Time ticked by, and An Mei Lin finally snapped out of her daze.
Slowly, she lowered her gaze to her palm, where the elegant invitation rested. The gold-trimmed edges caught the faint sunlight, reflecting a soft glow that shimmered against her skin. The intricate patterns engraved into the surface seemed almost alive under the light, each delicate detail exuding wealth, exclusivity, and power. It didn't look like something meant for ordinary hands.
She lifted her gaze back to the young man in front of her, about to express her gratitude, but before she could say a word, the tinted window of the car suddenly rolled down.
The motion was smooth and quiet, yet it instantly drew her attention.
She hadn't even realized someone else was inside. Perhaps it was because of the heavy tint, or maybe because the man standing before her had already commanded too much of her attention.
The window lowered just enough to reveal the figure seated in the back.
Even without turning his head, his presence was… overwhelming.
From the sharp outline of his side profile alone, An Mei Lin could already tell he was devastatingly handsome. The clean line of his jaw, the bridge of his nose, the stillness in his posture… it all carried a quiet perfection that was almost unreal.
Her breath hitched slightly.
For a brief second, a rare, unguarded thought slipped through her mind.
'…How is that even possible?'
It wasn't admiration in the usual sense. It was something quieter, something more unsettling. The kind of awareness that made her feel like she had just stepped into something far beyond her control.
His aura was suffocating in the most subtle way, filled with dominance and quiet authority. It wasn't loud, it wasn't forceful, yet it pressed against her senses so heavily that she found herself momentarily at a loss for words.
'What's happening… why am I reacting like this?'
An Mei Lin had always prided herself on her composure and sharp mind, but right now, her thoughts felt unusually slow, almost as if something was interfering with her usual clarity.
The man inside the car finally moved.
Not like a statue, but like something that had been still by choice.
He turned his head slowly toward her.
And the moment his eyes met hers…
Her breath caught.
Earlier, she had thought the man standing before her was already exceptionally handsome.
But this man…
The first thing she noticed were his eyes. They were cold, somewhat pressing.
They didn't simply look at her, they seemed to see through her, as if nothing about her could remain hidden under that gaze. It felt like standing under a blade of ice, sharp and unyielding, pressing against her very being.
And yet…She didn't look away.
There was something in those eyes, something dangerously captivating. A quiet darkness that didn't push her away but instead drew her in, slow and deliberate, like a pull she didn't fully understand.
His features were flawless in a way that felt almost unfair. High cheekbones, a perfectly sculpted jawline, and lips set in a neutral line that carried neither warmth nor indifference, just control. Every detail of his face seemed carefully carved, exuding a natural authority that didn't require expression to be felt.
He didn't need to speak, his presence alone was enough.
An Mei Lin felt herself drift for a moment before she quickly composed herself. She lowered her gaze back to the invitation in her palm, forcing her thoughts into order, and a polite, distant smile appeared on her lips.
"Thank you for your kind gesture, but I still think an invitation to an event of such caliber is a little too much."
"Little miss, this is the least we could offer. Please accept it. My brother and I don't like to owe favors," the young man said persuasively, tilting his head slightly toward the car when he mentioned his brother.
An Mei Lin bit her lip lightly in contemplation.
She didn't like accepting favors from strangers, especially not something as significant as an invitation to the Luminosity Gala. But the man in front of her was persistent…
And the silent gaze from the man in the car didn't help either.
He hadn't said a word, yet his presence filled the entire space. It was suffocating in a way that made her instinctively want to step back, to create distance, to breathe properly again.
Before she could gather her thoughts, the man in the car finally spoke.
"Xiao Xin, get in the car."
His voice was low and controlled, yet carried an undeniable authority that left no room for refusal. It wasn't loud, yet it commanded attention effortlessly.
An Mei Lin's gaze shifted back to him almost immediately.
Little Xin pouted, clearly reluctant to leave her newly found pretty sister, but she still nodded obediently.
Before leaving, she squeezed An Mei Lin's hand gently, signaling for her to crouch down. Without thinking much of it, An Mei Lin followed, even though she could still feel that lingering gaze on her.
Little Xin then removed a small pink hairpin from her hair and carefully placed it into An Mei Lin's hand.
"Pretty sister, this is for you. It's pink, I know you'll like it," she said softly.
The sincerity in her voice, paired with her innocent expression, made something in An Mei Lin soften instantly.
Before she realized it, a genuine smile had already spread across her face.
"How do you know I like pink?" she asked softly, her fingers lightly tracing the small hairpin. There was a faint hint of surprise in her voice, subtle but present.
Very few people knew. In fact, no one was supposed to know.
To the outside world, she was always dressed in dark tones, her presence cold and distant. No one would ever guess that beneath that composed exterior was someone who secretly adored something as soft and delicate as pink.
Little Xin's eyes widened slightly, as though she had just been caught doing something she shouldn't have. She fidgeted with the ribbon on her dress for a moment before quickly replying, "Every girl likes pink… don't you like pink, Pretty Sister Lin?"
Her wide, innocent eyes blinked up at her, filled with expectation.
An Mei Lin let out a soft chuckle, the sound light and rare, before nodding gently.
She reached out and patted the little girl's head.
"Thank you for this wonderful gift, Little Xin," she said softly, her voice warmer than before. "I'll see you again sometime, okay?"
Little Xin pouted slightly, clearly unconvinced. Then, she suddenly stretched out her tiny pinky finger.
"Pinky promise?"
An Mei Lin's smile deepened.
When was the last time she had smiled this much? She couldn't even remember.
Without hesitation, she hooked her pinky with the little girl's, sealing the promise.
Only then did Little Xin finally look satisfied. She nodded happily before running toward the other side of the car where her uncle was waiting.