Jiang Meilin folded her last shirt and placed it gently in her bag. The hospital room had become familiar over these past few days, a silent witness to the tumultuous events that had unfolded. As she prepared for discharge, a mix of relief and apprehension washed over her.
Her mind raced with the information from Li Jimin's call. The Zhao and Lian families, pillars of Xia City's elite, were more than just business rivals. Their struggle for dominance threatened to upset the city's delicate power balance. And at the centre of it all, unknowingly, was Jiang Meilin herself. She only hoped that this would not have too many negative effects on Zhao Jingshen.
She paused, hand hovering over her packed bag. Zhao Jingshen had gone to extraordinary lengths for her, even ending his engagement to Lian Fei and going against the Lian family. The weight of her secret pressed heavily on her conscience. Her identity was very sensitive, especially in a place like Xia City where she did not have many resources.
Meilin's thoughts turned to the possibility of revealing her true self to Zhao Jingshen. The risks were immense - not just to her, but to him as well. Yet, the thought of starting their relationship built on a foundation of lies made her stomach churn. Perhaps it was time to come clean, to tell him everything before their feelings deepened further. But how would he react? Would he understand the necessity of her decision or would it shatter the trust between them?
As she grappled with this internal dilemma, a soft knock interrupted her thoughts. Meilin took a deep breath, pushing her concerns aside for the moment. "Come in," she called, expecting a nurse or perhaps Zhao Jingshen himself.
The door opened, revealing not the expected familiar faces, but an elderly man of distinguished bearing. His eyes, bright and keen, belied his advanced years. A slightly younger man, likely an assistant, followed close behind.
Jiang Meilin's eyes widened in recognition before she quickly composed herself. "Old master Zhao," she greeted cautiously. "This is ... unexpected." The man before her was none other than the Zhao family patriarch, an ex-military general whose influence extended far beyond Xia City. More importantly, he was Zhao Jingshen's grandfather.
Zhao Weimin smiled, his eyes twinkling with an intelligence honed over decades. As expected of her to not play coy or pretend that she did not know him. "Hello Miss Jiang," he said, his voice carrying the weight of authority. Then, with a knowing look that sent a chill down Meilin's spine, he added, "Or should I say, Miss Blackwood?"
Meilin felt her heart stop for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. She let out a low, melodious chuckle, her lips curving into her signature smile - a blend of charm and danger.
"To what do I owe this pleasure, old Sir?" Her voice was honey-smooth, but her eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence.
Zhao Weimin chuckled, settling into the visitor's chair with the ease of a man accustomed to power. "As expected of the Blackwood heiress. Let's not play games. I've known who you are since the moment you entered Xia City. The question is, does my grandson know?"
Meilin sank onto the edge of the bed, her posture relaxed but alert. Her mind raced through possibilities, weighing each word before she spoke. "No," she admitted finally, her tone cool and controlled. "Zhao Jingshen doesn't know. And I'd prefer to keep it that way, at least for now."
Zhao Weimin nodded, unsurprised. "Your secret is safe with me, for the time being. But I must ask, what are your intentions towards my grandson?"
Meilin met the old man's gaze unflinchingly, her smile brightening to a dazzling degree. Lesser men might have been fooled, but Zhao Weimin knew what was behind that smile. "My feelings for Zhao Jingshen are very real and meeting him was a coincidence," she said, her voice a perfect blend of sincerity and strength. "Meeting him was never a part of my plan, and falling in love with him even less so. You have to believe me."
"I do," Zhao Weimin said softly. "Which is why I'm here to warn you. My grandson might not know what he is getting himself into by being involved with you, but you do. The Lian family are very powerful and Lian Fei seems to have a powerful backer, Although, I'm not yet sure who it is. You should know that you are the crux of this matter and the reason Jingshen is doing this."
At this, Meilin leaned forward, interest gleaming in her eyes. Her demeanour shifted, the mask of the innocent girlfriend giving way to the true face of Rosie Blackwood. "A backer, huh! It's just a measly Lian family, old master," she purred, her voice dripping with disdain. "They couldn't be near as powerful as our Blackwood subsidiary family. Besides," she continued, her smile turning predatory, "if your grandson can't deal with a mere Lian family, then perhaps there's no point in dragging this on."
The air around her seemed to shimmer with barely contained power, an aura worthy of the Blackwoods.
Zhao Weimin, well aware of the power this young woman wielded, merely smirked. She would be the perfect fit for his grandson. "Miss Jiang, the Lians are not your only enemies in Xia City, or at least they won't be when your identity as the Blackwood heiress is revealed."
The room temperature plummeted several degrees as Meilin unleashed her full aura. "What do you mean, old master Zhao?" Her voice was soft, but it carried the weight of a threat.
Zhao Weimin stood, smoothing down his impeccable suit. No matter how much power her family had, she was still a child in his eyes, and this was still his territory. "All in due time, my dear. For now, keep your wits about you, and keep my grandson safe. He may be more capable than he knows, but he's walking into a storm he doesn't fully understand. I expect him to come out of this unscathed."
As the old man turned to leave, Meilin called out, her voice losing some of its edge, "Mr. Zhao? Thank you." She was thanking him because, if he was against their relationship, he didn't show it.
Zhao Weimin paused at the door, a sad smile on his face. He knew what she meant. He only hoped that his grandson would not follow the footsteps of his love-struck father. "Don't thank me yet, Miss Blackwood. The real test is yet to come."
After he left, Meilin sat in stunned silence for several minutes, her mask of cool confidence slipping away. The encounter with Zhao Weimin had only intensified her inner conflict. On one hand, the old man's tacit approval of her relationship with Zhao Jingshen gave her hope. On the other, his cryptic warnings hinted at dangers she hadn't foreseen.
As she resumed packing, Meilin's resolve solidified. She had to tell Zhao Jingshen the truth about her identity as soon as possible. The risks of keeping her secret now outweighed the benefits. Whatever storm was coming, they would face it together - but only if he knew exactly who she was and whatever decision he made, she would respect it. With a deep breath, she steeled herself for the conversation that would change everything.