"Rise," said Ran Yan softly, "since you know your mistake, spend the rest of your life making amends."
At that moment, those words, indifferent and ineffective, were all she could muster. Ran Yan turned around, just in time to see Chai Xuanyi entering through the arch, carrying his zither. He was dressed in a light cyan robe with round collar and wide sleeves, his demeanor graceful and composed.
Ran Yan bowed slightly to him and then, with Wan Lu by her side, took her leave.
As they brushed past each other, Chai Xuanyi softly called out, "Wanping."
Ran Yan's steps faltered, she turned her head toward him, the words "Mister Chai" almost slipping out, but she swallowed them and instead asked, "Have you remembered something?"
Chai Xuanyi's eyes brightened with joy upon her question, and though he seemed a bit embarrassed, he said, "Not exactly... I just... I felt something."
