At the entrance to the apartment building, Ugou Mirai lay in Asaka Akie's warm embrace, watching the three people talking in the distance.
She had gradually calmed down by now and realized just how much trouble she had caused Fang Cheng.
Even if Fang Cheng had managed to defeat Yuguang Qingxue against all expectations, how could he take on the entire Yuguang Family by himself?
"Akie."
Ugou Mirai suddenly spoke, her voice heavy with dejection. "I've dragged you all into this."
"Not at all. Trust Cheng-kun. He'll take care of it."
Asaka Akie comforted her gently. She liked the innocent, adorable girl very much.
But her words did nothing to reassure Ugou Mirai. If anything, they only made her feel guiltier. "No, I'm not a child anymore. I know how much trouble I've caused you!"
Her mother had already made it perfectly clear: she was being sent to serve as a hostage so the peace talks would succeed.
If her escape caused the talks to fail, she might be fine, but Fang Cheng and the others, who had been dragged into this because of her, would suffer.
When Fang Cheng and Qingxue had fought earlier, Ugou Mirai had been so nervous her heart had nearly stopped. She didn't want to see the people she cared about get hurt.
But if she kept hiding, the conflict between the two sides would never end.
It was an incredibly selfish thing to do.
Ugou Mirai bit her lower lip, gently pulled herself free of Asaka Akie's embrace, and walked out of the apartment building.
"Mirai?"
Asaka Akie hurried after her, but Ugou Mirai kept walking faster and faster until she was running.
"Qingxue, I'll go back with you."
Ugou Mirai ran up to the three of them, tears in her eyes. "Stop making