Jiang Ting sat at the edge of the bed, his legs slightly apart, the top button of his shirt left undone, exposing his firm chest. Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a sharp-edged glow on his face. As he dressed with deliberate slowness, he fired off a barrage of questions, his voice unusually serious and inquisitive.
"Why can you see so many spirits while I can't?" His brows furrowed slightly, eyes filled with curiosity and confusion.
"Why can you look at an object and know what information it holds?" His fingers worked the buttons of his shirt, his gaze fixed intently on Astra, as though trying to unearth the answers from her eyes.
Astra lay lazily on the bed, her black hair cascading like a waterfall onto the pillow. The morning sunlight traced the gentle lines of her face. Her eyes held a hint of sleepiness, but a faint smile played on her lips.
"Why can you see so many things, other dimensions even, but when it comes to you and me, you seem to know nothing?" Jiang Ting fastened the last button, his head turned to look at her, a trace of dissatisfaction in his probing eyes.
He paused, his gaze darkening slightly, his voice lowering: "Have you ever cast a spell on me?"
At his words, Astra couldn't help but laugh, the sound tinged with teasing affection. "Jiang Ting, are you activating 'The Encyclopedia of Whys' mode?"
The corner of Jiang Ting's mouth twitched slightly, his voice low and stubborn. "Answer me."
Astra propped herself up, the silk sheet sliding down to reveal her slender, pale shoulder. Her gaze was gentle yet mysterious as she shook her head lightly.
"I haven't cast any spell on you."
Jiang Ting's brow relaxed a fraction, but a sliver of doubt still lingered. "Then why can't I see what you see?"
Astra sighed softly, her cool fingertip touching his forehead. "Everyone's soul has a different level and set of permissions. Soul abilities and talents vary, too. It's like radio and television stations. Some people can only tune into one channel, while others can access a hundred. Some can see spirits but not hear them; some can hear but not see. And some can do both."
She paused, her eyes soft and profound. "I can see other people's pasts and futures, but when it comes to our karma — you and me — I don't have permission to see it. I can't extract any information about your past lives or current life."
Jiang Ting listened quietly, his gaze deepening. "So, you can't predict our future together?"
Astra smiled slightly and shook her head.
Jiang Ting was silent for a moment before a hint of a mischievous smile tugged at his lips. "That's good. The unknown is more interesting, isn't it?"
Astra laughed softly, her eyes filled with a blend of sorrow and uncertainty. "You just find it interesting?"
Jiang Ting's hand froze mid-air, hovering just an inch from Astra's fingers. The space between them was charged with a subtle tension.
Astra looked at the hand suspended in the air, her expression elusive, a faint smile curving her lips. Her gaze met his, clear yet distant, like looking across an unbridgeable lake.
"No matter what our relationship becomes, I'll be by your side."
His words fell like a solemn promise, yet also like an escape. Jiang Ting's tone was resolute, but the hesitation in his hand betrayed his inner doubts.
Astra lowered her eyes, her lashes casting faint shadows, concealing the brief flicker of disappointment and sorrow.
"What relationship do we have?"
The question echoed in her heart, swirling around, but she left it unspoken. Some questions, once asked, could never be taken back. And she wasn't sure what answer she wanted to hear.
She slowly raised her hand, her cool fingers lightly touching the back of his hand — a subtle comfort for him and herself.
Breakfast at the Manor
Sunlight streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows of the dining room, casting a warm golden glow on the long table. Delicate breakfast dishes adorned the table, silverware gleaming under the morning light.
Jiang Ting, dressed in a casual shirt, walked ahead with his usual steady stride. Astra followed behind, her gaze calm, black hair flowing over her shoulders like a ribbon of moonlight through morning mist.
Madam Jiang sat gracefully at the table, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of a porcelain coffee cup. Her gaze swept over the two of them, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. As someone who had seen much of life, she needed only a glance to sense the subtle tension between them.
Yet her face held a gentle smile, maintaining the dignified composure of an elder. She raised a hand and gently clasped Astra's wrist, her voice warm. "Astra, sit by my side."
Astra paused, a polite smile touching her lips. "Thank you, Madam Jiang."
As she took the seat beside Madam Jiang, her peripheral vision caught Jiang Ting's barely perceptible frown and the fleeting look of disappointment in his eyes.
Lin Yuwei's eyes lit up at the empty seat next to Jiang Ting. With a graceful swish of her skirt, she quickly seated herself there. Her movement was elegant, her smile bright with thinly veiled delight, as if that seat belonged to her by right.
"Good morning, Ting," she greeted softly.
Jiang Ting gave her a cursory glance, his voice cold and detached. "Morning."
Lin Yuwei's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her eyes shifting subtly toward Astra with a hint of challenge.
Opposite them, Jiang Ming idly tapped the table with his fingers, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He hadn't forgotten the fleeting tension between Jiang Ting and Astra at last night's banquet.
But this morning, they kept a deliberate distance, as though the emotions of the previous night had been locked away. Amusement and a hint of predatory intent sparked in Jiang Ming's eyes.
"This is getting interesting," he thought, his gaze darkening.
Clearing his throat loudly, he said, "Astra, did you sleep well? You seem refreshed. Looks like my brother's manor suits you quite well."
A subtle tension filled the air.
Lin Yuwei's expression chilled, her grip tightening on her silverware. Jiang Ting's eyes narrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line.
Astra lifted her gaze, eyes cold, a faint smile curving her lips. "Thank you for your concern, Young Master Jiang. The manor is lovely, though some people's words seem a little too enthusiastic."
Jiang Ming paused, then laughed, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Just looking out for you. After all, with so many people here, some prefer to play tricks behind the scenes. You should be careful."
Jiang Ting's gaze turned icy as he snapped, "Jiang Ming, enough with the nonsense at the table."
Jiang Ming shrugged, his smile casual. "Alright, whatever you say, big brother."
Madam Jiang's warm smile smoothed over the tension, her hand gently clasping Astra's. "Don't mind them; that's just how they are — always bickering."
Her tone was soothing, as if dismissing the earlier words as trivial.
She gestured to the lavish breakfast spread. "Astra, we have truffle scrambled eggs, avocado toast, smoked salmon, croissants, bacon, and fresh orange juice. Eat whatever you like."
Astra smiled politely. "Thank you, Madam Jiang. I'm fine with anything."
Madam Jiang nodded, her expression gentle. "After breakfast, let Jiang Ting show you around the manor. The weather's beautiful this time of year. You can go hunting, have a barbecue, go kayaking, or play golf."
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "On the 21st, we're going skiing. The scenery is breathtaking. I'm sure you young people will enjoy it."
Astra's smile faded slightly. Her voice was cool and distant. "I'm sorry, Madam Jiang. I have matters to attend to. I'd like to book the earliest flight back after breakfast."
The room fell still.
Lin Yuwei's lips curled into a triumphant smile. Jiang Ming's eyes gleamed with amusement.
Madam Jiang's smile faltered briefly, disappointment flashing in her eyes, but her grace quickly reasserted itself. "Family matters come first. I was hoping you'd stay longer, but no matter. You can visit again when you're free."
Her hand remained warm on Astra's, a gesture of affection and reluctance.
"Leave me your address. It's truffle season; I'll send you some."
Before Astra could reply, Jiang Ting's voice cut in, calm and firm. "She lives with me. I'll have the truffles sent there."
His tone brooked no argument, his gaze steady with unspoken resolve.
His gaze swept over Astra, a flicker of stubbornness and protectiveness buried in his eyes.
"I still have things to handle here. I'll make the arrangements."
"She lives with you? What's going on here?" Jiang Ming's voice was light, but the sly grin on his face betrayed his amusement. "Yesterday, she was your consultant. Today, you're saying she lives with you? What kind of relationship do you two have?"
Lin Yuwei could no longer hold back. Her voice was sharp with irritation. "They're obviously not a couple. Maybe Astra just doesn't have a place to stay and is temporarily living there."
The air froze at Lin Yuwei's remark: "They're obviously not a couple."
A sharp pain stabbed Astra's heart, unexpected and piercing, making it hard to breathe. Her vision swam, and an old, blurred memory surged forward.
Fragments of a Past Life
Two children stood on a grassy field, the breeze brushing their youthful faces. In his previous life, Jiang Ting was a boy with clear, earnest eyes, holding a handmade kite. The string was tightly wound around his small fingers.
His eyes were bright with sincerity, his smile pure. "Do you want this kite? If you take it, you have to promise me—when we grow up, you'll be my wife. No take-backs."
In the memory, Astra was a little girl. Her eyelashes trembled as she was about to respond, but the image suddenly tore apart, as if an old piece of fabric had been violently ripped.
Her heart plummeted with a pain she couldn't understand. The cold reality of the present snapped her back to the dining room, the agony spreading like poison through her mind.
A blinding headache struck her. She clutched her forehead, her fingers ice-cold, the color draining from her face.
"Astra?" Jiang Ting's voice was tight with concern and urgency. He moved to steady her, but her body swayed, and she collapsed to the side.
"Astra!" Jiang Ting's face paled. He sprang up and caught her before she hit the ground. Her body was limp, her breathing shallow, eyes tightly closed.
Lin Yuwei froze, shock and panic flitting across her face. Jiang Ming's amused expression vanished, replaced by a slight frown.
Madam Jiang stood up quickly, her voice firm yet anxious. "Call the doctor now!"
On the Plane
When Astra awoke, the low hum of an airplane engine reverberated in her ears. Soft lights illuminated the luxurious leather seats, and the cabin was serene and detached from the world.
She shifted slightly, her head still dizzy, sweat dampening her hairline. She struggled to recall the last moments in the dining room—the piercing heartache, Lin Yuwei's words slicing through her defenses.
"You're awake?"
The gentle voice belonged to Jiang family's private doctor, who sat across from her, his brow furrowed in professional concern.
Astra nodded weakly, her voice raspy. "Thank you."
The doctor sighed softly, his tone calm. "No need to thank me. Just rest. Young Master Jiang instructed me to accompany you back and ensure you're alright."
"Where's Jiang Ting?" Astra's voice was barely a whisper.
The doctor hesitated for a moment, his expression conflicted. He replied with measured calm. "Young Master Jiang has important matters to handle. He asked you to go back first. He'll come to find you once he's finished."
Those words felt like a blade, slicing through the fragile thread that connected her to Jiang Ting.