The sky above the Wang estate was a clean shade of blue, the kind of color that belonged only to early mornings after rain. Xu Ling stood on the wide balcony, her hair tied loosely, the soft breeze brushing against her face. The sound of laughter echoed below — her twins again.
"Wang Xichen! Give it back!" Xiwei's small but determined voice rose as he chased his brother across the garden.
Xu Ling sighed, shaking her head with a faint smile.
"They've been up since dawn," she murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Boys will be boys," came Grandma Wang's amused tone as she approached, dressed in a fine robe of soft jade silk. "But these two… they carry the Wang fire. I like that."
Xu Ling bowed slightly, her tone warm. "They never seem to run out of energy, Grandma Wang."
The old woman chuckled. "Neither did Zheng when he was their age. He once climbed the estate walls because he thought the stars were jewels he could reach."
Xu Ling laughed softly. "That sounds like him."
The mention of Wang Zheng stirred something gentle in her chest. Over the past months, his quiet gestures — a cup of tea left on her desk, a warm jacket placed over her shoulders, his steady presence whenever she was unsure — had become the heartbeat of her new world.
Still, she kept her distance. Gratitude and admiration were one thing; letting her heart slip again was another.
---
Inside her newly opened boutique — Ling's Touch, a minimalist tea and ceramic shop nestled near the town's art district — Xu Ling carefully arranged her handmade sets on the display shelf. The space smelled faintly of osmanthus and clay, calm and sincere, just like her.
Her assistant, a cheerful girl named Min, clapped her hands. "Madam Xu, we sold out of the white porcelain set again! Someone from the city even asked to place a custom order!"
Xu Ling blinked in surprise. "Really? That's… wonderful."
Grandma Wang's advice echoed in her mind: 'Start small, grow quietly. You'll find peace in what your hands create.'
Peace. That was all she wanted.
But peace rarely lasted long.
As she walked out of the shop later that afternoon, two well-dressed women whispered nearby, their voices dripping with curiosity.
"Have you heard? They say Young Master Wang brought back a woman with two children."
"Impossible! He's never been close to anyone."
"Well, whoever she is, she's lucky. The Wang family doesn't accept just anyone."
Xu Ling paused briefly but said nothing. She'd learned long ago that silence was sometimes the sharpest reply.
---
Back at the estate, the courtyard was a whirlwind of activity. The drivers, nannies, and bodyguards were practically in a small war.
"I'll drive them today!" the head driver insisted.
"No, no — the Madam said the twins prefer my snacks!" the chef argued.
Even the gardener chimed in, holding a small bouquet. "At least let me give them this for luck!"
"Everyone calm down," Xu Ling said between laughter. "They're just starting school, not going to war."
Xichen, his uniform slightly crooked, puffed his chest. "Mama, I'll protect Xiwei!"
Xiwei rolled his eyes. "You can't even find your shoes, gege."
The laughter that followed warmed the air, and for a moment, the world felt light again.
Wang Zheng appeared then, his tall figure framed by morning light. His usual stoic expression softened when he saw them — her, the twins, the family bustling around.
"I'll take them," he said simply.
Everyone fell silent.
Xu Ling blinked. "You? Aren't you—"
He handed her a thermos. "Tea. You'll need it after they leave."
And just like that, he turned, ushering the boys toward the car.
Grandma Wang chuckled behind her fan. "Our Zheng is learning subtlety, hm?"
Xu Ling tried to ignore the warmth rising in her cheeks.
---
Later that week, the Wang family's boardroom was abuzz. Wang Zheng's uncles had gathered — each with their opinions and schemes.
Uncle Ming, always the loudest, slammed his hand on the table. "We need to expand the shipping contracts before the Li family gets a foothold."
Uncle Qiang adjusted his glasses. "You're too rash. Stability before expansion."
Grandpa Wang, silent until now, raised his cane. "You argue like crows. Zheng, what do you think?"
Wang Zheng leaned back, calm as a winter lake. "We focus on domestic production first. Let the Li family rush into foreign markets; they'll bleed resources."
His grandfather smiled faintly. "You have your mother's wisdom."
But beneath that calm exterior, Zheng's thoughts flickered elsewhere — to the woman who had quietly changed his home, to the sound of laughter in his hallways again.
He wasn't a man who believed in destiny. But Xu Ling's presence made him question that.
---
The Winds Begin to Stir
That evening, as dusk settled, Xu Ling sat in the garden, sketching new ceramic designs. The twins played nearby, arguing over who would make a better superhero.
A warm hand reached down, placing a shawl over her shoulders.
"It's getting cold," Wang Zheng said softly.
She looked up, startled. "You should be resting. You've been in meetings all day."
He shrugged. "I wanted to see you."
The air stilled. The faint sound of cicadas filled the silence between them.
Her heart gave a quiet tremor — not of fear, but of something fragile and alive.
"Wang Zheng…" she began.
He only smiled, rare and unguarded. "Just… stay like this for a while."
And for the first time in a long time, she did.
---
Meanwhile…
Far across the sea, in the capital—
The Chen family sat in their private study, a worn family heirloom resting in Chen Hao's hand.
He stared at the delicate jade pendant that once belonged to their mother.
"She's out there somewhere," he murmured. "I can feel it."
His father, the retired military commander, placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Then we'll find her. Quietly. The world doesn't need to know who she is — not yet."
Outside, the city lights shimmered like secrets waiting to be uncovered.
--