She stood and moved to the dresser, pulling out the dress Ting Fei had included, a simple navy blue sheath dress, elegant but understated. The kind of thing that said "respectable" without trying too hard.
She changed quickly, then examined herself in the small mirror above the dresser.
The burns on her arms were still visible below the short sleeves, the bandages on her hands clearly apparent. Her hair fell in loose, slightly disheveled waves around her face. She looked tired. Hurt. Vulnerable.
Perfect.
Lu Yuze appeared behind her in the mirror, now wearing the black shirt and gray pants, looking every inch the powerful businessman.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Almost," Shuyin said. She turned to face him. "Wake Chen Xiao. He needs to change into sothing presentable for dinner."
Lu Yuze moved to the bed where Chen Xiao was curled up and gently shook his shoulder. "Ti to wake up. We need to go downstairs."
Chen Xiao’s eyes opened slowly, confused for a mont before mory returned. He sat up, rubbing at his face.
"Get changed," Lu Yuze said, pointing to the dresser. "Sothing nice. We’re going to dinner."
Chen Xiao slid off the bed and moved to his drawer, pulling out a small button-down shirt and dark pants. He dressed himself silently, his movents slow with lingering sleep but competent.
Yuyan had already changed, she wore a simple pale yellow dress, her silver hair neatly brushed and tied back with a ribbon.
When everyone was ready, they stood together near the door.
Lu Yuze looked at each of them in turn. "Rember the story. I’m the benefactor. Shuyin is the nanny. You two are my children. We’re grateful for their hospitality. We’re tired, hurt, and vulnerable." He had to remind her that her mood could change like the weather.
"But we’re not," Yuyan said quietly.
"No," Lu Yuze agreed. "We’re not. But they don’t need to know that."
Shuyin straightened her shoulders, let her expression shift into sothing softer, more fragile. The performance settled over her like a second skin.
"Let’s go," she said.
Lu Yuze unlocked the door and opened it.
Together, this strange, dangerous family, they stepped into the hallway and began the walk toward the dining room.
Toward the wolves waiting below.
Toward the next battle in a war, the Lin family didn’t even know they were fighting.
And losing.
Shuyin took a deep breath, letting the persona of the broken Lin Shuyin settle over her like a second skin. Her posture softened slightly. A hint of pain entered her eyes. She held her bandaged hands in front of her, a silent testant to suffering.
"Let’s go," she said, her voice now carrying a faint, wounded tremor. "We mustn’t keep the family waiting."
She opened the door and led them out into the hallway, a picture of tragic dignity, her small, bandaged army following in her wake, descending to dine with the wolves.
The dining room was exactly as Shuyin rembered it, opulent, excessive, designed to impress. Crystal chandelier, imported silk wallpaper, a table that could seat twenty but tonight held only nine.
Lin Feng sat at the head of the table, with Chen Madam to his right. Lin Yueling sat across from them. Shuyin had been positioned at the far end, with Lu Yuze beside her and the children on his other side. Li Feng, Ah Ying, and Ah Ling had diplomatically declined to join them, citing the need to "inspect the security arrangents."
Smart n.
"It’s so wonderful to have family together," Chen Madam said, her smile not reaching her eyes as servants began bringing out the first course. "Shuyin, you must tell us everything about your ti away. We were so worried when we couldn’t reach you after your... release."
Shuyin combed through the mories of the original Shuyin. These two won had co to see her in prison, not for a visit, but to force her to sign away her shares.
"Didn’t you co to see in prison? Why did you disappear after that?" She whined, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"They ca?" Lin Feng didn’t know anything about this. Why hadn’t they told him they’d visited her in prison?
"They didn’t tell you? It was...," Before Shuyin could continue, Madam Chen hurriedly spoke up, her voice tense while Lin Yueling stared at Shuyin with frightened eyes.
"Ah, yes! We were able to see you briefly!" She muttered, trying to change the topic. "How did you get out?" They had been desperate to know.
After she got out of prison, not only had her aura changed, but her eyes too. They were scary and strange, as if they could look straight into soone’s soul.
"The authorities found innocent. They found the evidence, and that’s how I got out," she said, telling half the truth without ntioning that it was Lu Yuze who had secured her freedom.
"We were worried about your whereabouts. Why didn’t you co ho straight away?" Chen Madam mumbled, inwardly fuming.
"Were you?" Shuyin’s voice was soft, innocent. "How kind of you to worry."
The servants placed dishes before each diner, an elaborate spread of delicacies. Braised abalone, Peking duck, stead fish with ginger, stir-fried vegetables glistening with sauce. The kind of al designed to display wealth and status.
Lin Feng cleared his throat. "Mr. Lu, I must say, we’re honored to have you at our table. The Lu family’s business acun is legendary. Perhaps while you’re here, we might discuss so potential collaborations..."
"Father," Shuyin interrupted softly, "Mr. Lu has been so kind to already. Let’s not impose on his generosity with business talk at dinner."
She reached for her chopsticks, but as she did, her other hand moved subtly beneath the table. Her fingers traced a pattern in the air, lips moving silently. The spell was small, targeted, fueled by the anger she’d been nurturing all day.
The magic settled over the table like invisible mist.
To Shuyin, Lu Yuze, Yuyan, and Chen Xiao, the food remained exactly as it was, beautifully prepared, aromatic, and appetizing.
But to the Lin family...
Lin Yueling was the first to react. She’d just picked up a piece of duck with her chopsticks when she froze, her face going pale.
On her plate, the succulent at had transford into sothing else entirely, writhing white maggots, crawling over each other in a seething mass.
"What..." she gasped, dropping her chopsticks with a clatter. She pushed her chair backwards.
Chen Madam reached for the fish, but as she lifted it toward her mouth, she saw not delicate white flesh but raw, bleeding at dripping with dark blood that pooled on her plate like an open wound.
Her hand trembled. "This... this food..."
Lin Feng stared at his abalone. The delicate seafood had beco a mass of pulsating, translucent larvae, their bodies glistening with a slimy substance that slled of rot and decay.
"What is this?!" Lin Yueling’s voice rose in horror. "What did they serve us?!"
She turned to call the servants, but they had already retreated to the kitchen.
anwhile, Shuyin delicately placed a piece of duck in her mouth, chewing with apparent pleasure. "Mm, this is delicious. The chef has really outdone himself. I really love this food..."
Lu Yuze, catching on imdiately to what was happening, took a bite of his fish. "Exceptional," he agreed calmly. "The ginger is perfectly balanced."
Chen Xiao, oblivious to the spell, happily munched on his vegetables. "It’s really good!"
Yuyan, who could see both versions, her own normal food and the horrified expressions of the Lin family, had to suppress a smile. She took a bite of her duck. "Best al I’ve had all week. Thank you, Grandpa..."
"Hehe..." Lin Feng didn’t know what to say.
"Are you... can you not see..." Chen Madam gestured frantically at her plate, where blood continued to seep from the at, staining the white porcelain crimson. "The food is contaminated!"
Shuyin looked up with perfectly crafted concern. "Contaminated? What do you an, Mother?" She looked at her own plate, then at theirs. "Everything looks fine to ."
"Fine?!" Lin Yueling pushed her chair back, her six-month pregnant belly bumping the table. "There are maggots in the duck! Look!"
She grabbed her plate, shoving it toward Shuyin.
Shuyin examined it with a puzzled expression. "I see a perfectly normal Peking duck. Are you feeling alright, sister? You shouldn’t be getting so worked up in your condition."
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