章 39: will you come with me to the Imperial City?”

JUNJIE (Part 2)

I could barely breathe. The emotions swirling inside me were too much, too raw.

Suyin and MeiMei, who had been watching from the sidelines like amused spectators, exchanged knowing looks before slapping the back of my head—one after the other.

"Wrap your hands around her, idiot," Suyin muttered, rolling her eyes, before everyone left the room, leaving me standing there with Yiren.

With my heart racing, I let my arms fall around her, awkward at first. I mean, what do you even do when someone hugs you like they're holding onto a life raft? But then, instinct took over, and I hugged her tighter, feeling her shaky breaths against my chest.

Everything I'd done, everything I should have said but didn't—it all came crashing down at that moment.