Wang Xueying slapped both hands over her face, letting out a muffled shriek. Kill me now. Just drown me. Right here. Im not living past today…

Qian Ruixin coughed into her hand, cheeks flushed, unsure if she should even be in the middle of this conversation.

These three sisters airing dirty laundry in broad daylight made her feel like an outsider intruding on a family scandal.

Not yet…

The voice echoed through the waters splash, startling all of them. They turned sharply, only to find a figure crouched at the pools edge.

A girl with smooth light-blonde hair and ice-blue eyes, her plain swimsuit to her sleek frame, her presence eerie in how still she was.

Yue… Wang Xueying exhaled in irritation, pressing a hand to her chest. Dont ambush us like some assassin, damn it!

Are you really my… Niece? Wang Jiarong asked, disbelief written across her face. She had known the truth, yet seeing Yue up close always broke her sense of reality.

The girl didnt move, perfectly doll-like in her composure. Her age didnt help either, she looked about Meis age, but in Jiarongs mind, she should still be a tiny child.

Yue ignored her entirely. Her piercing gaze locked onto Xueying. You cant die until you fulfill the oath you made to my father.

…

The water suddenly felt colder. Confusion swept across the group, but Meis expression darkened instantly. Xueyings did too.

Xueying… Jiarongs voice sharpened. What did you say to him?

Even Ruixin, who had been trying to look invisible, grabbed Xueyings arm, demanding, Yeah, girl, what the hell did you promise him?

Everyone here knew, making deals with Wang Xiao was no different than signing away your soul.

Wang Xueying paled, lips twitching, but before she could stammer out an excuse, Meis cool voice echoed through:

She had a bet with him.

The three froze.

What bet? Jiarong demanded, face flushing, already sensing it was going somewhere she didnt want.

Mei hesitated, eyes flicking between her sisters, then sighed as if tossing her pride into the water. …She promised… that if brother managed to get you… then he could have all three of us… Together.

…

The silence was deafening.

Wang Jiarongs cheeks burned crimson. Ruixin nearly choked on her own spit, covering her mouth but still stealing glances at them with wide eyes, her imagination running wild.

Even Mei, who had spoken, shifted uncomfortably, her own face tinged pink.

And Xueying? She just splashed her hands against the water like a cornered cat, shrieking, Dont look at me like that! It was a stupid joke! I didnt think hed actually…

… Win? Wang Jiarong muttered, her blush deepening, her heart pounding at the dangerous implication.

Qian Ruixin buried her face in her hands. Gods… why am I even listening to this?

Wang Jiarong whipped around to Mei, her voice tight with frustration. And you! You just sat there and let her say something that stupid?!

Meis flat tone didnt waver. What was I supposed to do? Stop them? Every time I open my mouth, he finds some excuse to harass me anyway.

…

Jiarong swallowed her retort, redirecting her glare back at the real culprit splashing guiltily in the water. Xueying avoided everyones eyes, cheeks red, mouth clamped shut.

Qian Ruixin groaned and muttered under her breath, I shouldve just stayed with my mom… She slipped away, drifting toward the other side of the pool where two striking figures stood apart, sipping and chatting.

Xin Meifang, elegant and refined, her mature curves accentuated by a form-fitting wrap, tilted a tall glass to her lips. Crimson lipstick kissed faintly to the rim, every sip looking like an invitation.

Sister… The woman beside her sighed, ageless in silk, long legs gleaming beneath the water. …how has your skin become so smooth lately? Did you steal youth from someone?

Xinyue Zhilans eyes glew enviously, her elder sister practically glowing, as if reborn.

Xin Meifang only smiled coyly, ready to tease her with some half-answer, when her gaze snapped across the pool. A frown tugged her lips. Far away, Jiarong had Xueying by the neck, both thrashing like cats about to claw each other bloody.

Zhilan… Meifangs voice sharpened. Somethings wrong with your daughters.

Xinyue Zhilans brows knit, her hand lowering her glass. …What now? She turned as Qian Ruixin padded up, dripping wet, looking like shed rather sink through the floor.

Whats happening over there? Zhilan pressed.

Qian Ruixin bit her lip, glancing back at the sisters still grappling. I… I dont know. They were talking about a bet, and then… She trailed off, flushing, not daring to say the rest aloud.

Xin Meifang arched a brow. …A bet?

..!

Qian Ruixin nearly bit her own tongue. …You should probably ask them.

…

…

Xinyue Zhilan and Xin Meifang exchanged quick glances, neither willing to step first into whatever mess these girls had stirred. But before a word could be decided, Meifangs pupils shrank. Her glass slipped from her hand, hitting the water with a sharp splash.

Artemis…! she gasped, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Xinyue Zhilan blinked, baffled. What are you mumbling-

Her words were cut short as the sunlight itself dimmed. A dark shadow spilled across the poolside like an eclipse. The skeletal Paulownia tree that had stood bare all winter was suddenly alive, its branches erupting with violet blossoms, petals falling in a surreal, unseasonal rain.

The women froze. Shock widened their eyes, but for Xin Meifang it was worse, her entire body stiffened, every nerve screaming recognition as a familiar, terrifying aura swept over the courtyard.

Her lips quivered soundlessly. She didnt need to look, but still, her gaze was dragged to the doorway.

And there, bare feet, pale against the polished wood, carried a single figure forward.

The sound of each step echoed louder than it should have, deliberate, soft, unstoppable.

Tiny feet.

The two dragon cubs, curled lazily by the shade moments ago, shot upright as though struck by lightning, golden eyes wide. The little panda at their side roused too, fur bristling, making a low uneasy cry.

It wasnt just them. Every living thing seemed to feel it, the weight, the pressure, the inevitability.

Something… someone… was coming.

Ah… does someone know her? Xinyue Zhilan finally asked, frowning as she watched the small girl shuffle barefoot across the tiles, pink hair tangled, eyes glassy, like a doll wound too tightly.

The chatter around the pool died instantly.

Everyone turned.

Fu Yuxins voice broke through first, tight with nerves. Who are you?! She waded forward, putting herself between Zhenxi and the stranger.

Before anyone could answer, another presence had appeared.

A woman with golden hair that caught the light like fire, eyes sharp and amused, already standing close to Zhenxi. The little girl glanced up at her curiously, blinking, while Yuxin stiffened, shielding her.

What the hell is going on? Zhilan muttered, glancing around. Where did these two come from?

A voice spoke behind them, low but worried. Eveline…!

Everyone looked.

It was Yue, and for the first time, panic cracked through her usually calm face.

Mary trailed in after her, her expression complicated, lips pressed together like shed rather kill than explain.

Eveline ignored them all. She crouched down slowly, her golden hair spilling forward, and smiled at Zhenxi. … can you play with her for a while? She gestured at the pink-haired girl, who hadnt spoken a word since arriving.

Zhenxi blinked, then nodded without hesitation. She hopped out of the water and padded over obediently.

Yues eyes widened. The mechanical, doll-like way she moved, lifeless, too precise. Eveline, stop it! Yues voice cracked, her voice breaking. Dad will kill you if you touch her!

The words made every face at the pool snap toward Yue. Dad?

Eveline just chuckled. She rose gracefully, brushing invisible dust from her knees. He wont kill me… Her lips curved into something almost mocking. …Something else will do it first.

What? Yue stared at her. Eveline, cocky Eveline, was always bold, but always careful when it came to Wang Xiao. Fear of him was absolute. What could shake that?

The answer came before anyone could press further.

Rrrrip!

A deafening tear split the sky.

All heads tilted upward, and the sunlight was gone. A shadow consumed the courtyard, darker than night.

Xinyue Zhilan staggered back, breath caught. What the

It was massive. A burning shape tearing through the clouds, leaving fire and smoke in its wake, crashing downward. Not a star. Not a meteor… Something bigger.

Move! Fu Yuxin screamed, shoving Zhenxi behind her.

Eveline only lifted her arms wide, wings of light unfurling from her back like she had been waiting for this exact moment.

Marys hands lit up too, energy sparking around her palms as she strained to pull a barrier into existence.

The roar was too loud, the heat too close.

But it was unstoppable.

BAAANGGG!

The explosion hit.

The roar swallowed the world, light and fire collapsed into one, and then… nothing.