Gong Feng stood still for a long while, his hand still half-lowered from the phone he'd forgotten about. It was as though the presence of that girl had lingered in the air — faint and warm, impossible to ignore.
He didn't usually pay attention to anyone, much less a stranger. People feared him, respected him, or avoided him altogether. Few dared speak so directly to him — and none had ever looked at him the way she did.
That mix of defiance and innocence.
That fire in her eyes.
It was such a small thing, yet it had left a strange echo in his chest — one that refused to fade even after she was gone.
"Lin Che," he murmured under his breath, tasting the name as though testing its weight.
It suited her. Beautiful and simple.
But then, his brows furrowed slightly, remembering something.
'You already know you're going to be the new mistress of the Gong family!'
What did that mean?
Mistress of the Gong family?
His lips pressed into a straight line as thoughts churned behind those dark glasses. He didn't like vague statements — or things he couldn't immediately understand.
But for once, instead of irritation, what he felt was… curiosity.
A rare, unfamiliar curiosity.
He had met countless women — polished socialites, poised business partners, heirs' daughters with carefully measured smiles. But none of them had made his heart skip, or his attention linger.
Until her.
And they had shared the same air for less than a minute.
That shouldn't have meant anything.
Yet here he was — standing alone, staring at the spot where she'd stood, his heartbeat betraying him by refusing to slow down.
His assistant's voice suddenly crackled through the phone, cutting through his thoughts.
"Sir? Sir, are you listening? The shareholders' documents have been finalized—"
"Speak."
The single word came out sharp and cold, his tone instantly returning to its usual controlled calm. The assistant, startled, stammered for a moment before continuing his report.
Gong Feng listened — or at least, pretended to — but his gaze was still on the empty space ahead of him.
The gentle sound of the trees swaying, the sunlight filtering through the leaves — it all reminded him of that girl's presence, fleeting yet unforgettable.
He didn't understand why he was reacting like this.
It was ridiculous. Illogical. Unnecessary.
And yet…
...
For the rest of the festivities, Gong Feng didn't see Lin Che anywhere.
He told himself he wasn't looking for her, but his eyes betrayed him every few minutes — scanning faces, drifting toward the edges of the crowd, searching the winding paths leading out of the Zhang family's yard.
But it was as if she had vanished into thin air.
A strange, unfamiliar feeling settled inside his chest — an ache that shouldn't have been there. He frowned, irritated at himself for even noticing her absence.
Just then, Madam Gong's voice broke through his thoughts. "Feng'er."
She approached carefully, the same restrained fear still written all over her face. Though she was family, she never quite relaxed around him — not even now.
"Are you looking for something?" she asked softly, curiosity flickering behind her polite smile.
Gong Feng turned toward her, expression unreadable. "No."
One word. Flat. Final.
Madam Gong immediately understood the signal not to pry further. She straightened her posture, brushing her palms together as if to wipe away invisible dust, and changed the topic at once.
"Everything has already been handled. We'll be leaving in thirty minutes."
He nodded silently and turned away, his long stride carrying him toward a quieter part of the compound.
The sound of laughter and music faded behind him.
---
On the other side of the celebration, Lin Che was surrounded by color, noise, and the endless chatter of excited villagers.
The Gong family hadn't been stingy. If anything, their generosity was overwhelming.
Every household had been given something — boxes of fine tea, silk fabrics, imported chocolates, even household appliances wrapped neatly in red ribbons. The entire courtyard was filled with the rustle of wrapping paper and exclamations of disbelief.
Nan Lu clutched a delicate crystal hairpin, squealing like a child. "Che Che, look! Look at this! It's so beautiful! I've only seen these in dramas!"
Lin Che smiled faintly, distractedly, her fingers running over a folded piece of fabric that had been handed to her.
A cheongsam.
Silky, elegant, the kind she'd only seen online. The embroidery shimmered faintly under the sunlight, each stitch flawless. She pressed her fingers against the material and nearly gasped — it was soft, almost weightless, as if she were touching clouds.
"How could something feel like this…" she murmured under her breath, eyes wide.
Nan Lu laughed beside her, twirling the hairpin between her fingers. "I told you! The rich really live in another world!"
Around them, villagers were still shouting, cheering, clapping — delighted by the mountain of gifts being passed around. The air was festive, thick with gratitude and excitement.
But Lin Che's heart couldn't calm down.
Even surrounded by laughter, her thoughts were far away — back in that quiet, hidden path where the stranger had stood.
That man.
The one with the dark glasses and quiet authority.
The one who had looked at her — not like a villager, not like anyone else ever had — but like someone seeing something unexpected for the first time.
No matter how hard she tried to focus on Nan Lu's words, her mind refused to cooperate.
"Che Che?" Nan Lu finally asked, noticing her silence. "What's wrong with you? You look like your soul's halfway to the capital already."
Lin Che blinked and quickly shook her head. "It's nothing."
Nan Lu tilted her head suspiciously. "You're lying. You're thinking too much again, aren't you?"
When Lin Che didn't answer, Nan Lu leaned closer and whispered, her tone soft but serious.
"I know what's bothering you. You're afraid, aren't you? About the future?"
Lin Che's eyes flickered, but she said nothing.
Nan Lu sighed. "I met Madam Gong earlier when I went to deliver some thank-you tea. Che Che… that woman isn't simple. The way she looked at everything — our homes, the roads, even us — it was like we were beneath her."
Lin Che's hands tightened around the silk fabric.
Nan Lu continued in a low voice, "She didn't even try to hide it. I could tell right away. She doesn't like this village, and she definitely doesn't like us. I'm worried for you, Che Che. If she's already this way now, how do you think she'll treat you once you marry into that family?"
The words sank heavily into the space between them.
Lin Che forced a small smile. "I know."
Of course she knew. She wasn't blind.
Madam Gong's polite tone, her distant eyes — Lin Che had already felt it. That subtle wall between them, built of class and pride.
And yet…
Before she could say more, a sudden voice broke through the noise.
"Lin Che!"
It was one of the villagers, panting and waving frantically as he rushed over. His voice was so loud the entire courtyard went quiet for a moment.
"Lin Che, why are you still here? The Gong family's already leaving! Little Rui's been taken away too!"