CHAPTER 488 - Zoe: I've Been Waiting for This Day! 

The banquet at Dawnkeep Castle began. Jarvan IV and Shyvana, now dressed in custom-made noble attire, returned to the grand hall, and the festivities lasted deep into the night. 

During the banquet, Li Lin encountered many new faces, most of whom hailed from the vast expanse of Demacia. The lowest rank among them was that of a baron. Beyond Demacian nobles, envoys from allied nations also attended. Representatives from the independent eastern state of Ursineland and Nockmirch, a small kingdom separated from Noxus by the Valoran Plains, offered their monarchs' blessings to the prince and his bride before engaging in lengthy conversations with the renowned Li Lin. Even the Freljordians from the southern region of Ursus Mountain, who had long remained distant from Demacia, sent envoys from their Skagorn settlement with gifts for the king, prince, and the soon-to-be princess. 

As the banquet continued, Poppy approached Li Lin for a toast and even tried to entrust him with Orlon's legendary hammer. However, Li Lin politely declined, citing that his own weapon was already on par with those wielded by Ascended beings. Ever since Orlon's passing, the steadfast Yordle had wandered Demacia for centuries, seeking a hero worthy of wielding the hammer her old friend had entrusted to her. Despite Li Lin's numerous attempts to subtly suggest that Poppy herself was the hero Orlon intended, her self-deprecating nature wouldn't allow her to accept the title. 

Yordles were known throughout Runeterra for their tendency to fixate on particular ideas, a trait that endeared them to few. Were it not for their innate magical camouflage—an ability that masked their true forms in the physical realm—Poppy and even figures like Heimerdinger, a founding father of Piltover, would likely face derision from some quarters. Li Lin, however, could see through the Yordle illusion and had no clue how others perceived their appearance. 

As the banquet concluded, Li Lin personally escorted Sona and Kahina, accompanied by the Buvelle couple, to their carriage, watching as it vanished into the faint twilight. Politely declining the king and prince's offer to stay, he teleported back to Piltover. 

It was nearly one in the morning. 

Standing in the Kiramman estate's backyard, Li Lin looked up at the windows of the main residence. Both Kai'Sa and Zoe's rooms were dark—Kai'Sa was already asleep, and Zoe, who had never been fond of sleeping, had likely snuck off somewhere and wouldn't return until dawn. Meanwhile, Caitlyn's balcony door still emitted a faint glow through partially drawn curtains. She was likely indulging in her favorite pastime: reading books on criminology. 

Li Lin hovered upward, using magnetic forces to lift himself silently into the air before landing outside her balcony door. Manipulating the metal lock with his power, he unlocked the glass door without a sound and opened it just enough to slip inside. 

However, before he could take in the room's details, a cold, metallic object pressed against his head. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Caitlyn leaning casually against the wall, dressed in light sleepwear, her trademark smirk dancing across her lips. She held a kinetic revolver in her hand—a custom piece gifted by Tobias for her birthday. 

"Breaking and entering? That's quite the crime," she teased, her tone playful. "If it were anyone else, they'd be well within their rights to shoot you dead." 

Li Lin raised his hands in mock surrender. "But as far as I know, entering your own home isn't considered trespassing." 

With a slight grin, he used his magnetic powers to nudge the revolver's muzzle away from his head, emphasizing its lack of loaded ammunition. 

Caitlyn's sapphire eyes widened in surprise as she exclaimed, "Hey! That's cheating!" 

Seizing the moment, Li Lin darted forward, pulling her into his arms. One hand wrapped around her slender waist, the other gently restraining her free hand. He pushed her lightly against the wall. 

The warmth of his breath brushed against her cheek. Under the soft glow of the desk lamp, Caitlyn's pale complexion flushed with a hint of pink. Her delicate features and a conflicted expression stirred something within Li Lin—an overwhelming urge to steal a kiss. 

"Let go of me," she murmured softly, feigning resistance as her free hand landed a half-hearted punch on his chest. But noticing the gleam in his eyes and the playful curl of his lips, she gave up her pretense, resting her cheek against his chest instead. 

"Weren't you off congratulating Jarvan IV in Demacia? What brings you back?" 

"Of course, I came back to spend time with my beloved wife," he replied, pulling her closer. "I've been so busy lately, I feel like I've neglected you…" 

Before he could finish, Caitlyn rolled her eyes and placed a finger against his lips. "Enough. Do you think I can't tell what's on your mind?" 

"Uh…" Li Lin blinked, caught off guard by her sudden interruption. 

"I'm a detective who's solved countless cases, now the Sheriff of Piltover. Did you really think you could hide your little schemes from me?" Caitlyn's brows arched as her tone took on a teasing edge. "So, tell me—besides Zoe, how many more flowers have you been picking?" 

Li Lin's heart skipped a beat, and he froze in place, startled. "You… how…?" 

He was taken aback not only by Caitlyn's sharp insight but also by her current demeanor. While her expression carried a trace of jealousy, she didn't seem genuinely angry. 

"I told you, your petty tricks can't fool me," she said with a slight pout before her gaze turned more serious, her piercing eyes fixed on his. "And even if you think you've kept it hidden from me, Zoe has absolutely no poker face. Have you thought about how this affects her?" 

Caitlyn's voice softened but carried a hint of reproach. "Setting aside why she's taken on an adult form, that girl's feelings for you are so obvious they're practically tangible." 

Wait, was it really that obvious? Li Lin thought back to Zoe's recent behavior. Whenever she was near him, her gaze never strayed far…

"Is it really that exaggerated?" 

"Hiss—" Li Lin couldn't help but take a sharp breath, his chest tightening. Recently, whenever he spent time with Zoe, Caitlyn was often present too. 

"You've already established a relationship with Zoe, haven't you?" Caitlyn pressed on, standing up and speaking in a tone that felt more like interrogating a suspect. "Judging by the timeline, you mentioned once that you spent some time with her in Demacia. That must have been when it happened, right? No, it could only have been then." 

Li Lin's heart was practically pounding out of his chest. He had always known Caitlyn to be astute, but he never imagined she could connect the dots to this extent. 

Seeing his silence, Caitlyn stepped closer, her bare feet in slippers making soft sounds as she moved. For every step she took forward, Li Lin retreated until his back was against the wall, leaving him no escape. In the blink of an eye, their roles shifted—from "hunter" and "prey" to the complete opposite. 

"Honestly, I only had suspicions at first," Caitlyn said, planting her hand firmly on his chest and locking eyes with his panicked gaze, her lips curling into a sly smile. "But that time, after you… well, you tested me afterward. It solidified what I already suspected." 

"Let me guess…" She touched her finger to her lips thoughtfully, tilting her head as she continued, "Besides Zoe, you have something going on with Kai'Sa too, don't you? Lately, she's been acting normal again, but not long ago, she was avoiding me like she had something to hide." 

"Considering Shuriman customs and the average lifespan of her people, Kai'Sa is more than ready for marriage, isn't she? And if I recall correctly, during the time Kassadin stayed with us, he acted in ways that strongly suggested he was trying to set you two up. Am I wrong?" 

Li Lin's face was ashen. By now, Caitlyn saw his lack of denial as tacit admission. 

"Caitlyn…" he croaked, his voice hoarse. 

"Shh—don't be so quick to explain." Caitlyn held up a finger to shush him, then smiled faintly as she tilted her head. "I don't know if you've officially established anything with Kai'Sa, but I do know you have at least one more woman in your life." 

"So…" Her gaze demanded honesty. 

Li Lin stayed silent for a long moment, his head hanging low as he let out a heavy sigh. "There's also… Sona. Sona Buvelle from Demacia." 

Ever since Morgana had reprimanded him last time, he had taken great care to hide any lingering traces of perfume or other telltale signs. Caitlyn, leaning in earlier, hadn't picked up on Sona's scent—otherwise, she would have questioned him from the start. 

"Hmm?" Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. "I remember you mentioning her before. She's Barrett's daughter, right? The one with the enchanted magic harp, and a talent for hearing others' inner thoughts, like Seraphine?" 

"Yes. But while Seraphine listens to the songs of people's souls, Sona gleans their innermost thoughts through her harp," Li Lin explained with a bitter smile. There was no point in hiding anything anymore. 

After a long pause, he looked at Caitlyn's stern expression and said softly, "I'm sorry…" 

"To be honest, you have a lot to apologize for," Caitlyn replied bluntly. 

An uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Caitlyn crossed her arms and stood beside Li Lin, neither angry nor disappointed. She didn't even yell or lash out, which only made his guilt heavier. It was like a child who had done wrong, facing a silent parent whose reaction was unreadable. 

Countless times, Li Lin glanced at Caitlyn out of the corner of his eye, opened his mouth to say something, only for his mind to go blank. His AI companion—usually a reliable source of advice—couldn't help him now. This was something only the two of them could resolve. 

Finally, Caitlyn broke the silence. "But you… your brilliance is unparalleled. Without me, your stage would be even broader…" 

Her expression darkened briefly, and the sight of it pierced Li Lin's heart. He stepped forward, pulling her into his arms. She didn't resist. 

"No, it's not like that. Without the Kiramman family, there wouldn't be a 'me' today." 

"Actually, it's you, Li Lin—the Pioneer of Tomorrow—who made the Kiramman name what it is today." Caitlyn looked up at him, her eyes a mix of emotions as she gently cupped his face. "With your talent, no matter which family you had chosen to align with—or even if you had started on your own—you'd still have achieved greatness. But you chose the Kirammans." 

"Once upon a time, I was just an ordinary daughter of a council family, a nobody. You're the one who helped me grow into the person I am today, someone who could stand by your side." 

"You didn't just elevate me. You lifted my family. You built Piltover's greatness. Everything we have is because of you." 

Her lips curved into a faint smile, tears glistening in her eyes. Standing on tiptoe, she kissed him lightly on the lips. 

"Even so, you never abandoned the Kirammans. You never abandoned me. You let me catch up to you. How could I possibly blame you for anything…" 

Feeling the warmth of her lips, Li Lin took a deep breath, his eyes growing misty. Despite the differences in their origins—between a craftsman and a wealthy heiress—they shared a bond that transcended such divides. 

"Caitlyn…" He leaned down, pressing his lips against hers in a deep kiss. 

Moments later, as Caitlyn grew weak in his arms, her sapphire-blue eyes glimmering, he lifted her in a princess carry and began walking toward the bedroom door. 

But just as the moment seemed perfect, a cheerful, girlish laugh shattered the atmosphere. A golden portal appeared beside them, and Zoe jumped out excitedly. 

Li Lin froze, while Caitlyn stood utterly dumbfounded. Her face quickly flushed a deep red. 

"Z-Zoe! What are you doing here… Get out!" 

"Hehe, I've been waiting for this moment forever!" Zoe grinned as she bounded onto the soft bed, bouncing up and down. 

Realizing what might happen next, Caitlyn's eyes widened in panic, struggling to free herself from Li Lin's arms. But his strength far outmatched hers, leaving her efforts futile. 

"Li Lin, you're not going to… Wait—mmph!"

(End of chapter)

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