THE REAL PROTEGE

Four Eyes burst into their room like a whirlwind. Ling Li, who had just begun organizing suitcases, turned at the commotion.

"I did it," he announced breathlessly. "I called El Capitan."

Ling Li raised one elegant brow. "You… what?"

Four Eyes nodded, face a mix of pride and hauntedness. "I agreed to El Capitan's conditions. We serve tea at sunrise. Robes are mandatory. Gifts are to be delivered directly to the airport. And no complaints, or I face firecracker chess."

Ling Li blinked, then snorted, then held her face in one hand as if trying not to burst out laughing. "Honey, you've changed. You've become talkative and funny. Is it the effect of our wedding or my pregnancy?

And you even agreed to these conditions. Did El Capitan make these conditions for you?"

Four Eyes gave a solemn nod, arms folded like a martyr awaiting judgment.

Ling Li's eyes narrowed. Her lips curled. "That brat," she said with a dangerous smile. "I'll beat him to death."

"Wife, not yet!" Four Eyes yelped. "Let me get the gifts first. Then — by all means — he's all yours. He he he."

Ling Li sighed dramatically. "Fine. But tomorrow morning, you are wearing a robe. Full ceremonial set. No shortcuts."

Four Eyes grimaced. "Do I have to wear the hairpiece too?"

Ling Li smirked. "Absolutely."

Then she spun toward the dresser and whipped out her phone. "Pharsa," she said into the receiver, already shifting into command mode, "we're leaving now. Tell Mr. and Mrs. Xu to pack immediately. And no delays — we serve tea at six sharp tomorrow morning. Ask Mushu to prepare all travel provisions."

Four Eyes blinked as Ling Li pivoted into battle logistics.

She's terrifying when she's focused, he thought. Beautiful. Efficient. Slightly terrifying.

Ling Li turned back to him, one brow lifted. "You're still standing there. Go. Pack. Now."

Four Eyes saluted. "Yes, General Wife."

Not long after, they were already on the private plane.

==========

Otako's Dungeon

At this time.

In the depths of one of Otako's foreboding dungeons, Nina finds herself thrown into a dimly lit cell, her hair a tangled mess. Her clothing tattered, cast aside like a broken doll — a testament to the turmoil she endures.

She is wracked with agonizing pain that grips her body like a merciless vice, attacking her with relentless ferocity twice a week. Each wave of suffering is so excruciating that it paints her thoughts with a dark longing — she often wishes for the sweet release of death to escape this unending torment. The cold stone walls seem to echo her silent agony, amplifying her despair as she fights to cling to even a flicker of hope amid the shadows that surround her.

Before her stood Butler Oda, a stoic figure clad in dark formal attire, flanked by five of Otako's fierce Samurai, their armor glinting menacingly under the dim light. The atmosphere was tense, charged with an unspoken anticipation as they prepared to interrogate her. Yet, as their eyes fell upon her, they were met not with defiance, but with a sight that spoke of vulnerability and weariness, a stark contrast to the formidable presence of her captors.

They watched as Nina winced and flinched, each wave of pain causing her to cry out in anguish. Desperately, she curled into herself, collapsing onto the cold floor. Her body trembled uncontrollably, a violent shiver that radiated from deep within. In a fierce grip, her fingers clenched, the sharp edges of her nails biting into her palm, drawing droplets of blood that trickled down her skin.

The clock ticked on, dragging time into an excruciating two-hour stretch, and Nina found herself teetering on the edge of consciousness. Each moment felt like a heavy weight pressing down on her, suffocating her spirit. In the depths of her mind, she often yearned for a way to escape, wishing desperately to vanish or simply fade away whenever she found herself entangled in this relentless torment. A solitary tear slipped down her cheek, a silent testament to her struggle, reflecting the pain she couldn't quite articulate.

Realizing that questioning Nina was out of the question at this moment, Butler Oda turned to one of the guards with a firm yet compassionate expression.

"Go find a servant in the household," he instructed, his voice steady, "and have her assist Nina with washing up. She must be given water and food; after all, she is still Master Chu Yan's sister."

The guard nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. As Butler Oda and the five Samurai departed, their presence radiated authority, leaving a weighty silence in the air — a stark contrast to the warmth of the familial ties they were momentarily upholding. They planned to return that night, determined to revisit the fragile thread of connection between Nina and her past.

==========

Meanwhile

Late Afternoon, Garden Veranda of the Mansion

The light was soft, the kind that gently melted gold into the edges of clouds. Fatty sat in his wheelchair near the koi pond. His arms crossed, lips pressed into a flat line. His usual gleam of charm was gone, replaced by a shadowy sulk that had settled over him like a storm cloud since morning.

Lily approached, her practice shoes slung casually over one shoulder, hair damp from training. She paused beside him, one hand on her hip.

"You've been glaring at the lilies like they insulted your ancestors," she teased.

Fatty didn't reply. He shifted his gaze away, pretending to adjust his wheelchair as if it had wronged him, too.

Lily sighed and knelt beside him, lifting a gentle finger to poke his cheek. "You're not even hiding the sulk anymore. Your whole face is darker than my soy sauce bottle."

"Not sulking," he muttered.

"You are."

Fatty finally looked at her, and the intensity in his eyes nearly startled her. "They're sending me to Belgium," he said, each word heavy. "In a week. A week. That's... seven sunsets away from you."

"I know," Lily said softly.

Fatty's fingers clenched the armrests. "I want to be here. With you. Through every rehearsal, every turn, every fall. You shouldn't be alone out there."

"I won't be," Lily said gently. "Shi Min's training with me. And the others will be around. I have a team. You have a future."