" Lady An Yonghui!!"
The cry struck without warning.
Sharp. Desperate. It tore through her mind like something breaking apart.
"Ah—!"
An Yonghui jerked violently, her body reacting before thought could catch up.
Her hand slammed hard against the bookshelf behind her.
Wood shuddered.
Books shifted—
then spilled.
A row collapsed.
Volumes tipped forward, striking her shoulder, her arm—
then the rest followed.
She lost her footing completely.
Her heel slipped against the polished floor—
and she went down.
Thud.
The fall knocked the breath from her chest.
Books came down with her, scattering across her lap and side, one sliding across the floor with a rough scrape before settling into stillness.
Silence rushed back in.
Too fast.
Too empty.
She stayed there for a moment.
Breathing uneven.
"Wow, that was dangerous."
Then slowly—
she brushed a book off her arm as it slid away with a dull sound.
"I can't believe I spaced out again."
"Ahh."
The space around her seemed unchanged.
Tall shelves stood in long, orderly rows, stretching from polished floor to high ceiling. Every surface was lined with books—thick spines, worn edges, neatly arranged in quiet discipline.
Soft light filtered in through wide windows, casting a pale glow across the wooden tables and smooth floors. Dust drifted lazily in the air, visible only where the light caught it.
The entire study carried a stillness that felt undisturbed for years.
An Yonghui's gaze lingered on the fallen books around her.
She sighed as she rubbed her temple remembering that shriek of a voice that she couldn't explain. It called out her name.
And yet it was unfamiliar, it didn't look like something from her own memories.
For a brief moment, her gaze drifted.
She blinked once.
It wasn't new.
Sometimes she saw things like that.
In dreams.
Or in moments like this.
Scenes that looked like they had come straight out of historical dramas—old Asian settings, unfamiliar yet oddly vivid.
At some point, she had stopped thinking too much about it.
Dreams were dreams.
And her mind had always been a little too active anyway.
But this was the first time that she really reacted to it. What if she had been standing on a roof, or by an open window?
She shut her eyes and exhaled.
Suddenly, footsteps approached. The door opened with a bam and before An Yonghui could process anything, three men stood before her, doing what looked like poses?
The first stepped forward slightly, one hand in his pocket, the other pushing back his hair with practiced ease, like he had just walked out of a photoshoot. His clothes were sharp, modern, effortless—every detail intentional. His dark hair carried a faint tint under the light, styled just enough to say I didn't try… but I did.
An Zhenyu (28)
CEO of Zenith Star Entertainment – a top-tier entertainment company
To his left, another lifted a book he had somehow picked up from nowhere, holding it open at an angle as though presenting it to an invisible audience. His long sleeves draped slightly as he tilted his head, expression distant, like a tragic artist caught mid-thought. His dark hair was longer, loosely tied, a few strands falling freely to frame his face.
An Lianhua (26)
Renowned Cultural Artist & Literature Professor
And the last—
stood slightly behind them.
Still.
Composed.
Hands in his coat pockets, posture straight, gaze calm and unreadable like he had just walked out of a hospital ward and accidentally into nonsense.
An Mingde (23)
Youngest Recipient of the Huaxia Medical Laureate Award
Silence.
They held the pose.
One second. Two. Three.
An Yonghui just stared at them from the floor.
Expression blank.
Completely blank.
"Are you kidding m....." She was cut off when they finally looked at her.
Their eyes shifted.
The fallen books.
The scattered pages.
An Yonghui on the floor.
The pose broke.
"…Yonghui?"
Concern replaced whatever nonsense they had come in with. An Yonghui knew what followed after this.
They moved at the same time.
No coordination. No elegance. Just urgency.
She barely had time to react before hands were already on her—pulling her up, checking her arms, her shoulders, her face.
"Are you hurt?"
"Why were you on the floor?"
"Did you hit your head?"
"I'm fine—" she tried to say, but it didn't matter.
She was already being hugged.
Tightly.
Messily.
Yonghui just exhaled.
"…I said I'm fine. Also, it's hot."
They didn't let go immediately.
"Hey little sister, we missed you." Lianhua said calmly speaking for all of them.
Yonghui's mouth thinned before a small smile appeared. " Yes. I..missed all of you guys too. Very much."
Mingde smiled. "That's more like it."
"Moments like this are just the best." Zhenyu added.
Yes... An Yonghui said in her mind.
These boys who looked nothing like her. Not the same skin color, not the same heritage, not the same parents or blood. Yet, they were the first thing that brought light into her life.
Her loving brothers.
11 years ago, Yonghui found herself in China in the country side at a very young age. Abandoned, she roamed the streets, farms and all. People around her, just because looked so different, avoided her. Children bullied her, hurt her and talked down on her.
One day, when it was becoming out of hand, the three of them rescued her and their grandmother took her in as an adopted child. She was always scared but they all doted on her. Her brothers, adoptive parents, grandmother... they were the best thing to happen to her because they brought her out of the dark and into the light .
She chuckled as she recalled the memory.
Then—
A voice.
"Aiyoo. What a nice reunion. Too bad I have to cut it short."
All four of them turned.
Grandma An stood at the doorway. Lianhua and Zhenyu's faces paled.
"Grandma!!" They all called.
Her eyes turned sharp as she looked over at them, her voice turning syern and commanding."All of you, downstairs now."
-------
Downstairs, the main parlor was vast and orderly, designed with quiet authority and comfort.
Polished marble stretched across the floor, reflecting the warm glow of the chandelier above. Dark wood panels lined the walls, accented with subtle gold, while portraits of past generations watched over the space in composed silence.
At the far end, slightly set apart from everything else, was a single high-backed chair.
Grandma An was already seated.
Her posture straight, one hand resting over her walking stick, her presence alone enough to command the entire room.
A maid stepped forward, carefully placing a teacup on the small table beside her. The soft sound of porcelain meeting glass echoed faintly in the quiet.
Tea was poured.
Then the maid bowed and left without a word.
Grandma An lifted the teacup slightly, taking a slow sip before setting it back down.
Only then did her gaze move to them.
In front of her—
the four of them knelt.
"Why," she began calmly, "are all of you here?"
Lianhua spoke. " Grandma, we missed you. Didn't you miss us too?" He pouted.
She scoffed then turned to An Yonghui. "And you?"
Yonghui gave her a look. "What kind of question..... I live here."
Grandma An shook her head. "No. You live in the dorm."
Yonghui scoffed.
"Besides.." Grandma An continued. "...what did I tell you all when you all left to face the world?"
"Uhmmm...." Lianhua started but was interrupted.
"I told you all not to come back into this house empty handed." Grandma An said as she raised her voice filling the room.
The four froze for a moment before Zhenyu broke the silence. "Grandma, so this is all it was about? You scared me."
"Well Grandma, it's all right. No one is too old for pampering." Lianhua commented.
"I see, I'll go to the kitchen now and prepare your favourite stew." Yonghui added.
"My massages are heavenly, Grandma. I can give you one before the party tonight." Mingde smiled.
"Oh before we forget.." Lianhua and Zhenyu both said in unison before clapping their hands.
Maids swarmed in, on both sides of Grandma An, each holding sets of gifts as they presented to her with a bow. With a wave of her hand, the maids dropped the gifts and left the room.
She looked at the gifts before turning to them again. One glance at her face, the four of them could tell she was more pissed than before.
"Don't you dare play smart with me? There's a reason why I'm the senior and you're the young ones. Now answer my earlier question."
Yonghui let out a quiet breath. "Grandma… do you think getting a partner is like picking an apple?"
"I want to see my grandchildren," Grandma An replied without pause.
Yonghui frowned. "I understand that for them, but why me? I'm still in school."
Grandma An scoffed. "Oh, I thought you were going to use your skin color to avoid the topic but you got a new one. What a.. weakass excuse."
Yonghui's eyes narrowed slightly. "That's not very appropriate language for the elderly."
Grandma didn't respond. Her attention had already shifted.
"And you?"
Zhenyu inclined his head. "Grandma… don't be angry. Work has been demanding. I haven't had time for romance."
Grandma An's expression was unreadable. "Dedicating yourself to your job, hm? Surrounded by actors all day…" Her eyes lifted to him. "Don't you feel ashamed, watching other people fall in love for profit?"
A beat.
"What irony."
"You had better bring a woman to tonight's party or I'll link you up."
Never.
Zhenyu thought as he replied. "Yes, Grandma."
Then—
Lianhua gave a faint smile. "Grandma, you shouldn't stress too much. I do have a partner. She just couldn't come today. You'll see her at the party tonight."
Grandma gave a quiet hum. "Hmph. I hope she's as real as my arthritis," she muttered. Then added dryly, "—but without the trouble. I've had enough of one."
A subtle tension lingered.
Then—
"Grandma."
Mingde's voice came softer than the rest.
For the first time, her expression warmed.
"Baby," she said immediately. "Come here."
The shift was so sudden it was almost offensive.
"Ugh." Said Yonghui, Lianhua and Zhenyu.
Mingde rose and stepped closer. Grandma reached out, patting his arm with open affection.
"This is my good grandson," she said.
Her tone softened further.
"I wouldn't mind if you stayed single a little longer."
A pause.
Then, from behind—
"…Favoritism."
It came low. Flat.
Yonghui.
Zhenyu let out a quiet breath. "Blatant."
Lianhua added, just as dry, "Completely."
Grandma didn't even look back.
She simply took another sip of her tea.
As if their complaints had no weight at all.
Grandma An set her her teacup down. She turned to Mingde.
"Yes, Mingde. You really shouldn't be here. Have you gotten your suit ready?"
Mingde nodded slightly. "No, I was actually planning on leaving after I came to greet you but I should really start going."
"Yes. As the main focus, you cannot arrive looking unprepared."
He bowed his head. "Understood."
A soft voice broke the tension at the entrance.
"Hello."
Grandma An looked up. "Oh."
Two girls stepped inside, as a maid guided them in.
The first was Shen Yining. She carried a refined, polished presence. Her long dark hair was styled into neat twin braids with a modern, structured finish. Everything about her looked intentional—elegant, wealthy, and composed without effort.
Beside her was Lu Wanyue. Her hair was cut in a soft hime style, straight with delicate face-framing sections that gave her a gentle, classic look. Her outfit was simpler, more understated, but carefully put together, carrying a quiet, natural charm.
The two of them bowed slightly.
"Grandma An," they greeted together.
Grandma smiled at them. "Yining, Wanyue, welcome. What brings you two here?"
Yining smiled. "We came for Yonghui."
At that, Yonghui shifted slightly from her kneeling position.
Wanyue stepped forward a little. "If it's alright with you, we'd like to take her out. Shopping for the party."
Grandma An nodded. "Yes, take her. I'm having an headache and I need rest."
The answer came easily.
Then, without hesitation—
"And all of you," she added, gesturing slightly with her walking stick, "Leave too. And di not be late for the party."
A collective response followed. "Yes, Grandma.
Yonghui exhaled quietly.
Lu Wanyue moved first, offering her hand and helping her up from the floor.
The three girls turned toward the exit.
As they left the hall, the heavy atmosphere of the house slowly thinned behind them.
An Yonghui exhaled deeply.
Yining nudged her. "Grandma An is on your case, hmm?"
"She's so tiring."
"Then get married." Wanyue casually added.
Yonghui turned to her and then pulled both of her cheeks. "Sometimes it's hard to know if you're joking or actually serious, you poker faced girl."
Shen Yining and Lu Wanyue are the first two people outside her family to befriend her, not minding how different she was from everyone. They are her two very best friends. Shen Yining was just like her, from a wealthy family while Lu Wanyue was from a middle class family.
Yining was the energetic one with a hint of a rebellious streak. Wanyue, despite her serious, slightly intimidating face, was soft and sweet at heart. And Yonghui tied them together, the steady one who balanced both extremes and kept them grounded with a more realistic view of things. Despite their differences, they got along very well.
"Okay." Yining shouted. "Let's head to the mall."
The mall was bright, loud, and layered with movement.
Shen Yining moved through stores with ease, already scanning outfits like she was curating a scene in her head rather than shopping. Lu Wanyue followed more gently, offering opinions, holding items, smiling softly when Yonghui rolled her eyes at something exaggerated.
Nail polish samples were tested at a cosmetics counter—Yining picking bold, clean tones while Wanyue chose softer shades. Yonghui ended up somewhere in between, claiming she "didn't care" while clearly paying attention.
They stopped for accessories. Tried on pieces. Took photos in mirrors, laughing at awkward angles and fixing each other's hair.
For a few hours, nothing felt heavy.
Just three girls moving through noise, colour, and light like they belonged only to that moment.
Later that evening at Yining's house…
Her room was spacious and softly lit, styled in a modern, understated luxury. Clean lines, pale tones, and a glowing aquarium in one corner gave it a calm, almost suspended atmosphere.
Lu Wanyue stood closest to the aquarium, as she watched the fish drift through the water.
Her gown was a soft ivory piece that flowed gently with every small movement. It had delicate embroidery near the hem. Her hime-cut hair framed her face neatly, paired with simple pearl earrings that matched her quiet, gentle presence.
Shen Yining sat on the bed, relaxed but composed, flipping through a magazine.
Her dress was a structured wine-toned piece, fitted cleanly at the waist with a modern cut that gave her a confident silhouette. Her hair was styled into neat twin braids with small gold accents tucked in carefully.
Beside her, Yonghui's phone rested on the bed, on speaker.
Zhenyu's voice came through calmly, as he informed them of the night's changes.
Yonghui paced slowly across the room. In one hand she held a small electric fan, in the other a book she wasn't fully reading as she listened to her brother.
Her gown was a sleeveless black dress, cut cleanly and fitted with quiet precision. At first glance it looked deep and simple, but under light it revealed a faint rose undertone woven into the fabric.
Her coily hair was styled in its natural texture, defined and shaped. Small, simple earrings rested at her ears without drawing attention away from anything else.
"So Lin Shen will be coming instead to take you." An Zhenyu said through the phone.
"Anything wrong?" Yonghui asked.
"Grandma insisted." He confessed.
"What?" Yonghui picked up the phone. "What is she planning?"
"You're asking me. I have no clue. Anyway, Lin Shen should be there soon. I'll be hanging up now. See you."
"Hmm." The phone clicked as the call disconnected.
" What could she be planning?" Yonghui wondered as Wanyue turned to her.
"Maybe she needed him to do something. After all, he is the reliable first son." Yining commented, not looking up from the magazine.
"Still....." Yonghui got interrupted by a knock which Wanyue answered.
A maid stood outside, posture straight. "Misses, you have a visitor waiting downstairs."
Yining glanced up from her magazine. "That was fast."
Yonghui closed her book. "Let's go."
They moved out together, heels soft against polished floors as they made their way downstairs.
In the main hall—
someone was already waiting.
Lin Shen stood near the center, relaxed like he owned neither the space nor the moment, yet somehow fitting perfectly into both.
He was Yonghui's childhood friend and Zhenyu's best friend. He was also an actor and a singer signed under Zhenyu's company. He was very famous.
He was tall, with a lean, well-defined build that carried both stage presence and ease. His features were sharp but not cold, the kind that cameras favored without effort. His expression held a natural calm, touched with a hint of quiet amusement.
His outfit leaned into understated luxury.
A tailored black suit, clean and fitted, layered over a dark shirt left slightly open at the collar. A subtle metallic accessory at his wrist caught light when he moved, adding a quiet edge to the look.
Nothing about him tried too hard.
And that was exactly why it worked.
His gaze lifted as they approached.
As they descended— Yining spotted him first.
"Yo."
She flashed a quick peace sign in front of her eye, grin easy and familiar.
Lin Shen's smile widened slightly.
"The three musketeers," he said, glancing between them.
"Well, you look decent. I'm surprised you can get this handsome." Yonghui teased.
Lin Shen sighed, shaking his head. "Hey, if I must tell you, I am very charming. This isn't even my limit."
"Yes. Yes. Lord Lin Shen." Yonghui rolled her eyes.
"My lady." Lin Shen bowed slightly, making Yonghui laugh a bit.
"Oh, are you doing roleplay? Then I'll be the empress." Yining commented. " What about you, Wanyue?"
"Ninja." Wanyue replied calmly but was seemingly into it.
"Yining, with your rebellious streak, you'll be a bad empress. You'll give your consort a lot of heart attacks with the kind of harem you'll form." Lin Shen said.
"Take that back. Besides heartthrobs are the trends now." Yining replied.
A brief moment of easy laughter settled between them— until
"Senior, you haven't forgotten me, have you?"
They all stopped to turn to the direction of the voice.
Li Yanshu stepped forward.
Calm. Familiar. Unavoidable.
For a second— nothing moved.
"Oh my gosh." Yining squealed.
Then Yonghui's expression changed.
Not gradually.
Completely.
The ease from before vanished, replaced with something tighter, colder—controlled, but sharp enough to be noticed.
And Wanyue noticed.
Her eyes flicked to Yonghui, quiet, observant— catching the shift no one else reacted to.
Li Yanshu's gaze found her immediately—and held.
An Yonghui was already watching him.
Calm. Unreadable.
He paused for a fraction too long, like something in him hadn't quite adjusted to the present.
She didn't react.
And that made it harder for him to look away.