Moving silently, Li Yuhua walked toward a small cabinet and retrieved a bottle of fine wine.
Pouring herself a cup, she lifted it to her lips and took a slow sip.
The warmth spread through her chest.
But her thoughts only grew clearer.
Her fingers tightened ever so slightly around the cup as the same idea surfaced once more, this time refusing to be ignored.
"Master Lin Feng… likes mature women like me?" she murmured softly.
The words hung in the stillness of the room.
For a brief moment, she froze.
A faint tremor passed through her body, subtle yet undeniable.
It wasn't fear, nor was it simple surprise.
It was something more complicated and an unfamiliar mixture of curiosity, self-awareness, and a hint of something she didn't dare name.
She lowered her gaze, staring into the wine as its surface rippled gently.
Memories surfaced unbidden… her own past, the years that had shaped her, the quiet dignity she had maintained despite everything life had thrown her way.
