who had just sworn his love to another woman could still look her in the eye and pretend nothing was wrong.
Yi Han lay still on the hospital bed, heart pounding—not with hope, but with a fragile, aching resolve..
Yi Han closed her eyes, a tear slipping silently down her temple.
At the same time—
Feng Yan and Chen Xi arrived at Skyway Medical Center, heading straight for the VIP suite on the top floor. The hospital corridor was quiet, the air faintly scented with disinfectant, a stark contrast to the rain-soaked chaos outside earlier that night.
Inside the ward, the doctor finished his assessment and turned to Feng Yan. "Master Feng's condition has stabilized. It was an acute flare-up of an old ailment. We'll keep him under observation for the next few days before considering discharge."
Feng Yan nodded slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Thank you Doctor."
When the doctor left, Feng Yan walked to the bedside. Master Feng lay propped up against the pillows, his face lined deeply with age, yet his eyes lit up the moment he saw his grandson.
"Yan… why did you come?" Master Feng asked, coughing lightly as Chen Xi discreetly stepped back. "I told Chen Xi I was fine. Just an old man's problem. You must be busy."
Feng Yan reached out, clasping his grandfather's wrinkled hand firmly, warmth grounding them both. "Grandpa, don't worry about me. I wanted to see you with my own eyes. Only then can I be at ease."
Master Feng chuckled weakly. "You're still the same… always stubborn." His gaze lingered on Feng Yan's face, filled with concern. "Yan… Grandpa is old. I don't have many years left." He paused, catching his breath. "I know you've already broken up with your ex-girlfriend. My grandson deserves someone better. Someone who can truly stay by your side. I'm sure… you'll find someone you love and marry."
Feng Yan's expression softened. "Grandpa, don't talk like that," he said gently. "You'll live another twenty years at least. As for me—don't worry. Focus on resting and getting better."
He patted Master Feng's hand reassuringly, tucking the blanket more securely around him. Master Feng nodded, reassured by his presence.
"Alright… alright," he murmured. "I'll rest."
Feng Yan waited until his breathing steadied before quietly leaving the ward. As he stepped back into the corridor, his face returned to its usual calm composure—unaware that elsewhere in the same hospital, fate was already setting another thread into motion, one that would soon entangle his life in ways neither he nor Yi Han could yet foresee..
-------
As Feng Yan exited the hospital, raised voices near the entrance caught his attention.
"Zhou Yang! How can you run back to Liu Yi Han and leave me in the middle of the night?" Lan Xin snapped, gripping his arm.
"Lan Xin, don't make a scene," Zhou Yang said urgently. "Go home and wait for me. I'll come back tomorrow night."
Embarrassed and impatient, he shook her off and rushed toward the hospital.
Left behind, Lan Xin watched him go, her eyes burning with resentment. "Liu Yi Han," she muttered darkly, "your happiness won't last until the wedding day."
Feng Yan, having overheard everything, walked away silently—his expression unreadable.
--------
"Yi Han! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" Zhou Yang rushed toward her the moment he spotted her sitting alone outside the observation area. "I was worried sick when the hospital called."
Yi Han stared at him, disbelief weighing heavily on her chest. She had deliberately given his number to the nurse—just to see if he would come. And he did.
Her eyes burned red. How could he betray her like this—just a month before their wedding?
"Yi Han?" Zhou Yang frowned. "Why are you crying? Are you in pain?"
"I… I'm fine," she murmured. "Just a little shaken."
She refused to reveal what she had heard, what she already knew.
When he leaned in to pull her into his arms, a foreign scent reached her nose—sweet, unmistakably feminine.
The scent of betrayal.
Her fists clenched as her heart twisted painfully. How dare he stand before her like this, carrying another woman's fragrance on him?
Yi Han wanted revenge. She wanted him to feel the same agony tearing through her chest at that very moment.
Tears streamed down her face. The man she had loved for ten years—the man she trusted most—was the one who had hurt her the deepest.
"Zhou Yang. I, Liu Yi Han will never forgive you in this lifetime."
Yi Han thought to herself with her eyes reddened and tears welled up in her eyes.
-------------
Few days later, Vows Bridal Boutique
It was the day she was supposed to try on her wedding dress.
Yi Han slowly scanned the rows of pristine white gowns, each more beautiful than the last. Her heart sank. Everything she was doing now felt like an act—every smile rehearsed, every step forced. Heartbroken and bruised, she still reached out and selected a few dresses hanging before her.
Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror, Yi Han chose a deep V-line gown. The cut was bold, baring her shoulders and exposing the graceful curve of her back. Cool-toned, flawless skin caught the light, and just enough cleavage showed to make the dress undeniably provocative.
Zhou Yang froze.
His eyes widened as he swallowed hard, disbelief written plainly across his face. Yi Han looked breathtaking—like a goddess pulled straight from every man's fantasy.
For a fleeting second, regret flickered across his features. He had never realized she could look like this—more stunning than any woman he had known, even Lan Xin.
Yi Han noticed his reaction and felt a quiet satisfaction settle in her chest. He was affected.
"You look gorgeous, Yi Han," Zhou Yang said, his voice thick. "I think this one is perfect for you."
She met her reflection calmly, then turned to the staff.
"I think it's a little too provocative," she said softly. "I'd prefer something with more… respect."
The words were gentle—but the message was unmistakable.
It wasn't long before Yi Han's phone rang. It was Shan Qi, her best friend.
"Yi Han! Where are you? I'm so bored—it's Saturday," Shan Qi complained. "Do you want to hang out tonight?"
"I'm trying on my wedding dress right now," Yi Han replied calmly. "But I'll be free later. Alright, I'll see you tonight."
"Perfect! I'll wait for you." Shan Qi hangs up.
After the call ended, Zhou Yang looked at her in confusion.
"You're meeting your friend tonight?"
"Yes," Yi Han answered lightly. "Shan Qi's feeling down and wants some company. You don't mind, right? Besides, we'll have all the time in the world after we get married."
Her smile was polite—practiced.
Who would want to spend another second with a cheating man?
Zhou Yang hesitated, then nodded. Yi Han already knew what he would do once she left. He would look for the other woman. Just the thought of sitting across from him at a meal made her stomach turn.
_______________________
9:00 PM — The Hex Bar
Yi Han arrived to meet Shan Qi.
Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, framing her face. She wore a fitted black turtleneck and a short skirt paired with a knee boots—simple, yet striking. It was a stark contrast to her usual office attire of tailored blazers and neatly tied hair.
Tonight, she wasn't Zhou Yang's fiancée.
She was simply Yi Han.
Shan Qi was already seated at a high table near the bar, waving enthusiastically when she spotted Yi Han.
Yi Han made her way over, weaving through the crowd. As she passed by a man in a tailored suit, his footsteps slowed.
He turned—just slightly.
It was only a brief, casual glance, yet something about her made him pause. The fall of her hair, the quiet composure in her stride—it stirred a sense of familiarity he couldn't quite place.
The man was Feng Yan.
But Yi Han never noticed him. She continued toward Shan Qi, laughing as she reached the table.
Feng Yan watched her retreating figure for a second longer before dismissing the thought. It was probably nothing.
He turned away and headed toward the VIP cabin, where his friends were already waiting.
For now, their paths crossed only for a heartbeat—unnoticed, but not without consequence
_________
Shan Qi slammed her glass down.
"That scumbag Zhou Yang! Who does he think he is—Chris Hemsworth?"
Yi Han let out a quiet laugh that quickly faded. "The wedding is only a month away… I'm so frustrated. How am I supposed to explain this to the elders?"
"I'm telling you—call it off," Shan Qi said without hesitation. "Expose him. Let everyone know he cheated. Give him an ultimatum."
Yi Han lifted her gaze, eyes tired.
"Shan Qi… look at me." She paused. "I'm almost thirty. Do you really think I still have a chance to fall in love again? I'm not like you—young, carefree, beautiful."
Shan Qi's expression softened immediately. She reached across the table and grasped Yi Han's hand.
"Don't say that." Her voice was firm. "A woman past thirty has her own charm. You're smart, composed, and gorgeous in ways you don't even realize."
She squeezed Yi Han's hand gently.
"One day, you'll meet someone who truly loves you—and you'll be happily married. Just not to the wrong man." Shan Qi reassures her.
------
After hours of binge drinking, both Shan Qi and Yi Han were thoroughly intoxicated. Their spirits were high—laughing, giggling, and stumbling as they made their unsteady way out of the bar, clinging to each other for balance.
The cool night air hit them the moment they stepped outside.
At the entrance, Yi Han's foot slipped.
"Ah—"
She lost her balance and collided with someone standing nearby.
Her hands pressed against solid muscle—toned biceps beneath a silky shirt rolled neatly to the elbows. A distinctly masculine fragrance reached her senses, clean and understated, cutting through the haze of alcohol.
Yi Han tried to focus, blinking as she struggled to steady herself. But her legs gave out completely, and she pitched forward—
Straight into the man's arms
Strong hands closed around her shoulders, holding her upright before she could hit the ground.
"Careful," a low voice said above her head.
Yi Han's world swayed as she finally managed to look up—just enough to catch the sharp outline of his jaw beneath the dim lights. And for a brief, dizzy moment, everything else faded away.