Tang Ke felt a bit nervous. For this banquet, Xin Ya had specially purchased a new outfit for him, delivering the message that it was something important. Yet, his anxiety stemmed not only from the school's situation—though it had been just a fleeting glance, the head of the Han family had made an indelible impression on him. He was a powerful, fierce man who instilled fear in others.
On the other hand, Tang Ke could not help but recall that angelic young lady. That day, she seemed to be drained of spirit, her face pale as snow, causing concern. He wondered if she had been feeling better since then.
Holding Tang Ke's hand, Xin Ya presented the invitation card. The chip embedded in it bore the spiritual mark left by the Han family’s head, and once scanned, they were politely ushered inside by a servant.
Xin Ya was somewhat nervous too. It had been a long time since she had attended a gathering of the Han family.
When she was younger, her mother was quite enthusiastic. Each time the Han family hosted a banquet, she would manage to get an invitation and dress Xin Ya up beautifully to attend. Until one day, when her mother noticed Xin Ya staring at a young man, her expression shifted drastically.
That time, they left the banquet before it concluded.
“He will not do! He’s not the one!” her mother sternly warned her, “Stay away from him!”
Of course, Xin Ya understood her mother's feelings, but at just sixteen, facing such reality was heart-wrenching. However, as time went on, those earlier woes seemed trivial, for life had much harder trials waiting in store.
By the time she turned twenty, on a grand terrace in this very estate, that young man had grasped her wrist, saying, “I can take care of you for the rest of your life.”
Ever since her mother had opened her eyes to the truth, Xin Ya had deliberately kept her distance, only observing him from afar without daring to approach. That evening, she finally confirmed that he indeed had feelings for her.
Yet that night was his engagement ceremony.
Oh, how heartbreaking it was! If only she had never known he liked her, perhaps she wouldn’t have felt such sorrow.
A girl’s dreams were meant to awaken, and from that day onward, she resolved to become a true adult.
She withdrew her hand, adopting her best formal demeanor, cold yet polite in her refusal, then turned to leave. After that, they never crossed paths again.
She buried those youthful feelings deep within her memories, choosing instead to live a grounded life. Eventually, she found the right person, fell in love, got married, and had children. She thought her life would flow on peacefully and happily, yet fate had different plans. First, her parents perished in a car accident, then her husband suffered an accident. She was left scrambling, and what once was a relatively wealthy family crumbled to dust within a few years.
Finally, she made herself presentable again, standing at the entrance of this estate. Her mindset was no longer what it had once been.
As she stepped into the banquet hall, she was met with a world she had not seen in a long time. The air was filled with fragrant clothing and shining jewels.
Xin Ya instinctively smoothed her dress. She hadn’t bought new clothes in the past couple of years, let alone something suitable for such a special occasion. This gown was an old one she had worn before. Would anyone notice?
But then Xin Ya chuckled to herself. In this situation, she was insignificant; who would pay her any mind?
Steeling herself, she held Tang Ke's hand, ventured into the crowd, and sought out her relatives. She occasionally ran into familiar faces from the Han family, people she had interacted with as a child, and engaged in small talk. She had put in effort to look nice today; although lacking expensive jewelry, her beauty was undeniable, and few would reject a lovely woman. Her small talks went well, and she subtly reclaimed some of the feelings she had once had in such gatherings during her youth.
However, the person she wished to see did not appear. Though she feigned calmness, she found herself glancing around anxiously.
The banquet hall was tall and spacious, with splendid crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, radiating light and color.
From the corridor railing on the third floor, the head of the Han family looked down, clearly seeing Xin Ya's slender figure moving through the crowd.
The long gown accentuated her delicate waist, making her look stunning. Yet, he remembered seeing that dress years ago when his great-uncle celebrated his birthday; he had caught a distant glimpse of her. At that time, she had yet to bear children and her parents were still alive, gracefully holding her husband's arm, her face radiant with happiness.
Almost a decade had passed in the blink of an eye. Her family had fallen, leaving her alone to take care of her children. The proud, aloof youth had been worn down by the trials of life, causing her to lower her head and soften her disposition for socializing.
Reduced to such a state.
“Father.” Han Yanyan approached, “It’s almost time.”
The man nodded and turned to leave. Han Yanyan cast a glance at Tang Ke and Xin Ya in the crowd before following suit.
The banquet hall fell silent as guests turned towards the staircase. With the gentle sounds of the band playing, Han Yanyan linked arms with her father, slowly descending the stairs.
At the landing, the head of the Han family delivered a brief speech, clearly stating that the purpose of the banquet was to celebrate Han Yanyan's rise in spiritual power to S-rank and wished all friends and family a relaxed and enjoyable time.
As the father and daughter reached the final three steps, the banquet officially began.
Xin Ya's purpose for attending was to have a conversation with the head of the Han family, but too many people crowded around him, blocking her chance to approach.
Feeling a bit anxious, Xin Ya thought for a moment before leading Tang Ke to a spot with chairs, getting him some juice and snacks, instructing him not to wander off. She then set off to find relatives on her father’s side.
It had been so long since she had connected with that cousin, she felt quite unfamiliar and hoped to find someone to introduce her.
Such family gatherings were mostly about reminiscing, warm greetings, and catching up with relatives. Due to their blood ties, the atmosphere was often more relaxed and spirited than typical social events. Xin Ya circled around, and the familiar relatives she had found earlier had seemingly disappeared; a few were engaged in lively conversations, making it awkward to interrupt.
While she felt at a loss, a uniformed servant approached and asked, “Are you Miss Lin Xin Ya?”
He said, “The head of the family requests your presence in the study.”
The invitation took Xin Ya by surprise, and after a moment of hesitation, she anxiously followed the servant out of the banquet hall and into the study.
Meanwhile, Tang Ke finished his snacks and gulped down two cups of juice, feeling a pressing need to use the restroom. After confirming the location with a servant, he made his way there. Upon returning, he stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, scanning for Xin Ya’s figure, but she was nowhere to be found. There were many A and B rank spiritual practitioners present, and a few A+ and S ranks as well. It was considered impolite to use spiritual powers to search in such circumstances, so he could only rely on his eyes.
After searching for a while without success, he guessed she must have gone to handle something important. He knew that his mother had taken him to the Han family for his schooling and future development, and she had asked the relative for a lot of help.
Though she didn’t say it, Tang Ke could feel the discomfort this “request” caused her. Yet, she still went for his sake.
In the past few years, Tang Ke had followed his mother as they shuttled between home and the hospital. He had no memories of attending such grand banquets. His mother had been too busy these past few years to teach him the social skills required for such events. While he wouldn’t embarrass himself, he still felt profoundly out of place here.
He quietly stepped back, looking for a quiet spot.
As he wandered through the grand estate, he found it to be like a maze, complex and bewildering. After walking for a while, sensing he had strayed too far, he turned around to head back.
“Hey, you.” He heard someone call, and upon turning, he spotted the angelic young lady.
Her dress was exquisite, almost glowing, as she bent down and gently ruffled his hair, asking, “Whose child are you? I haven’t seen you around.”
Caught between childhood and adolescence, Tang Ke was more sensitive and mature than the average child of his age due to his family situation. Being regarded as a young child by Han Yanyan made his face flush bright red in an instant.
“I…” he stammered, recalling what his mother had taught him about their lineage, and hurriedly said, “My great-great-grandmother is a senior relative of the fourth master’s family. My name is Tang Ke, and I came with my mother.”
This connection caused a flicker of amusement at the corners of Han Yanyan's mouth.
“Oh, that means you’re my cousin then.” Han Yanyan smiled, “Hello, little Ke. I’m your cousin Han Yanyan.”
With a demeanor as gentle as before, Han Yanyan quickly gained Tang Ke's trust. They found a stairwell where they sat on the steps and chatted for a while.
“I’m in Dong Chen. Everyone’s in Dong Chen,” Han Yanyan said. “There are many siblings living here who go to school with me. Little Ke, you should join us.”
She ruffled his hair and said, “Dong Chen is the best academy, with the finest teachers and the strongest mecha equipment. If you want to be a great mech soldier, you must come to Dong Chen.”
If he went to Dong Chen, he could study alongside his cousin? Tang Ke felt a strong yearning, but he knew that getting into Dong Chen would depend on his mother asking that uncle for help. He couldn't be sure if it would succeed, leaving him feeling hesitant.
“Don’t worry.” The beautiful cousin said, “I will speak to my father about it. You can count on me.”
His cousin was not only beautiful but kind as well. How could someone be so wonderful? She truly was an angel, Tang Ke thought.
“Cousin.” Xin Ya entered the study, spotting the broad back and gently called out.
—Thank you for your kind feelings, cousin, but I wish to live an upright life and have no intention of becoming someone’s lover. I do not need you to bear the weight of my life.
Since that day, how many years had it been since she last stood before him and called him “cousin”?
The head of the Han family turned from the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at Xin Ya. For a fleeting moment, he saw her as she had been in her youth.
Initially, she had been like a cute little rabbit, delicate and lovely, dressed in a fluffy skirt, lost in the courtyard, wandering and crying softly. At that time, he, a young man in his prime, found her amusing and charming.
She was so beautiful that he imagined she would grow into a stunning woman.
As a distant relative, opportunities for her to appear before him had been rare, yet every appearance marked her growth.
From a dainty doll to a graceful young lady. Time and again, she had amazed him.
Now, the little rabbit of yesteryear had returned, and the years had etched their marks upon her brows. The sharpness of youth had been softened away, and she returned obediently before him.
“Xin Ya? Long time no see.” He said.
He took steps forward, moving closer to her.
With every step he took, Xin Ya felt her heart race.