Rhea walks down the corridor without looking back.
Her steps are steady. Deliberate. Punishing.
The guest room door closes behind her with a soft click that somehow sounds louder than a slam.
Silence follows.
Then—
Rina bursts out laughing.
"Oh no," she says, clutching her stomach. "My tiger got benched by her tigress."
Dadi snorts. "Serves you right."
Ling doesn't respond.
She's still standing exactly where Rhea left her.
Her shoulders are straight. Her face is calm.
Too calm.
Rina tilts her head, grin fading just a little. "Ling?"
No answer.
Dadi steps closer, eyes sharp now, no teasing left in them. She looks at Ling's face properly.
The smile is there.
The eyes are wrong.
There's a faint shine at the corners—something Ling has never let anyone see.
Dadi's voice softens. "Are you crying?"
Ling answers instantly. Too fast. "No."
Rina raises a brow. "That was suspiciously quick."
Ling turns her face away slightly. "I said no."
Dadi reaches out—not touching her face, just lifting Ling's chin with one finger so she has to look.
Ling resists for half a second.
Then gives in.
Her eyes are red. Controlled. Wet but not spilling.
Dadi exhales slowly. "You think we're stupid?"
Ling swallows. "It's nothing."
Rina crosses her arms, studying her. "You've taken punches, lost matches, been humiliated in boardrooms. You didn't cry."
Ling's jaw tightens.
"She walked away," Rina adds quietly. "And now you are."
Ling closes her eyes.
That's answer enough.
Dadi straightens, all warmth gone, replaced by something firm and dangerous in its own way.
"What do you think?" Dadi says sharply. "That we'll leave you like this?"
Ling opens her eyes. "I don't need—"
"Yes, you do," Dadi cuts in. "You just don't like admitting it."
Rina groans dramatically. "Oh God. Here comes a plan."
Dadi waves her off. "Someone has to fix what she broke by opening her mouth."
Ling frowns. "Dadi, don't."
Dadi turns to her, eyes narrowing. "You don't get to tell me 'don't' when you're standing here pretending you didn't almost fall apart in front of us."
Ling looks away again. "She stayed."
"Barely," Rina mutters.
Ling's voice drops. "That's enough."
Rina lifts her hands. "Okay, okay. But let's be real—you're miserable."
Ling doesn't deny it.
Dadi folds her arms. "You love her."
Ling stiffens. "I didn't say that."
"You don't have to," Dadi replies. "Your face did all the talking."
Ling laughs once—sharp, humorless. "She gave me rules."
Rina smirks. "Good. You needed some."
Ling shoots her a look.
Rina shrugs. "What? You were acting feral."
Ling exhales, rubbing her face with her uninjured hand. "She doesn't trust me."
Dadi's voice is blunt. "Why should she? You grabbed her instead of listening."
Ling flinches.
"I know," Ling says quietly. "I know."
Rina's teasing softens. "Then don't ruin this by pacing all night like a ghost."
Ling shakes her head. "I won't."
Dadi studies her carefully. "You mean it?"
Ling nods once. "I gave my word."
Rina sighs dramatically. "Wow. Character development."
Ling ignores her.
Dadi steps closer, lowering her voice. "Listen to me. Tonight—you stay put. Tomorrow, you don't chase. You don't corner. You let her come to you."
Ling's eyes flick toward the guest room door despite herself.
"I don't want to lose her," Ling admits, barely audible.
Dadi places a hand on her shoulder—firm, grounding. "Then stop trying to win."
Ling closes her eyes at that.
Rina groans. "Dadi, you're going to make it worse. She'll overthink."
Dadi rolls her eyes. "She already is."
Ling lets out a quiet breath. "I'll go to my room."
Rina blinks. "Voluntarily?"
"Yes."
Dadi smiles faintly. "Good girl."
Ling pauses, then says softly, "Don't… disturb her."
Rina raises a brow. "You're asking us now?"
Ling nods. "Yes."
Dadi's expression turns gentle again. "You're deep in it."
Ling doesn't deny it.
She turns and walks toward her room—slow, controlled, every step an act of restraint.
Behind her, Rina watches thoughtfully. "She's really gone."
Dadi hums. "No."
Rina looks at her. "No?"
Dadi smiles knowingly. "She stayed."
And in this family—
Staying is never accidental.
Dadi watches Ling disappear down the corridor.
The door to Ling's room closes.
Not slammed.
Closed carefully.
That, somehow, makes it worse.
Dadi clicks her tongue, irritated. "This is unacceptable."
Rina looks up from leaning against the wall. "What is?"
"Our tiger," Dadi says sharply. "She's sulking."
Rina snorts. "She's heartbroken, Dadi. Different species."
Dadi turns to her slowly. "Same problem."
Rina blinks. "You're not serious."
Dadi folds her arms. "That girl"—she jerks her chin toward the guest room—"is sitting there sharpening her pride while Ling is dissolving quietly. I will not have quiet suffering in my house."
Rina grins. "You're about to interfere."
"I am about to fix," Dadi corrects.
Rina laughs. "Oh, this will ruin everything."
Dadi rolls her eyes. "Everything is already ruined. Text her."
Rina straightens. "Text… Rhea?"
"Yes," Dadi says crisply. "Tell her to go to Ling's room."
Rina squints. "She gave conditions."
"And Ling is obeying them," Dadi snaps. "That's why she's miserable."
Rina hesitates. "She said door locked. No footsteps."
Dadi waves a hand. "Then she can unlock it herself."
Rina laughs again. "You're evil."
Dadi smiles, satisfied. "I'm efficient."
Rina pulls out her phone, thumbs flying. "What do I say?"
Dadi thinks for exactly two seconds. "Say this:
'Stop punishing her. She's not sleeping. She's getting sad and it's annoying.'"
Rina bursts out laughing. "That's manipulative."
"Yes," Dadi says calmly. "Make it worse."