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  CHAPTER THREE

  Li Meilin had lost track of time. She had just realized that a week had blurred together as she immersed herself in her work, tinkering with her wooden washing machine and helping the servants with their tasks. She had been so focused on avoiding the main characters that she hadn’t noticed the passing of time. The demon hunters had arrived days ago, thankfully she managed to stay out of their way—until now.

  The door to her room slid open with a sharp ctter, and Meilin jumped, nearly dropping the wooden crank she was holding. Her father, Magistrate Li, stood in the doorway, his expression a mix of exasperation and concern.

  “Xinyue,” he said, his voice firm. “Enough of this nonsense. You’ve been hiding in your room for days. The guests are here, and it’s time you met them.”

  Meilin’s heart sank. She was hoping to avoid this moment for as long as possible. She quickly set the crank down and clutched her stomach, forcing a pained expression onto her face.

  “Father, I’m not feeling well,” she said, her voice weak. “I think I ate something bad. It’s best if I stay here and rest.”

  Magistrate Li crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. “Xinyue, I have listened to your excuses long enough. You have been feeling ‘unwell’ for days, yet you ran around the estate, helping the servants. You are not fooling me.”

  Meilin’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She had underestimated her father. “But father—”

  “No more excuses,” he interrupted, stepping into the room and taking her by the arm. “You will come with me and greet our guests. If you keep hiding in your room, no one will know my daughter is beautiful.”

  Meilin had no other choice but to follow. As they walked through the estate, her mind raced. She have to be careful, or else she'll end up dying like the original Li Xinyue.

  The main hall was bathed in the soft glow of ntern light and the air filled with the scent of flower incense. The demon hunters were seated around a low table as they talk to each other. Wei Changying sat in the middle of Lihua and Feng Jian. Su Lihua, the leader of the group, sat beside him with a small smile. Feng Jian, the hot-headed swordsman, sat on the other side, his arms crossed and his expression as grumpy as ever.

  Magistrate Li led Meilin into the room, his voice booming with forced cheerfulness. “Here she is! My daughter, Li Xinyue. I apologize for her absence these past few days. She’s been feeling unwell.”

  Meilin forced a smile, bowing her head politely. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I apologize for not greeting you sooner.”

  Wei Changying stood, his calm eyes meeting hers. “The pleasure is ours, Miss Li. Thank you for joining us.”

  His voice was as soothing as she had imagined, but she quickly reminded herself of the danger.

  Su Lihua smiled warmly, “Please, sit with us, Miss Li. We’ve heard so much about you.”

  Meilin hesitated for a moment before taking a seat next to Su Lihua. The healer’s presence was comforting, like that of an older sister. Meilin couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. Su Lihua wasn’t the kind of person who would harm her, and that made her feel slightly safer.

  As the conversation flowed, Meilin did her best to stay composed. She answered questions politely, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. She avoided Wei Changying’s gaze, focusing instead on Su Lihua and the others.

  “So, Miss Li,” Feng Jian said, his tone slightly mocking. “We heard you’ve been busy inventing something. What is it, exactly?”

  Meilin’s cheeks flushed, but she kept her composure. “It’s just a device to help the servants with their work. Nothing extraordinary.”

  Su Lihua’s eyes lit up with interest. “That’s wonderful! It’s so kind of you to think of them. What does it do?”

  Meilin expined the wooden washing machine, her voice growing more animated as she described how it worked. Su Lihua listened intently, her admiration evident. Even Feng Jian seemed mildly impressed, though he tried to hide it.

  Wei Changying watched her quietly, his calm eyes filled with curiosity. “That’s quite ingenious, Miss Li. You have a talent for innovation.”

  Meilin’s heart raced, but she forced herself to smile politely. “Thank you. I just wanted to make their lives a little easier.”

  As the evening wore on, Meilin began to rex. The demon hunters weren’t as intimidating as she had feared. Su Lihua’s kind demeanor put her at ease, and even Feng Jian’s grumpiness seemed more amusing than threatening. Wei Changying, though calm and observant, didn’t seem like the kind of person who would harm her.

  The conversation soon came to an end and the guests prepared to retire for the night.

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  As she walked back to her room, her mind was filled with conflicting emotions. She had faced the main characters and come out unscathed, but she knew the real challenge was yet to come. She had to stay vigint. She had to survive.

  Just as Meilin was about to reach her room, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see Su Lihua approaching, her serene smile as warm as ever.

  “Miss Li,” Su Lihua said, her voice gentle. “I wanted to properly introduce myself. I’m Su Lihua, and I’m really gd we got to talk tonight.”

  Meilin blinked, surprised by the healer’s friendliness. “Oh, um, it’s nice to meet you too, Miss Su.”

  Su Lihua chuckled softly. “Please, call me Lihua. We’ll be staying here for a few weeks to investigate and eliminate the demons that have been terrorizing the town. I hope we can get to know each other better during that time.”

  Meilin’s heart warmed at the healer’s kindness. “I’d like that,” she said, her voice sincere.

  Su Lihua smiled and patted her arm. “Goodnight, Miss Li. Rest well.”

  As Su Lihua walked away, Meilin felt a sense of relief. Unfortunately, as Meilin turned to continue to her room, she caught sight of Feng Jian standing at the end of the hallway. His arms were crossed, and his sharp eyes were fixed on her with an intensity that made her shiver. There was no mistaking the hostility in his gaze.

  Meilin quickly looked away, her heart pounding. She had forgotten about Feng Jian’s fierce protectiveness of Su Lihua. In the novel, he had been the one to kill the original Li Xinyue after she harmed Su Lihua. Meilin knew she had to be careful.

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