LEE YI / SHI YI'S POV
"Wait, you coming back to Qingzhen?" I asked Xiao mei over a video call..and she replied, "Yes...I went to Tanzi and it turns out that the lady I told you earlier, Go Miho, left Tanzi for Qingzhen...so I guess the real clues I need to where her child is are in Qingzhen. I've already contacted someone who will be of help to me, and I'll be in Qingzhen first thing tomorrow morning."
"Okay... I'll have Haejun pick you up," I responded, trying to keep my tone steady. But she noticed something in my voice. "You don't seem enthusiastic," she pointed out. "Why is that? I hope you aren't having second thoughts on this matter."
"No... I already made up my mind... and the moment I get the wuyi clan sword and the powerful witch in my possession, then I'll make sure to break this curse," I said, though doubt crept in, making me question my own confidence.
"It doesn't matter if you change your mind or not... I'll find the wuyi witch leader and the sword... and I'll make sure I have the witch avenge Moon Kyung's death by taking your life, which is also what you want since that's how the curse will be broken. We both get what we want, and I'll rebuild the wuyi witches clan... everyone wins," she declared with a confidence that both comforted and unnerved me. I listened quietly, absorbing her words. "See you tomorrow," she said before hanging...
*
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" So the powerful wuyi witch is in Qingzhen?" Haejun asked, and I nodded, recalling what Xiao Mei had said. "According to Xiao Mei... the lady who supposedly gave birth to her came all the way to Qingzhen from Tanzi, so it's possible she grew up around here... she could literally be anyone," I explained, feeling the weight of the uncertainty.
"Okay, so what would you like me to do for you?" he questioned, his expression serious.
"I was wondering if there is a way to find out if a lady named Go Miho lived around here... somewhere," I asked, hoping he had some leads.
"I believe that there is a way... I'll get my guys and see what they can do," he replied confidently.
"Your guys?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Yah, my different connections," he said with a smirk, and I couldn't help but chuckle at his confidence.
"Okay... let me know if there is a way," I replied as he left. Leaning back in my seat, I sighed, hoping that this clue wasn't leading us to another dead end.
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MALIN'S POV
"Why am I nervous... I reached out to her and now she has reached out to me... let's get answers to our questions and be out of here," I pep talked myself as I approached the cafe. Walking in, I went straight to the receptionist, who seemed to be waiting for me as well. She later escorted me to what seemed like Ms. Song Jia's office.
"Have a seat... Mrs. Song will be with you soon," she said as I took a deep breath and sat down. My eyes wandered around the office as my heart raced with nervousness. After a while, "Sorry to keep you waiting," a voice pierced through my thoughts. I immediately stood up and saw a lady.
"Mrs. Song?" I questioned as she nodded with a smile.
"I am Mrs. Song, nice to meet you, Hong Malin," she said, extending her hand for me to shake.
"Nice to meet you too," I replied as I did.
"Would you like to have something to drink... eat?" she questioned.
"No... I am sort of in a rush since I need to go back to school before 3... I have a test," I replied.
"Well then you can go do your test and come back once it's done because we are going to have a lot to talk about," she replied.
"Well, I don't think I'll be able to concentrate on the test with all the curiosity, so let's get that out of the way first," I replied.
"Are you the one who sent me this text message, and if yes, why?" I questioned sternly.
"Yes... I am the one who sent you the text, and as for why... I believe you would like to settle in because I have a lot to tell you."
[24/1, 12:05 pm] Aysher: My curiosity rose through the roof at that moment. "And what would that be?" I questioned, feeling a mix of anticipation and confusion. Just then, she called out, "Ji Eun!" as the lady from the reception walked in. "Bring us two cups of chamomile tea and some snacks," she instructed. "Okay, Mrs. Song," Ji Eun replied before disappearing.
"I have been watching you for a while now, Malin... can I call you that?" she asked, and I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. "Why?" I replied, trying to keep my composure. "Go Miho," she mentioned, and my heart raced. "How do you know?" I questioned nervously, feeling a sense of dread creeping in. "Go Miho... your mother and I were best friends," she revealed, and I was taken aback. "You were?" I asked, my mind racing.
"You might not remember because you were young at the time, but before you moved to Qingzhen with your mom, we used to be a happy family of three... me, your mom, and you," she added, and I sat up, disbelief washing over me. "What are you talking about?" I questioned, my voice shaky as she reached into her drawers and pulled out a photo. It was a picture of her and my mom, both smiling while holding a baby that had to be me.
"This..." I started to speak but found myself at a loss for words. "If I am going to tell you the story of me and your mom and how you come into the picture, then we shall have to start from way back when we lived in a countryside town called Hepu. So, are you sure you don't want to first take that test?" she asked, and I sighed, feeling overwhelmed. "There is no test... so we have time. Make sure to tell me everything and don't leave out anything," I insisted, my determination rising.
She smiled at my response. "Your rawness, confidence, and decisiveness remind me of your mother," she said, and I felt tears well up in my eyes, a mix of emotions swirling within me as I braced myself for the revelations to come.
*
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"Your mom and I grew up together... your mom was brought to Hepu after a group of people raided and killed the Wuyi clan witches in her previous town..." she said. I paused, my heart racing. "Wait, did you say witches? Was my mom a witch, or did they mistake her to be one?" I questioned, my mind racing with possibilities.
"I'll get to that later. For now, listen and don't interrupt," she replied just as we heard a knock on the door. "Come in," Mrs. Song said, and Ji Eun walked in with our drinks and snacks. "Thank you," I said softly, feeling the weight of the conversation.
"Okay then, help yourself," Mrs. Song encouraged, and I continued to listen intently. "After her town was raided, she was brought over to Hepu. She was the only survivor, and everyone else had been killed, including her parents. When we first met, she seemed quite distant. I could tell it was because she was hurting, so I respected the distance as well. Until one day, when I lost my dad as well..we sort of bonded over our traumas... that's when we became friends... I introduced her to my family, and we started to live together..we were close, we did everything together..we were inseparable.
One day, your mother told me that she wanted to go beyond the walls of Hepu and venture through other cities. She said she hated the feeling of being trapped in one place, and I admired her sense of adventure. But I didn't think she was that serious about it until one day when I woke up to a letter saying that she had left.
It took around four months before her return....and unlike the rest of the people in the small town, I was happy to see her. I was happy to know that she was alive. When she came back, everyone was bitter about her return. They performed lots of rituals claiming to cleanse her after she had left Hepu, which was like our chosen town as the Wuyi witches...
"Wait a minute, so you were a Wuyi witch as well?" I questioned, noticing the glare she shot my way.
"Sorry... everything you say just arouses more questions in me... continue please," I replied, trying to keep my curiosity in check as she took a sip of her tea.
"When she came back, she told me a lot about her adventures in the different cities and towns she went to. She told me that the most memorable one for her was Qing Zhen city, where she met and fell in love with this man. She told me lots of stories about them, and she seemed to have a mixture of both happiness and pain as she told me the stories.
After some time, I found out that this man had gotten her pregnant, and he couldn't take responsibility because he was set to marry another woman....your mom felt confused and trapped but I remember the determination she had to have you... I promised to stay by her side through it all. I took care of her, even after my mom found out and threw her out. I found a place for her to stay, and when the time came, she gave birth... to you," she said, and my heart raced with every word.
*
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"There is this tradition among the Wuyi witches clan that when a baby is born, they need to check her for a crescent sign at the back of her neck to see if she is like the chosen leader of the Wuyi witches clan..." she said, and another question popped in my mind.
"I told you to save the questions for later... for now listen," she said as I picked up my cup of tea and realized I had drunk it all.
"Ji Eun!" Mrs. Song called out. "Bring us another cup of tea..." She said
"The Wuyi witches clan leader was never handpicked by we the people but was divinely chosen at birth... and the crescent mark at the back of the neck is what told us if it was them or not. After the death of our leader Moonkyung years and years ago, there had never been another for so long and everyone had started thinking of it as punishment for having not saved the previous one....so we kept hoping praying making sacrifices and more in hope for a new leader.. because the wuyi witches were non existent without their leader.
After you were born, I decided to check... just in case... and when I did..." she said, and a knock on the door interrupted us again...it was Ji Eun with the tea.
"Thank you," I said to her as she left..." When I checked.." she started as I interrupted.." I had the mark.." I replied as she nodded..." Iam really sorry for interrupting you but all of this is just too much to take in... especially since most of it feels unreal..." I said.." I understand...that's why I wanted to wait untill you are older enough to understand before I told you any of this...I know some of it is hard to believe but believe me...it's the truth." She said as I sighed deeply.." Okay..let's continue.." I said
When I showed your mom the sign.. she asked me to keep it a secret from everyone else. I didn't understand why at first, thinking it was a privilege. But she explained that labeling you as the Wuyi witch leader would come with a heavy responsibility, and that you would live a life surrounded by that. She wanted you to lead a normal life, and it all made perfect sense. We kept it quiet..the first couple of months but then later on some people discovered the secret and it wasn't late before the elder witches did too...Miho was summoned by the elders...and she was asked to bear the responsibility...to perform the different rituals that officially named you the clan leader but she refused and when they tried to use force...she planned her escape with you...I couldn't bear to let her go on her own so I helped her and we left Hepu together..and then found ourselves in another town called Tanzi...where she stayed for a while and tried to live a normal life.." she continued..." Wait...wait wait.." I said as I stood up..." Look it's one thing that you and my mom were friends...and it's also bother that my dad was an irresponsible man who couldn't take responsibility for me...and then it's also another when you tell me that you and mom were wuyi witches and I am some sort of chosen witch leader with a mark...look all of this is just too much to take in.. especially from some one I just got to know today..Iam not trying to label you a liar or something but.." I said.." No it's okay..if I was told about this...then I would be taken aback as well...it's more than okay but Iam not just talking..I also have something to show you... something your mom left behind for you..maybe hearing these from her would sound better than hearing them from me..." She replied as I sat back down..." mom left me something?" I questioned.." Yes she did..." She replied..." Now should I continue?" She asked as I took a minute to think.." Can I have some more snacks?" I questioned as she smiled warmly.." I'll ask Ji Eun to give you some.." she added as she picked up the phone and called Ji Eun and once the snacks arrived...she continued...You were turning 11 when your mother discovered that she had an illness, a terminal one, and that she was dying soon..regardless of the cultivation and practitioning of magic that we had learnt and even taught our selves over the years we spent at Hepu...we just failed to find a suitable cure.
Your mother then decided to go with whatever date had in store for her...she spent most of her time trying to locate your father...she said that regardless of how responsible he was..you still had the right to see him atleast once before she died...
After gathering the information she needed....she made preparations so the both of you left for Qingzhen...I stayed back to wrap up and I was to join you later on...you both left for Qingzhen.
Iam not sure what happened...but I remember receiving a call a day later informing me of her accident..." She said as she took off her spects...I could hear her voice change as she was on the verge of crying..." I rushed to make it to Qingzhen...but it wasn't in time for her funeral...I wanted to meet you but I was told that you were taken into a social care home...when I went to that home...I was told that you were taken into adoption by someone...I wanted to take you back so I asked who the person was and to my surprise I found out that it was your father...the same man your mom told me stories about..the man she had taken you to meet...I wasn't sure if it was just a coincidence..but considering her last wish was for you to meet your father...I decided to let you be...and maybe give him a chance to raise you..." She said as my heart dropped
"Yingzhen!" I exclaimed, the name echoing in my mind. "Yingzhen can't be my father... are you sure you aren't mistaken?" I added, my heart racing. "No... I am sure that's the name. I heard your mom say it so many times that I recognized it when the people at the social home told me about your adoption," she insisted, her eyes wide with certainty.
I stood up in awe, trying to process this revelation. "How is that even possible?" I asked, my voice shaky. "Wait... I thought you knew," she replied, confusion clouding her face. "I didn't... and I still don't believe it either. Look, Yingzhen is just my mom's friend, a friend she asked me to send a letter to in case something happened to her. A friend who helped me with her cremation and send-off, and a friend who took pity on me and brought me to his home. And now that I put all that together, it only makes sense that he did all that after knowing that I am his daughter..."
"Wow... this is too much," I said, frustration bubbling up inside me. "I have to go." I quickly picked up my bag, feeling overwhelmed. "Malin!" Mrs. Song called out, her voice laced with concern. "Look, I'm sorry. I would love to stay and hear everything, but my head is about to explode..." I replied, the weight of the revelation pressing down on me. "I understand all of this could be hard to process..." she said, but I knew I needed space to gather my thoughts....
I walked in here today demanding an explanation for just a random text message, and now I have to digest the fact that I'm not a normal person. Apparently, I'm a witch clan leader... with a mark. My dad is the man who adopted me and didn't feel the courtesy to reveal that he's my father. He silently watched me break in the hands of his wife and daughter and didn't say anything. He watched me suffer in that house, and he didn't budge.
I let out a soft chuckle, bitterness creeping into my voice. "That kind of person is my father," I said, tears rolling down my cheeks. I felt the weight of it all crashing down on me. "Look, I have to go..." I turned to leave, desperate to escape the flood of emotions.
"Malin," Mrs. Song called out again, her voice filled with understanding. "I understand... you can go and take time to process everything, and when you're ready, feel free to come back again." I nodded, grateful for her kindness. "Thank you for everything," I said softly as I turned to walk out, needing space to sort through this chaotic revelation.
*
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As I stepped out...I stopped hailed a taxi and got...I might actually regret doing this, but I might regret even more if I don't. "Where would you like to go?" the cab driver asked. I sighed, feeling the weight of my decision, and gave him directions to the Ying mansion. I needed answers.
Arriving at the mansion, I slowly and nervously knocked at the door. When it opened, I saw Nanny, and her face lit up. "Malin!" she exclaimed happily. "Hey," I responded, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. My heart felt heavy. "How are you doing?" she asked as she let me in. "I'm okay... Nanny, is Mr. Ying in?" I questioned, my voice steady despite my nerves. "Yes, he's in his office," she replied. "I would like to talk to him."
"Okay, I'll go and tell him," she said, and I took a seat, looking around the house. It didn't seem like Ms. Huang or Hana were around, which relieved me. I wasn't ready for any interactions with either of them. After a while, Nanny returned and asked me to go to his office. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. "Come in," he called. As I entered, I slowly took a seat, feeling the gravity of the moment.
"Hello, Malin. How are you doing?" he asked. "I'm fine," I replied, though I knew it was a lie. "Have you decided to finally come back?" he questioned, and I sighed deeply. "Did you know all along?" I asked firmly, needing to confront him head-on. "Know about what?" he replied, and I could feel the tension in the air thickening....." The fact that am your daughter.." I replied, watching as he stared at me, his expression a mix of surprise, guilt, and confusion. "How did you?" he questioned, and I scoffed in disbelief. "So you did know... and you didn't feel the need to tell me." My voice trembled, tears threatening to spill over.
"Look, Malin... the situation in which I discovered you were my daughter was confusing. I had a wife and a daughter, and telling my family that I had another daughter was going to complicate things," he explained, but his words felt hollow. My heart ached as I pressed on, "So you thought it was okay to keep me in the dark? Do you know what I needed to feel the most after my mom died? Stability. A sense of home, a family, someone to rely on. Despite you bringing me here, I always felt like I owed you and your family, like you took me in out of pity, like I had to pay you back at some point... like I was..."
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I spoke, the weight of my emotions crashing down on me. "I'm not sure telling me would have changed much about our relationship, but at least I would have felt like I belonged... like I deserved to be here." I stood up, determination mingling with my sorrow. "Malin!" he called out, but I was done. "That's all I wanted to talk to you about... I won't be coming back to this house. I'll get out of your family." I turned to leave, my heart racing as I wiped the tears from my face, desperate to escape the pain of this moment....
[1/2, 12:43 am] Aysher: "Look who we have here," a voice said, and I looked up to see Ms. Huang standing in front of me. My heart sank. I was here to talk to Mr. Ying, but now I just wanted to leave. "I am leaving," I said, trying to brush past her, but she grabbed my hand, holding me back.
"Look here, Malin... I don't know what drama you're trying to play this time, but you walked out of here and claimed to never come back, so let's try to do exactly that. Stay away from my family, stay away from this house," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. I scoffed, feeling the anger bubbling inside me. "Well, you don't have to tell me twice," I shot back, pulling my hand away and storming out the door.
Back home, I stared at myself in the mirror, feeling a sense of loss. Who was I anymore? My thoughts drifted to the crescent symbol. I pulled my hair to the side to get a better look, and an idea struck me. I grabbed my phone and took a picture of the back of my neck. I wanted to dismiss all of this as a figment of my imagination, but when I looked at the photo, my heart raced. The symbol was there, exactly as she described. It made me question everything she had told me.
"Urrghhhhhh, this is all so confusing," I muttered to myself, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. How had I never seen this mark in all my 18 years of existence? And then it hit me—tomorrow I would turn 19. I couldn't help but smile at the thought, but the confusion lingered. Maybe I needed to talk to her a bit more....
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Waking up the next morning, the remnants of yesterday's turmoil still lingered in my head, a dull ache that matched the confusion in my heart. "Happy birthday, Hong Malin," I muttered to myself, taking a deep breath as I prepared for another day at school. Time seemed to fly by, each class blurring into the next, but my mind was set. I had decided to seek out Mrs. Song and hear her out, to gather whatever pieces of my past I could, including the things my mom had left behind for me.
As the final bell rang, I made my way to S.J. Cafe, my heart racing with anticipation. When I arrived, Mrs. Song looked up, a hint of surprise on her face. "I actually didn't expect you to be back this soon," she said as I took a seat across from her. "Yeah, neither did I, but after some thought... I decided I needed to see this to the end," I replied, feeling a mix of determination and anxiety. Her smile was warm, and for the first time in a while, I felt a flicker of hope. "Right... Happy birthday," she added, and I couldn't help but smile back. It was the first birthday wish I'd received, and it meant more than I realized.
Then she reached for something, and my heart raced as she handed me a wooden box. "This is a box your mom had prepared for you. She was meant to give this to you after you turned 18 as an adult, but I guess I'm a year late, but the thought still counts," she explained. I stared at the box, curiosity and trepidation swirling within me. "What is this?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Well, only your mom knows what's inside," she replied, and in that moment, I felt a connection to the past that I desperately wanted to uncover....I slowly opened the box, and my eyes widened as I took in the contents. There were baby boots, photographs, and a necklace that made my heart skip a beat. "Oh... this looks familiar," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Let me see," Mrs. Song replied, leaning in closer. "This is Miho's necklace... she always had it on her... back then."
As I continued to sift through the box, I spotted a cassette tape. "I don't think I have anything to play this with," I admitted, examining the old, dusty tape. "I have a cassette player... I can lend it to you," Mrs. Song offered, and I nodded with a smile, feeling a sense of warmth wash over me. There was also a notebook tucked away in the corner. "How did she keep all of this?" I wondered aloud, perplexed by the treasures inside. "Your mom has always been good at keeping things," Mrs. Song replied, her voice filled with nostalgia.
After I closed the box, I looked up at her, gratitude swelling in my chest. "I'll check these out more at home," I said softly. "Thank you so much for keeping all of this and for reaching out to me and silently watching over me." I bowed slightly out of respect, feeling the weight of my emotions. "It's okay... I was more than happy to do it all for you and your mom," she said with a warm smile. As I stood to leave, she called me back, and I turned, curiosity piqued. "I have something for you," she said, a twinkle in her eye. "A birthday gift." Confused but intrigued, I followed her, and when she handed me a box, I opened it to find a beautiful cake inside. My heart swelled with joy, and for a moment, everything felt right...."I am not sure if it's still the case now, but you used to like chocolate cake back then," she said, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. It was such a simple statement, yet it struck a chord deep within me. "I still do," I replied, looking up at her with a smile that felt genuine for the first time in a while.
"Thank you," I added, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Happy birthday, Hong Malin," she said, spreading her arms wide and wrapping me in a hug. It felt comforting, like a reminder of the bond we once shared.
"Thank you," I whispered back, feeling the tears threaten to spill over. In that moment, I realized that despite all the confusion and chaos, there were still pieces of my past that brought me joy.
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LEE YI / SHI YI'S POV
I leaned back in my chair, trying to shake off the frustration that had been building inside me. "There are no records of anyone named Go Miho," the person on the other end of the line said, and I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me. "But I'll make sure to keep looking just in case I missed something." I sighed deeply, knowing this was turning out to be harder than I had anticipated. "Okay... make sure to let me know," I replied, massaging my temples, hoping for some clarity.
Just then, a knock at the door broke my concentration. "Are you busy?" Heejo's voice called out, and I smiled, feeling a flicker of warmth. "No... you can come in," I said, sitting up a bit straighter. As she walked in, I noticed the concern etched on her face. "You don't look so good... didn't you get any sleep last night?" she asked, and I offered a weak smile in response.
"I just have a bit of a headache," I replied, trying to downplay it. "Really... did you take some medicine?" she pressed, worry creeping into her tone. "I did... I think I just need some rest," I admitted, feeling the weight of her gaze. She sat down, her eyes fixed on me. "What's wrong?" she asked, and I could tell she was sensing something beneath the surface. "Are you hiding something from me?" The question caught me off guard, and I raised an eyebrow. "What could I be hiding from you?" I countered, but I knew she was right; I was keeping things to myself. "Exactly... you tell me everything... but I feel like you're keeping something from me," she said, and I chuckled softly, trying to reassure her. "I am not... hiding anything, at least nothing I am aware of."
"Okay... I'll take your word for it," she replied, though I could see the doubt lingering in her eyes. "You should have some rest... don't bury yourself in work. I'll go and make you a cup of ginger tea." As she stood up, I felt a swell of gratitude. "Thank you," I said, watching her leave, wishing I could share my burdens with her but knowing I had to carry them alone for now.
After a while..I had just woken up from a much-needed nap after my cup of tea when I heard a knock at the door. "Who?" I called out, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "Lee Yi!" Haejun's voice came through, and I opened the door to find him standing there, looking a bit concerned. "What are you doing sleeping at this time of the day?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
I rubbed my eyes and replied, "I think I am coming up with something... what's wrong? Have you picked Xiao Mei up?" He nodded, saying, "Yes, but then we parted ways after she told me that she had somewhere to be. She said she will call and meet up with us later." I nodded in understanding, but then he added, "I found something." My curiosity piqued instantly.
"Remember the woman you told me to research about?" he asked. "Yes... Go Miho," I replied, my heart sinking a little when he continued, "I couldn't find any information about her or her residence in Qingzhen." Disappointment washed over me, but then he added, "So I thought that I could check the police stations or hospitals just in case." My interest was back. "And when I did... I found some documents indicating that a woman named Go Miho was admitted into the central hospital eight years ago." He paused for a moment, and I could feel the tension in the air. "Now the bad news is that she passed away a few minutes after being admitted." My mind raced with questions, and I felt an overwhelming curiosity about where this was all leading...."The good news however is that the person who was listed as her guardian or next of kin is someone we actually know..." he added. I felt a flicker of hope.
"Who?" I questioned, eager for clarity.
"Yingzhen..." he replied, but I was still confused.
"Who?" I asked again, trying to make sense of it.
"Yingzhen..." he said once more, a bit impatiently.
"The same Yingzhen we know?" I probed, trying to connect the dots.
"How many do you think are there?" he countered, as if challenging my confusion.
"People can have similar names..." I replied, but I was starting to doubt.
"Yes, that's possible, but this is most definitely the Yingzhen we know... or at least I'd like to believe that it is," he said, his conviction growing.
"What relationship could Yingzhen have with Go Miho that he would be written as her next of kin or guardian?" I questioned, my mind racing with possibilities.
"That's what I want to find out..." he replied, determination in his voice.
"That's what we have to find out... arrange a dinner appointment for me and Yingzhen... let's get to the bottom of this," I insisted, feeling the urgency.
"Okay... I'll do that right away," he said, hurrying out the door.
As I stood there alone, I sighed deeply and muttered, "Why is everything about you, Yingzhen?" The weight of the situation pressed heavily on my mind.
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MALIN'S POV
Back home, I took a look at the cake Mrs. Song had given me. A mix of gratitude and sorrow washed over me as I stared at it. After some thought, I cut out a piece and had a bite, then laid back to savor the taste. It was indeed delicious, and I found myself going back for more. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Quickly getting up, I opened it and was surprised to see my landlady.
"Hello," I said as she made her way in.
"How are you?" she asked, and I glared at her, feeling a bit defensive.
"How can I help you?" I questioned, trying to keep my tone neutral.
"I just came to pass a warning," she said, and I felt taken aback a bit.
"There have been reports of break-ins lately, so I am taking the time off to warn each one of the residents in this building," she continued, and my heart skipped a beat.
"Break-ins?" I questioned, feeling a knot form in my stomach.
"Yes, so make sure you secure your locks," she added, her tone serious.
"How is it that a young girl such as yourself stays alone?" she asked, and I sighed a bit, feeling the weight of her concern.
"Well, that's just about it," I replied, trying to brush it off as she turned to leave. But then I noticed her gaze fall upon the box of cake on the table.
"Is it your birthday today?" she questioned, and I nodded, rushing to cut her a piece.
"You didn't have to," she said, but she took it anyway.
"Happy birthday," she added as she left. Once the door closed behind her, I immediately locked up and checked if all the windows were sealed shut, closing all the curtains tightly. I felt a sense of unease settle in as I took in the quiet of my home.
After a warm shower, I sat by my bed and opened the box I had been given earlier. Inside, I pulled out a notebook whose pages had turned brown and crispy from being kept for so long. As I opened the first page, I realized it was a diary, a record of my life from the moment I was born until the time she stopped writing. Tears welled up in my eyes as I read through the entries. Each word radiated the warmth and love my mom had for me.
She wrote about the mark I bore and her fears that my destiny would be overshadowed by the responsibility of being the wuyi witch leader. It was clear she wanted to protect me from that fate. With every page I turned, my heart felt heavier, burdened by the weight of her concerns and hopes for me. I lost track of time, and before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep, my face buried in the notebook, surrounded by the echoes of my mother's love and the legacy she left behind.
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LEE YI / SHI YI'S POV
"Whatever this is should hurry... I have a meeting with someone that could actually know where Go Miho's daughter is," I said to Xiao Mei, feeling the urgency in my voice. She looked at me with a knowing expression and replied, "Well, what if I told you that you don't have to go to that meeting because I already found out who Go Miho's daughter is?" I raised an eyebrow, skepticism creeping in. "Sure?" I questioned her.
"Yes... According to my source, Go Miho got into a car accident and died a few minutes after," she said. I couldn't help but smirk, "I know... Haejun already told me that." But Xiao Mei continued, "Well, apparently with her was an 11-year-old girl..." My heart raced as I replied, "Her daughter?"
"Yes. So I asked about her daughter's whereabouts and found out that she was sent to a social home... Hope Social Home," she added, and my curiosity piqued. I listened intently as she explained that they did take in an 11-year-old around that time, but she was later adopted by someone named Yingzhen. My heart dropped; pieces of a puzzle were starting to fit together, but I wasn't sure enough yet.
"Anyways, I'll go straight to the point... this is Go Miho's daughter," she said, pulling out her phone to show me a picture. As I looked at the image, my heart sank further. "Her name is Hong Malin... I don't know anything else about her so far except her name and that photo, but I am going to find out more soon," she added. I was too startled to respond, lost in my thoughts until Xiao Mei called out, "Lee Yi!" Her voice pierced through my mind, snapping me back to reality...I felt the weight of the revelation crashing down on me. "What's wrong?" Xiao Mei questioned, her concern evident in her voice. I struggled to process everything. "Are you sure this is her?" I asked, needing reassurance. "Yes, I am more than sure... I confirmed the details through different people, and there's a news article about luxury hotel owner Yingzhen adopting a girl who had just lost her parents in a car accident. The article mentions that the girl's name is Hong Malin, the same name as the girl who was taken to Hope Social Home," she explained. My headache surged back, a reminder of the stress weighing heavily on my mind.
"What's wrong? You should be celebrating! We found the person we've been looking for," she insisted, trying to lift my spirits. I knew she was right; we were one step closer to our goal. "Now all I need to do is check if she bears the mark, and if she does, we can start the quest for finding the sword. It'll be easier now that we have her," she added, her enthusiasm palpable. I sighed deeply, the pressure of the moment settling in. "I have to go," I said, needing space to think.
"What?" she questioned, confusion flickering across her face. "Don't do anything else unless I ask you to," I added firmly, trying to regain control of the situation. "What are you talking about?" she pressed, but I turned to leave, the weight of the task ahead pressing down on me. "Lee Yi!" she called out, but I knew I had to focus on what came next.
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