Rowen snorted instantly, unable to hold it in.
Ling stopped walking.
She turned slowly, eyes sharp.
"What kind of bad news?"
Rowen laughed harder.
"The kind that gives headaches."
Ling exhaled through her nose, already annoyed.
"Say it."
Jian pointed a thumb over his shoulder dramatically.
"Mira's back. Returned from her trip this morning."
There was a half-second of silence.
Then Ling deadpanned,
"Oh no."
She rubbed her temple with two fingers.
"I can't take another headache."
Rina burst out laughing.
"You're acting like someone just announced a natural disaster."
Ling shot her a look.
"Don't underestimate Mira," she replied flatly.
"She causes more chaos than one."
Rowen grinned.
"She was asking about you."
Ling grimaced.
"Of course she was."
Jian tilted his head.
"Should we be worried?"
Ling started walking again without answering, her voice calm but edged.
"Only if she decides to involve herself in things that don't concern her."
Rina smirked, walking faster to keep up.
"And when has that ever stopped her?"
Ling didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Her silence said enough.
The squad followed her down the corridor laughter fading as the weight of competition, jealousy, leadership, and unwanted ghosts pressed closer with every step.
——
The iron gates of the Kwong mansion slid open smoothly as Ling's car rolled in. The moment the engine cut off, Ling stepped out, shrugging off her blazer, her expression already exhausted.
Rina followed, stretching her arms.
"Home sweet—" she stopped mid-sentence.
Ling sensed it before she saw it.
The atmosphere was… off.
Too polite.
Too arranged.
They entered the living hall.
Mira was already there.
Sitting comfortably on the couch beside Eliza, posture perfect, legs crossed, dressed softly curated, calculated. She laughed at something Eliza had just said, her hand resting lightly on Eliza's arm like she belonged there.
Ling froze for half a second.
Then she composed herself instantly.
"Oh," Ling said flatly.
"That."
Mira looked up, her face lighting up with practiced warmth.
"Ling! You're back!"
She stood quickly, almost tripping in eagerness.
Eliza smiled proudly.
"Mira came back today. I asked her to stay for dinner."
Ling nodded once.
"Of course you did."
Rina bit her lip.
Across the room, Dadi noticed everything.
The micro-pause.
The tone.
The resignation.
Dadi's eyes flicked from Ling to Mira and then she smiled to herself.
She adjusted her shawl, deliberately looking away so no one could see the way her lips twitched.
Poor child, she thought.
Another headache delivered to her doorstep.
Dadi cleared her throat and addressed Mira sweetly.
"You've grown thinner," she said.
"City air never suits young girls."
Mira smiled shyly.
"I missed everyone, Dadi."
Dadi nodded kind, affectionate.
Then her eyes slid back to Ling for a fraction of a second.
Her brows lifted in quiet amusement.
Ling caught it.
Her jaw tightened.
Rina leaned closer and whispered, barely audible,
"Control. Breathe."
Ling inhaled slowly.
She looked back at Mira, voice neutral.
"Hope your trip was… refreshing."
Mira beamed.
"It was. I thought of you the whole time."
Dadi turned away then, pretending to sip her tea.
If she stayed one second longer, she would laugh and that would ruin everything.
Eliza didn't notice.
Mira didn't notice.
Only Ling did.
And it irritated her more than Mira's presence ever could.
Mira didn't wait.
The moment Ling stepped fully into the living hall, Mira closed the distance between them with practiced familiarity. Before Ling could even register the movement, Mira wrapped her arms around her.
It wasn't a polite hug.
It was deliberate.
Possessive.
Claiming.
Ling's body went rigid.
Mira leaned in closer than necessary, her cheek brushing Ling's shoulder, her lips angling toward Ling's ear. Her voice dropped soft, intimate, meant only for one person.
"I missed you so much," she whispered.
"My love."
Her lips grazed Ling's ear as she said it slow, intentional confident no one would notice.
Everyone noticed.
Rina's smile vanished instantly.
Eliza stiffened, eyes narrowing just a fraction.
The air in the room shifted.
Ling did not hug back.
Her hands stayed at her sides, fingers curling slowly into fists. Her jaw tightened, breath controlled, spine straight like steel.
Across the room, Dadi cleared her throat loudly.
"Uhmm. Uhmm."
The sound was sharp. Purposeful.
It sliced through the moment like a blade.
Mira pulled back slightly, blinking too innocent, too late.
"Oh—" she laughed lightly.
"I just got emotional."
Ling stepped back half a pace, calmly removing herself from Mira's reach.
Her voice was cool. Measured. Dead flat.
"Personal space," Ling said.
"You should remember it."
Mira's smile faltered for a heartbeat.
Rina crossed her arms, watching silently.
Dadi looked directly at Mira now, her eyes sharp behind the warmth of her expression.
"Affection is nice," Dadi said pleasantly,
"but surprise intimacy makes people uncomfortable."
Mira flushed.
"I didn't mean—"
Eliza interrupted smoothly, placing a hand on Mira's shoulder.
"She's just excited. She's known Ling since childhood."
Dadi nodded once.
"Yes," she replied calmly.
"And childhood habits should stay in childhood."
Ling hadn't looked away from Mira the entire time.
Her gaze was unreadable not angry, not soft just closed.
Mira swallowed.
She had miscalculated.
Ling turned away then, adjusting her watch, voice steady.
"I'm going to my room."
She walked off without waiting for permission.
Rina followed her without a word.
Behind them, Dadi finally allowed herself the smallest, private smile one Mira and Eliza didn't catch.
This girl, Dadi thought,
has no idea what lines she just crossed.
And Ling?
Ling didn't look back even once.
Dadi's room was quieter, warmer the kind of place where truths slipped out without resistance. The curtains were half-drawn, evening light spilling softly across the bed where Dadi sat, pillows stacked behind her back.
Ling stood near the window, arms crossed, staring outside like the sky had personally offended her.
Rina shut the door behind them.
The silence lasted exactly three seconds.
Then Rina burst out laughing.
"Oh my God," she said, clutching her stomach,
"the hug."
Ling groaned.
"Don't."
Dadi raised a brow, pretending innocence.
"What hug?"
Ling turned slowly.
"You saw it."
Dadi nodded thoughtfully.
"Everyone saw it."
Rina added cheerfully,
"She didn't hug you. She claimed you."
Ling shot her a glare.
"I did not consent to that."
Dadi patted the mattress beside her.
"Come here."
Ling hesitated, then sat down like a child who had lost a battle but not the war.
Dadi studied her face the tight jaw, the controlled breathing, the storm under restraint.
Then she smiled.
"Mira," Dadi said calmly,
"has always been… ambitious."
Ling let out a humorless laugh.
"That's one word for it."
Rina leaned against the dresser, grinning.
"She whispered in your ear like she was in some drama serial."
Ling covered her face briefly.
"She pressed her lips to my ear."
Rina gasped theatrically.
"Oh no."
Dadi clicked her tongue.
"Tch. No manners."
Ling dropped her hands, frustrated.
"And the worst part?"
Both looked at her.
"Mom supports her."
Dadi's eyes widened then she laughed.
A full, unapologetic laugh.
"Oh, my poor grandchild," Dadi said, shaking her head.
"Even your own mother?"
Ling leaned back against the bed.
"Yes. Fully. Actively."
Rina whistled.
"That's a double headache."
Dadi nodded seriously then teased,
"First Rhea, now Mira. And your mother cheering from the sidelines."
Ling stared at the ceiling.
"Why does everyone want to decide who I should—"
She stopped herself.
Dadi's teasing softened.
She placed her hand over Ling's.
"Listen to me," Dadi said gently.
"People will push. They always do. Especially when they think they know what's best for you."
Ling swallowed.
Dadi continued, eyes sharp now.
"But you don't belong to anyone's plans."
Rina smiled softly.
Dadi squeezed Ling's hand.
"As for Mira," she added with a mischievous glint,
"if she keeps acting like this, I'll give her a headache of her own."
Ling finally smiled small, tired, but real.
"Dadi," she murmured,
"you're my only safe place."
Dadi kissed her forehead.
"Always."
Outside the room, the mansion buzzed with hidden tensions, silent competitions, and unspoken feelings.
Inside, for a moment
Ling could breathe.
———
The dining hall at Rhea's mansion was calm on the surface soft lights, polished table, the quiet clink of cutlery. Kane sat at the head, scrolling through something on his tablet, while Rhea ate silently, her posture composed.
Roin, however, looked far too entertained with himself.
Kane glanced up.
"So," he asked casually,
"how did today's competition go?"
Roin leaned back in his chair, smirking.
"Oh, it was interesting."
Rhea didn't look at him.
Roin continued anyway.
"Ling," he added deliberately,
"didn't look so unbeatable today."
He laughed under his breath.
"Her face was completely drowned seeing us together. Like she already knew she'd lost Rhea."
The air changed instantly.
Rhea's fork stopped mid-air.
She looked up slowly her eyes sharp, dangerous.
"Watch your mouth," she said coldly.
Roin blinked, surprised.
"I was just saying—"
"You were mocking her," Rhea snapped.
"And you don't get to do that."
Roin frowned.
"Why are you getting angry?"
Rhea stood up abruptly, chair scraping against the floor.
"Because you talk too much for someone who hasn't earned half of what she has," she said, voice raised now.
"And don't ever laugh at her struggle like it's entertainment."
Her words were sharp but underneath them was something unmistakable.
Possessiveness.
Protectiveness.
Kane looked up fully now, eyes narrowing.
"Rhea," she said calmly,
"you're exaggerating."
Rhea turned to her instantly.
"I'm not."
Kane sighed.
"You're defending Ling as if—"
"As if what?" Rhea interrupted.
"As if she matters to me?"
The silence that followed was heavy.
Roin's smirk vanished.
Kane shook her head slowly.
"No," she said evenly.
"You're lying."
Rhea froze.
Kane continued, voice firm but not unkind.
"You're not angry because of the competition."
She looked directly at her.
"You're angry because you don't like anyone speaking about Ling like that."
Rhea clenched her fists.
"That doesn't mean anything," she said sharply.
Kane stood up.
"It means everything."
Roin looked between them, confused then irritated.
"So what?" he scoffed.
"She's untouchable now?"
Rhea stepped closer to him, eyes blazing.
"She always was," she said quietly.
"You just never deserved to realize it."
She sat and started eating in anger again.
Roin stared at her not with arrogance this time, but with frustration.
And somewhere far away, in another mansion
Ling felt a storm she didn't know was being fought for her.
Kane broke the silence.
"So," she said, placing her spoon down,
"what more?"
Roin smiled, clearly enjoying the attention.
"Round three is done," he said confidently.
"And honestly, we did great."
Rhea didn't respond.
Kane watched her daughter carefully.
"Rhea," Kane said evenly,
"you're defending Ling more than necessary."
Rhea turned toward her mother.
"I'm not defending anyone."
Kane shook her head slightly.
"You're lying."
Rhea clenched her jaw.
Kane continued calmly,
"You didn't react when he praised himself."
She paused.
"But the moment he mocked Ling, you exploded."
Rhea looked away.
Roin laughed awkwardly.
"Does it really matter?"
"Yes," Kane replied firmly.
"It does."
She then changed the subject deliberately.
"Tell me about Round Four."
Roin straightened, happy to speak again.
"Round Four is a leadership task," he said.
"It's on Monday."
Kane asked,
"Have you both started practicing?"
Roin shook his head confidently.
"No need."
Kane looked at him sharply.
"What do you mean no need?"
He smiled.
"Teams will be decided on the spot. Completely random. No preparation."
Kane nodded slowly.
"That makes sense. They want natural leadership."
Rhea sat back down, arms crossed.
"So basically," she said dryly,
"you're trusting luck."
Roin grinned.
"Luck favors confidence."