The rain came before dawn.
It began as a whisper against the tiled roofs of Shuilan, soft and rhythmic — then turned into a steady downpour that washed the streets clean of yesterday's gossip.
But inside Wang Zheng's estate, no storm could quiet the murmurs that followed Xu Ling wherever she went.
---
Whispers in the Morning
"Did you hear?" one maid whispered as she polished the stair rail.
"They say Miss Xu isn't just any woman — that she ran away from the capital."
Another lowered her voice. "Ran away from a marriage, maybe. I heard she was with someone powerful — a CEO."
Old Luo, the chef, smacked the counter with his ladle. "You two should focus on your work before you lose your jobs."
Still, his brows furrowed. He had seen that distant sadness in Xu Ling's eyes — the kind of sorrow that came from love turned cruel.
At that moment, Xu Ling entered the kitchen with her usual gentle smile.
"Good morning, Old Luo."
He immediately softened. "Ah, Miss Xu! Sit, sit — you shouldn't be walking around too much. I made ginger soup."
She laughed lightly. "If you keep spoiling me like this, I'll forget how to cook at all."
"Then I'll keep cooking till you remember what peace tastes like," he said, his tone half-gruff, half-fond.
---
Wang Zheng's Office
Wang Zheng sat behind his desk, surrounded by documents and digital reports.
He was used to efficiency, to control — but lately, his thoughts wandered far too often toward a certain quiet woman with tired eyes.
When his assistant entered, he quickly masked it with his usual composure.
"Sir, you asked for the background check on Miss Xu," the assistant said, handing him a file.
Wang Zheng hesitated before taking it.
He'd ordered the search out of caution, but now that the folder sat in front of him, he wasn't sure if he wanted to know what it contained.
Still, curiosity won.
Inside were fragments: a hospital record, a missing persons report, and a surname that caught his attention.
Chen.
Wang Zheng's eyes narrowed. Chen Xu Ling.
He leaned back slowly, frowning. "So she wasn't born in Shuilan."
The assistant hesitated. "Sir, the Chen family— that name belongs to one of the top capital clans. If she's truly from them…"
Wang Zheng shut the file with quiet finality. "No one is to mention this to her."
"Sir?"
"She left that world for a reason," Wang Zheng said firmly. "And I won't be the one to drag her back."
---
At the Chen Estate
Meanwhile, in the capital, the Chen family's private investigators had struck gold.
A truck driver recalled giving a ride to a drenched young woman two months ago — pale, disoriented, clutching her stomach.
He'd dropped her at the Shuilan junction.
"Shuilan," Chen Heo repeated, staring at the map. "She's alive."
His father's expression didn't change, but his grip on his cane tightened.
"Then bring her home quietly. She's carrying our blood — and she deserves protection, not pity."
Chen Heo nodded, but his gaze was distant. He had a feeling his sister would not return easily.
---
Li Wei's Obsession
In another corner of the capital, Li Wei sat alone in his dimly lit study.
The world outside thought he had moved on — but every night, he found himself reaching for a phone that never rang.
A knock broke the silence.
"Sir," said his assistant, "a contact from the countryside reported someone matching her description near the Shuilan area."
Li Wei froze.
"Send the address," he ordered.
"Should we confirm first—"
"I said send it!"
When the door shut behind the assistant, Li Wei let out a ragged breath.
"She's alive…" he whispered.
For the first time in months, his chest felt alive — not with peace, but with a dangerous, consuming hope.
---
Back in Shuilan – The Festival
That evening, the rain cleared. Lanterns began to glow along the riverside as the small town prepared for its annual Lantern Blessing Festival — a night when people released floating lights into the river for wishes and forgiveness.
The entire estate had been invited, and despite her hesitation, Xu Ling agreed to go.
She wore a soft cream hanfu Mrs. Zhao had found in storage — simple yet graceful, her hair braided with tiny white flowers.
When she stepped out, Wang Zheng was momentarily speechless.
"You look… different," he said, his voice lower than usual.
Xu Ling smiled faintly. "Is that a good thing?"
"It's dangerous," he murmured before catching himself. "I mean— beautiful."
She laughed softly. "Careful, Mr. Wang. People might start believing the rumors."
He smirked. "Let them."
---
The Riverbank
The river shimmered with hundreds of lanterns drifting like stars.
Children ran around laughing, vendors called out in excitement, and for the first time in weeks, Xu Ling felt almost human again — almost happy.
As she released her lantern, Wang Zheng watched from beside her.
"What did you wish for?" he asked quietly.
She hesitated. "Peace… and forgiveness."
He nodded, then set his own lantern afloat.
"And you?" she asked, curious.
Wang Zheng's eyes lingered on her face, his tone soft but steady.
"I wished for a reason to stay."
Xu Ling turned away quickly, her heart fluttering — not from romance, but fear of what her heart might remember.
Because deep down, no matter how far she ran, Li Wei's voice still lived in her head.
---
Far from the crowd, a black car parked on a quiet hill overlooking the glowing river.
Inside, a man sat motionless, his eyes fixed on the small figure in cream standing by the water.
Li Wei's breath caught in his throat.
It was her.
No mistake.
His Xu Ling — alive, breathing, laughing under another man's protection.
His hand clenched around the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.
"She's alive…" he whispered again — this time with a mixture of relief, heartbreak, and fury.
The storm that had been brewing in silence had finally found its lightning.
And this time, it would strike everyone connected to her.