Chapter 3:The First Storm

Days turned into weeks, and while Mei and Kai were still bound more by duty than affection, something between them had shifted. The silence that once lingered between them had grown softer, less strained. It was in the way Kai now lingered a little longer over his tea, asking Mei small questions about her blends. It was in the way Mei no longer hesitated to meet his gaze when they spoke. Their marriage was still far from the kind of love story sung in festival songs, but a fragile connection was forming, thread by thread.

One evening, as Mei finished gathering tea leaves from the terrace fields, a low rumble of thunder echoed across the valley. She glanced up at the sky, where dark clouds rolled in like an ink spill against the fading sunset. The air smelled of rain, thick and heavy.

Storms were rare in this season, but when they came, they could be relentless. Mei hastened to secure the baskets of fresh tea leaves, but a sudden gust of wind nearly knocked her off balance. She gasped, gripping the nearest wooden post for support.

"Mei!"

She turned to see Kai striding up the path, his brows furrowed. "What are you doing out here?"

"I need to bring in the harvest before the rain—"

Before she could finish, a cold droplet splashed against her cheek, followed by another, and another. Within moments, the sky opened up, rain pouring down in heavy sheets. The wind roared through the valley, shaking the trees and sending baskets tumbling across the terrace.

Kai cursed under his breath. "Forget the leaves! You'll be soaked—come inside."

Mei hesitated for only a moment before nodding, gripping his outstretched hand. Together, they ran down the winding path toward their home, the rain drenching their clothes, their hair plastered to their skin. Mei stumbled over a loose stone, but Kai caught her before she could fall. His arms were strong around her, his touch steady.

By the time they reached the house, they were both breathless, their laughter mixing with the sound of the storm outside. Kai shook the rain from his sleeves, then turned to Mei, who was wringing water from the hem of her robe.

"You're shivering," he noted.

She hadn't even realized it, but now that he mentioned it, she did feel the cold settling into her bones. Before she could protest, Kai disappeared and returned moments later with a thick, dry shawl. Without a word, he draped it over her shoulders.

Mei looked up at him, startled by the unexpected kindness. "Thank you."

Kai gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. Then, after a moment, he added, "You were right about patience."

Mei tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Kai exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I never thought I would find anything in this marriage besides obligation. But… maybe we don't have to be strangers forever."

Something warm bloomed in Mei's chest at his words. "No," she agreed softly. "We don't."

Outside, the storm raged on, but inside, for the first time, their home felt just warm