After the fall of the guild and Wei Han's collapse, my mornings became cleaner. It was as if the rain had washed off all the sins they had committed. Too bad for them because I didn't care much.
Even if I wasn't that focused on news, Wei Han's current situation had a way of finding me. The whole industry was busy whispering how the horse among men in the fashion industry was half paralyzed. It was rumoured that he would mutter all day about some breathing, full of life mannequins.
Well, if only they knew the guy was right. Too bad his state was too pathetic for anyone to believe him.
On my first day of resuming work, his parents came looking for me. I should have known they would, just not this early.
I heard someone knocking my door, the knock coming out all soft and polite, as if that act of politeness was enough to erase their son's actions.
"Come in." My voice had the perfect control of composure. The moment I answered, the door to my studio was softly pushed open, with Mrs Wen taking the lead to get in.
"Xiao Rui..."
She started carefully, seemingly tasting my reaction to that form of address.
"That's Miss Jiang to you."
"Yes. Yes. Miss Jiang... Please...we really need a word."
"You have less than a minute," I replied nonchalantly, not even bothering to look up from my sketchbook.
Her breath hitched, and I could detect the suppressed displeasure on her.
"My...my son Han. He really didn't mean it. I know he made terrible choices...but he is not himself anymore, and the doctors can't explain..."
"The doctors don't have to." I replied, finally placing my pencil down and meeting her eyes.
"He should have anticipated this the moment he played with darkness. The moment he tried to curse me, he should have thought about the consequences in case things backfired on him."
Her hands trembled, her ridiculous pearls taking in the moment. "Please Rui. I beg you, if there is something that can be done, like a reversal or anything, I..."
"Absolutely not." My voice came out cold, steady and with a touch of finality.
"Wei Han chose this path for himself. He plunged the dagger deep himself. You should really be grateful I didn't think about returning the favor."
Tears started slipped down her round face. "You...you really don't understand...he..."
"Unless the word understand means something entirely different to you...but I understand perfectly. I just won't bring myself to care." I pointed the door before adding,the door. "Should I call security to show you out?"
Both Mr and Mrs Wei looked at me with eyes full of raw, unfiltered anger, but I didn't care. They should have thought about how they treated me, before coming to me.
I watched as the guards moved silently, perfectly coordinating to escort the suffocating pair out of my premises.
The air immediately felt lighter the moment they were gone. What a relief! Her perfume stank!
'Lovely host, how should I log this in as? Conquered justice?'
I exhaled. "No. Delete what you just coded."
'Tsk. You really are getting good at ignoring some things. This thing called forgiveness doesn't seem to be in your dictionary.'
"Of course.Forgiveness isn't part of how I move. Especially forgiveness towards such people." I muttered, picking up my sketchbook and continuing from where I left things.
That night, as I was busy doing my skin care routine, my phone rang. The moment I picked it up, my pulse skipped because the man calling was none other than Lu Jinghao.
"Good evening Rui. Are you perhaps free tomorrow afternoon?"
His voice immediately filled my apartment, carrying the kind of authority that was calm and commanding at the same time, making people listen.
"Good evening. I am free depending on who is asking." I replied seriously, but I could detect the playfulness in my own voice."
"Well, my family is hosting a charity event. Fashion, art...you know, the usual. They really wanted to feature a couture presentation for our group. Initially, I had tried reaching out to different people, considering your health situation,but...I don't feel any of them possessing your ability."
"I told my parents you will be able to present for us."
I frowned the more I listened to his words."You are really something. Did you just volunteer for me without asking me?"
"Not exactly, I prefer using the word trusted you. Besides, I know I can count on you always."
His voice carried a quiet self assuring smile that for a moment disarmed me. I didn't get the chance to think further when he spoke again.
"Besides, my mother is curious about you. I really couldn't stay no."
Hold on..hiis mother?
"Lu...you... you really want me to meet your family?" I asked slowly, my heart hammering against my chest.
"For now, they will be meeting you as my designer...for now..." He clarified, but I quickly caught onto the repeated words. My cheeks couldn't help but flush.
"Fine," I replied after a pause. "Just send me the details."
'Warning host. The early meet the family flag is half raised. Hehe...'
"Shut up Nova."
'Yes ma'am! Copy that. Trying to mute sass...error!'
I didn't bother with the little Bengal cat in my head, as I focused back on my work.
The next afternoon, after intense preparation, I found myself outside the Lu estate, the architecture attracting my attention almost immediately.
This place didn't look like home, rather, it looked like a statement wrapped in money.
Lu Jinghao stood at the top of the steps, dressed in a gray suit , with his hands in his pockets. His lips curved faintly the moment he saw me.
"You really came."
"Yiu already made things sound like I didn't have any other choice, apart from coming." I replied, mimicking his tone.
"I call that having an efficient partner." He offered his arm and I didn't hesitate before linking my own with his, walking right beside him.
The moment we entered the venue, a wave of warmth hit me. The smell of roses, coupled with laughter and music shocked me. I had expected some sterile high society atmosphere but not this. This felt too human for everyone in the room.
Mrs Lu, Lu Jinghao's mother approached first, looking all poised and radiant, the genuine smile on her face easing my worries.
"Beautiful!So this is the Jiang Rui I have been hearing so much about," she said warmly, immediately taking my hand into hers.
My eyes darted toward Lu Jinghao, an eyebrow raised in amusement."You have really been talking about me I see."
"He has! That too,constantly," his mother took the opportunity to tease him.
"This son of mine has been sending me emails about how brilliant you are...oh dear! And your terrible sleeping patterns!"
I shot Lu Jinghao a sharp look but he just smirked. Tsk! He is lucky he is handsome.
Mrs. Lu continued clasping my hands like an old friend, not showing any signs of letting me go.
"Come on dear. The fashion world needs more designers like you. We are honored to have you here."
I really didn't know what to say or how to say it because compliments usually bounced off me, for some reason. Hers though? Her compliment was completely sincere.
The beautiful afternoon blurred a mixture of fun and laughter, with Mr Lu not maintaining his strictness around me. They got me thinking how surprised they made me. Before coming here, I expected to interact with a very cold and strict couple.
Lu Jinghao's younger sister, didn't waste any time before instantly attaching herself to me, mimicking a clingy puppy.
"You are really Jiang Rui! The one who made the one and only Phantom gown!" She squealed as she laughed hard, her eye slits almost dissaprearing.
"Can I please see your sketches? Pretty pleaaase..." Her sweet voice came in once again, pulling me out of my shock.
I blinked at her, a sincere surprise on my face."Do you really follow my work?"
"Is that even a question? Girl you are a legend in my class!"
I could not help it. I laughed, raw and unrestrained laughter."You are such a sweet girl."
Lu Jinghao just watched things from a far, wearing a proud, quiet smile. He didn't interrupt.
It felt strange, I was surrounded by so much warmth and I wasn't used to this at all. The last time I felt this, my mother was around but afterwards...all smiles around me carried hidden,dark agendas.
But looking at these people now, it felt refreshing. There was not a single agenda behind any smile I received today. I had just stepped into a world where no one was pretending, and I think that is what threw me off balance.
Much later, after the guests had moved towards garden, I found myself drifting towards the quiet hallway filled with oil portraits.These were the generations of the Lu family, elegantly staring down from their frames.
I was busy admiring them when one specific painting stopped me cold. A beautiful woman in crimson silk, standing before a loom and behind her was a crest woven in gold, a crest I knew too well.
The guild's crest. The House of Nexus.
Lu Jinghao's broke my trance. "Oh. You found her."
I turned, a bit startled. "Your ancestor?"
He nodded. "She is among the first founders of an old European guild. The house of Nexus. The one that just...long story short, our family's empire started with her."
The crest shimmered faintly in the light, and I felt my throat suddenly go dry.
"That pattern behind her...I have seen it before."
"Where?"
I hesitated. I spoke carelessly. I had seen it in my space, it had tormented me and no one knew better than me.
In the end, I just shook my head. " I probably saw it in one of my mother's old books and sketches."
He didn't push me. Lu Jinghao never did. He just watched me quietly, the same way someone watches a storm they can't quite name...yet.
By the time the event ended, the sun had already set. Lu Jinghao offered to drive me back to my apartment. The car hummed softly, as the city lights reflected in the tinted glass.
"As usual, you make sure you are amazing anywhere you go. But...you were unusually quiet today."
"Hmm. Your mother...is extremely kind."
He smiled. "She is an iron lady, she only activates that superpower when she is around people she likes."
"If I am to be honest, didn't expect your family to be so...warm."
"Disappointed?" He asked, glancing at me briefly before his gaze was back on the road.
"I am not, just surprised."
Something flickered in his eyes, and it was something I couldn't quite read. I didn't want to think much.
"You know..." he spoke up gently, his eyes back on the road. "That crest was made by my great ancestor."
My heart skipped a bit. "That same organization..."
He nodded slowly. "Before I knew you, I didn't know Lin Yue was your mother. She was under my ancestor, she was my great grandmother's apprentice. The most talented apprentice."
My fingers trembled slightly on the seat. "She never told me about that."
"She probably didn't have the time to," he said softly.
The silence hung between us, heavy and oddly intimate.
"Why then did they leave?"
"From my research, she did not agree with their methods. Their experiments included..."
"Blood..." I finished quietly.
His inquisitive gaze snapped to me. "How do you know about that?"
"I have just read... ancient things." Lies. Well... that's half lies, half truth. The space has to remain a secret.
"We both know you are not telling me the truth Rui."
I smiled faintly. "Neither are you, Jinghao."
For a moment, none of us spoke, the tension was unspoken, until his phone buzzed. He glanced at it for a moment before picking it up.
The air suddenly shifted, as I focused on Nova.
'You are about to dig into things again, aren't you?'
"Of course."
'Host, the bond must be balanced. When one creates,one guards. Only together can the threads remain of pure gold.'
"Nova...what does that mean…" I whispered.
'A simple division of role. A maker and a protector. If you are the creator, take a guess on who the protector is...'
"Nova..."
'Your favorite CEO.'
I groaned. "That's not funny."