Chapter 8 – A Vow of Fire and Stars
Li Yanzhou's words echoed in Meilin's heart long after he left. "If you ever need me… I will come." They weren't just words of courtesy—there was a gravity to them, a silent vow laced with meaning she couldn't quite define yet.
It was strange, this connection. Meilin had been surrounded by wolves in her past life—smiles that hid knives, promises that brought poison. But this man, cold and unreadable as he might seem, made her feel something terrifying: safe.
She sat on her bed, her fingers curling around the edge of the bedsheet as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were no longer those of the naïve girl who had once believed in forever with Lin Haoxuan. Now, they burned with clarity, pain, and purpose.
Her mother's voice drifted in from the hallway. "Meilin, you have a visitor."
Meilin's heart skipped. "Who is it?"
The door creaked open slightly, and her mother peeked in. "It's… Lin Haoxuan."
Meilin stood slowly, her fingers instinctively tightening into fists.
"He says he wants to apologize," her mother added gently. "I told him you didn't want to see anyone, but…"
"It's alright, Mama," Meilin said, already heading for the stairs. "I'll handle it."
---
Lin Haoxuan stood in the living room, looking every bit the charming heir she had once fallen for. His black hair was tousled just right, his suit immaculate, and his expression carefully schooled into one of soft regret. The man could win an Oscar with that act.
"Meilin," he said as she stepped in, "I know I've hurt you. I didn't come to defend myself. I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
She crossed her arms. "Sorry for what? For cheating on me? Or for planning to ruin me even before we married?"
His mask slipped slightly. "I never meant for things to go so far—"
"But they did," she said flatly. "And don't insult my intelligence, Haoxuan. You weren't just playing around. You made me your pawn, built your empire using my name, and then… sacrificed me."
His face paled. "What are you talking about?"
Meilin took a step closer, her eyes narrowing. "You know exactly what I mean. The ritual. The contract with the dark cultivators. The night you offered my life for power."
He swallowed hard, and for a moment, panic flickered in his eyes. "You're not making any sense."
Meilin gave a cold smile. "You don't have to admit it. I remember everything. And I won't let you trap me again."
Just then, her system chimed in her mind:
🔔 Celestial System Update:
- Emotional Confrontation Complete. -Objective: Cut ties with the False Bond. -Reward Unlocked: +1 Level of Spiritual -Awareness
-Skill Unlocked: "Truth Sense"
– Temporary ability to detect lies and intentions.
Meilin's breath caught as a wave of warmth washed over her. She could feel it—his aura, the tremble of his voice, the twitch in his fingers. Lin Haoxuan was lying through his teeth.
"You're not sorry," she said quietly. "You're scared. Scared that I might become more than you ever imagined."
And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving him alone in the cold silence of his crumbling lies.
---
That evening, Meilin sat beneath the plum blossom tree in her backyard. The petals had begun to fall, blanketing the ground like a soft pink snowfall. She closed her eyes and let the silence hold her.
"Truth Sense," she whispered. She could still feel it—like a pulse in the air. The ability wouldn't last long, but it had been more than enough to see through Lin Haoxuan.
She knew the System only activated abilities when her actions aligned with its goals: building a sincere future, breaking toxic bonds, choosing trust. Every move she made now could strengthen or weaken her path.
Just then, a soft hum vibrated in her palm. She opened her eyes.
Another message.
🔔 Celestial System Notification:
> 🌟 Hidden Quest Triggered: Title: "The Forgotten Pact" Description: "A mysterious thread from your past life calls to you. A promise made beneath the stars. Find the one who once swore to protect you… even before this life." 🧭 First Clue: Seek the Song of Winter in the Yulan Library.
Meilin's brows furrowed. Song of Winter? The name stirred something in her chest. It felt… familiar. A haunting melody on the edge of her memory.
She didn't waste time. The next morning, she headed straight for the Yulan Library—the oldest library in Huajin. It wasn't just a public building. In her past life, she'd heard whispers that the wealthy and powerful used it as a front for secret gatherings—magical and otherwise.
As she stepped into the stone building, its cold marble floors echoing under her shoes, she felt the world shift slightly. This was a place where fate lived in shadows.
"Can I help you?" asked the elderly librarian behind the desk.
"I'm looking for something," Meilin replied. "A book called… Song of Winter."
The librarian blinked. "That's a rare title. Ancient poetry. I believe it's locked in the restricted archives."
Meilin smiled. "Then I'll need access."
The woman studied her for a long moment. Then, unexpectedly, she nodded. "Follow me."
---
In the underground archives, dust motes floated like stars caught in sunlight. The librarian handed Meilin a velvet-covered book, the silver words Song of Winter glowing faintly on the cover.
She opened it.
There were poems, yes—but also drawings. A man's silhouette, always beside a woman wrapped in light. Notes scribbled in ancient script. Names. Spells. Seals.
And at the end—a letter, sealed with an unfamiliar sigil.
To Meilin Xue, if she is ever reborn…
Her hands trembled.
She opened it.
> "If you are reading this, it means I failed to protect you. But fate is not so cruel after all. You've returned. I don't know how, but I made preparations. Find me. Not the me in your memories—but the one who remembers the stars.
I will always find you.
—L.Y."
Her breath hitched. L.Y.?
Li… Yanzhou?
---
That night, Meilin sat on her bed, the letter clutched tightly in her hand. Her mind swirled with questions. Could it be? Had he known her before? Was there a past life she hadn't even unlocked yet?
Was their meeting not a coincidence—but fate?
She looked at her glowing palm. The system pulsed warmly.
She had choices to make.
She wasn't the same girl anymore.
This time, love wouldn't destroy her.
This time, it might just save her.