Li Yueran spent the next week orchestrating subtle interventions. Aiden worked tirelessly under the harsh sun, his hands raw and blistered from cement and steel. She sent a worker to provide better gloves, a brand-new water bottle, and even a small shaded tent to rest in.
When Aiden first saw the improvements, he frowned. "Who paid for this?"
The foreman shrugged. "Some rich lady, wants to help the workers."
Aiden's jaw tightened. He didn't like favors. They reminded him of the world that had abandoned him.
Li Yueran appeared at the site for the first time, dressed impeccably in white, her black hair glinting in the sun. She didn't approach him directly. She let her gaze linger, memorizing every gesture, every movement. Her pulse raced as she watched him lift a cement bag with a precision that belied his youth.
"Good morning, sir," she said softly to the foreman, her attention fully on Aiden.
Aiden caught her out of the corner of his eye. He turned and met her gaze. Her beauty was striking, almost unnatural—young yet refined, untouchable. He frowned and returned to his work.
She observed him silently, her pulse hammering. Every small motion—the way he wiped his forehead, adjusted his gloves, the subtle tension in his shoulders—she cataloged. Every habit, every tic, became a mental map.
She could not touch him. Not yet. Not until he accepted her presence. Her allergy flared even at the thought of contact with men, but with him, it was different. Her body remained calm. Only he could be near her without triggering the violent reactions that had haunted her life.
That night, she returned home, drained yet elated. For the first time in eighteen years, she had seen him. He was real, alive, and within reach.
Meilin watched her from the doorway. "You were staring at him for hours," she said softly.
Li Yueran's lips curved into a faint smile. "I have to learn him. Understand him. Before he can trust me, I must know him completely."
Meilin nodded, feeling a strange thrill of tension. She did not yet know the depth of her mother's obsession, but she sensed the danger—and the intensity—that lay beneath that serene, beautiful face.