"Look, elder sister, that plum tree is really beautiful."

  Bai Qingqing followed her sister's gaze. The plum tree stood proudly, with red blossoms blooming on its branches. The snow from the night before had gathered on the branches, and the red and white colors blended beautifully, dazzling to the eyes.

  Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and Bai Yaoyao was caught off guard by the snowflakes. The snow began to fall from above, and Bai Qingqing immediately pulled her sister into her arms to shield her.

  However, the coldness she had expected didn’t come. Bai Qingqing cautiously opened her eyes and saw a wide sleeve above her, shielding the snow entirely.

  "Thank you..."

  Bai Qingqing's gratitude was cut off abruptly, her lips turning pale, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

  The pain when she died was unbearable, as if her internal organs were being shredded apart, piece by piece. She had struggled in the agonizing torment, and in that instant, the sensation came rushing back to her memory.

  "Miss... Are you alright?"

  Bai Qingqing quickly stepped back with Bai Yaoyao, avoiding looking at Fu Yi, and tried to steady her trembling hands. "I'm fine, thank you, sir."

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  Fu Yi noticed her lowering her head, refusing to look at him. His hand in his sleeve tightened into a fist, fighting the urge to reach out to her, to confirm that she was truly alive.

  He was back.

  He had returned from a world without Bai Qingqing, and the hole in his heart had finally stopped its painful throbbing.

  "Miss..."

  "Sorry, my sister isn't feeling well. We’ll leave first."

  Bai Qingqing could not stay for even another moment. Supporting Bai Yaoyao, she turned to leave. No one saw her pale face and trembling lips after she turned away. She feared she might lose control if she stayed any longer.

  After walking farther away, Bai Qingqing finally felt a little better, but her body felt completely drained.

  At that moment, she realized, she also hated Fu Yi.

  Was it only her fault? She loved him, and after marrying him, she devoted herself to managing the affairs of the Wang residence, being cautious and careful to live up to her position as his wife. What had she done wrong?

  If he truly didn’t want to marry her, if he really had someone else, why didn’t he say so? Why did he compromise? Was she supposed to force him with a knife if he hadn’t agreed?

  In the past, Bai Qingqing never thought Fu Yi was at fault. She always believed that if he was cold to her, it was because she hadn't done well enough. She thought that her efforts must have been lacking, and that was why Fu Yi wasn’t satisfied with her.

  But she never expected that all her years of effort had been in vain, and she had even lost her life over it.

  "Elder sister, are you alright?"

  Bai Yaoyao, now feeling a bit better, was startled when she saw Bai Qingqing’s condition. "What’s wrong with you? Do you feel unwell? Maybe we should go back and get a doctor to take a look. Could it be that you caught a chill earlier?"

  Bai Qingqing looked dreadful, her face pale with no color, her lips tinged with a faint greenish white. She suppressed the resentment inside her. "It’s fine. I’m just a bit tired."

  "Then let’s go back. With so many people here today, no one will notice us."

  Bai Yaoyao instructed someone to inform the hosts and linked arms with Bai Qingqing to walk toward the exit of the residence.

  Bai Qingqing felt a gaze on her, like a shadow following her every step, making her uncomfortable.

  At that moment, she wondered, why had she encountered Fu Yi again? The place where they had met in her previous life was not here. She had intentionally avoided this area to avoid him, but why had he still appeared?

  Fu Yi’s palm was almost clenched to the point of drawing blood, but he managed to control himself, resisting the urge to chase after her.

  He couldn't rush this. He didn't want to scare Qingqing.