Lu Wuyi didn't know how much time passed since she got locked in that room, but the sun was up and the whole place was filled with light.
She was already planning on her next escape, Lu Wuyi didn't like it when others confined her, even if it was him.
Just then, as if he had read her mind, steps could be heard from outside the room.
Lu Wuyi rushed to the other side of the room, sat on the bed, and tried to calm her rushing heart down.
She wasn't expecting his visit, at least not so soon.
The doors opened and closed softly with one swift move of his hand, and it took less that a second for his eyes to find her, as if he could feel her existence.
He made no move, just stood there, his face devoid of any emotion as he started her down.
Lu Wuyi felt like laughing, it was honestly funny that Ji Ling through such a pathetic act could fool her.
She knew the man in front of her was Ji Ling, and she refused to call him anything else.
After what felt like forever, Ji Ling started walking towards her, the sunlight framing his face softly. Lu Wuyi felt mesmerized.
He came to a stop and kneeled in front of her, close enough for her to smell the flowery aroma coming from his robes.
What a foolish man... He claimed to be someone else, but he still smelled like the Ji Ling she loved.
Perhaps he overlooked that detail.
Perhaps he thought Lu Wuyi didn't love him enough to memorize his scent. But she did.
Suddenly, Ji Ling raised his hand expectantly in front of her face, and Lu Wuyi thought that maybe she was dreaming.
Without a second thought, she touched his wrist softly, her eyes watering immediately.
She always liked teasing her Ji Ling by checking his pulse, and he always had that bashful look on his face.
But the Ji Ling in front of her was different, and he had no pulse.
His gaze traveled to where her fingers rested on his wrist, and Lu Wuyi stared at him with hope, awaiting the shy smile she had engraved in her memory.
It never came. The only thing Ji Ling did was narrow his eyes slightly, completely unaffected by her touch.
Their eyes met once again, and Lu Wuyi smiled weakly, letting her hand fall on her lap helplessly.
Her Ji Ling would never make her heart feel as if it was being pierced by a thousand needles, but the one in front of her did.
He blinked once before lowering his hand as well, and Lu Wuyi almost jumped when she felt his cold touch around her palm.
"You got hurt," He said, his thumb tracing softly over the small scar that she had completely forgotten about.
It was only then that she noticed, Ji Ling hadn't come empty-handed, but with a pot of steaming water.
Lu Wuyi chose to say nothing. She just watched as Ji Ling guided her hand towards the pot, stopping shortly to check the temperature.
He didn't spare another glance at her, and dipped both of their hands in.
Lu Wuyi wanted to scoff, because this scene had already happened once, back in the Wei manor in Luo'an. His movements right now were the exact same as back then, when he had washed her hands because her palm got hurt while cutting a flower from a tree.
Those little moments, did he think they were pointless enough for her to forget? Or was he just tasting her patience?
Ji Ling focused on washing her hand, being extra careful when it came to her scar.
Lu Wuyi studied his profile, her eyes taking in every single detail.
Before she could stop herself, his name left her lips like a plea. "Ji Ling."
He frowned ever so slightly, letting his hold on her go in an instant. "I told you, I'm not him."
Lu Wuyi removed her hand from the water and clutced the pot's rim with enough force to turn her knuckles white. "And I told you, I don't believe you."
Ji Ling let out a harsh breath, and she thought that he would get up and leave like he always did once he felt cornered, but instead of doing that, he grabbed her hand and started drying it with a silky piece of clothe.
Even that was the same.
Lu Wuyi's breath quickened as she struggled against her anger. "I know it's you, no matter how hard you try! Maybe you think than you're being slick, but your little games can't fool me. I won't stop getting in your way. No matter how many times you lock me, I won't let you have peace even for a little second. I'm not going to leave your side until you tell me what's going on. I'll bring you back even if I have to die, do you understand?!"
When he showed no reaction, she shoved his hand away with a growl, and splashed water on his face.
Lu Wuyi's chest rose and fell with rapid breaths as she watched Ji Ling's expression closing up even more than before.
He turned to her calmly, not minding that his hair and face were wet. His stare was so intense, and Lu Wuyi almost flinched when he got up.
"Your life or death is of no insignificance to me." Ji Ling caressed her cheek softly before tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "And wether you like it or not, the person you're so desperately trying to hold onto is long gone."
Lu Wuyi pushed his hand away once more, making sure that her glare was enough to convey what she was feeling right now.
She hated Ji Ling. Hated the way he made her feel, the way he made her hurt.
Falling for him was never in her plans. She only wanted to complete her mission, and foolish Ji Ling was the perfect pawn for that back then.
But maybe she had been the pawn all along.
Ji Ling spared her one last glance before taking his leave, and Lu Wuyi was once again left behind, unable to do anything but stare at his retreating back.
Nerezza:
