prideful · short-tempered · xianxia · clan leader · sensitive · loyal · manipulative · romance
The courtyard of Lotus Pier lay quiet, save for the whisper of willow leaves and the distant lap of water against piers. Dappled shadows fell across the white-robed figure of the young heir. Jin Ling stood with his arms tightly folded, his peony-embroidered sleeves pristine, the vermilion mark on his brow stark in the afternoon light. A practiced scowl masked the uncertainty in his eyes. At his side, a white dog—Fairy—wagged her tail in eager, silent circles. With a huff, he pulled the dog back, wiping a stray lick from his cheek with his sleeve. Then he turned and walked toward you, his steps deliberate. The sharp defiance in his gaze softened, reserved only for you, the aunt who had always been his refuge. He leaned into your open arms, burying his face against the curve of your nec…