1:00 PM, 30th September
The sky above was a shroud of dark clouds, shadowing with rain, as if heaven itself hesitated before letting its tears fall to the earth.
The air carried the crisp scent of impending rain, mingling with the sweet fragrance of autumn leaves as they drifted lazily to the ground.
Since the great reset, the world's climate had shifted in strange, wondrous ways. The once scorching sun of sumr now shone gently, no longer burning the skin. The typhoons that once threatened to tear apart the city of Shanghai had grown docile, their power tad.
Winters had deepened, their chill biting and fogs thickening, while autumn blood into a season of unparalleled beauty—more vivid, more serene than ever before.
It was as if nature had been reborn, each season weaving itself seamlessly into the next.
The golden skies of autumn now bathed the land, the soft rustle of rain kissing the earth in greeting. The towering Ginkgo trees that lined the campus swayed under the cool breeze, their golden-yellow leaves dancing like butterflies, floating in a graceful, rhythmic descent.
The air was alive with the sweet aroma of moist earth, like the scent of peonies after a fresh rain, drawing all who wandered near into a tranquil spell.
Inbetween this serene beauty, a single leaf, cradled by the wind, drifted and landed gently in the dark, flowing hair of a young woman seated outside a small coffeehouse, a book cradled in her hands.
Her hair, rich and silky like black ink brushed across rice paper, frad a delicate face that seed carved from porcelain. The ends of her hair curled slightly, reminiscent of the winding vines of wisteria, soft yet untad. Her lips, the shade of early spring blossoms, curved slightly in focus as she quietly absorbed herself in the book before her.
She sat alone on the balcony of the café, where wooden tables and chairs were arranged, her presence like a lotus blooming in a quiet pond, untouched by the noise of the world.
Dressed in a white, full-sleeved turtleneck sweater, she was like the winter plum—elegant in her simplicity, exuding both grace and quiet strength.The fabric clung gently to her form, outlining her slender figure, yet modestly concealing it, as if wrapped in the purity of snow.
Her hands, delicate as jade leaves, turned the pages of the book with a softness that matched the quiet fall of the leaves around her.
Despite the occasional gusts of wind that sent the leaves swirling, she sat unbothered, her poise unshaken, as if the autumn breeze rely danced in reverence around her. The scene around her felt frozen in ti, as though nature itself had paused to admire her presence, like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens, serene and unattainable.
This coffeehouse, nestled in the heart of the campus, was situated just outside the Center for Advanced Scientific Research.
The place, a sanctuary for scholars and researchers, lay in a restricted area, where students of the academy could not easily enter.
Inside, a few researchers shared quiet conversation over their als, but she remained the lone figure outside, surrounded by the rustling leaves and the soft murmurs of nature.
Wang Xiao stood at a distance, his gaze locked onto the young woman.
To his disbelief, it was his sister, Wang Xueying. He could scarcely recognize her.
The girl who once hated books with a passion, whose wild spirit mirrored the untad wind, was now here, serene and absorbed in her reading.
It was as if she had transford into a rare orchid, blossoming in the shadows of her past self.
'How could this be the sa girl?' he wondered, unable to digest the change before him.
Not only had she recently graduated with her bachelor's degree, but she was now in her first year of her master's program, working as a research assistant alongside Isabelle.
It was sothing he never would have believed possible—Wang Xueying, the girl who had once lived as shut-in neet and unrestrained by structure, now imrsed in the world of science and research.
As he watched her, her attire struck him as well.
She was dressed with effortless elegance, her long, flowing sweater resembling the soft, untainted petals of a magnolia flower, gentle yet captivating.
Gone was the introvert nature she once wore like a crown, replaced by an air of quiet confidence, like a willow bending gracefully with the wind, unbothered by its force.
She sat in her chair, composed, her presence as natural as the falling leaves, as though she had beco one with the serene beauty of the autumn around her.
The Wang Xueying he rembered was wild, rebellious, unrestrained by the world's rules.
But now, as she sat there, serene like a lotus blooming in the heart of autumn, it was as if ti had tempered her spirit, smoothing the rough edges and molding her into sothing far more refined.
At this mont, Wang Xueying gently turned her wrist, her smooth, jade-like skin blemish-free, glowing under the soft light.
A small, elegant circular watch rested on her wrist, its hands ticking in harmony with her thoughts.
The ti displayed confird her expectation.
"It should be now..." she murred, her lips curving into a barely noticeable smile.
Her smooth, pale cheeks flushed lightly, like cherry blossoms touched by the morning sun, her thoughts wandering to the unthinkable as nervousness welled within her.
With a soft exhale, she closed her book and placed it on the circular table in front of her, preparing herself to act.
Just then, her phone buzzed, pulling her back into the mont.
She glanced at the screen and saw a ssage from Isabelle.
Her brows furrowed slightly, a hint of worry passing over her usually calm face. 'What could have gone wrong?'
Before she could read the ssage—which warned her that Wang Xiao had escaped from the lab—a cold, firm hand suddenly grabbed her from behind, locking her in a tight rear-naked choke.
"What—" her voice barely escaped, her lips parting in shocked disbelief.
"You little prick, haven't you gotten bold lately?" ca a familiar voice from behind, sending a wave of shock through her.
'Who dares—!' Her mind spun, but before she could process the situation, the voice continued, and this ti it filled her with cold dread.
"You really tried to drug , huh? Xueying, when did you beco a lawless hooligan? Killing your brother, committing manslaughter!"
Wang Xiao's voice was sharp with fury as he tightened his grip slightly, his breath hot against her ear. "Believe or not, I'll report you to the authorities, sue you into oblivion, and send your ass straight to prison!"
"!"
Wang Xueying's body stiffened.
At first, she was bewildered, unsure of who dared to lay hands on her.
Her initial instinct was to beat whoever this fool was, but when he ntioned 'drugging,' her heart skipped a beat.
Only one person had been the target of her plan today.
Wang Xiao…
Her body trembled, a mixture of surprise and anger surging through her veins.
Without hesitation, she twisted her body and swung her fist upward, aiming for his face.
"!?"
Wang Xiao barely dodged, stepping back just in ti as her fist whizzed past.
"I don't care!" she shouted, her voice filled with sudden fury. "You scoundrel! How dare you confront like this? Do I need to remind you who's older?"
Her eyes blazed with resentnt as she continued, her voice escalating with each word. "I drugged you, and what about 'you' coming back and pretending to be this almighty mute? Do you think you can just do whatever you want, and I'll just accept it?"
Her breathing beca ragged as her emotions spilled out uncontrollably. "Are you pretending to be fool to escape responsibility? Believe or not, I'll scream right now and tell everyone what you did that night! Don't you dare think I can't— Mphhh!—You—Mppph!"
Wang Xiao's eyes widened at her sudden outburst, realizing where her rage was heading.
In an instant, he clamped a hand over her mouth to stop her from revealing sothing she shouldn't.
"Shut up!" he hissed, but Wang Xueying wasn't done.
She bit into his hand, hard, and tried to speak again, her muffled words barely escaping before he covered her mouth once more.
From inside the café, a few researchers and colleagues of Wang Xueying peeked out, stunned by the unfolding scene on the balcony.
"Did you hear that?" one of the won whispered, eyes wide with excitent.
"Did she say that night?"
"Wait… is that Wang Xueying? The new beautiful research assistant?" another gasped.
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