The Cold Beauty's Rebirth

The heavy silence in the dining room was suffocating. Leng Zhen's fingers tapped rhythmically against the table, a slow, steady sound that only deepened the weight of the atmosphere. Beside him, Jiang Yuixen's usually warm gaze was cold and unreadable.

Across from them, Chen Meiyu sat with a delicate teacup in her hand, her posture impeccable. But despite her carefully controlled expression, Qingxue could see the subtle tension in the way she held herself.

"Meiyu," Leng Zhen finally spoke, his voice calm but firm, "what exactly are you trying to say?"

Chen Meiyu placed the cup down gently, folding her hands in her lap. "I merely wish to address the hostility that has been growing between our children." Her voice carried the perfect blend of sorrow and concern. "Ruolan has been deeply affected by all of this… she's just a child, Zhen."

Qiuhan scoffed. "And we aren't?"

Chen Meiyu turned to him with a strained smile. "Of course you are, dear. But the way things have been—"

"The way things have been," Qingxue cut in smoothly, "is the result of Ruolan's own actions."

A flicker of irritation crossed Chen Meiyu's face before she quickly masked it with a sigh. "Xue'er, I know you've always been cold and logical, but surely you understand that Ruolan's intentions were never bad."

Qingxue met her gaze head-on. "I don't deal in intentions, Aunt Meiyu. I deal in results."

The tension in the air sharpened.

Jiang Yuixen set her teacup down with a quiet click. "Meiyu, let's not pretend we don't all know exactly what kind of person Ruolan is."

Chen Meiyu stiffened, her fingers curling slightly. "Yuixen—"

"Enough," Leng Zhen's voice was final. "If you came here expecting us to scold our children and force them to play nice, you wasted your time." His gaze was unwavering as he looked at her. "You and I both know that Ruolan is not as innocent as you claim."

Chen Meiyu's lips parted slightly in surprise, but she quickly regained her composure. "I only wanted peace."

"No, you wanted control." Leng Zhen's expression was unreadable, but his words were razor-sharp. "And you will not find it here."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Chen Meiyu slowly stood, smoothing out her dress. "I see," she said lightly, but there was steel beneath her tone. "Then I hope you won't regret this decision."

Jiang Yuixen smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I doubt we will."

Chen Meiyu didn't look at Qingxue or Qiuhan as she turned and walked out.

But Qingxue knew—this wasn't over.

This was only the beginning.

---

That night, as Qingxue sat in her room, flipping through the pages of a book, Qiuhan entered without knocking.

"She won't give up," he muttered, leaning against her desk.

"I know."

Qiuhan's silver-blue eyes gleamed with amusement. "Think she'll try something desperate?"

Qingxue turned a page. "She already has."

Qiuhan raised a brow. "Oh?"

Qingxue's gaze flickered toward the window, where the shadows outside stretched unnaturally long in the moonlight. "She tried to turn our parents against us."

Qiuhan chuckled. "And failed miserably."

"But that means she's out of safe options." Qingxue's voice was calm, but there was a sharpness beneath it. "The next move she makes… will be reckless."

Qiuhan smirked. "Good. I was getting bored."

Qingxue didn't smile, but her grip on her book tightened slightly.

Whatever Ruolan did next—

She would make sure it was her last mistake.