Tang Meilin woke before the sun fully rose.
The room was still wrapped in early morning calm when a warm weight pressed against her arm.
"Zimei…" she murmured, eyes still half-closed.
The puppy responded enthusiastically, tail thumping against the mattress as it climbed onto her chest, licking her chin with zero restraint.
"Okay, okay," Meilin laughed softly, pushing its face away while still smiling. "You win."
She sat up, hair loose, sleep still clinging to her eyes, and gathered Zimei into her arms. The puppy squirmed, clearly ready to start the day.
"You're more energetic than me this early," she said, rubbing its ears. "Come on."
After freshening up, she carried Zimei out to the garden. Morning dew clung lightly to the grass, the air cool and clean.
At the center of the garden, Grandpa Tang was already there.
Dressed in simple exercise clothes, his movements were slow, steady, every breath controlled. Beside him stood an unfamiliar middle-aged man in traditional training attire—straight-backed, calm-eyed.
Her martial arts teacher.
"You're early," Grandpa Tang said when he noticed her, a rare smile touching his face.
Meilin handed Zimei to a nearby attendant and stepped forward. "You're earlier, Grandpa."
The teacher inclined his head slightly. "Young Miss Tang."
She returned the greeting naturally, without arrogance. "Teacher."
They began.
Her movements were precise, fluid—clearly trained, yet still restrained. Grandpa Tang practiced nearby, occasionally correcting her posture with a tap of his cane.
"Your balance has improved," he noted.
Meilin nodded lightly. "I practiced."
The morning passed quietly like that—discipline layered over warmth.
Afterward, Meilin sat on a stone bench, towel draped over her shoulders. Zimei was immediately returned to her, climbing into her lap as if it owned the place.
She had just taken out her phone when it vibrated.
A notification from the Tang Family Group Chat.
Tang Yuze:"Attention everyone—official announcement."
Another message followed almost immediately.
Tang Yuze:"From today onward, our family has one more Tang."
Tang Yuze:"Welcome home, Tang Meilin."
A photo popped up—him in sunglasses, leaning casually against a film set backdrop, flashing a peace sign.
Meilin blinked, then smiled.
She typed back.
Tang Meilin:"Thank you, Second Brother."
Almost instantly—
Tang Yuze:"Good girl. About time you called me that."
She could practically hear his smug tone through the screen.
Tang Yuze:"I'm landing at 6 p.m. today.""Pick me up?"
Meilin laughed quietly, fingers pausing above the keyboard.
Tang Meilin:"Didn't you bring an assistant?"
Tang Yuze:"I did.""But you're family.""Family comes first."
She glanced toward Grandpa Tang, who was sipping tea nearby, watching her with a knowing expression.
Tang Meilin:"Alright.""I'll come."
Tang Yuze:"Deal.""I'll bring gifts."
Tang Meilin:"You say that every time."
Tang Yuze:"And I deliver. Mostly."
She put the phone down, a soft smile lingering on her lips.
Zimei barked lightly, as if reacting to her mood.
Meilin looked down at the puppy, fingers brushing its fur.
"See?" she said quietly. "I'm not alone anymore."
Across the garden, Grandpa Tang watched her—really watched her—and for the first time in a long while, felt the Tang residence truly come alive again.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Capital University's Grand Auditorium had never felt this heavy with pressure.
Crystal chandeliers reflected off polished marble floors, light scattering across rows of tailored suits and composed faces. This was not a student event—it was a battlefield where ideas were weighed against capital, and futures were decided in minutes.
The Investment Summit.
Xie Zihan stood near the side aisle, adjusting the cuffs of a rented black formal suit. It fit well enough, but he could still feel the unfamiliar stiffness around his shoulders.
Beside him, Xu Feng swallowed hard.
"…There are way more people than I imagined," Xu Feng whispered. "Did you see that logo? That's Zhonghai Ventures."
Zihan didn't respond immediately. His gaze swept the hall—rows of delegates from top corporations, venture capital firms, tech giants, biotech leaders.
And at the center row—
Lin Capital.
He didn't know why his eyes paused there.
A clean, minimalist nameplate. Calm presence. No unnecessary movement.
Lin Capital invested in almost everything—technology, medicine, entertainment, infrastructure. It was rumored that if they noticed you once, your life trajectory would never be the same again.
On stage, the host's voice echoed clearly.
"Next, we welcome representatives from Yunsheng Robotics…"
One by one, candidates stepped onto the stage.
Some were confident. Some stumbled. Some spoke too much. Some too little.
After every presentation, polite applause followed—measured, professional, restrained.
Zihan listened carefully, fingers unconsciously tightening at his side.
Not impressed.Too conservative.Overpromised.No core innovation.
His mind analyzed automatically.
"Candidate number eight," the host announced."Project name: 'Mythfall: Awakening of the Celestial Realms.'"
Xu Feng's heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
"That's us," he hissed.
Zihan exhaled slowly.
"Let's go."
They walked onto the stage together.
Under the lights, the hall seemed larger. Quieter.
Zihan stood at the podium. Xu Feng managed the slides.
"My name is Xie Zihan," he said evenly. "This is my partner, Xu Feng."
No flashy introduction.
Just calm certainty.
"Our project is a role-playing game based on classical Chinese mythology," Zihan continued. "But it is not nostalgia-driven. It is player-choice driven."
Images flashed on the screen—immortal clans, celestial wars, mortal ascension paths.
"Every character arc changes based on moral decisions. Gods can fall. Mortals can rise. Even the world map evolves."
Xu Feng added quickly, "We're ready with prototype"
Zihan nodded. "We are not looking for short-term profit. We are building an IP that can expand into animation, novels, merchandise—an ecosystem."
There was a pause.
Then—
A few people leaned forward.
From the Lin Capital section, a man finally looked up.
Assistant He.
He didn't interrupt. Didn't nod. Didn't react.
But he listened.
Zihan finished. "That's all."
Applause followed.
This time—slightly louder.
As they stepped down from the stage, Xu Feng's palms were sweating.
"Did we do okay?" he whispered.
Zihan didn't answer.
Because Assistant He had stood up.
He walked over calmly, stopping in front of Xu Feng.
"You're Xu Feng," he said.
Xu Feng straightened instantly. "Y-Yes."
Assistant He handed him a business card.
"Come to Arc Building, ninth floor," he said. "Tomorrow morning. Nine a.m."
Xu Feng stared at the card as if it were unreal.
"To… discuss?" he asked cautiously.
Assistant He's tone was neutral, but his words carried weight.
"To discuss your project."
Then his gaze shifted briefly—to Zihan.
Just one glance.
Measured. Assessing.
And then he turned and walked away, returning to the Lin Capital section.
Xu Feng clutched the card, voice shaking."Zihan… that was Lin Capital."
Zihan watched Assistant He's retreating figure.
His chest felt oddly tight.
For reasons he couldn't explain—
It felt like something had quietly stepped onto the path of his life.
And once stepped onto—
It would not leave easily.