★???????★???

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Li Meilin sat alone in her room, the soft glow of the afternoon sun filtering through the paper windows. She had been lost in thought, her mind wandering over the events of the past few days. The demon hunters were still at the estate, and though she had managed to avoid any major confrontations, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her presence was already altering the story.

  She sighed, leaning back against the cushions of her bed. The original Li Xinyue had been a viliness, her actions driven by jealousy and spite. But Meilin wasn’t like her. She didn’t want to cause trouble or harm anyone. She just wanted to survive. Yet, the more she tried to stay out of the way, the more she seemed to be drawn into the lives of the main characters.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. “Miss Li,” a timid voice called. It was Xiaoling, one of her maids. “May we come in?”

  Meilin straightened up, smoothing the folds of her hanfu. “Yes, come in.”

  The door slid open, and Xiaoling entered, followed by Yingyue. Both maids carried small cquered boxes in their hands, their expressions a mix of excitement and nervousness.

  “What’s this?” Meilin asked, her curiosity piqued.

  Xiaoling stepped forward, bowing slightly as she held out the box. “Your father sent these for you, Miss Li. He said you’ve been asking about them for the st few months.”

  Meilin blinked, her confusion evident. “I have?”

  Yingyue nodded, her voice soft. “Yes, Miss Li. You’ve been talking about these hairpins for a while now. Your father finally found them and had them brought to you.”

  Meilin took the box from Xiaoling, her fingers brushing against the smooth cquered surface. She opened it carefully, revealing a set of exquisite hairpins. They were made of delicate silver, adorned with intricate designs of flowers and birds. The craftsmanship was impeccable, and the gems embedded in the pins sparkled in the sunlight.

  “They’re beautiful,” Meilin murmured.

  Xiaoling and Yingyue exchanged a gnce, their expressions softening. “Your father thought you’d be pleased,” Xiaoling said. “He’s been worried about you, Miss Li. He wanted to do something to make you happy.”

  Meilin’s heart ached at the words. Magistrate Li, for all his sternness, clearly cared for his daughter. But Meilin wasn’t his daughter—not really. She was an imposter, a stranger in this world. The thought made her feel a pang of guilt.

  “Thank you,” she said, her voice sincere. “Please tell my father I appreciate the gift.”

  The maids nodded, their smiles warm. “Of course, Miss Li,” Yingyue said. “Is there anything else you need?”

  Meilin shook her head. “No, that’s all. Thank you.”

  The maids bowed and left the room, closing the door softly behind them. Meilin sat there for a moment, staring at the hairpins in her hands. They were beautiful, but they also served as a reminder of the life she had taken over. The original Li Xinyue had wanted these hairpins, had longed for them. And now, they were hers.

  ★

  Li Meilin had been staring at the hairpins for what felt like hours, her mind racing with thoughts and pns. The events of the past few days had made one thing clear: avoiding the demon hunters wasn’t working. If anything, it was only drawing more attention to her. If she wanted to survive, she needed a new strategy.

  “If I can’t avoid them,” she murmured to herself, “then maybe I should try to befriend them.”

  The idea was risky, but it made sense. The original Li Xinyue had been an antagonist, her actions driven by jealousy and spite.

  If she could show the demon hunters that she wasn’t a threat, maybe they would leave her alone. Maybe she could even gain their trust.

  With that thought in mind, Meilin made her decision. She would start with Su Lihua. The healer was kind and approachable, and she seemed to genuinely care about others. If anyone would be willing to give Meilin a chance, it was her.

  Meilin picked up the box of hairpins and made her way to Su Lihua’s room. The estate was quiet, the soft rustle of the wind through the trees the only sound. When she reached the door, she hesitated for a moment before knocking.

  “Come in,” Su Lihua’s gentle voice called from inside.

  Meilin slid the door open and stepped into the room. Su Lihua was seated at a low table, a book open in front of her. She looked up and smiled when she saw Meilin.

  “Miss Li,” she said, her tone warm. “What brings you here?”

  Meilin returned the smile, though she felt a bit nervous. “I wanted to thank you for your kindness the other day. And… I thought you might like these.”

  She held out the box of hairpins, her hands steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. Su Lihua’s eyes widened in surprise, and she took the box carefully.

  “These are beautiful,” she said, opening the box and admiring the hairpins. “But are you sure you want to give them to me? They look quite precious.”

  Meilin nodded. “They are, but I think they suit you more than me. Consider it a token of my gratitude.”

  Su Lihua’s smile softened, and she pced the box on the table. “Thank you, Miss Li. That’s very kind of you.”

  The two of them chatted for a while, the conversation flowing easily. Meilin found herself rexing in Su Lihua’s presence. The healer had a calming aura, and her kindness was genuine. For the first time since transmigrating into this world, Meilin felt a sense of hope.

  Just as their conversation was winding down, the door slid open, and Wei Changying and Feng Jian stepped into the room. Wei Changying’s calm eyes swept over the scene, while Feng Jian’s sharp gaze lingered on Meilin.

  “Lihua,” Wei Changying said, his voice steady. “We need to talk to you about something important.”

  Su Lihua nodded, her expression serious. “Of course. What is it?”

  Feng Jian crossed his arms, his tone brusque. “It’s about the demons. We’ve received new information, and we need to discuss our next steps.”

  Meilin quickly stood, feeling awkward. “I should go,” she said, forcing a cheerful smile. “I don’t want to intrude.”

  Su Lihua looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, Miss Li. We can continue our conversation ter, if you’d like.”

  Meilin nodded, her smile still in pce. “Of course. I’ll leave you to it.”

  As she turned to leave, Wei Changying gave her a gentle smile. Meilin was taken aback but gave him a smile anyway.

  After Meilin left the room, Su Lihua turned her attention to Wei Changying and Feng Jian, her expression serious. “New information?” she asked, her voice low.

  Wei Changying closed the door behind him, ensuring their conversation remained private. He stepped closer to the table, his calm eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. “We’ve been sensing a demonic aura in this estate,” he said. “It’s faint, but it’s there. We think it might be connected to Miss Li’s illness.”

  Feng Jian leaned against the wall, his arms crossed and his usual scowl deepening. “It’s not just faint—it’s elusive. Every time we try to pinpoint its source, it slips away. It’s like the demon knows we’re here and is deliberately hiding from us.”

  Su Lihua’s brow furrowed as she considered their words. “A demonic aura… that would expin why no physician has been able to diagnose her condition. If a demon is involved, it’s no ordinary illness.”

  Wei Changying nodded. “Exactly. But the question is, who or what is the source of this aura? It could be a demon hiding in the estate, or it could be something—or someone—else entirely.”

  Feng Jian’s sharp eyes narrowed. “You think it’s the magistrate? Or maybe one of the servants?”

  Wei Changying shook his head. “It’s hard to say. The aura is too scattered to trace. But one thing is clear: Miss Li’s illness is unnatural. If a demon is responsible, it’s likely targeting her specifically.”

  Su Lihua’s expression softened with concern. “Poor girl. She’s been suffering for so long, and no one knew why. If we can find the source of this aura, we might be able to help her.”

  Feng Jian snorted. “Assuming she’s not the source herself. She’s the magistrate’s daughter, after all. Who knows what kind of secrets she’s hiding?”

  Wei Changying shot him a warning look. “Feng Jian, we have no evidence to suggest she’s involved. Let’s not jump to conclusions.”

  Feng Jian shrugged, though his tone remained skeptical. “I’m just saying, we should keep an eye on her."

  Su Lihua sighed, her voice gentle but firm. “Feng Jian, Miss Li is just a girl. She’s been through a lot, and she’s clearly trying to make the best of her situation."

  Wei Changying nodded in agreement. “Lihua’s right. For now, our priority is to investigate the demonic aura and find its source. If we can do that, we might be able to help Miss Li and the rest of the estate.”

  The three of them spent the next hour discussing their next steps. Wei Changying suggested they observe the estate discreetly, keeping an eye out for any unusual activity or signs of demonic energy. Su Lihua agreed, adding that they should also pay attention to the household members, as the demon could be hiding in pin sight.

  “We’ll need to be careful,” Wei Changying said, his tone serious. “If the demon is as elusive as we think, it won’t be easy to catch."

  Feng Jian smirked, though there was no humor in his eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure no one gets in our way.”

  Meanwhile, Meilin had returned to her room, unaware of the demon hunters’ discussion. She sat on the edge of her bed, her thoughts still lingering on her visit to Su Lihua. The healer’s kindness had been a welcome change, and Meilin felt a flicker of hope that she might be able to forge a genuine connection with her.

  But as she looked at the box of hairpins she had given Su Lihua, her mind wandered to the original Li Xinyue. The girl had been sickly and bitter, her life overshadowed by illness and resentment. Meilin couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to her story something that had been left out of the novel.

  ★???????★???