-The night before, Rin's birthday celebration-

Yanmei Ling was very, very worried for her friend. She wasn’t sure why he had left so abruptly, but she was determined to find out.

If it was those damned Chu brothers again, they’re in for a world of hurt, she thought angrily.

“What do you think happened?” she asked.

“We won’t find out anything by standing outside. Let’s go in,” he replied, glancing over at Grandpa, who wore a similarly concerned expression.

As they moved through the compound, strange yet wonderful music filled the air. It was lively, punctuated by occasional shouts and laughter echoing throughout the area.

“They seem to be having fun,” she noted, and Grandpa simply nodded. They waited at the front gates, adhering to custom, but with the noise of the party and the servants swept up in the celebration, they decided to go in. Within minutes, they traversed the distance from the front of the house to the main hall, and Yanmei was blown away by the sheer cheerfulness that greeted them. People were laughing, dancing, and drinking. The atmosphere was pure bliss, reflected in the radiant smiles around her.

“This seems wonderful, wouldn’t you say, my dear?” Grandfather asked as he snagged a glass from one of the passing servants. He took a sip, his eyes widening. “Spiritual wine! No wonder everyone’s having such a good time. And this music... it resembles something from the eastern continents. Quite splendid.”

Yanmei nodded absentmindedly. If it’s so wonderful, why did Rin leave?

“Grandfather, do you see Mistress Lee anywhere?” she asked.

He scanned the room briefly, then shook his head. “It doesn’t seem like it. Maybe she’s attending to someone in the manor?” That could be it—didn’t Rin mention that the young master was celebrating his birthday? That might explain her absence.

One of the elders, a bald man with not a single hair on his head, approached Grandfather.

“Ah, Elder Ling! You’ve finally arrived. Come, come! You have to see this strange dance the mortals have come up with. Come!” And before Grandfather could utter a word, he was swept away into the throng of dancing people.

Great, she thought, watching him get whisked away like a princess. I’ll be teasing him about that later.

Yanmei began to wander around the main hall, her attention constantly drawn to the golden-haired boy sitting in the middle of the dancing crowd. I wonder if Grandpa would consider hiring him for our festivals. The music is beautiful and energetic, she mused, barely noticing Mrs. Chuu as she approached.

“Young Mistress Ling?” Mrs. Chuu said, her ever-kind voice cutting through the revelry.

Yanmei turned to her. “Mrs. Chuu! How have you been?”

“Sorry, could you say that again?” she asked, cupping her hand behind her ear.

“I asked how you’ve been, Mrs. Chuu,” Yanmei repeated, but again, the older woman couldn’t hear her.

Breathe in and out, Mei, she reminded herself.

Pointing to the other side of the room, she gestured, and Mrs. Chuu looked, smiling as she nodded. They began moving toward the entrance of the main hall, where the music wasn’t as loud.

“Ah, that’s better,” Mrs. Chuu said once they reached a quieter spot.

“Yes, it is. So, how have you been, Mrs. Chuu?”

“I’ve been mighty fine, young miss.”

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“That’s good to hear. Rin didn’t get into too much trouble for the little incident this afternoon, did he?” she asked. She had gotten an earful from Grandfather and some more etiquette lessons, but it wasn’t so bad.

“Ah, no, young miss. The young master is fine. He didn’t get into too much trouble, though he did get quite the rude awakening this afternoon,” she said, chuckling slightly.

Okay, that’s somewhat creepy.

“That’s great to hear. So why did you seek me out?” Yanmei asked.

“Mmm, what do you mean?” the older woman asked, and Yanmei felt her eyebrow twitch.

Deep breath in, deep breath out.

“You came to call me—” she pointed to where they had been standing earlier. “Over there, remember?”

“Oh yes, where is my head at? Apologies, young miss. But Mistress Lee wishes to speak to you and your grandfather if possible.” That made Yanmei’s hair stand on end.

“Ah, of course. Should we go now?”

“Mmm, what do you mean, miss?” Yanmei felt a vein start to bulge on her forehead.

“Should we go to Mistress Lee?” she asked, masking her slight annoyance.

“Yes, yes, let’s go. I shall show you the way.” Yanmei nodded and followed her. They had just left the main hall when Mrs. Chuu stopped and turned to her.

“By the way, young miss, you look absolutely splendid. If young Master Rin were here, he would say the same,” she said with a grandmotherly smile before turning back.

Yanmei tried and failed to hide the crimson blush spreading across her cheeks. “Thank you.”

Mrs. Chuu led her through a series of winding hallways that seemed far quieter than the main hall. The laughter and music gradually faded into the background, leaving only the soft padding of their footsteps on the wooden floors. Yanmei’s heart began to race. Why would Mistress Lee want to speak to them privately in the midst of such a grand celebration?

As they rounded a corner, Yanmei spotted a familiar figure waiting by the entrance to a secluded chamber. Mistress Lee was dressed in her usual elegant robes, her expression calm and composed. Yet, there was a glint in her eye that sent a shiver down Yanmei’s spine. Something wasn’t right.

“Young Mistress Ling,” she greeted with a small bow. Yanmei, not wanting to be disrespectful, returned the gesture.

“Mistress Lee, it’s good to see you. I hope you’ve had a wonderful night,” she said, beaming a smile at her. Rin’s mother simply nodded, offering only the briefest of tight smiles.

“Thank you for your kind words. Where is your grandfather?” she asked.

Something was definitely wrong—terribly wrong.

“Grandfather got swept into the festivities,” Yanmei replied, glancing at Mrs. Chuu, who gave her the slightest of nods. “But I’m sure he’ll join us soon.”

“Ah, the festivities can be... overwhelming for some. Lin, could I ask you to fetch the elder, please? This concerns him as well.” For a moment, Yanmei was confused about whom she was addressing, but Mrs. Chuu simply bowed.

“As you wish, Mistress.”

Wait—Mrs. Chuu’s name is Lin? For real?

“Excellent. While we wait, why don’t we go inside?” Mistress Lee gestured for Yanmei to follow her into the room. She glanced back at Mrs. Chuu, who offered an encouraging smile before Yanmei disappeared behind the wooden doors.

Inside, the atmosphere was starkly different. The air was cooler, and the light from the Qi lanterns was dim, casting long shadows across the walls. A low table was set in the center of the room, and to Yanmei’s surprise, the Young Master of the Frozen Sect Edge was seated at it, his head lowered as if in deep thought.

“I greet the Frost—” she began, but the young master simply raised his hand without looking at her.

“None of that now. Please have a seat, Yanmei. We’re just waiting for your grandfather,” he said in a curt, serious voice. She swallowed hard.

She had only met the young master a handful of times, and all of those encounters had been under warmer conditions—both physically and figuratively.

Hesitating for a moment, she decided to take the chair furthest from him. Mistress Lee took the one directly across from him. He looked up at her.

“I still don’t agree with this, Lee. He’s just a boy—” he began, but was cut off by her.

“We’ve already discussed this, Ryuha. It’s final!” she snapped.

Yanmei’s mouth dropped wide open. Did that just happen? For real?! Did Rin’s mother truly just talk back to the young master and use his first name so casually?!

She wasn’t sure if she wanted to be in this room any longer, but as if the eternal deities had heard her plea, the door opened, and Grandfather stepped through. He wore a bright smile on his face—for exactly two seconds—before it disappeared upon seeing the tension in the room.

“If I’m not mistaken, this is supposed to be a celebration,” he joked, but neither the young master nor Mistress Lee smiled.

“Tough crowd,” he muttered as he took a seat beside Yanmei, giving her a reassuring smile, which she returned.

Mistress Lee regarded them both for a moment before speaking.

“Good. Now that you’re both here, I have a request—or no, more like a directive.” Out of the corner of her eye, Yanmei saw Grandfather raise a single eyebrow, his jovial demeanor slipping away.

“I forbid you from seeing Rin anymore,” Mistress Lee stated bluntly.

“What?!” Yanmei abruptly stood, the sound of her wooden chair grating against the floor.

“Quite bold of you to think you can give me a directive, Silver Fairy, but we are not at war, nor do you have any right—” but he was cut off as Mistress Lee Spoke

"Unfortunately, I do," Mistress Lee said, glancing at the young master, who just sighed.