Caleb Wang and Serena Feng stood quietly in the distance, not wanting to interrupt.
But the man didn't make Serena Feng wait long. He took a breath, then turned around with a smile: "The only one who would show up uninvited is you, Caleb Wang Jinhan."
His tone was casual, making people instinctively want to get close to him.
"If I didn't come, you'd be bored to death alone." Caleb Wang was always informal in front of William Wang Jinling, not caring about etiquette. His smile was much more genuine here.
He nodded to Serena Feng, then walked forward.
It was obvious these two brothers were very close.
Or rather, this white-robed man seemed able to get close to anyone, because the calm aura he radiated drew people in—including Serena Feng.
"With you around, I'll never die of boredom in this lifetime." William Wang Jinling's lips curled in a doting smile, looking at both his younger brother and his friend.
The bond between the two brothers was so good that Serena Feng felt a pang of envy. If only this Serena Feng had an older brother to protect her, maybe her fate wouldn't have been so rough.
Thinking of this, Serena Feng couldn't help but show a bitter smile.
In both her past and present lives, Serena Feng never had anyone to protect her.
Whether in her past life or this one, Serena Feng only had herself—when injured, she bandaged herself; when tired, she could only lean on her own knees.
Just as Serena Feng was feeling sad, William Wang Jinling suddenly shifted the topic to her: "Jinhan, you have a guest—aren't you going to introduce her to me?"
His gaze landed accurately on Serena Feng—even though he couldn't see, it felt as if he was looking straight at her.
Even knowing he couldn't see, Serena Feng's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
His eyes were pure black, like deep pools—no trace of light, black to the bottom.
If it weren't for her profession, Serena Feng would never believe this man was blind.
Though his eyes couldn't see light and had no focus, they were sincere. When speaking with others, his eyes always "looked" at them.
Just standing there, he was like a painting—peaceful and beautiful, with not a trace of negativity or resentment. Every gesture radiated a love for life.
From the bottom of her heart, Serena Feng admired this man.
Caleb Wang saw the two smiling at each other and quickly stepped forward to introduce them: "Big Brother, this is General Feng's daughter, Serena Feng."
When Caleb Wang said the name 'Serena Feng,' his voice dropped slightly.
After all, everyone in the capital knew that the name Serena Feng was synonymous with shame—the shame of being a woman. Some families even used her as an example when educating their daughters.
They would say: If you don't learn proper manners, you'll end up like Serena Feng, losing your reputation and becoming a woman everyone can despise.
So, when Caleb introduced her, he couldn't help but worry that his brother might mind him bringing such a woman. If his brother was displeased and embarrassed Serena Feng, it would be troublesome.
Serena Feng snapped back to herself when she heard this special introduction. She glanced indifferently at Caleb Wang and, with poise, bowed to William Wang Jinling: "Serena greets the eldest young master."
There was not a trace of timidity or unease in her words, as if those so-called stains had nothing to do with her.
William Wang Jinling did not disappoint her. Hearing Caleb's words, his smile deepened: "So it's Miss Feng. Forgive me for not recognizing you."
After speaking, he clasped his hands and bowed to Serena Feng.
Serena Feng was stunned at first, then quickly stepped back.
"Eldest young master, I don't deserve such respect," Serena Feng said. Since coming to this world, she had always been the one bowing to others—this was the first time someone of high status bowed to her, and it was a man.
In this world where men are superior to women, such a thing was extremely rare.
"Miss Feng, don't belittle yourself—you deserve this respect. I didn't witness what happened at the city gate, but I know the gist of it."
Anyone with eyes could see you were an innocent victim that day. The world may refuse to sympathize with you and instead blame you, which is simply unreasonable.
If you had died in that situation, maybe the world would have seen it as dying for your reputation, but in my eyes, it would have been a pointless death. Since you had the courage to face death, why not have the courage to face gossip?
Fortunately, Miss Feng, you showed admirable courage—not only did you refuse to die as they wished, you lived freely and confidently. I deeply admire that. How many women in this world are as strong, confident, and brave as you?
After hearing about Miss Feng, I always wanted to meet her. There are few women as proud as you in this world.
William Wang Jinling spoke with complete sincerity, neither avoiding mention of Serena Feng's disgrace at the city gate nor emphasizing it—he simply stated the facts.
Serena Feng's eyes stung and she nearly shed tears.
William Wang Jinling's praise was extremely high, but that wasn't what Serena Feng valued most. What mattered to her was...
This was the first time someone told her she was right to survive, the first time someone considered her feelings, the first time someone told her she was innocent and clean.
Moved as she was, principles were principles.
Serena Feng took a deep breath and bowed again to William Wang Jinling: "Eldest young master, you flatter me. I have nothing to be proud of—my pride was trampled long ago. On my wedding day, I woke up disheveled in the suburbs; that shame will follow me for life. With such a stain, pride is no longer possible for me."
That wasn't untrue—at least, that's how the world saw it.
William Wang Jinling shook his head: "Just now I called Miss Feng free and open-minded, yet now you can't see it. Take me, for example: everyone knows I'm blind, so they assume my world is only black, that I'm someone to be pitied."
But how could they know how colorful my world really is? I can't see the sun, but I can feel its warmth; I can't see flowers or grass, but I can smell their fragrance; I can't see the blue sky or white clouds, but I can feel the wind.
The world doesn't believe a blind man can live well, but what does that matter to me? As long as I know I can live like anyone else, that's enough.
Just like you, Miss Feng. As long as you know you're innocent, that's enough. What others think has nothing to do with you.
"Well said—what others think has nothing to do with me. Others laugh at me for being crazy, but I laugh at them for not understanding. Eldest young master, I rarely admire anyone, but you are one of them." Serena Feng suddenly raised her voice, her face full of smiles.
So, in this flashy world, there was someone like him. His eyes might not see, but his heart saw more clearly than anyone else's; his eyes might only see black, but his heart embraced everything.
It was truly a pity that someone like him could not see.
In that moment, Serena Feng made up her mind: if there was even a ten percent chance, she would give a hundred percent effort to help the eldest young master of the Wang family see a colorful world.
"Others laugh at me for being crazy, but I laugh at them for not understanding. Serena Feng, you are truly admirable. In my life, I have rarely admired anyone—you are one of them. If you don't mind, just call me Jinling."
He was clearly seeking friendship. This was only the second person in the world willing to befriend Serena Feng purely for who she was.
The first, of course, was Duke Nine, Dongling Jiu.
That piece of clothing warmed Serena Feng's body and her heart.
As for William Wang Jinling, his words comforted Serena Feng's ears and heart, but ultimately, they came a little too late...