Blossom: Love in full bloom

CHAPTER ONE My alarm rang nonstop, sharp and unmerciless, dragging me out of sleep. Another day. Another trial. I turned over, hoping to steal a few more minutes, when my stepmother’s voice cut through the quiet hallway cold, impatient as she asked the maid if I was still sleeping. I sat up immediately. In this house, oversleeping was a crime I could not afford to commit. I washed up quickly and dressed in silence, my movements practiced and efficient. There was no need to rush, yet I always did. Habit had taught me that hesitation only invited trouble. I forgot to introduce myself my bad. My name is Xiao Jiao. It means delicate a cruel joke, considering the life I was born into. I am the eldest daughter of the Xiao family. My father, Xiao Hao, is a powerful tycoon in Country C. To the outside world, he is decisive and respected. To me, he is distant. My mother, Jiang Yun, passed away many years ago, leaving behind a position that was quickly filled but never truly replaced. Enough introductions. Today is not an ordinary day. Today, the Li family will arrive. The arranged marriage between our two families will finally be settled an agreement decided more than twenty years ago, before I even understood what marriage meant. Two powerful families. One alliance. And one daughter offered as the price. I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. Calm face. Steady eyes. No visible cracks. I had long learned how to hide behind composure. Who I would marry had never been my choice. Whether I agreed or not had never mattered. All that mattered was that the Xiao family needed this alliance and I was expected to obey. I straightened my clothes, my lips curving into a faint, emotionless smile. If fate had already made its decision, then I would face it head on. The Xiao family’s living room was unusually quiet. Tea had already been served. The elders sat upright, their expressions polite yet calculating. My stepmother sat beside my father, her posture elegant, her smile flawless. Xiao Yue stood not far away. She was dressed carefully soft colors, delicate makeup exactly the kind of appearance elders admired. She had always been prepared for today. The door opened. The Li family arrived with quiet authority. At the center of the group was a young man in a black suit. His expression was indifferent, his presence restrained yet overwhelming. He did not speak much, but when he sat down, the atmosphere shifted subtly. This must be Li Zhen. He listened as the elders exchanged pleasantries, his gaze calm and distant. When Xiao Yue was introduced, she stepped forward gracefully, lowering her head with practiced elegance. Li Zhen looked at her briefly. Just briefly. Then he frowned. “Is this the eldest daughter of the Xiao family?” he asked, his voice cool and flat. My stepmother’s smile stiffened for half a second. “Yes,” she replied smoothly. “Our eldest daughter.” Silence followed. Li Zhen’s fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, his eyes darkening slightly. “Even so,” he said at last, lifting his gaze, “I would like to meet the other one.” For a moment, no one moved. The air tightened—thin and fragile. “The other one?” my stepmother repeated, her voice light, but strained. My father frowned. “There seems to be a misunderstanding” “I’m aware of who she is,” Li Zhen interrupted calmly. He didn’t raise his voice, yet the entire room fell silent. “I asked to see the other daughter.” My stepmother’s fingers curled slightly. “That won’t be necessary,” she said, forcing a soft laugh. “She is not” “Call her.” Two simple words. Absolute. I stood outside the door, unmoving. I had heard everything. So this was how it would begin. Not with my name being called— but with me being revealed. Like something hidden. Like something inconvenient. I let out a slow breath and straightened my shoulders. Then I pushed the door open. The sound was soft, but in that silence, it echoed. Every gaze turned toward me. I stepped inside calmly, my expression composed, my heartbeat steady only because I refused to let it betray me. Then I looked up And met his eyes. For the first time. Li Zhen was already watching me. Not casually. Not briefly. Fully. His gaze was sharp, assessing… as if trying to confirm something only he understood. The room held its breath. Then A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips. “I see,” he murmured. He leaned back slightly, his tone calm, certain. “So this…” His eyes remained on mine. “…is the daughter I came for.”