Chapter 19: Two Minds, Two Paths

"Qingwan, where have you been? It’s so cold outside; you’ll catch a cold wandering around like that. Come, warm your hands."

Chen Yuanlin spoke with a gentle smile and words of concern. He stepped forward, took Ji Qingwan’s hands, and led her toward the stove inside the tent.

Having spent a considerable amount of time in the cold, Qingwan’s hands were frozen. As he grasped them with his own warm, dry palms, a shiver ran through her, and her anger seemed to dissipate instantly.

She followed him passively to the stove. Looking up, she saw his features illuminated by the firelight—the very face of the "big brother next door" from her childhood—and a wave of bitterness washed over her.

How had their years of bond devolved into this? He had promised her since they were children that he would marry her, yet just as she was certain their union was inevitable, Fang Yun had appeared.

Reflecting on Fang Yun’s background, things she hadn’t understood back then suddenly became clear. The Chen family was not insignificant; for an orphan like Fang Yun to enter their household, Qingwan could think of no other reason than Yuanlin’s stubborn insistence. Even if she hated to admit it, Fang Yun had the looks to serve as her ticket into a wealthy family.

She lowered her gaze, hiding the complexity in her eyes to keep Yuanlin from noticing anything amiss.

"Brother Yuanlin, what made you decide to come looking for me today?" Qingwan asked, her tone matching her usual demeanor.

Whether it was out of overconfidence or desperation, Yuanlin failed to detect anything unusual in her behavior. His smile deepened at her response.

"I’ve been so busy handling affairs for your brother lately that I haven't been able to visit you in a long time. I had a free moment today, so I rushed right over."

Qingwan curled her lips in a cold sneer. How had she never noticed before that Yuanlin could lie so effortlessly without his expression even flickering?

"Brother Yuanlin, are you truly busy handling affairs for my brother?" she asked, her voice heavy with implication.

Yuanlin hadn't expected the question. His smile stiffened, though he quickly regained his composure, even if the warmth in his expression faded slightly. "What’s wrong? Did someone tell you something?"

Qingwan looked up at him. They locked eyes for a long moment until Yuanlin began to break into a cold sweat; then, she let out a short laugh.

"Why are you so nervous? No one told me anything. I simply saw you visiting Fang Yun."

The atmosphere eased instantly. Yuanlin didn't seem particularly rattled that she knew he had seen Fang Yun. To him, the fact that she was being honest with him meant she still trusted him. It was unclear where he drew this conclusion from; he clearly did not understand women. He failed to realize that if she had truly seen him with Fang Yun, she would have confronted them on the spot rather than waiting until now. He merely assumed she was acting differently because she was upset about the incident.

"Brother Yuanlin, I know that Fang Yun has been with you for years, and even if she hasn't contributed much, she has suffered alongside you. Times are tough, and it isn't easy for a woman to survive. I understand you wanting to help her."

Hearing this, Yuanlin felt even more validated. He felt a surge of pride and affection, and a doting smile returned to his face.

"You," he said, tapping her cold nose. "I went to see Fang Yun because I wanted her to introduce me to Li Wangcheng."

"Li Wangcheng?" Qingwan’s eyes flickered. She knew of him, and as she thought back, several previously overlooked details clicked into place. Fang Yun had arrived at Mount Dongming with Li Wangcheng, and for the past few days, everyone on the mountain had been aware that Ma Zhen had feelings for him.

*So, Ma Zhen has been targeting Fang Yun because of Li Wangcheng?* Qingwan mused. She now had yet another excuse to cultivate a relationship with Ma Zhen.

"Yes. But Li Wangcheng has been busy lately, and Fang Yun said she couldn't arrange a private meeting."

"Then..." Qingwan snapped back to reality, looking at him with feigned confusion.

"I heard that Master Ma is hosting a banquet the day after tomorrow and has invited Li Wangcheng. I was wondering if there’s any way to get an invitation," Yuanlin said, making his true objective sound like an afterthought.

Qingwan was not foolish; she understood immediately why he had come. She had known for a while that Ma Qibo had not invited the Chen family. When she had suggested to her father that they bring Yuanlin along, she had been scolded. Her father no longer cared for the Chen family's status; this "banquet" hosted by Ma Qibo was an opportunity. If Qingwan were to catch the eye of someone from a more prominent family, it would be far more beneficial for the Ji family's survival than staying tied to the Chens.

"If you want to go... I can ask my father. I’m not sure if the Xia family has an extra spot to spare."

In the past, she would have jumped at the chance to bring him, but now that her "love-struck" brain was clearing, she had no desire to help him. She was still deeply bothered by his visit to Fang Yun—and the suspicion that he had married Fang Yun originally because he had once loved her made her so jealous she nearly lost her composure.

Yuanlin wanted to connect with Li Wangcheng because the Chen family had fallen so far. She loved him—she had always loved him—and she wouldn't have minded their decline, but he was unwilling to accept it; he wanted to use Li Wangcheng to restore his family's influence. But even if the Chen family rose again, there was no guarantee he would marry her. Having been abandoned once, her trust in him had plummeted. If the Chen family recovered, her best-case scenario would be to end up exactly as she had been before. The bitterness in her heart grew even stronger at the thought of her years of devotion.

"Really?" Yuanlin feigned delight, looking at her with a face full of gratitude and showering her with sweet words. But for Qingwan, the sweetness was gone.

She gave him a perfunctory response, coaxing him to leave, and then sat by the stove, plotting how to get in touch with Ma Zhen. As for the invitation she had promised him, she would worry about that only after she had reached an understanding with Ma Zhen.

For the first time, Qingwan did not have Yuanlin in her heart. She never imagined that once he stepped out of the tent, the smile would vanish from his face entirely. He stood on the grounds of the Ji camp, which were twice the size of his own, watching the Ji family members in their spacious, well-insulated tents, looking neither worn nor weary. He thought of the wretched state of his own family since the end of the world, and his hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into tight fists. His hunger to reclaim power had reached its peak.