The night folded softly around the city but it wasn't as peaceful as I expected it to be.
'Host. Your family is plotting...again. How I wish I haunted them for longer than I did.'
"They are always plotting Nova. I now understand why mother told me to make sure they don't break me."
'Host...it isn't looking good this time round...'
Nova's voice was filled with urgency and anger. He opened the panel for me and that's when I saw it. The horrifying plan my family had come up with.
They planned to use AI to make explicit content of me and...my deceased mother, release it to the public and smear my name.
I felt my anger bubbling up and the once calm studio turner cold and restless.
Suddenly, all the grief and anger disappeared as something started simmering. Sharp intention.
"Nova," I calmly whispered as I entered my space. The whole golden ateliar chimed softly as if comforting me.
"Activate the hidden menu."
I watched as Nova did as I instructed, my expression completely calm. Tonight wasn't going to be about another revenge. I was simply going to balance a crooked scale.
For years, my forsaken family has basked in glamour, beauty and their illusion of superiority.
I remember my mother once telling me that people who worship their faces will immediately fall apart the moment the mirror is turned.
My stepmother was exactly that kind of person. Since she felt comfortable coming up with such a vile idea, then I knew she deserved a clear reflection reminding her how rotten she was behind all those diamonds.
And that is why, tonight I didn't want them jailed.
I didn't want them destroyed. I just wanted them humbled.
"Nova," I said. "Activate my mother's legacy silk rot formula."
'Warning host. The formula is cosmetic specific. It is non lethal but the effects are deadly.'
"Perfect. That's exactly what I want."
I opened the book Nova gave me and a specific page suddenly glowed. The poison recipe was almost poetic but it majorly manifested through someone's greatest insecurity.
I didn't waste time and immediately activated it.
My stepmother was currently promoting her new foundation and cream, 'age defying' as she calls it. She was bragging about it all over, and all I needed was to give it some 'improvement'
'Host, are you planning to let that improved version affect everyone?'
"No," I murmured. "The innocent buyers have nothing to do with this. Only the guilty deserve to suffer."
'Copy that...processing....and complete!'
A warm pulse suddenly moved through the space as a single golden thread appeared on my hand. As beautiful as it looked, it was already infused with a spell. Any cosmetic item belonging to my target will have its traces.
How beautiful. It was absolutely undetectable and ruinous.
Delivering the thread was almost too easy. I opened the portal and there it was. Her vanity table appeared before my sight and in just seconds, the golden thread flew from my hand and into one of the bottles, the one she worshipped like a holy relic.
The thread shimmered, seamlessly melting into the product.
'Delivery successful host.'
The next morning, every gossip site screamed in red lights as the news exploded.
Jiang's Fashion house beauty line was under fire after Mrs Jiang was hospitalized.
Mrs Jiang's face appeared on every screen, looking all blistered, red and swollen. How refreshing!
I made sure the spell won't disfugure her permanently. It didn't injure her beyond recovery or maim her. It simply revealed her ugliness publicly.
There were also images and videos showing Jiang Ning leaving a dermatology clinic, all covered up and in sunglasses.
There were zoomed in pictures showing her left cheek looking all patchy, red and irritated.
Oops...
The beauty line was on the verge of collapse as clients demanded refunds, with dermatologists poster warnings on their products.
My father never cared about beauty but his reputation? That was his sacred kingdom.
The moment partners started pulling out, the board murmurs began, as investors started doubting his leadership capabilities.
He couldn't handle the power softly slipping through his fingers because of his wife and daughter. The chaos were enough to shake the empire he had been building his ego on.
A specific leaked memo seemed to drive him to the edge. The board was criticizing him for his poor oversight. This alone was the worst insult for someone obsessed with having complete control.
He couldn't help but snap at reporters and lose composure at board meetings.
I watched the news while sipping my sweet jasmine tea.
I didn't feel any pleasure, or triumph, or even smugness. I just felt... Normal?
There was a small release of tension as I went back to my work.
The day went by without anyone bothering me, and it kind of shocked me. Everytime the Jiang family had a scandal, my name would somehow be mentioned but this time round, I was in peace.
My studio felt alive again after that fiasco.
I beautifully brushed my fingers all over the fabric, feeling the hum beneath my touch.
"Hush little ones," I whispered to the threads, finding it absurd that I was now communicating with fabric.
'Oh please host. Just say you don't want them to play the lie detector role.'
"Nova." I sighed tiredly. "Just shut up."
'I will shut up when he stops looking at you host.'
Nova's words made me turn, as my eyes flickered towards the far window and there he was.
Lu Jinghao. My ever impossible boss and...personal client.
He was leaning against the glass partition, his hands in his pockets as his immaculate figure out lined itself.
His calm presence really didn't belong in this chaotic studio. He came from discipline, order and power but that didn't stop him from finding his way into my world of chaos and mystery.
"You are working late again," he said, his voice low enough to entice even the stubborn of creatures, but at the same time smooth enough to feel like a sacred secret.
"I have to. You know my designs don't finish themselves." I replied with a smile, but suddenly winced when I realized that was a half lie now.
Jinghao's gaze flickered towards the threads behind me but he didn't say a word.
He always watched everything but never once did he say a thing. I didn't bother concentrating on him as I turned away, pretending to busy myself with an unfinished gown.
Despite this, his gaze never left me. I wondered whether it was my silk high slit dress, or my loose hair that garnered his attention. The way he was looking at me made me feel like I was both an answer he didn't know he was searching for, and a star.
"Lu Jinghao," I spoke,forcing my voice steady. "What really brought you to my studio?"
His smile tilted, looking all sweet and gentle. "Nothing much. I just came to make sure you eat."
'Ohh sweet! Host that is the classic CEO checks on you romance type.'
I bit back a laugh at Nova's words."But I am not a child."
"Of course you are not..." he replied, still carrying the same tone.
LU JINGHAO'S POV
I looked at her as she moved through the room like a pro. I noticed that her calmness made the studio warm. When she was tensed or disturbed, the studio...stirred.
I couldn't help but marvel at her efficiency. Here she was, moving barefoot, looking all sharp and focused. Need I mention the inviting slit on her dress? It whispered danger. But good thing I am a Lu. Danger is part of my daily routine.
"Here," I finally said, placing a small paper on her working desk. "That's a sandwich. Good food, unlike the caffeine you love."
She blinked at me, as if looking startled by the simple offering. Funny. She never looked this confused when commanding an entire runway, but here she was, startled by a simple sandwich.
Her lips parted in silent protest but it was quickly covered with gratitude.
"Thank you,I'll eat," she finally said, her voice a whisper.
"Good girl," I murmured. "And after eating you are going to sleep."
'Damn host! He is a dominant! A bit bossy but I guess that's how you humans court each other.'
As she nibbled on her food, I leaned against her desk, ready to share the highlights of the day.
"By the way, Jiang Ning's latest campaign is being delayed." I said casually.
Her expression didn't shift a bit."Hmm. Good for her."
But then, before she could add something else, she swayed. Not too much, but just a little.
"Rui!" I instinctively caught her before she could hit the table, arms securing her waist. Her beautiful skin was too cold, with a frantic pulse.
"It's okay. I'm fine," she gasped for air, as her knees buckled.
"Absolutely not!" My tone was a bit raised but I had to.
I lowered her onto a chair as I brushed her hair from her face.
"What are you hiding Rui?"
Her eyes fluttered open, as she maintained eye contact, plastering a weak smile.
"Nothing much. I am just overworking."
Lies. I could tell she was bluntly lying but I didn't call her out.
Instead, I decided to stay until dawn, while she ended up sleeping beside me.
I kept on telling myself that it was just professional concern until her fingers accidentally brushed mine and that's when my chest tightened.
Jiang Rui's POV
When Ifinally woke up, I felt as if my world was painted gold.
Lu Jinghao sat by the window, his white shirt was rolled to his elbows, coat discarded, as the morning sun cut across his jaw. I never knew I could witness such a beautiful scene until today.
'Host, he stayed the whole night just for you. What a loyal guard dog you have.'
"Shut up. I didn't ask him to stay," I muttered back in embarrassment.
'You didn't have to say a word, he volunteered.'
I sat up, groaning, perfectly ignoring his comment. "Can you just tell me what happened last night?"
'Well, you seemed to have over synced and the space drained your energy. And because of that, you lovely fabrics were about to come alive.'
I frowned,trying to recall what happened before I saw darkness. "Did...did he see?"
'Lucky for you, he didn't. You blacked out before things could get out of hand.'
At that moment, Lu Jinghao's eyes opened, immediately catching mine. "You're awake."
"Hmm."
"You fainted," he said simply. "I was here the whole night."
I tried to make a joke, but it turned out to be pathetic. "You really know nothing about boundaries, do you?"
He smiled softly. "Not when it comes to people I cherish."
For one scary moment, my heart forgot how to beat properly.
'How sweet. He cares. Should I perhaps prepare wedding invites?'
"Shut it Nova," I hissed under my breath, catching his attention.
"What did you say?" he asked, eyebrow raised.
"...nothing."
After he left, the studio became quiet once again.
Somewhere outside the Ateliar, I saw Lu Jinghao's car still parked across the street.
The man was protecting me. If only he knew that the world I carried in my hands could easily destroy both of us...
'Oh host...you are in deep, deep trouble. Both system wise and emotionally.'
"I know Nova.I know...," I whispered. "but for some reason...I'm still not running."