The Cadence of a Heartbeat
The world seemed to shrink, leaving only the two of them suspended in a timeless void. Min's face, now stripped of its usual mask, was a masterpiece of light and shadow. In that breathless moment, Sauji forgot her rage, her grief—she even forgot to breathe. There was something in the depths of Min's gaze that set her heart racing to an unfamiliar, frantic rhythm.
"Sauji! Min! What on earth is happening here?"
Dadi Ji Chao's sharp voice shattered the silence like falling glass. Startled, Sauji tried to scramble away, but her balance betrayed her. She landed with a dull thud on the grass.
Confused, Dadi looked between them. "What are you two doing?"
Min replied, his voice remarkably calm, "A thorn was stuck in her foot. I was simply trying to help."
Dadi, fussing and scolding, led Sauji back inside. As she applied ointment to the wound, she grumbled, "Can't you do anything right? One of these days, your recklessness is going to cost you dearly!"
Sauji pouted, her voice trailing off, "Dadi, I was being careful... I don't even know how it happened."
An Unwilling Alliance
Dinner was a sensory overload—the aroma of spices filled the air as Min and Dadi worked in tandem in the kitchen. Sauji sat apart, watching them in silence, until Dadi's sudden announcement cut through the domestic peace.
"From tomorrow, Sauji and Min will run the shop together."
"What?! No, Dadi!" Sauji cried out. "I can handle it alone. I don't need him for anything!"
Dadi's tone turned stern. "Listen to me and keep quiet! You cannot manage everything by yourself; you'll mess up the accounts within a day. Min will help you, and that is my final word."
Sauji sat back, her face twisted in a scowl. From the corner of her eye, she caught Min stealing a glance at her. He wore a faint, mocking smirk that made her blood boil even more.
Shattered Shards and Burning Tempers
The next morning, the golden sunlight danced across the garden leaves. Sauji stepped outside, ready to wash away the previous night's frustrations by tending to her plants. Her prized possession, a beautifully handcrafted earthen jar, was the highlight of her morning.
But as she reached the corner of the patio, her heart skipped a beat.
Her favorite jar lay on the ground, smashed into a dozen jagged pieces. It felt as though someone had struck her directly in the chest. "No!" she screamed, her voice cracking. "How... who did this?"
Grief turned instantly into white-hot fury. "Dadi! Dadi! Come here, quickly! Who destroyed my jar?"
Dadi Ji Chao rushed out, wiping her hands on her apron. "What's the matter, Sauji? Why the shouting so early?"
Pointing a trembling finger at the ruins, Sauji hissed, "Look at my jar! Who had the audacity to do this?"
Dadi sighed, her eyes filled with regret. "Actually... Min went to water the plants this morning. It slipped from his hand. He felt terrible about it, dear..."
"Min?!" Fire flared in Sauji's eyes. "I knew it! That curse of a man! First, he invades my home, then my work, and now he destroys the thing I love most?"
She began pacing like a caged predator. "Where is he? I'm not letting him go today!"
"Don't shout," Dadi said calmly. "He left for the shop ages ago. You should get ready too. You're already late!"
Sauji reached the shop in a whirlwind of rage. Min was focused on his work. In a fit of blind anger, Sauji lunged forward to shove him, but fate had other plans. Her foot caught on a stray rope, and she tripped. As she fell, she took Min down with her.
They hit the floor with a heavy thud. And in that moment, the sound of something snapping echoed through the room.
It was Sauji's hair comb—her mother's last legacy.
Sauji froze. Tears welled up instantly. "You omen of bad luck! You monster!" she shrieked. "Get out of my shop! You've ruined everything!"
Stunned and guilt-ridden, Min walked out without a word. Left alone in the quiet shop, Sauji collapsed in a corner, clutching the broken pieces of her chilhood memory and wept.
The Invisible Realm and the Return of King Yunho
Far from the city, in a desolate wasteland, Min came to a halt. The air around him suddenly grew heavy and electric. With a single step forward, an invisible doorway rippled in the atmosphere, tearing through the veil of the mundane world.
In an instant, the scenery transformed.
The ordinary "Min" was gone. In his place stood a figure of absolute authority, draped in shimmering royal robes, a sword at his hip, and eyes that held the weight of an empire. This was King Yunho of Fairyland.
A well-built young man was waiting, dropping to one knee in a deep, formal salute. His name was Dian.
"King Yunho," Dian spoke with profound reverence. "You have returned. The King of Fairyland is back on his throne."
Yunho swept his royal cloak over his shoulder with a sharp, commanding motion. His voice, now a deep, resonant growl, held no trace of the boy he had pretended to be.
"Dian, we have no time for pleasantries. Tell me of my kingdom. How far have the enemies advanced? Which of my 'loyal' subjects have turned traitor? I want every detail... and I want it now."
The air trembled. The King had returned, and the world was about to feel his wrath.