*Chapter 62: The First Day of Shadows*
Li Xue woke to the soft winter sunlight filtering through the penthouse curtains. The city below was alive with movement, red lanterns swaying gently in the wind, casting dancing patterns across the pavement. For the first time in weeks, she felt a subtle pull of excitement. Today, her younger brother had insisted on spending the morning and afternoon with her, and she could not refuse.
He tugged at her hand eagerly. "Sister, come on! Don't waste the day." His eyes sparkled with the innocent delight of youth, completely oblivious to the fear and control that consumed her daily life. Li Xue smiled faintly, letting herself be swept along by his energy.
They wandered through the festival streets, stopping at food stalls and small arcades. The smell of roasted chestnuts mingled with incense, and the laughter of strangers seemed to lift some weight from her chest. Her brother pointed at a fire juggler, clapping with delight. Li Xue laughed — a soft, shaky sound that felt foreign to her own ears, as if her penthouse life had stolen it.
He handed her a small jade charm, crudely wrapped in paper. "It's not much, but I made sure it's for you," he said proudly. Li Xue's chest tightened. The charm was simple, not expensive, yet it radiated thoughtfulness and love — a reminder that someone still cared for her beyond the shadows of the penthouse and Zhao Liang's controlling presence.
Meanwhile, Mei Yan volunteered at a local shelter, Shen Wei assisting while teasing her about minor mistakes. Their lighthearted banter contrasted sharply with Li Xue's carefully measured movements, the precision and caution she had learned to survive in the penthouse. Han Qiang managed a client event across town, his mind occasionally drifting to Li Xue's fragile smile and the isolation she endured, wishing he could offer her protection he could not provide.
By evening, Li Xue returned to the apartment, the warmth of the day clinging to her chest like a fragile shield. The penthouse awaited, cold and silent. She carefully placed the jade charm beside her textbooks, a token of hope and love that existed outside rules, fear, and contract. For the first time in a long while, a small light lingered inside her, flickering but persistent, a fragile ember against the darkness.