Li Mei awoke with a start, drenched in cold sweat and trembling. She turned to her side and saw Han, her husband, holding her close. His concerned eyes met hers as he gently stroked her arm. "You’ve been having the fears again, Lili," Han murmured, his voice thick with worry.
Li Mei wiped her forehead, her fingers still shaky. "It’s all the things that have been happening lately," she replied, pressing her hand to her temple in an attempt to calm her racing mind. Her breaths came in shallow gasps, the remnants of her panic still gripping her.
Han, ever the steady presence, caressed her back soothingly. "I’ll fetch your diary. Writing always seems to help," he said before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. With a nod, Li Mei watched as he rose from their bed, making his way to the nearby drawer.
As Han retrieved her diary and quill, he tried to comfort her. "You’re overthinking, Lili. You’ve been stressing yourself too much," he said gently, handing her the leather-bound book. But Li Mei’s mind was already spinning.
"I can’t let that girl—Edina—keep running unchecked," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as she took the quill in hand. "The way she looked at me, Han... When she took financial control of Jinwei Mansion, it scared me. It reminded me of Elara’s eyes." She paused, the weight of the memory heavy on her chest.
Han sighed softly, patting her head as if to brush away her concerns. "Today is your daughter’s birthday, Lili. You shouldn’t be worrying about this right now," he said. "Write down your thoughts, clear your mind, and try to relax."
He handed her the quill, his calmness a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside her. Li Mei opened the diary and began scribbling down her scattered thoughts. As the ink flowed, so did her fears and suspicions.
"I know she’s planning something," Li Mei said aloud, her voice hardening with conviction. "I still have custody of her, and I think I’ll announce her engagement to Gu Tianlong at Lin’s birthday banquet. With all the affiliated sects in attendance, Father won’t be able to protest—not when I’m her legal guardian."
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Han listened, though his expression didn’t change much. He simply nodded, tying his robe and wrapping bandages around his palms in preparation for his morning martial arts practice. "If that’s what you think is best, then do it," he said, his tone neutral but supportive.
Without further discussion, Han left the room, heading for the training grounds outside, leaving Li Mei to her thoughts and her diary. She sat in the stillness of the room, the weight of her decisions pressing down on her. The quill scratched across the paper as she poured her anxieties into words, but the unease refused to leave her.
At The Main Entrance of Blazing Dawn Sect,
As the first light of dawn began to paint the Blazing Dawn Sect in soft, golden hues, a lone figure approached the grand entrance. Chen Huan, the owner of Jade Grass Commerce, had just arrived. Despite the reduced guest list for this year’s celebration, his presence had been personally requested by Li Mei. It wasn’t just the prestige of his flourishing stores that earned him this rare invitation—Jade Grass Commerce was deeply tied to the Mu Family's wealth, with significant investments that had played a part in its recent success. Missing Young Mistress Lin’s birthday was simply out of the question.
Chen Huan felt a surge of pride as he thought about the gift he had brought for Lin—a dress crafted by his most skilled tailors. The fabric shimmered like moonlight, adorned with delicate embroidery and subtle jade accents. It was a masterpiece, one that he was certain would leave a lasting impression. He hoped that Li Mei would approve, especially given how much his business owed to her backing.
As he made his way into the sect’s grounds, Chen Huan couldn’t help but reflect on how far he’d come. Not long ago, he had been on the brink of bankruptcy, his dreams of expanding Jade Grass Commerce nearly dashed. Money had been tight, and the future of his stores uncertain. That was when Li Mei had stepped in, offering a lifeline in exchange for a seemingly simple task: find the dress that had once been picked by Mistress Elara, a garment said to be intended for Young Mistress Edina. Despite his best efforts, Chen Huan had yet to locate the elusive dress, but his failure hadn’t stopped the Mu Family from investing heavily in his stores.
Now, his business was thriving, growing beyond his wildest expectations. In just a few short months, Jade Grass Commerce had expanded to twenty-three stores across four regions, and there were even plans to open new locations in the capital. Chen Huan could scarcely believe his luck. What had once seemed impossible was now unfolding before him, and he owed much of that success to Li Mei and the Mu Family’s support.
Yet, despite his booming success, a small knot of anxiety twisted in his stomach. He hadn’t fulfilled his end of the original bargain—he still hadn’t found the dress. The thought gnawed at him, though he tried to push it aside. Surely, with all the profits he had brought in and the Mu Family’s investments growing, that one failure could be forgiven. After all, Li Mei had never mentioned it again, and Chen Huan hoped that she had simply let the matter go.
But as he approached the entrance of the grand hall, a sense of unease settled over him. This birthday banquet, though subdued compared to previous years, still felt like an important event, not just for the Blazing Dawn Sect but for the future of his business ties with the Mu Family. He adjusted his robes and took a deep breath, determined to present himself with confidence.
After all, this was a day of celebration. He was here to honor Young Mistress Lin and show his gratitude for the support that had propelled Jade Grass Commerce to such great heights.