At exactly eight o'clock in the evening, the silence in front of Wei Yan's luxurious residence was suddenly shattered by the gentle roar of high-end vehicles. Three luxury cars stopped almost simultaneously in the spacious courtyard, forming a semicircle in front of the main entrance.
Wei Yan stepped out of the first car with calm and dignified steps. He turned to open the door for Ning Shuang. The girl stepped out hesitantly, wearing a silk dress that hugged her perfectly, revealing her now flawless porcelain skin. The yellowish light of the garden lamps reflected off her face, radiating the sacred aura of her newly awakened Xuanyin Body.
Before Ning Shuang could adjust to the splendor before her, the doors of the other two cars opened. Li Yuantong and Shen Ruolin got out almost simultaneously. Upon seeing Wei Yan standing there, the two women abandoned their formal demeanor. "Honey! You're finally here!" Shen Ruolin exclaimed in a heavily spoiled tone. She jogged over and threw herself into Wei Yan's embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
"I missed you, Ruolin," Wei Yan said, returning the hug and gently kissing her temple.
"Just him? What about me?" Li Yuantong replied, following with graceful yet passionate steps. He quickly took his place on Wei Yan's other side, resting his head on his shoulder and wrapping his arms around his waist possessively.
"Of course I missed you too, Yuantong. Thank you for being my most reliable right-hand man today." Wei Yan turned and planted a warm kiss on Yuantong's forehead.
"Young Master, you have no idea how boring it's been waiting for this moment. I feel like I haven't smelled your masculine scent in ages," Yuantong whispered, inhaling the scent of Wei Yan's neck with his eyes closed, savoring the presence of the man who was the center of his universe.
"Ah, you two always want to monopolize me," Wei Yan chuckled, though he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the intense attention from his two core women. "Ruolin, you look absolutely stunning tonight. This dress truly highlights your beauty."
"I wore it just for you, Wei Yan. I want you to be proud to have me by your side," Ruolin replied, planting a sweet kiss on Wei Yan's cheek, which Yuantong immediately returned with another.
Ning Shuang, standing a few steps behind them, was stunned, her eyes blinking at the intimate and harmonious relationship between her savior and these two extraordinary women. There was no intense jealousy, only a very solid circle of affection.
"Enough, enough... we still have your sisters waiting us inside," Wei Yan said softly as he slowly released their embrace, though his hands remained around Yuantong and Ruolin's waists alternately.
Ning Shuang blinked repeatedly, trying to confirm her vision. She stared intently at Shen Ruolin's face, then turned to Wei Yan with a mixed expression of disbelief and utter awe.
"S-Shen Ruolin?" Ning Shuang whispered, her voice barely audible due to the trembling emotion. "You mean... Miss Shen is one of the sisters you told me about last night? A figure as great as her is part of this family?"
Shen Ruolin released Wei Yan's embrace and stepped closer to Ning Shuang with a very sweet smile. "Why do you look so surprised, Sweetie? In public, I may be the Shen Ruolin you know from the news, but in this house, I'm just a sister who will look after you."
Li Yuantong also approached, putting his arm around Ning Shuang's shoulder in a protective yet gentle gesture. "What Ruolin said is true. Welcome home, Ning Shuang," Yuantong said in a warm tone, a far cry from the coldness he had when carrying out his duties.
"Miss Li..." Ning Shuang turned her head, feeling a little overwhelmed by such an open welcome.
"Just call me Yuantong when we're together like this," Yuantong interrupted, rubbing Ning Shuang's arm to reassure her. "From this moment on, you're no longer a stranger. You're one of us. Let us bear all the burdens you carry from your past. In this family, you'll never be alone again."
"Thank you... Sister Yuantong, Sister Ruolin," Ning Shuang said softly, tears of emotion welling in the corners of her eyes. She felt a genuine warmth, something she'd only dreamed of when she was still living in that slum.
Wei Yan, observing the interaction, smiled contentedly. "I told you, didn't I? They'll welcome you with open arms. Here, all we have is each other."
"Wei Yan is right," Ruolin added, holding Ning Shuang's hand. "We'll complement each other. You have incredible potential, and we'll help you shine brighter than anyone else at this city in the future."
Ning Shuang's joy instantly faded as her gaze fell on the frozen figure standing beside Li Yuantong's car. There, a woman—Xia Chunyu—looked like a lifeless doll in a luxurious gown. Her eyes were tightly covered by a thick black cloth, and a sound-dampening device was attached to her ears, isolating her in complete darkness and silence.
Ning Shuang took a step back, her voice trembling with deep pity as she stared at Xia Chunyu's helpless figure. "She..." Ning Shuang whispered. "Sir... what happened to her? Why must she... be treated like that?"
Ning Shuang turned to Wei Yan, searching for answers to the scene that felt so starkly different from the warmth of the embrace she had just witnessed.
Wei Yan glanced at Chunyu for a moment with a calm yet unreadable gaze. He took a deep breath, then walked over to Ning Shuang to reassure her.
"She?" Wei Yan shook his head slowly, his tone softer. "She just doesn't know her own situation yet, Ning Shuang. Therefore, I must take precautions to prevent her from making a mistake she will regret forever."
"But Master, she looks so fragile in that state," Ning Shuang urged softly.
Wei Yan smiled faintly, a smile that held a grand plan. "Don't worry. I'll explain everything to you later. And for the upcoming event, this will simultaneously awaken her and free her from the karmic bonds that have been binding her. This is a different form of 'healing.'"
Li Yuantong, still holding Chunyu's arm, chimed in, gazing warmly at Ning Shuang. "Young Master is right. Sometimes, to break the chain of suffering, we must first guide them down a lonely path. Trust Wei Yan's judgment.". Shen Ruolin then put her arm around Ning Shuang's shoulder, guiding her towards the main door. "Come on, don't let your mind get weighed down. Tonight is about us. Come on in, we have to make sure you look perfect before the whole family gathers inside." and then, they go inside.
Their footsteps echoed as they entered Wei Yan's house. However, as soon as the large doors closed, Ning Shuang stopped in her tracks. She glanced around the room, which seemed quiet and tidy—too tidy for the coming-of-age celebration she had imagined.
"Master..." Ning Shuang whispered, turning to Wei Yan with a puzzled expression. "Where's the cake? Where are the party decorations? Isn't tonight your important ceremony? Why does this house feel so... empty?"
Wei Yan paused, then turned to Ning Shuang with a mysterious smile on his lips. Li Yuantong and Shen Ruolin simply exchanged glances with small smiles, as if understanding the new girl's confusion.
"Cake? A party in this boring room?" Wei Yan chuckled softly. "Ning Shuang, what you see in the outside world is just the surface. A real celebration doesn't require concrete walls or man-made roofs."
Without warning, Wei Yan flicked his sleeve with a graceful yet powerful movement. Instantly, the air in the center of the room churned, twisting, and tearing, forming a dimensional portal glowing purple. The vortex of energy radiated a fresh floral scent and a pure, soul-soothing air.
"Inside," Wei Yan said curtly, gesturing for them to follow him.
Wei Yan stepped inside first, followed by Li Yuantong, still leading the isolated Xia Chunyu, and Shen Ruolin, who was holding Ning Shuang's hand, trembling with amazement. As they passed through the portal, a tingling sensation enveloped their bodies, and in an instant, the austere atmosphere of the hall vanished completely.
----
As soon as they touched the other side, Ning Shuang's eyes widened. She was no longer in a stark living room, but in a hidden dimension that seemed to have been ripped from an ancient legend.
At the center of that dimension, a giant pagoda stood majestically, towering through the golden clouds that shrouded the sky. Its elegant architecture, with its dragon and phoenix carvings, seemed to come to life, as if maintaining the balance of the place. Right beside it stood a magnificent palace, elaborately decorated for this special night.
Thousands of lanterns, with their dim, warm light, hung along the palace corridors, encircling the area around the pagoda. The soft light reflected off the crystal marble floor, creating a sparkling glow that illuminated the surrounding area with a serene and tranquil atmosphere. A gentle breeze carried the scent of heavenly incense, stirring the lanterns' tassels, adding to the graceful scenery.
Ning Shuang released Ruolin's hand and took a few steps forward, holding her breath. She felt as if the weight of her world had completely melted away as she breathed in the air of this place untouched by pollution and human noise.
"Whoaaa... this place is so beautiful!" Ning Shuang exclaimed in a tone of pure awe, her eyes sparkling as they reflected the splendor of the palace and the dancing lights of the lanterns within her pupils.