chapter 3 — Learning to Be Li Wei

Li Wei woke up early the next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the pale curtains, landing softly on her face. For a moment, she lay still, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, listening to the quiet sounds of the Li mansion waking up.

Footsteps.

Soft voices.

The distant clink of porcelain.

This was her home now.

Not borrowed.

Not temporary.

Her home.

Li Wei sat up slowly, placing her small feet on the floor. She walked to the mirror near the wardrobe and looked at her reflection.

A nine-year-old girl stared back at her—delicate features, clear eyes, a face still carrying traces of childish softness.

This was Li Wei.

She raised her hand and touched the glass.

“I’ll live well,” she whispered. “As Li Wei.”

There was no sadness in her voice anymore. Only resolve.

Breakfast Table

Downstairs, the dining table was already set.

Shen Meilin was arranging dishes, her movements gentle and careful, as if afraid of making too much noise. When she saw Li Wei come down, her eyes immediately softened.

“Did you sleep well?” she asked warmly.

Li Wei nodded and walked over.

“Yes, Mama.”

The word came out naturally.

Shen Meilin froze for a second.

Then her eyes reddened.

She quickly turned away, pretending to adjust a plate, but Li Wei saw the way her shoulders trembled slightly.

Li Junhao looked up from his seat, surprise flashing across his face before melting into quiet relief.

Li Chenyan, sitting beside him, glanced at Li Wei sharply.

“You remembered,” he said.

Li Wei met his gaze and smiled gently.

“I didn’t forget.”

She took her seat between her parents.

For the first time, she felt it—

the warmth of being surrounded,

the comfort of belonging.

Xu Yuran came down moments later.

She paused when she saw Li Wei sitting calmly at the table, smiling and chatting softly with Shen Meilin.

Something flickered in her eyes.

But she quickly hid it.

“Sister Weiwei,” she said sweetly, walking over. “You’re up early.”

Li Wei looked at her.

“Yes,” she replied lightly. “I wanted to eat with everyone.”

Xu Yuran smiled wider.

But her fingers curled slightly at her side.

A Brother’s Trust

After breakfast, Li Chenyan stopped Li Wei near the staircase.

“You’re different,” he said bluntly.

Li Wei didn’t deny it.

She tilted her head slightly and asked, “Is that bad?”

Li Chenyan studied her for a long moment.

Then he shook his head.

“No.”

He reached out and placed a hand on her head—awkward, stiff, but sincere.

“As long as you’re safe,” he said quietly, “that’s enough.”

Li Wei’s chest tightened.

This was the brother who had never smiled after losing her.

The brother who had carried guilt for years.

She suddenly stepped forward and hugged him.

Li Chenyan stiffened completely.

Then—slowly—he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Just once.

But it was enough.

Becoming Herself

Days passed.

Li Wei adjusted quickly.

She spoke more.

She smiled more.

She followed Shen Meilin around the house, learning small things—how to arrange flowers, how to brew tea properly, how to choose clothes.

She listened when Li Junhao talked about work, even if she didn’t understand everything.

She waited for Li Chenyan to come home, pretending to read while glancing at the door.

This wasn’t acting.

This wasn’t obligation.

She wanted this family.

And she loved them—honestly, deeply.

At night, she no longer dreamed of the white space.

Instead, she dreamed of warmth.

Xu Yuran’s Unease

Xu Yuran noticed the change more than anyone.

Li Wei no longer cried when her toys went missing.

She no longer panicked when blamed unfairly.

She no longer looked confused or hurt.

Instead, she calmly accepted things—or quietly avoided trouble.

That scared Xu Yuran.

It felt as if Li Wei could see through her.

One afternoon, Xu Yuran hid Li Wei’s sketchbook—the one Shen Meilin had bought her.

She waited.

No crying.

No complaints.

Later, she found Li Wei drawing peacefully with another notebook.

Xu Yuran’s nails dug into her palm.

Why aren’t you angry?

Why don’t you react?

That calmness felt like a mirror reflecting her own ugliness.

And she hated it.

A Silent Promise

That night, Li Wei sat by her window, looking at the moon.

She remembered the original Li Wei’s smile.

“I won’t let her suffer again,” she whispered.

She wasn’t naïve.

She knew Xu Yuran wouldn’t stop.

But this time—

She wouldn’t be defenseless.

She was no longer the gentle child who endured everything silently.

She was Li Wei.

And she would protect this life.

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