old.＂Ah，yes，yourbrother.Heseemsquite...protectiveofyou.Almostpossessive，onemightsay.＂

HanFenglilytookSukie，sarm，leadingherawayfromthecrowd.＂Areyht?＂heasked，hisvoicelowandfilledwith.

＂Iknowwe，resupposedtobesiblingsinthisworld，butsometimesIfeellikethere，ssomethingmorebetweenus，＂shetinued，hervoicetrembling.＂Idon，tknowifit，sjustmeorifyoufeelittoo，butI，tiganymore.＂

Sukielookeddownatthewater，herreflerippling.＂Iknow.Butit，snotjusthimI，mworriedabout.＂

Hisfrowndeepened，buthedidn，tinterrupther.

HanFenglingstoppedbyasmallpond，thewaterreflegthemoonlight.HeturofaceSukie，hiseyessearghers.＂Youshouldbecarefularouianxie.He，sdangerous.＂

BeforeSukiecouldrespond，HanFenglingappearedatherside，hisexpressioncalmbuthiseyesfshingwithanger.＂LordXie，Ibelievemysisterhaseainedyoulongenough.Ifyouwouldexcuseus.＂

HanFengling，sexpressionsoftened，andhereachedouttogentlycupherfahishand.＂Sukie，I...Ifeelittoo.Butit，splicated.We，relivinginaworldthathasitsownrulesandexpectations.Andevenifwe，renottrulyreted，othersbelieveweare.＂

TearswelledupinSukie，seyes.＂Butwhataboutwhatwefeel?Shouldn，tthatmatter?＂

Shetookadeepbreath，strugglingtofindtherightwords.＂Fengling，I，vebeenfeeling...straely.Aboutus.Aboutyou.＂

HanFenglingpulledherintoatightembra

Sukienodded，herheartstillrag.＂Yes，I，mfihankyou.＂

Theywalkedinsilenoment，thenightaircoolagainsttheirskin.Thegardenwasquieternow，thesoundsofthebafadingintothebackground.

HanFenglingfrowned.＂Whatdoyoumean?＂

XieTianxie，sgazeshiftedtoHanFengling，hissmileneverwavering.＂Ofcourse，YoungMasterHan.Itwouldnotdotooverstaymywele.＂Hebowedslightly，buthiseyeslingeredonSukieamomentlongerbeforeheturnedandwalkedaway.