Meanwhile, in her apartment, Jiang Meilin sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at the antique computer she'd just pulled from under her bed. Dust motes danced in the air as she gently wiped the device clean, her fingers trembling slightly. This outdated machine, with its clunky hardware and advanced software, represented more than just a communication tool, it was a portal to her reality, a reality she'd fought so hard to come back to.
When she'd first arrived in Xia City, this computer had been her only safe connection to her family, a encrypted lifeline that couldn't be traced or tapped. Back then, it had been both a comfort and a curse, reminding her of everything she'd left behind and everything she feared.
Now, as she prepared to power it on, Meilin found herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions. The recent call with her mother and the unprepared encounter with her twin Reginald had shaken loose memories and feelings she'd long suppressed. It was as if she was standing at the edge of a precipice, looking back at the long, arduous path she'd traveled.
Gone were the days of heavy medication that left her feeling hollow. The fog of depression that had once clouded her every waking moment had lifted. As she reflected on her journey, Meilin realized the true extent of her transformation. Her recovery wasn't just significant - it was nothing short of miraculous.
A lump formed in her throat as she thought of Jiang Meilin and Zhao Jingshen. They were her anchors in this new life, Jiang Meilin was her reason for coming here and Zhao Jingshen was her reason for living here. Without them, she might still be lost in the darkness that had once consumed her.
As the computer hummed to life, its screen flickering with a pale blue light, Jiang Meilin took a deep breath. The weight of this moment pressed down on her, filling her with a mix of anticipation and longing.
Her finger hovered over the keyboard, poised to type in the complex password that would unlock her old life.
With trembling fingers, she initiated a video call. When her mother's face appeared on the screen, tears welled up in both their eyes.
"Mommy," Meilin choked out, her voice thick with emotion.
"My sweet Rosie," her mother whispered, a hand flying to her mouth to stifle a sob. She had gotten updates from her guards and Li Jimin, but seeing her daughter initiate a call, told her everything she needed to know.
They talked for what felt like hours, catching up on lost time. As the conversation wound down, her mother's voice took on a hopeful tone. "Will you be coming home now, honey?"
Jiang Meilin hesitated. "Not yet, Mom," she said softly. "But soon. I have a few things to wrap up here first."
As the call ended, Jiang Meilin exhaled slowly, feeling relief wash over her. The weight that had been pressing down on her shoulders for so long began to lift, replaced by a newfound sense of resolve. She was finally ready to confront the ghosts of her past, to face the truths she had been running from for years.
Yet, as she sat there in front of her canvas, brush in hand, she felt an unexpected pang of reluctance. Xia City, with its familiar streets and the comfort of routine, had become more than just a temporary refuge. It had become home. And at the center of that home was Zhao Jingshen, a man she had just met but felt inexplicably drawn to.
Jiang Meilin closed her eyes, remembering the look on Zhao Jingshen's face when she had told him she was retracting her promise to be his girlfriend. It had been a calculated move, a final test perhaps, or maybe a last act of mercy. She was giving him a chance to flee, to escape the whirlwind that was about to engulf her life, once she choose to embrace it.
Part of her hoped he would take it, sparing himself the pain and uncertainty that lay ahead. Being a Blackwood came with a lot of danger, although Zhao Jingshen was not a stranger to danger, this might be a whole new level for him. And like Li Jimin had rightly said, she was bound to leave this place.
Yet a selfish part of her wanted him to stay. If he chose to stand by her despite the turbulent journey ahead, she knew she'd never let him go.
"If he stays," Meilin whispered, "he'll be bound to me forever. No escape, no turning back."
The thought both thrilled and terrified her as she contemplated the uncertain future ahead.
She drew in her canvas, a painting that captured and represented her emotions in picture.
In Continent F,
The air in the Blackwood manor seemed to shimmer with a newfound hope. Gerald stood quietly, his heart swelling as he watched Vera Blackwood, the formidable matriarch, crumble into a rare display of vulnerability. Tears streamed down her face, each droplet a testament to years of anguish finally giving way to relief.
"Madam," Gerald whispered, his own voice thick with emotion, "congratulations. The young miss... she's overcome her illness."
Vera's eyes, brimming with tears, met Gerald's. Her lips trembled as she fought to speak, years of pent-up fear and despair breaking like a dam. "Oh, Gerald," she breathed, her words barely audible. "My little girl... my precious Rosie... she's coming back to me." She had watched her daughter waste away after the loss of her best friend. All the wealth and power possessed by the Blackwoods', all the love and care in the world could not repair the damage that had been done to her mind.
Unable to contain herself, Vera Blackwood let out a sob that seemed to shake the very foundations of the manor. "Tell everyone, Gerald. Let them all know! Our home will sing with joy again. Give them all a bonus, a feast, anything! My daughter is coming home!"
Gerald, usually stoic, felt his own eyes misting. He hesitated, the weight of unspoken troubles pressing on his conscience. "Madam," he began gently, "I hate to darken this moment, but... what of the young miss's uncle? Shouldn't we prepare her?"
Vera's joy shattered like glass. "No!" she cried out, her voice raw with sudden fear and fierce protectiveness. "Not a word, Gerald! Not one word!" Her hands clenched into fists, shaking. "She's been through so much, fought so hard. I won't have her homecoming tainted by... by this darkness. We'll shield her, Gerald. We must."
"But Madam, the truth-"
"The truth can wait!" Vera's eyes flashed with a mother's determination. "For once, just once, let us bask in this miracle. Let me hold my daughter without shadows looming over us. Please, Gerald."
As Gerald bowed and retreated, Vera turned to the window. Outside, the world seemed brighter, as if nature itself celebrated with her. Yet, in the reflection of the glass, she saw her own face – joy warring with fear, hope battling with dread. Her daughter was returning, yes, but to what?
Vera pressed a hand to the cool glass, closing her eyes. "Just a little longer," she whispered, a prayer to whatever forces had finally shown mercy. "Let us have this happiness, just for a while. Before the storm breaks."