Li Chen sat in his expansive study, shuffling through reports and financial statements. It was usually his sanctuary, the one place where he could manage everything with a firm hand. But today, he was uneasy, sensing a change in his daughter's demeanor. Mei had grown unusually quiet in recent days, skipping her usual outings and hardly speaking at family dinners. She was clearly keeping something to herself.
As a father and head of the Chen family, Li had always ensured Mei's happiness. Her desires were usually as simple as a new handbag or a luxurious weekend trip, things that money and power could easily provide. But this time, her sadness was not something he could simply fix with a purchase.
When she finally came to him, her request hit him with an unexpected force.
"Dad, can you… talk to Ethan?" Mei's voice was soft, her gaze averted, as if ashamed to ask for something so vulnerable. She looked nothing like the spoiled, carefree girl he had always known. Instead, she seemed wounded, struggling with a pain that no father could bear to see in his child.
Li Chen took a deep breath, his mind turning to the situation with a seriousness Mei likely hadn't expected. Ethan Han—he knew the young man's family well enough. The Hans were formidable in their own right, powerful in the business world, but not involved in the same web of influence and power Li commanded. The Han family kept a firm grip on their businesses and held high status, and although they didn't deal in underworld circles, their connections were far-reaching and their wealth immense. Trying to pressure or even influence Ethan directly would be risky. Ethan's family could not be easily intimidated or swayed.
"Mei," he began carefully, choosing his words with the utmost precision, "the Han family is strong. They're not like those smaller families we can manipulate. Trying to influence Ethan would complicate our family's reputation and risk our standing. And, from what I've heard, he was respectful when he turned you down."
The last sentence seemed to have a sting in it, and he regretted it the moment he saw her reaction. Mei's face fell, a mixture of frustration and disappointment filling her eyes. She wanted him to say yes, to promise he could fix this with the same ease he had always handled her other requests. But this was not a matter of wealth or influence. This was love—or the lack of it—and no amount of power could force someone to feel what they didn't.
"Dad, I just… I thought you'd be able to help," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn't think you'd just… let it go."
Li took her hands in his, trying to soften the blow. "Mei, sometimes we have to accept that not everything is under our control, no matter how much we might want it to be. Ethan didn't mistreat you; he simply doesn't share the feelings you have. Forcing his hand would bring more harm than good—for both of us."
Mei nodded, though her disappointment was palpable. The knowledge that even her father's power couldn't give her what she wanted left her feeling hollow. She gave him a small nod, her head downcast, and left his study without another word. As Li Chen watched her go, he sighed, feeling helpless in a way he rarely did. The Chen family could command loyalty, wield influence, and control power, but the heart was beyond even their reach.
The days that followed saw Mei slipping back into her daily routine, though her heart felt heavy. She spent more time with her friends, shopping and laughing in the attempt to distract herself. Her friends could tell she was not quite herself, but they didn't press, knowing that sometimes the best remedy was patience.
One afternoon, Mei sat with her closest friend, Lila, at a cozy café near the university. Lila had noticed her friend's mood and was determined to bring some brightness back into Mei's life.
"Did you hear the latest rumor?" Lila asked, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Apparently, a new student transferred to our department, and he's supposed to be incredibly handsome!"
Mei gave a small smile, half-listening. "Another one of your campus crushes, Lila?"
"I'm serious, Mei! Everyone is talking about him. They say he's from the Lin family—the one with the financial empire," Lila insisted. "He's supposedly good-looking, smart, and incredibly polite. You should see the buzz around him—it's like we have our own celebrity on campus."
Mei couldn't deny that her interest was piqued. The Lin family was well-known, their reputation built on wealth and status similar to the Hans. Still, she brushed it off with a polite nod, unsure if she wanted to dive into another potential crush so soon after Ethan.
However, as fate would have it, Mei's curiosity got the better of her the next day when she saw the new student in person. It was in one of her shared classes, and he was hard to miss—tall, with dark, neatly styled hair, dressed in a way that was both effortlessly stylish and subdued. When he took a seat a few rows away, Mei noticed how the room seemed to pause, as if everyone was just as intrigued by him as she was.
The professor began class, but Mei's attention drifted more than once toward the new student. He seemed focused on the lecture, jotting down notes with a calm confidence that made him seem almost unreal. His aura was different from Ethan's; while Ethan had been reserved and distant, this young man seemed approachable, grounded in a way that put everyone around him at ease.
After class ended, Mei found herself lingering a bit longer than usual, watching as he packed up his books and left the lecture hall with a casual wave to a few classmates he'd already befriended.
Lila nudged her, grinning. "I saw that look! Mei, I think our new student has caught your interest."
Mei rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "I was just… curious."