Ling walked straight down the eastern corridor—the one she only used when she was already unraveling and didn't want witnesses.
Dadi's door was open.
Lights warm. Tea steaming. Laughter already inside.
Rina was sprawled on the couch, boots kicked off, phone in hand. Dadi sat upright on the bed, silver hair perfectly pinned, eyes sharp as ever.
Rina looked up first.
"Oh," she said brightly. "The ghost returns."
Ling stopped in the doorway.
"I'm not in the mood."
Rina grinned wider. "You never are. Sit."
Ling sat anyway.
Dadi didn't look at her immediately. She poured tea calmly, deliberately, then finally lifted her gaze.
"You smell like trouble," Dadi said. "And restraint."
Ling's jaw tightened. She accepted the cup.
"I didn't do anything."
Rina laughed outright. "That's the problem."
Ling shot her a warning look.
Rina leaned back. "You look like you fought a war and declared a ceasefire you didn't want."
Ling said nothing.
Dadi hummed. "Did she cry."
It wasn't a question.
Ling's fingers tightened around the cup.
"Yes."
Rina's teasing softened—just a fraction. "Ah."
Ling looked away. "I didn't touch her after."
Rina blinked. "That's worse."
Ling's head snapped toward her. "Enough."
Dadi raised a finger without looking. Ling went silent immediately.
"You stopped because you wanted to," Dadi said. "Or because you were afraid?"
Ling didn't answer.
Dadi nodded once. "Good. You still know fear. Means you haven't turned cruel."
Rina tilted her head. "She thinks you don't want her."
Ling's shoulders stiffened.
"I never said that."
"No," Rina said gently. "You showed it. And then you stopped showing it. That confuses people who feel too much."
Ling's voice dropped. "I won't take something she might regret."
Dadi finally smiled. Slow. Dangerous.
"You already have her heart," Dadi said. "You're just pretending that isn't possession."
Ling swallowed.
Rina smirked. "Also—you tied your jacket around her again, didn't you."
Ling glared.
Ling stood abruptly. "I'm leaving."
Dadi reached out and caught Ling's wrist with surprising strength.
"Sit."
Ling sat.
Dadi leaned in close now, eyes piercing. "Listen carefully. You don't get to half-claim someone like that forever."
Ling's breath slowed. Controlled. Tight.
"I'm not half-claiming."
Dadi tapped Ling's chest once. "You are. Because you want to be good."
Rina folded her arms. "Which is cute. But dangerous. Because Rhea doesn't fight cleanly when she's scared."
Ling's jaw flexed.
"She left with Roin," Ling said flatly.
Rina rolled her eyes. "She left angry. Not attached."
Dadi released Ling's wrist. "The boy is a mosquito. Irritating. Loud. Temporary."
Ling's eyes darkened. "Mosquitoes carry disease."
Rina laughed. "There she is."
Dadi studied Ling carefully. "You're not allowed to destroy him unless he crosses first."
Ling didn't respond.
That silence was answer enough.
Rina leaned forward. "Did you text her."
"Yes."
"What did she say."
Ling exhaled. "Good night."
Rina winced theatrically. "Cold."
Ling looked up sharply. "She said it first."
Dadi smiled knowingly. "And you answered."
Ling closed her eyes briefly.
Rina stood and stretched. "I'm going to bed. I've teased enough for one night."
She paused at the door and looked back.
"For the record," Rina added, "she looked back twice before leaving."
Ling's eyes lifted instantly.
Rina grinned and left.
The room went quiet.
Dadi poured more tea.
"You'll let her breathe," Dadi said. "But you won't disappear."
Ling nodded once.
"I'm not going anywhere," she said.
Dadi reached out and straightened Ling's collar—an old gesture.
"Good," Dadi said softly. "Because neither is she."
Ling stood, steadier now.
As she turned to leave, Dadi added casually—
"And Ling?"
Ling paused.
"If you break her," Dadi said, smiling sweetly, "I'll break you."
Ling's lips twitched.
"Fair."
She left the room.
Her phone buzzed once in her pocket.
Ling didn't check it immediately.
She already knew.
Rhea never slept when Ling didn't answer back.
And Ling—
Ling never stayed silent for long.
Ling had barely reached the end of the corridor when Dadi's voice cut through the quiet.
"Ling."
Ling stopped.
Dadi stood in the doorway of her room, one hand on the frame, expression unreadable—but her eyes were sharp with intent.
"At least," Dadi said calmly, "make me talk to my future granddaughter-in-law."
Ling turned slowly.
"She's sleeping."
Dadi raised an eyebrow. "You're lying."
Ling exhaled through her nose, defeated but not annoyed. "She won't like it."
Dadi smiled. "Good. I will."
Ling pulled her phone out without another word.
She didn't text.
She called.
RHEA — IN HER ROOM
Rhea was staring at the ceiling, phone clutched loosely in her hand, replaying everything she'd said and everything she hadn't.
The screen lit up.
Rhea's heart jumped traitorously.
She answered on the second ring.
"What," she said flatly. "Did you forget something?"
Ling's voice came steady, low.
"Don't hang up."
Rhea frowned. "Why are you calling now?"
Ling didn't answer immediately.
Then—movement. A softer sound.
And a new voice.
"Oh," Dadi said warmly. "She answered. Good girl."
Rhea froze.
"…what?"
Ling said quietly, "She insisted."
Rhea sat up. "You— you put her on speaker?"
"Yes."
Rhea hissed, "Ling—"
Dadi cut in cheerfully. "Hello, Rhea Nior."
Rhea swallowed hard. "Hello, Dadi."
"Still calling me that," Dadi mused. "Polite. I like you."
Rhea glanced at the door, irrationally checking if Kane could hear her heartbeat through walls.
"I didn't know Ling would—"
"She didn't want to," Dadi said bluntly. "I wanted to."
Ling said nothing.
Dadi continued, voice light but precise. "You make her unbearable when she's quiet."
Rhea blinked. "I— what?"
Ling's jaw tightened slightly. "Dadi."
Dadi waved a hand dismissively—though Rhea couldn't see it. "Relax. I'm not scolding. I'm teasing."
Rhea exhaled slowly. "You're… very good at that."
Dadi laughed. "She blushes too, doesn't she?"
Ling closed her eyes.
Rhea's ears burned. "That's— irrelevant."
"Mmm," Dadi hummed. "So was Ling at your age. Look how that turned out."
Rhea hesitated, then asked softly, "Is she… okay?"
Ling opened her eyes instantly.
"I'm here," Ling said.
Dadi smiled at that.
"She's fine," Dadi said. "Annoying. Brooding. Pretending she doesn't care."
Ling warned, "Dadi."
"Oh hush," Dadi replied. "I'm old. I've earned this."
Rhea laughed despite herself—a small, surprised sound.
Dadi seized it immediately.
"There," Dadi said triumphantly. "That sound. That's why I called."
Rhea went quiet again.
Dadi's voice softened—but not weakened.
"I'm getting older," she said plainly. "And I'd like to see my great-grandchildren before I start haunting this house."
Rhea nearly dropped the phone.
"D— Dadi—!"
Ling muttered, "I told you not to."
Dadi ignored her completely.
"I don't rush people," Dadi continued. "But I do expect effort."
Rhea pressed a hand to her face. "That's— that's a very long-term topic."
"Everything worth having is," Dadi said serenely. "You don't have to work fast. Just work sincerely."
Ling's fingers tightened around the phone.
Rhea swallowed. "Ling didn't… tell you anything, did she?"
Dadi smiled knowingly. "She tells me nothing. I watch."
Silence stretched.
Then Rhea said quietly, "She tries very hard."
Dadi's smile softened for real.
"Yes," Dadi agreed. "She does."
Ling said nothing, but her throat tightened.
Dadi continued gently, "She will never say things first. That's her flaw. And her strength."
Rhea's voice dropped. "I know."
Dadi nodded. "Good. Then be patient with her."
Rhea hesitated. Then—
"…I am."
Ling's breath caught almost imperceptibly.
Dadi leaned back, satisfied. "That's all I wanted to hear."
Rhea blinked. "That's it?"
"For now," Dadi said. "I'll call again when I want updates."
Ling sighed. "You're impossible."
Dadi chuckled. "You're in love."
Rhea froze.
Ling said flatly, "Good night, Dadi."
Dadi laughed as the call ended.