THE CURSE OF TIME

LEE YI / SHI YI'S POV

As I slid the car window up.... I held the phone to my ear, the familiar voice of Haejun coming through. "Hello..." I said, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on me. "Hey... are you almost back?" he questioned, his tone laced with concern. "Yes..." I replied, the tension in my chest tightening.

"Is something up?" he asked, sensing my unease. "Well, Mr. Park and Mr. Han called and asked to meet you tomorrow," he continued. My heart raced at the news. "They did!" I exclaimed, a mix of excitement and anxiety flooding through me. "Yes, but let's not get our hopes high. It could be one of two things... either they want to tell us that they are withdrawing their investments or they aren't," he cautioned. I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "I know... we shall have to wait till tomorrow to know," I replied, trying to keep my emotions in check.

"Okay..." he said, and I hung up, leaning back in my seat. Just then, my phone chimed, and I glanced at the screen. A text from Hong Malin appeared: "Thank you so much for accompanying me today." A smile crept onto my face as I read her message. There was something about her that tugged at my heartstrings—perhaps it was pity or concern. I couldn't shake the worry that had settled in my chest for her and her condition. Despite my usual inclination to mind my own business, I found myself wanting to understand why she had tried to take her life that day and what had caused her to cry at the bridge. The thought lingered in my mind, an unanswered question that begged for resolution.

*

*

Arriving home, I opened the door to find Haejun slurping on some noodles, the sound unmistakable. "Hey," I greeted him as I stepped inside, shaking off the chill of the evening. "Hey... I ordered dinner for myself since you were taking long to come back. I can order something for you as well," he offered, not bothering to look up from his bowl.

"It's okay... I've already had dinner," I replied, trying to keep my tone light...."You did?" he questioned, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Yes... enjoy yours though, and goodnight. We have a long day ahead tomorrow," I said, feeling the weight of anticipation settle in my stomach as I headed to my room.

Once inside, I took a quick shower, letting the warm water wash away the day's stress. As I dried off and slipped into bed, my mind buzzed with excitement and nerves about the meeting with Mr. Han and Mr. Park. What would they say? Would it be good news or bad? I closed my eyes, hoping for the best as I drifted off to sleep, my thoughts swirling around the possibilities that awaited me.

*

*

Later that afternoon, I met up with Mr. Han and Mr. Park, my heart racing with anticipation. "Thank you for taking time off to meet up with us, Mr. Lee," Mr. Park said, his tone professional yet friendly.

"Well, I've been eagerly waiting for your reply after our discussion last time," I replied, rubbing my fingers together anxiously, trying to mask my nerves. "So... have you both made your decision about what we discussed?" I questioned directly, wanting to get straight to the point.

"We have," Mr. Han said, glancing at Mr. Park before continuing. "We have both decided to withdraw our investments from Mr. Ying and the Essence Hotels." A wave of relief washed over me, and I let out a sigh. "Really!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my excitement.

"We heard all you had to say and even went through the documents. You are absolutely right; investing in something uncertain isn't really what our companies need at the moment. Plus, your offer of 50 million each is kind of irresistible," Mr. Park explained, and I couldn't help but smirk at their acknowledgment of my proposal.

"Right... I am glad you put everything I said into consideration. You made the right choice," I replied, feeling a sense of triumph.

"Well, I shall have the money deposited in your accounts right after you sign an agreement to never disclose anything we have discussed to anyone, in addition to fully keeping your end of the deal," I clarified, wanting to ensure everything was in order.

"Okay," they replied, nodding in agreement. "I'll have my assistant send you the agreement, and once signed, I'll wire the money to you," I concluded, extending my hand for a shake. As we shook hands, I felt a surge of confidence; this was the beginning of something significant.

"Congratulations on taking a step forward to your goal," Haejun said, raising his can of beer.

"I'm nowhere close... I'll be once I have that sword in my hands," I replied, my determination evident in my voice. "What about the powerful witch... any links to who it could be?" he asked.

"I have Xiao Mei on the job... she's currently searching," I replied, knowing the risks involved.

"Can we trust Xiao Mei?" he questioned, skepticism creeping into his tone.

"No... she wanted to kill me as revenge for killing Moonkyung the first time we met, so no, we can't trust her. But if anyone knows the Wuyi witches and can recognize one, it's her. So we have no choice," I explained, feeling the weight of the situation.

"I mean, what if she finds her and doesn't hand her over to you?" he pressed.

"She will... she has to," I said, taking a deep sigh and sipping from my can of beer. "For now, let's focus on getting the sword." Haejun nodded, understanding the urgency.

"Now all we have to do is wait for Mr. Ying to reach out to us. Once he gets the news that his investors are withdrawing, he will go into a spiral, and when he does... I'll make sure he comes to us," Haejun added with a smirk.

"He better," I replied, leaning back, the anticipation of what was to come swirling in my mind.

*

*

MALIN'S POV

"This is the cheapest apartment you can get around here..." the realtor said as I took a look around. To be honest, it wasn't the best place, but I needed somewhere affordable after leaving the Ying mansion in a few weeks. After searching for days, I finally found one that could fit my budget.

"How do I make the payments?" I asked, trying to wrap my head around the logistics.

"Well, you can pay half as security and then pay the latter half once you enter the apartment," he explained. I sighed, glancing around the cramped space, weighing my options.

"Is it always this noisy? I'm kind of a high school senior and I'm preparing for the college entrance exams," I said, hoping for some reassurance.

"Well, it's busy down here, so it does get noisy from time to time... I can't really promise that anything changes," he replied, and I felt a wave of frustration wash over me.

"Okay, I'll take it, but can I stop by your office tomorrow and make the payments? I sort of don't have the money on me right now," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

He agreed but urged me to hurry because if another client came in and was ready to pay, he wouldn't hesitate to hand it over. "I'll come tomorrow morning," I replied, taking one last look at the apartment before stepping out. I felt a mix of relief and anxiety.

Back home, I counted through my saved-up cash. I had to admit, I had saved a lot over the years from my part-time jobs and my allowance. I was good to go. As I counted, a loud knock at the door startled me. I quickly hid my cash before opening up, and there stood my Aunt, or as I liked to call her, Mrs. Huang.

"What are you doing locked up in your room?" she questioned, forcing her way in.

"I was studying," I replied, trying to sound casual.

"Well, put your study on hold and come down to make dinner. Nanny Fei isn't around, and we have to eat. Hana will be back from her academy soon, and so will your uncle," she commanded, leaving no room for argument.

"I'll be down in a few minutes," I said, watching her look around my room before she finally left. I quickly placed my savings box back in its original spot and headed out.

I made dinner and served it to the three of them once they sat down. "This weekend we are having the hotel's anniversary party," Mr. Ying said to Mrs. Huang as I wrapped up with the serving. "Every one of you needs to be there. If there's one thing the investors consider responsible, it's a family man, so you all have to show up that day." I turned to leave, but then he added, "You too, Hong Malin."

"Dad, why? It's not like she's part of the family," Hana whined, clearly annoyed.

"Then what is she? She stays with us, and I adopted her as my own, so she's part of the family," he replied. Hearing him acknowledge that for the first time in a while struck me....though...I wasn't sure I was thrilled considering that he turned a blind eye to how his daughter and wife treated me. "This is not up for discussion... the hotel anniversary is this weekend and you all have to show up," he concluded, diving into his meal. I could feel the weight of Hana and Mrs. Huang's glares on me, but I chose to ignore them and retreated to my room.

As I studied while slurping some noodles, the door swung open, and there stood Hana, her expression a mix of frustration and anger. "Tell Dad that you can't go to his hotel's anniversary," she demanded, but I just continued to eat, pretending I didn't hear her.

"Are you hearing me?" she pressed, her voice rising. I scoffed, setting my chopsticks down. "Look, I didn't invite myself, so maybe you should go and tell your dad that you don't want me to attend. That'll break both of us from our worries," I shot back, standing up and opening the door wider. "Now leave," I added firmly, making it clear I was done with this conversation.

"You shameless girl," she spat as she stormed out, but I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "More like you are," I muttered under my breath as I locked the door behind her and returned to my noodles, trying to drown out the chaos and focus on my studies.

*

*

The next day, I made my payment to the realtor, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. "Can I have your ID card as well considering you are a student? I'd like to see if you're eligible enough to be staying alone," he said, and I quickly pulled out my ID, showing it to him.

"Okay then... you can sign right here," he added, pointing to the tenant agreement. I took a deep breath and signed, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "When are you planning to enter the house?" he asked.

"In two weeks," I replied, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

"Okay then... we shall have all that needs to be fixed ready for you by then," he said, and I nodded, grateful for his help. I thanked him and bowed slightly as a sign of respect before heading out. This was it. I had finally taken a step away from the Ying mansion.

LEE YI/ SHI YI'S POV

"20... 21... 23..." I said, counting my push-ups breathlessly, feeling the burn in my arms. Just as I was getting into the rhythm, Haejun called out, startling me and making me miss one. "What?" I questioned, slightly annoyed.

"You need to look at this," he said, holding out an envelope. I paused, wiping the sweat from my brow. "What's this?" I asked, taking a sip of water.

"Check and see," he urged, and I opened the envelope. Inside was an invitation card that read, "Essence Hotels 20th Anniversary?" My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Yes... Essence Hotels has invited us to celebrate their 20th anniversary with them," he said cheerfully.

"Is this what it seems to be?" I asked, trying to wrap my head around it.

"Yes, Yingzhen is reaching out to us... well, technically us and some other investors, but mostly us," he replied, and I couldn't help but smirk at the thought. "Well, since he's reaching out to them, we should spare him the effort," I said, feeling a mix of excitement and determination.

"Well, I'll let you go back to your workout then," he said as he turned to leave.

"Right... where was I?" I muttered to myself, shaking off the distraction. "Urrghh Haejun... 1... 2..." I resumed my push-ups, refocusing on my workout.

It was finally the day and As we arrived at the venue for the Essence Hotels anniversary, Haejun turned to me and asked, "Game plan?"

I shrugged, feeling confident. "There is no game plan... he hands over the sword to me, and I invest money in his hotels. Simple."

"Okay then, let's go," he replied, and we stepped out of the car, the excitement buzzing in the air.

As we walked in, I took in the scene around us. The place was filled with guests, laughter, and chatter, creating a vibrant energy that was almost palpable. I slowly walked in, scanning the room and taking note of the elegant decorations and the buzz of conversations.

*

*

MALIN'S POV

I really could have just stayed locked up at home, I thought to myself as I fixed my hair in the mirror, trying to make myself look presentable. I stepped out of the bathroom, and just as I did, Hana called out, "You here... Dad wants us both to go and join him downstairs." She walked away, and I followed behind her, feeling the irritation bubble up inside me. The heels and the dress were limiting my movements, making me feel awkward.

"Hurry up! What the hell are you doing?" she snapped, and I quickened my pace as we descended the stairs. My eyes caught sight of Lee Yi, who seemed to be staring at me. Just as I got distracted, I missed a step and grabbed onto the staircase railing to avoid falling and embarrassing myself in front of all the guests. "Urrghh, this is so embarrassing... I don't know what Dad was thinking having you come here," Hana muttered, and I scoffed, taking a deep breath as I joined her, Mr. Ying, and Mrs. Huang.

"Okay, let's have a quick photo of the beautiful family!" a man announced, and they all got into position. To be honest, I felt completely out of place, staring at them all in puzzlement and confusion. "Hong Malin, what are you doing, sweetie? Come stand here next to me," Mrs. Huang said, her overly cheerful tone making me feel nauseous. I sighed and slowly walked over to stand beside her. As I quietly took my place, she leaned in and whispered, "Look, you're the last person I want to have in my family photo, but since we have no choice, just play the role and get over with it." I felt a mix of frustration and resignation wash over me as I forced a smile for the camera.

After the awkward family photo, I stood there, feeling out of place while Mrs. Huang spoke to Hana. "You and your dad can go greet the guests... you can also go and make yourself busy... and have fun," she said, and I felt a wave of relief when she walked away. But then she turned to me, adding, "And you... make sure you don't cause any trouble today." I rolled my eyes internally. When have I ever caused trouble?

With no idea what to do next, I wandered around until I found myself on the hotel rooftop. To my surprise, there was Lee Yi, casually sipping on a glass of wine. "Hey!!" I called out, moving to stand next to him. "Hey..." he replied, and an awkward silence settled between us. Trying to break the tension, I blurted out, "I googled you." The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

"You googled me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "I mean... I did some research, not like I was stalking you or anything," I stammered, feeling my cheeks heat up. He chuckled softly, and I felt a bit more at ease. "It's okay... What did you find?" he pressed, and I fidgeted with my fingers, trying to gather my thoughts. "That you are a famous businessperson," I said, then continued, "You own L.Y. Entertainment and L.Y. Investment Company, you live in Qiyan, and you're 34 years old."

"Wow, that's a lot of information," he replied, and I could see a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Do you google all your friends?" he asked, and I couldn't help but exclaim, "What!" It was a mix of surprise and embarrassment, and I realized I had probably revealed way too much...."We friends right?" he asked, and I remembered that night we had agreed to be friends. "Yes..." I replied, feeling a mix of warmth and nervousness. I quickly added, "And I didn't Google you because I was suspicious or anything... It was just that when I saw your name on the invitation list for today's party, I figured you must be important, so I instinctively looked you up."

He chuckled, easing the tension. "You don't have to explain yourself to me... I mean, I did make research on you too," he said with a playful glint in his eye. "You did!" I exclaimed, caught off guard. But then he added, "No... I'm just joking." His smile was infectious, and I felt a flutter of relief. "Anyways, it was nice to see you again, Hong Malin," he said, his tone sincere.

Just as he turned to leave, he paused and took off his overcoat, placing it over my shoulders. "If you're planning to stay up here, then you're going to need this because it's cold..." he said. I wanted to protest, to tell him he didn't have to, but before I could say anything, he walked away, leaving me standing there, wrapped in his coat, feeling a mix of surprise and warmth. I watched him go with my heart racing.

*

*

LEE YI / SHI YI'S POV

Haejun rushed towards me, his urgency was palpable. "Dude, where have you been? Mr. Ying has been asking about you. I told him you were in the washrooms, so let's go and meet him right now." I nodded, ready to follow him, but just as we turned to leave, Yingzhen called out my name.

"Mr. Lee Yi," he said, and I turned to face him. "Mr. Ying... how are you doing?" We shook hands, and I could sense the underlying tension in the air.

"I am okay, and you?" he replied, his demeanor warm yet businesslike.

"I am doing great as well, and even better thanks to your invitation to this lovely event," I said, trying to keep the conversation light. He chuckled, clearly pleased.

"I am thankful you took time off to come... I've been meaning to discuss something with you," he said, and my curiosity was piqued.

"You have?" I questioned, glancing back at Haejun with a smirk.

"Yes. Would you like to join me for some wine and a private discussion in my office?" he asked, and without hesitation, I replied, "Of course."

"Come with me then, Mr. Lee," he said, leading the way. As we reached his study, he poured us both a glass of wine. "Feel free to have some more... I could tell you loved it the last time you were here," he added, placing the bottle down.

"Thank you," I replied, picking up the glass and taking a sip. The rich flavor swirled in my mouth as I stared at him, my expression stern. "What is it that you would like to discuss with me, Mr. Ying?" I asked, eager to get to the point.

"Well, I have a business proposal for you," he said straightforwardly, and my interest was fully captured.

"What kind of proposal?" I asked, leaning in slightly, ready for whatever he had to say.

"Well, in the last couple of months, my hotels have been facing an issue, and I would like to revive them and bring them to their once-known glory..." His words hung in the air.

I listened intently, the weight of his words hanging in the air. He needed capital to revive his hotels, and I could sense his desperation mixed with ambition. When he mentioned sharing ten percent of the shares, I couldn't help but smirk. It was a tempting offer, but it wasn't what I was after.

"I see what you're trying to say, Mr. Ying, and I have absolutely no problem with helping you out... but," I started, only to have him cut me off, eager to seal the deal. "If you trust me and invest in the rebuilding of my hotels, then I'll make sure to give you at least ten percent of the shares. That way, you can also benefit from investing in us."

His confidence was impressive, but I needed to steer the conversation toward my true interest. "That sounds like an irresistible offer, Mr. Ying," I replied, gauging his reaction. "So what do you say?" he pressed.

"I say yes... I would love to invest in your hotels, but not in exchange for shares... I'd like something else," I stated, watching his expression shift, curiosity piqued.

"And what may that be?" he asked, clearly intrigued.

"Remember the last time I met you at your house... I gave you an offer," I said, letting the anticipation build. "The sword... the ancient sword you purchased at the Qingzhen artifacts auction... that's what I need."

"The sword!" he exclaimed, surprise etched across his face.

"Yes... I am willing to invest in your hotels. I'm willing to invest as much as you want in exchange for the sword... that's my condition," I concluded, feeling the weight of my request settle between us...."That's an unexpected condition, Mr. Lee," he said, his tone revealing a hint of surprise. "May I ask something though?"

I nodded, curious about where this was going. "Yes," I replied, keeping my demeanor calm.

"Both last time and today, you seem so much invested in this sword... I mean, it's just an ancient sword I purchased at some auction. Unless you believe it's something special, I really think that you could benefit more from the ten percent shares than the sword," he continued, trying to sway me.

I scoffed at his reasoning. "I don't really have a reason. Just like you, I love historical artifacts... there is no other reason," I said, my voice steady, but my mind racing with the significance of that sword.

"So what's it going to be, Mr. Ying? Are you giving me the sword, and we have a deal right here and now, or not?" I asked, my patience wearing thin as I waited for his reply.

"I could also give you some time to think it through... and when you make a decision, you know where to find me," I added, sensing the tension in the air. The stakes were high, and I was prepared to hold my ground....after staying silent for a while...."I'll have to think about it, Mr. Lee..." he replied, and I couldn't help but scoff. Clenching my fists, I felt a surge of frustration. Why the hell was he being so stubborn?

"Okay... I'll be a call away for when you decide to seal the deal," I said, standing up to leave. As I reached outside, a heavy sigh escaped my lips. He was just making all of this harder than it already was, and my patience was wearing thin. Just as I was pondering his stubbornness, a sudden sound broke my thoughts—glasses shattering.

I quickly looked over the balcony, and there she was—Hong Malin. My heart raced as I took in the scene, the chaos below contrasting sharply with the tension of our earlier conversation.

*

*

MALIN'S POV

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as possible," I said to my coworker, who had asked me to cover her shift yet again. "Thank you so much," she added, her relief palpable. "It's okay," I replied, hanging up the phone. Thankfully, I had something to get me out of here, but how could I leave without anyone noticing?

I glanced around, my eyes landing on Lee Yi's coat. "I'll first take this back," I muttered to myself as I headed downstairs in search of him. But in my haste, I accidentally bumped into someone, causing them to drop their glass of wine. "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, quickly rushing to clean up the shards of glass. In my frantic movements, I accidentally sliced my palm on a sharp piece.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice. "What's going on here?" Mrs. Huang asked, her tone sharp as she approached me. She grabbed my arm and pulled me up, her eyes narrowing. "What are you doing?" she whispered with a scoff. "I only asked you to quietly sit somewhere and not do anything to embarrass or draw attention to yourself, and now here you are... making a mess." Her glare was piercing..."Go back home... you don't have any use here," she added, and I cheered inwardly. This was the opportunity I needed to slip away and head to my part time job.

I slowly walked away, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on me as I headed outside the venue. Just as I thought I could escape, a voice called out, "Hong Malin!" I turned back and saw Lee Yi, a wave of relief washing over me. I took off his coat and said, "Thank goodness I saw you before you left... I wanted to give you this."

He grabbed my hand and held it out, his expression shifting from confusion to concern. "You're bleeding? Didn't you notice or did you just choose to ignore it?" The sternness in his voice made me feel a little guilty. "It's a small slice... I was planning to clean it," I replied, trying to downplay it. But before I could protest further, he grabbed my arm and pulled me gently. "Sit here," he insisted.

"I really have to go somewhere quickly..." I started, but his glare made me pause. "Just sit here for a while... I'll help you treat your wound, and you can go wherever you want afterwards," he said, and my heart fluttered at his concern. I nodded, sitting down as he dashed off, returning with ointment, cotton swabs, and a band-aid. "Hold out your hand," he instructed, and I complied.

"This might sting a little," he warned as he applied the ointment. I flinched at the sharpness of the pain, and he blew gently over my wound, causing my cheeks to heat up and my heart to race. "Done," he said after applying the band-aid. "Thank you," I managed to say, feeling a mix of gratitude and something deeper in his smile. "Make sure to keep it dry, don't get it wet, and apply more of this every now and then," he instructed, handing me the ointment. "Thank you," I repeated, feeling a little shy. "Well, I should get going then..." I said..." Where are you going ...I'll drop you off." He suggested.." You don't have too I'll take a taxi.." I replied as he chuckled softly.." No I insist to drop you off... friends can do that much for eachother." He said..." I'll go and bring the car...wait for me right here." He said....

I watched him dash off to get his car, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of warmth at his insistence to drop me off. It was sweet of him, and I appreciated it more than I could say. When he returned, I felt a mix of gratitude and a little embarrassment as he opened the door for me, helping me settle into the passenger seat. The drive was filled with a comfortable silence, and I found myself stealing glances at him, feeling a connection that I hadn't expected.

When we arrived at the convenience store, I was grateful but also a bit nervous about how to get out without causing more pain. As I tried to open the door, a sharp sting shot through my hand, making me flinch. "Just sit back... I'll open for you," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. I nodded, feeling a bit shy. He stepped out and opened the door for me, and as I got out, I miscalculated my step and fell right into his arms.

Time seemed to freeze as I looked up into his eyes. My heart raced, and I could feel the warmth of his body against mine. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face. I quickly pulled away, embarrassed but trying to play it cool. "I am fine..." I replied, though my voice felt a little shaky. "Thank you again for the ride," I said, waving goodbye as I headed into the store. I glanced back one last time, watching him get into his car and drive away.

I stepped into the hotel room, my phone buzzing with missed calls from Haejun. "Dude!" he exclaimed, clearly having been waiting for me. "Where were you and why did you suddenly ask me to take a cab?" His questions came at me like a rapid-fire interrogation.

"Something came up," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual. "What something?" he pressed, and I could tell he wasn't buying it. I shrugged, not wanting to get into the details. "Something..." I echoed, and he rolled his eyes, scoffing at my vague response.

"Lets..leave that alone... how did your meeting with Mr. Yingzhen go?" he asked, shifting the focus. I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. "He's still being stubborn. I don't know why, but he just doesn't seem like he wants to let the sword go." The frustration bubbled up as I thought about it.

"Could he know that it's the Wuyi witches' sword and wants it for other purposes?" Haejun questioned, and I shook my head. "No... I don't think so." "You can't be so sure," he countered, and I felt a twinge of annoyance. Regardless, I knew the urgency of the situation. "Anyways, that's not the point now. The point is that I need to get that sword," I said with determination, my resolve hardening. I couldn't let this opportunity slip away.

*

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