Jing Hao pushed open the door to Ling Wei's office, finding his sister and their Alpha boss deep in conversation. Ling Wei noticed him first, a warm smile spreading across her face.
"Jing Hao, come in, come in!" she beckoned, gesturing to a chair across from her desk. "How was your first day?"
"It went well, Sister Wei," Jing Hao replied politely, taking a seat beside his sister.
The mood in the room shifted subtly as Ling Wei's smile softened. "Jing Hao," she began, "I know I'm the one who dragged you into this situation…"
Before she could finish, Jing Hao interrupted gently. "Sister Wei, it's alright. I understand what I'm getting myself into, and I'm happy to do it for you and Ruo Xi."
Ling Wei sighed, a wave of relief washing over her. "Alright then. What did you observe today?" she asked, cutting straight to the chase.
"Well, Mr. Hong seems to be planning a reality show," Jing Hao explained. "He asked me to gather the art and creative team to brainstorm some fresh ideas. We also discussed books and adaptations, and what genres are currently trending."
Ling Wei couldn't help but be impressed by her twin's quick thinking. She hadn't expected such decisiveness from Hong Yi. "But… something else happened," Jing Hao continued, a shiver running down his spine as he recalled the phone call. "He received a call during our meeting, and afterwards, his entire demeanor changed. He became distant, his expression cold."
A frown creased Ling Wei's face. "Did you catch who it was from?"
Jing Hao shook his head apologetically. "No, Sister Wei, I'm sorry."
"It's alright," Ling Wei sighed, her brow furrowed in worry. "Ruo Xi, Jing Hao, you two should head home now. It's getting late."
The sound of a chair scraping back cut through the tension. Ruo Xi, all smiles, rushed over to Ling Wei and engulfed her in a tight hug.
Ling Wei chuckled, the worry momentarily forgotten. "Take care of yourself," Ruo Xi whispered, pulling back slightly.
Ling Wei returned a bright smile, then leaned down to press a kiss to Ruo Xi's forehead. "You too, honey. Both of you."
As soon as the sibling exited the office a determined glint flickered in Ling Wei's eyes. While Ling Wei strategized in her office, Hong Yi sat alone in Hong Shan's cabin, a storm brewing behind his calm facade. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one a thorn pricking at his carefully constructed persona.
High on the list was the unexpected deal with Yun Xiang. Marriage. The very notion was alien to Hong Yi. Love, commitment, building a life with another – these were foreign concepts to the warrior who had spent his life honed for battle, his focus solely on survival, his own and that of his comrades.
"System," he spoke into the silence, his voice laced with a hint of desperation. "Do you think fulfilling Yun Xiang's wish would truly complete the task?"
"Affirmative, host," the system's mechanical voice responded. "Considering Yun Xiang's significance in Hong Yi's life, fulfilling her desire can be interpreted as task completion."
Hong Yi considered this. Completing the task was a compelling incentive, yet the thought of marriage and human affection remained unnerving.
"Host," the system continued, "the transfer of memories is still pending. Shall I initiate the process?"
Hong Yi hesitated for a moment before a resigned sigh escaped his lips. "Yes, do that."
A wave of dizziness washed over him as the system initiated the memory transfer. Images flickered behind his closed eyelids, disjointed and fragmented. Blackness receded, replaced by a scene reflected in a glass wall – him, talking on the phone in his condo, frustration etched on his face.
"How could you, Dad?" Hong Yi's voice, filled with anger, echoed in the now-conscious Hong Yi's mind. The scene shifted, revealing the source of his frustration – a heated phone call with Hong Shan.
"How could you do this to Mom? Did you even think about your wives?" Hong Yi's voice boomed through the memory, laced with hurt and betrayal.
Hong Shan's voice, strained and defensive, filled the space. "Hong Yi, you have to understand. This wasn't my choice. I wasn't myself…"
"You should have never kept this from Mom!" Hong Yi's voice echoed in his mind. "She deserves to know!"
"No, Hong Yi," his father, Hong Shan, pleaded, a tremor of desperation in his voice. "Don't tell your mother or Ci En. They wouldn't be able to handle it. It would devastate your mother."
"Then what?" Hong Yi roared back, frustration gnawing at him. "Should I wait for someone else to expose your infidelity?"
"It wasn't intentional, Hong Yi," Hong Shan defended, his voice strained. "I never meant to betray Shu Ya or Ci En. I promised your mother there would be no one else. Please try to understand."
Hong Yi took a deep, shuddering breath, fighting the urge to lash out. This betrayal, this secret child, it was a violation of everything he thought his family stood for.
"And what about the girl, Dad?" Hong Yi pressed, his voice laced with raw emotion. "She's your flesh and blood, left to fend for herself in an orphanage. How could you do that?"
"She's not mine, Hong Yi," Hong Shan's voice hardened. "Don't even think about it."
"How long are you going to deny it, Dad?" Hong Yi challenged. "Ten years she's lived as an orphan, with a family that turned their back on her. You can't erase the truth!"
Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
"She can't be mine, Hong Yi," Hong Shan finally repeated, his voice firm but laced with a tremor of fear. "Accepting her would shatter the peace I've built, the peace of our family and empire. This matter ends here. We never spoke of this."
Hong Yi scoffed. "Peace, Dad? That facade crumbled the day you kicked me out!" He paused, his voice hardening with resolve. "If you won't acknowledge her, then I will. That girl deserves a family, even if it's just a brother."
Before Hong Shan could protest, Hong Yi cut him off, slamming the phone down on the desk. He reached for a small, worn picture on the desk – a smiling girl, no older than five, staring back at him. Flipped over, the photo revealed a scribbled address.
Beside it lay a manila envelope, its contents spilling out – documents detailing the life of a young girl, the words "Rainbow Orphanage" stark against the white paper. In that moment, a silent vow formed in Hong Yi's heart. He would find this girl, his sister, and offer her a family, a home, something their father had cruelly denied.