The Devil CEO’s Reborn Lover

The sun dipped low as the group made camp near the base of the Moonlight Hills. The sky above burned orange and pink, fading into a deep violet at the edges, and the sound of distant waterfalls echoed across the valley. They had been walking all day, their feet sore and their supplies nearly gone. Still, Wu Mei's mind was racing—not just with the Oracle's warning but with the silence that had fallen between her and Qin Yanzhou.

He hadn't said much since they left the Oracle's hut. He kept glancing at her, eyes unreadable, jaw clenched. Wu Mei knew him well enough now to realize that silence meant worry.

Mo Qing crouched beside a small pile of wood and rubbed two stones together. "We don't have magic. This is ridiculous," she muttered, frustrated. "We're surrounded by a world made of spells and wonder, and yet we're as powerless as tourists in a fantasy museum."

Wu Mei chuckled softly. "I know. It's like the magic hasn't chosen us yet."

Zhao Xi, who was sharpening his blade nearby, looked up. "Magic chooses those who know themselves. Or so the saying goes."

"Then maybe we don't know ourselves well enough," Qin Yanzhou said from behind, his voice low but thoughtful.

Wu Mei turned her head to him. "You really think that?"

"I think magic is like trust. If you carry too much doubt, it never comes."

Before she could respond, they all heard it—a soft rustling in the woods. Instantly, Zhao Xi stood, hand on his sword, eyes scanning the shadows.

"Stay back," he said.

But from behind the trees, a figure stepped out—not a monster, not a bandit, but a girl. She looked about Wu Mei's age, with long, inky-black hair braided over one shoulder and soft amber eyes that glowed faintly in the dusk. She wore a deep green tunic and leather boots stained from travel.

"Easy," she said, raising both hands. "I'm not here to harm anyone."

Zhao Xi lowered his sword but didn't sheath it. "Who are you?"

The girl's lips curled into a warm smile. "My name is Shao Wei. I was passing through when I saw your fire. You're not from around here, are you?"

Mo Qing gave a sharp laugh. "What gave it away? Our confused stares or the fact that we keep complaining about not having powers?"

Shao Wei walked closer and sat down beside the fire. "Neither. Your clothes. And the way you are. Only outsiders are like that."

Wu Mei, curious and cautious, extended her hand. "I'm Wu Mei. This is Mo Qing, Zhao Xi, and—" she paused slightly before saying his name, "—Qin Yanzhou. We're from another world."

Shao Wei tilted her head. "That explains the aura. You feel different. Like your threads don't quite match this tapestry."

Zhao Xi, who hadn't taken his eyes off her, finally sat down across from her. "You travel alone?"

"I do," she replied. "But not by choice. I was separated from my clan two months ago. I've been wandering since. Looking for clues, maps, anything that might point me back to them."

There was a beat of silence, the kind that comes when new paths intersect and no one's quite sure whether it's fate or coincidence.

Qin Yanzhou tossed a few sticks into the fire. "You can stay with us tonight. If you don't mind more strangers in your journey."

Shao Wei smiled again. "I'd like that."

As night fell, they shared dried fruit, roasted root vegetables, and stories. Shao Wei told them of the floating mountains beyond the Eastern Reach, where the winds whispered forgotten songs. She spoke of thunder beasts and star-birds and a hidden forest where time paused between each breath.

Zhao Xi listened like a man enchanted, his gaze never leaving her face. Every time she laughed or shifted near the firelight, something inside him stirred—something he hadn't felt in a long time.

Mo Qing noticed and gave Wu Mei a nudge, whispering, "Looks like someone's smitten."

Wu Mei glanced between Zhao Xi and Shao Wei and smiled softly. "He hasn't looked away since she sat down."

"First time I've seen him look so… boyish," Mo Qing whispered.

Still, Zhao Xi said nothing. Not a single word of admiration passed his lips. But his eyes said it all.

Later, when everyone began settling down to sleep, Wu Mei found herself staring up at the stars. She lay beside Mo Qing, the fire crackling nearby, while Shao Wei rolled her cloak into a pillow on the opposite side.

"You can't sleep either?" Wu Mei whispered, turning her head.

Shao Wei opened one eye. "Too many thoughts. Too many memories."

Wu Mei smiled gently. "Same here."

A silence passed between them, easy and warm.

"You know," Shao Wei said after a moment, "I've walked with strangers before. But I've never felt as at ease as I do with you all."

"That's good," Wu Mei replied. "We need friends right now."

"Friends," Shao Wei repeated, as if tasting the word.

That night, the wind picked up, cool and sharp, carrying with it a scent of lavender and something older—something wild.

The next morning, the group set out again. Shao Wei now walked beside Wu Mei, chatting easily as if they'd known each other for years. Mo Qing was ahead, scanning the horizon with her usual curiosity. Zhao Xi trailed slightly behind, his eyes moving from the path to Shao Wei and back again. Qin Yanzhou, as always, walked near Wu Mei, quiet and alert.

They passed through a field of golden ferns, where small glowing insects danced above the leaves like floating stars. Then through a glade where the trees were upside down—their roots in the air, their trunks growing into the earth.

"This world is beautiful," Wu Mei murmured, "but it feels like it's hiding something."

Shao Wei nodded. "It is. The beauty here is layered. You have to peel it back to see the danger underneath."

As they climbed a hill overlooking a shimmering valley, they heard something strange: voices, whispering.

The Forest of Echoes.

Zhao Xi's hand went to his sword. "We're close. Be on guard."

The wind carried voices that sounded like their own.

"I'm not good enough."

"I'll leave him someday."

"They don't need me."

Mo Qing paled. "That sounded like me—my voice."

Shao Wei grabbed her hand. "It's the forest. It reflects your doubts. We'll need to stay close and remember what's real."

Wu Mei's heart thudded as her own voice whispered from the trees:

"He'll leave me, just like before."

Her breath caught. Qin Yanzhou reached for her hand and held it tightly.

"I won't," he said. "No matter what this place tries to show you."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the forest quieted.

But the path ahead was long—and the magic still refused to answer their call.