The morning felt… strange.
The wind moved differently.
Birds scattered every few minutes.
Even the servants whispered without reason.
LEI HUA (mind): Why is the weather acting like a dramatic K-drama? Something big happening?
System: Host… today you must behave.
LEI HUA (mind): Me? Behave? That is impossible.
System: Host… please.
LEI HUA (mind): You're making me nervous. Tell me why.
System: …
System: Cannot reveal.
LEI HUA: "Useless system."
System: Host, I am very useful.
LEI HUA: "USELESS."
---
### **THE CITY GATE — RUMORS GATHER**
At the capital gates…
Guards straightened.
Merchant carts moved aside.
Even noble carriages paused.
A single carriage approached slowly, guarded by silent shadow-like figures.
Guard Captain whispered,
"She's back…"
Another muttered,
"After two years…"
Everyone trembled, except one child who shouted:
"BIG SISTER YUE IS BACK!!!"
The city stirred like thunder.
---
### **AT THE LEI RESIDENCE — BEFORE THE STORM**
Lei Hua was peacefully eating peanuts in the courtyard.
LEI HUA (mind): Life is calm today… calm always scares me.
Lei Ming rushed into the courtyard, beard shaking.
"EVERYONE! COME OUT! QUICK!!"
Lan Yue ran out left shoe first.
Lei Tain jumped out the window.
Old Madam came with a slipper in each hand.
Lei Hua blinked.
LEI HUA: "What happened? Fire? War? Taxes?"
Lei Ming gulped.
"YUE'ER… IS BACK."
The entire residence froze.
Even the wind stopped.
LEI HUA (mind): Yue…? That name… the system mentioned it…
System: Host, brace yourself.
LEI HUA (mind): BRACE?? For what? For WHO??
The front gates violently burst open.
*BANG!!!*
---
### **THE RETURN OF THE QUEEN**
A girl stepped inside.
Sixteen? Seventeen?
Tall, graceful, aura sharp enough to cut stone.
Black hair tied with a red ribbon.
Cold eyes, unreadable, calm.
Like a young general.
Like an undefeated warrior.
Like a **queen** disguised in simple robes.
This…
was **Lei Yue**.
The entire family rushed to her.
Older brother: "YUE'ER YOU'RE BACK—"
Younger brother: "SISTER! SISTER! SISTER—"
Old Madam cried.
Servants bowed.
Even the cook fainted.
Lei Hua stood there frozen, a peanut halfway to her mouth.
LEI HUA (mind): THAT… is a human?? Or a heavenly boss level character??
Lei Yue's eyes swept over the household.
Sharp. Calm. Regal. Diva.
Then… her gaze landed on Lei Hua.
Time stopped.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Who is she?"
Her voice was cool, smooth, low — the type that made people straighten their backs without thinking.
Lei Hua choked dramatically.
LEI HUA: "I—I— I AM LEI HUA! I ALSO LIVE HERE!!!"
LEI HUA (mind): Don't stare at me like that please I am weak I can die from eye contact.
System: Host is embarrassing herself again.
LEI HUA: "SHUT UP!"
The entire family turned.
Lei Ming coughed nervously.
"She… is your elder sister. Lost for 18 years. We found her."
Lei Yue blinked once.
A diva blink.
Then her voice:
"So this is the one who caused the city to panic?"
LEI HUA (mind): PANIC??? ME??? WHAT DID I DO??
Lei Yue tilted her head slightly.
"You made three ministers faint. Two confess. And one retire."
LEI HUA (mind): Stop listing my crimes as achievements!!!
Lei Yue stepped closer, her aura overwhelming.
Everyone held their breath.
Lei Hua held her peanut.
Finally…
Lei Yue spoke, cool and sharp:
"You're noisy."
LEI HUA: "HUH???"
LEI HUA (mind): THAT'S YOUR FIRST WORD TO ME?! NO HELLO? NO WELCOME BACK?
Lei Yue continued,
"But you're not weak."
LEI HUA (mind): Did… did she praise me or insult me?
System: Host, this is a compliment.
LEI HUA (mind): ARE YOU SURE?!
---
### **THE MALE LEADS REACT TO HER RETURN**
At the palace, Zhen Wu paused mid-meeting.
"She's back."
Bo Qiang stopped training, gaze darkening.
"The real storm begins."
Chang Lei smirked as he rearranged his schedule.
"Interesting. The capital just became fun."
Jun Hao straightened nervously, clutching his scroll.
"She… she's really home?"
Tian Yu looked up at the sky from a rooftop.
"…Finally."
Five wolves stirred.
The queen had returned.
---
### **BACK AT THE LEI HOME**
Lei Yue turned away and walked toward the inner courtyard.
"Prepare a room," she ordered calmly. "I'll be staying for a while."
Everyone rushed to obey.
Lei Hua stood there shaking.
LEI HUA (mind): SHE DIDN'T EVEN SMILE AT ME. NOT EVEN A TINY SMILE. AM I THAT UNIMPORTANT?
System: Host, attach to her. Don't be dramatic.
LEI HUA (mind): I AM VERY DRAMATIC. HELP ME.
Lei Yue paused at the doorway…
looked over her shoulder…
and spoke in that cool diva tone:
"Lei Hua."
LEI HUA: "Y-Yes???"
"…Eat your peanuts properly. Don't choke."
Then she left.
Lei Hua froze.
LEI HUA (mind): DID SHE JUST… CARE ABOUT ME??? A LITTLE???
System: Tiny affection detected.
LEI HUA (mind): AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH— WAIT NO BE NORMAL BE NORMAL
Lei Hua fainted.
And thus…
The REAL story finally began.