The morning sun gently spilled over the courtyard, casting long shadows across the walls as Chen Yixuan paced in front of Ye Mei's chambers. His heart was a knot of regret and confusion. Last night, he'd made the decision to change—to earn her trust, to protect her. But in the quiet, solitary hours of the night, self-doubt crept in. He had no idea how to undo the damage he'd caused in their past. Was it too late? Had she already closed her heart to him?
It had been a few days since they had met again, and every interaction left him more desperate to make things right. Ye Mei, however, had remained distant, her smile polite but wary. He could see the scars that his indifference had left on her, the hesitations that crept into her movements, the uncertainty in her eyes. She had agreed to marry him because of her mother's wishes, not because she loved him, not like he had hoped.
His breath caught in his throat as the door to her chambers creaked open. There she was—Ye Mei, standing in a soft lavender gown, her delicate features still half-drowned in sleep, but there was a hint of something in her eyes. Was it hope?
She met his gaze, then lowered her eyes, clearly uncomfortable with his intensity. "Good morning, Yixuan," she said quietly, her voice as soft as a breeze.
His heart clenched. He forced himself to smile, though it felt foreign. "Good morning, Mei. I was wondering if you would accompany me for a walk. There is something I want to show you."
She hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. The words of their past echoed in her mind: the cold words, the dismissive attitude. She didn't trust him. Why would she?
But then, something shifted in her expression. Maybe it was the sincerity in his voice, the faint trace of vulnerability she could see in his eyes. "Alright," she said after a long pause. "I'll join you."
As they stepped out into the garden, the air was fresh, carrying the scent of jasmine and morning dew. Ye Mei kept a small distance between them, her eyes fixed on the ground as they walked along the winding path lined with blooming flowers. Chen Yixuan stole glances at her, silently wondering if she could ever forgive him.
"I used to come here often," she said, breaking the silence. "When I was a child, my mother would bring me here to play. I always thought this place was magical."
He nodded, unsure of how to respond. "It still is, isn't it?"
Ye Mei didn't reply immediately, as if weighing his words. Finally, she nodded. "Yes, it is."
They continued walking in silence, the weight of unsaid things hanging between them. The memories of their past lingered in the air, thick and unresolved. Chen Yixuan knew he had been selfish, arrogant, and cruel. But more than that, he knew he had hurt the one person who had never once asked for anything from him.
"You've been distant, Yixuan," Ye Mei said suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't understand why. But I think I do now. I don't think you wanted this marriage. And I—" She stopped, her throat tightening as if the words were too painful to say.
He turned to face her, his heart pounding in his chest. "I didn't want it. But not for the reasons you think. I didn't know how to deal with it. I didn't know how to deal with you."
She frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"
He took a deep breath. The guilt that had built up over the years finally pushed him to speak the truth. "When I met you, I saw only a duty. I didn't see a person. And for that, I'm sorry. I was cruel to you, Ye Mei. I didn't understand your love, your kindness. I only saw you as someone who was there because my grandfather made it so. I thought I could be indifferent, that it wouldn't matter."
She looked away, her voice quiet, "And now?"
"Now I see the truth. You're not just a duty, Ye Mei. You're someone who deserves my respect. You deserve my love." He reached out, gently taking her hand, almost afraid she would pull away. But she didn't. "I can't take back the years I've wasted, but I want to start again. Not as your husband, but as someone who wants to be better—for you, for me."
For a long time, she didn't say anything. But her hand remained in his. Slowly, her lips parted, and she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know how to trust you, Yixuan. I don't know how to believe in you again."
He nodded. "I don't expect you to. Not right now. But give me a chance, Ye Mei. Let me prove that I can be the man you deserve."
She didn't answer immediately, but her eyes softened, the hardness in them beginning to melt. Slowly, hesitantly, she nodded. "I'll give you a chance," she whispered.
The words felt like a weight lifted from his chest. It wasn't forgiveness, not yet, but it was the first step. And it was enough.
---
Later that day, after their walk, Chen Yixuan found himself in his study, his thoughts scattered. He had never been one for introspection, but now that Ye Mei had given him the smallest inkling of hope, he couldn't stop thinking about the consequences of his past actions. He had been so consumed by his pride and arrogance that he had failed to see the woman who stood before him, a woman capable of love, of forgiveness—someone who had always cared for him, even when he was too blind to notice.
He stood up abruptly, pacing across the room. He needed to do something, something more than just words. Words weren't enough.
In that moment, his childhood friend, Li Shen, walked in without knocking. "You look troubled," Li Shen observed, noting the tension in his posture.
"I am," Chen Yixuan admitted, running a hand through his hair. "I've made a mess of everything, Li Shen. She deserves so much more than what I've given her. And I don't know if I can fix it."
Li Shen crossed his arms, his usual teasing expression replaced with a rare seriousness. "You've always been good at hiding your feelings, Yixuan. But this… this isn't about your pride anymore. This is about her. If you want to fix things, you need to do more than apologize. You need to show her that you've changed."
"I know," Chen Yixuan said, frustration edging his voice. "But how? How do I show her that I'm not the man I was before?"
"You start by being honest. By proving that you're willing to put her first, above everything else. You need to show her that she's not just a duty to you anymore, but someone you genuinely care for. Actions, Yixuan. That's what will speak louder than anything else."
Chen Yixuan nodded, his mind already racing with ideas. He had to act quickly. He couldn't afford to waste another moment.
---
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a soft glow over the manor, Chen Yixuan took Ye Mei to the gardens again. This time, he had something special planned. He had noticed how much she loved the jasmine flowers, so he had arranged for dozens of them to be gathered and placed along the path they walked, their sweet fragrance filling the air.
Ye Mei stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide with surprise. "What is this?"
"Something for you," he said simply. He stepped forward and took her hand, leading her along the path of jasmine flowers. "I know I can't make up for everything I've done, but I want to start by showing you that I care. That I want to make things right. And this is just the beginning."
Ye Mei's eyes shimmered with something—was it disbelief? Hope? She didn't speak, but the soft smile that curved her lips told him more than any words could.
For the first time, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could have a future together.