Yifan woke the next morning to find Qingqing already awake and exploring the estate grounds. Through the bedroom window, he could see her in the courtyard below, taking pictures with her phone—a habit she'd never been able to break, even when faced with the impossible. Some things didn't change, even when everything else did.
Tianyu was already gone from the bed, but he'd left a note on the pillow in elegant calligraphy: "Morning meetings with security team. Take your time. Breakfast is waiting whenever you're ready. - T"
The formality of the written note made Yifan smile. Tianyu had lived through so many eras that sometimes his mannerisms shifted between ancient and modern without him seeming to notice. It was endearing in its own way.
After showering and dressing in the comfortable clothes that had somehow appeared in his wardrobe—Tianyu's staff were efficient to the point of being almost invisible—Yifan made his way downstairs. The estate was even more beautiful in morning light, traditional architecture glowing warm in the sun despite Tianyu's cold aura permeating everything.
He found Qingqing in the breakfast room, already halfway through a plate of food and scribbling in a notebook she must have had in her bag.
"Journalist mode activated?" Yifan asked, sitting across from her.
"Can you blame me? This is the story of a lifetime. Literal lifetime." She gestured at her notes. "I'm documenting everything. Not to publish—I signed those confidentiality agreements. But for myself. So I can process this without going crazy."
"Fair enough." Yifan served himself from the array of dishes laid out. "What do you think of the estate?"
"It's incredible. Also slightly terrifying. The staff—Fanfan, they're all supernatural, aren't they? I watched someone carry three full water urns at once without breaking a sweat. And another person disappeared when I tried to follow them down a corridor."
"Probably a fox spirit. They can become invisible or create illusions. Tianyu employs several." Yifan sipped his tea. "You'll get used to it."
"Will I, though? Will I really get used to a world where magic is real and ancient dragon kings exist and my best friend is a legendary bird person?" Qingqing's voice was strained. "This is a lot, Fanfan."
"I know. I'm sorry you got dragged into this."
"Stop apologizing. I'd rather know the truth than be kept in ignorant safety." She set down her pen. "But I need you to be honest with me. Are you actually okay? Because from where I'm sitting, you got pulled into something huge with very little preparation, you're being courted by beings who could kill you with a thought, and you're trying to act like it's all fine."
Yifan considered the question seriously. Was he okay? "I'm... adjusting. It's overwhelming and scary and sometimes I feel like I'm drowning. But I also feel more myself than I ever did before. Like I was living half a life, suppressed, and now I'm finally whole."
"Even with the politics and the danger?"
"Even with that. Because at least now I understand why I always felt different, why I never quite fit. I wasn't broken. I was just something else entirely." He met her eyes. "And I have you here, which helps. Having someone who knew me before all this, who can remind me that I'm still Shen Yifan under the Phoenix stuff—that's important."
Qingqing reached across the table to squeeze his hand. "Always. Supernatural world or not, I'm still your friend. Though I reserve the right to be completely terrified while supporting you."
"That's fair."
After breakfast, Yifan found Mo Ran in what appeared to be a study, surrounded by books and papers. She looked up when he entered, gesturing him to sit.
"Good, you're here. We need to discuss today's schedule." She pulled out a tablet. "Your first official courtship date with Bai Yuchen is this evening. He's arranged dinner at a neutral location—a restaurant in the supernatural quarter of Beijing. I'll accompany you as chaperone."
"Do I really need a chaperone? I'm not a teenager."
"It's traditional and protective. A chaperone ensures the Alpha can't pressure you inappropriately, and it signals to others that you're taking courtship seriously." Mo Ran's expression softened slightly. "Also, it gives you an out if things get uncomfortable. I can end the date early if needed."
"What's Tianyu doing while I'm on a date with another Alpha?"
"Suffering, probably. But he'll manage. This is part of the process." She pulled up another document. "Before that, however, I want to give you a proper tour of the estate. You've been here for days but haven't really seen everything. Understanding your environment is important."
The estate tour took most of the morning. Mo Ran led Yifan through corridors he hadn't explored, revealing the true scope of Tianyu's home. There was a massive library filled with texts in dozens of languages, some of the books so old they required special preservation magic. A training complex with equipment designed for supernatural combat. Gardens that seemed to exist in perpetual winter, ice sculptures that never melted arranged in beautiful patterns.
"Lord Dragon maintains all of these himself," Mo Ran explained as they walked through the ice gardens. "Creating them is his meditation. When he's troubled, he comes here and makes new sculptures."
Yifan examined one—a phoenix rising from flames rendered entirely in ice, the detail so precise he could see individual feathers. "He made this?"
"The day you manifested. He stood here for six hours, pouring his anxiety into creation rather than destruction." She touched the sculpture gently. "People see the Dragon King as cold, ruthless, dangerous. They forget that he's also an artist, a scholar, someone who finds beauty in the world despite millennia of loneliness."
"You care about him."
"I've served him for eight hundred years. I've watched him wait, hope, grieve, and wait again. I've seen him at his best and his worst." Mo Ran looked at Yifan seriously. "I don't say this lightly—you're good for him. You make him remember how to be more than just power and duty."
They continued to a section of the estate Yifan hadn't seen before—a wing that was clearly preserved rather than actively used. Mo Ran hesitated before opening the doors.
"This was hers. The previous Phoenix. Lord Dragon kept everything exactly as she left it a thousand years ago."
The rooms beyond were frozen in time—literally. A thin layer of frost covered everything, preserving it perfectly. Yifan saw elegant furniture, beautiful clothes in styles from another era, artwork and books and personal belongings. And everywhere, signs of life interrupted—a book left open, brushes still laid out for calligraphy, robes draped over a chair as if someone had just taken them off.
"He comes here sometimes," Mo Ran said quietly. "Not often. It's too painful. But occasionally, when the weight of waiting becomes too much, he sits in her rooms and remembers."
Yifan felt like he was intruding on something intensely private. "Why are you showing me this?"
"Because you need to understand what you mean to him. This isn't just about political alliance or even about the past life bond. This is about someone who loved so deeply that he preserved a shrine for a thousand years, hoping against hope that love would return." She met his eyes. "Don't choose him out of pity. But don't dismiss the depth of his devotion either."
They found a portrait on the wall—a beautiful woman with delicate features, wearing Phoenix colors, her expression serene and confident. She looked nothing like Yifan, but something in her eyes felt familiar.
"That's her," Mo Ran confirmed. "Lady Feng. The previous Phoenix. She died at twenty-three, barely older than you are now."
"How did Tianyu handle it? After she died?"
"Poorly. He went mad with grief, as you know. Killed everyone responsible, razed buildings, nearly started a war between all the territories. The Council tried to restrain him, and he froze three of their members solid." Mo Ran's voice was matter-of-fact. "It took fifty years before he calmed enough to be reasoned with. Another hundred before he could speak her name without ice spreading across everything in a hundred-foot radius. The grief hasn't faded, even after a millennium. It's just become part of who he is."
Yifan stared at the portrait, trying to imagine carrying that kind of love and loss for a thousand years. "No wonder he's so careful with me. He's terrified of going through it again."
"Yes. Which is why you need to be certain. If you choose him and then change your mind, if you leave him—I don't think he'd survive it a second time. Not intact." She turned to face Yifan fully. "I'm not trying to pressure you. I just need you to understand the stakes. This isn't a casual relationship you can walk away from if it doesn't work out. This is forever, literally. Dragon-Phoenix bonds don't break except through death."
The weight of that settled over Yifan like a heavy blanket. Forever. Not metaphorical forever, but actual eternal commitment. His choice would bind him not just for this life but for every life after, across every rebirth. The Phoenix would always return to the Dragon, lifetime after lifetime, if he chose that bond.
"That's a lot of pressure," Yifan said quietly.
"Yes. Which is why the courtship period exists, even though Lord Dragon hates every moment of it. You need to be absolutely certain before making that commitment."
They left the preserved rooms, and Yifan was grateful to return to areas that felt lived-in and present rather than frozen in grief. Mo Ran showed him the rest of the estate—servant quarters where the staff lived, storage rooms filled with centuries of accumulated possessions, even a small theater where Tianyu apparently watched modern films to keep up with human culture.
"He's trying so hard to understand the world you came from," Mo Ran noted. "He's watched every popular movie from the last decade, learned social media terminology, studied contemporary slang. All so he can connect with you as you are now, not just as the Phoenix he remembers."
"I didn't know that."
"He wouldn't tell you. He's proud and doesn't want to seem desperate or foolish. But I thought you should know the effort he's making."
By afternoon, Yifan was exhausted from the tour but had a much better understanding of the estate and the man who'd built it. This wasn't just a house—it was a life's work, centuries of careful cultivation and preservation. Tianyu had created a world here, isolated but beautiful, where he could wait out eternity.
And he was offering to share it. Not as a cage, but as a home.
Yifan found Tianyu in his study, working through papers that looked like diplomatic correspondence. The Dragon King looked up when he entered, his expression immediately softening.
"How was the tour?"
"Enlightening. Mo Ran showed me everything, including... including her rooms."
Tianyu went very still. "I see."
"Why didn't you tell me you'd preserved everything? That you've been maintaining a shrine for a thousand years?"
"Because it's pathetic." Tianyu set down his pen. "I'm an ancient being who can't let go of the past, who's kept rooms frozen in time like some tragic figure from a gothic novel. It's not attractive, Yifan. It's obsessive and unhealthy."
"It's love," Yifan corrected, moving closer. "Grief and love so profound you couldn't bear to erase any trace of her. That's not pathetic. It's heartbreaking."
"I don't want your pity."
"Good, because that's not what I'm offering." Yifan sat on the edge of Tianyu's desk, looking down at him. "I'm offering understanding. And maybe a little reassurance that I'm not going to make you wait another thousand years."
"You don't have to decide—"
"I know I don't have to. But I want you to know that I see you. Not just the powerful Dragon King, but the person underneath. The artist who makes ice sculptures. The scholar who watches movies to understand modern culture. The man who loved so deeply it nearly destroyed him." Yifan leaned down to kiss him softly. "That person is worth choosing. You're worth choosing."
Tianyu's arms came around him, pulling him closer. "I'm terrified of losing you again."
"I know. But you can't protect me from everything by holding back. Sometimes you have to risk the hurt to get the joy." Yifan pulled back enough to meet his eyes. "And I'm going on a date with Bai Yuchen tonight. Are you going to be okay with that?"
"No. But I'll manage. This is part of the process." Tianyu's jaw was tight. "Just... come back to me after. Let me hold you and remind myself that you're choosing to return."
"Always. I'll always come back."
The dinner with Bai Yuchen was held in a restaurant that existed in what Mo Ran called the "supernatural quarter"—a section of Beijing that existed slightly out of phase with normal reality, accessible only to supernatural beings. The restaurant itself was elegant, modern despite serving supernatural clientele, with private dining rooms for sensitive conversations.
Yuchen was already waiting when they arrived, dressed impeccably in modern clothes that somehow made him look even more like a predator playing at civilization. His silver eyes lit up when he saw Yifan.
"Phoenix. You look stunning." He stood, offering a slight bow. "And Advisor Mo Ran. Thank you for chaperoning."
"Someone has to make sure you behave," Mo Ran said dryly, taking a seat at a nearby table—close enough to intervene if needed, far enough to give them privacy.
The dinner itself was surprisingly pleasant. Yuchen was charming without being overwhelming, asking questions about Yifan's interests, his life before manifestation, his thoughts on the supernatural world. He told stories from his own long life, made Yifan laugh with anecdotes about disastrous Council meetings and supernatural politics gone wrong.
"You're not what I expected," Yifan admitted over dessert.
"What did you expect? Arrogant Alpha who treats you like a prize to be won?"
"Something like that."
"I can be that if you prefer. But I thought you might appreciate being treated like a person instead." Yuchen's smile was genuine. "I'm not going to pretend I don't want you. I do. Phoenix-Tiger bond would be powerful, politically advantageous, and honestly, you're captivating. But I also genuinely enjoy talking to you. That's rare, after twenty-eight centuries of existence."
"Twenty-eight centuries? That's older than Tianyu."
"By about five hundred years, yes. Though Dragon would argue his lineage is more prestigious." Yuchen leaned back. "I'm not trying to win you with age or power, though. I'm trying to win you by proving I can make you happy. That life with me would be adventurous, passionate, free—everything Dragon's cold mountain fortress isn't."
"Tianyu's estate is beautiful."
"It's a beautiful cage. I'm offering you the world, Yifan. Travel, excitement, the freedom to be whoever you want without ancient traditions weighing you down." His expression turned serious. "I know you have feelings for Dragon. I'm not blind. But feelings can change, especially when you realize there are other options."
On the drive back to the estate, Mo Ran asked, "What did you think?"
"He's compelling. Charming. Attractive. Everything he said was reasonable." Yifan stared out the window at the passing scenery—supernatural Beijing, glowing with magic visible only to those who could see it. "But when he talked about freedom and adventure, all I could think about was coming back here. To Tianyu's 'beautiful cage.' And it didn't feel like a cage at all."
"Interesting," Mo Ran said neutrally.
"I think I've already made my choice. This whole courtship month feels like going through motions for everyone else's benefit."
"Perhaps. But go through the motions anyway. Let everyone see you consider your options. It'll make your final choice unassailable."
Back at the estate, Tianyu was waiting—trying to look casual but clearly having been watching for their return. He studied Yifan carefully, searching for signs of what, Yifan wasn't sure.
"How was it?" Tianyu asked, his voice carefully neutral.
"Informative. He's nice. Charming. Made good points about freedom and adventure."
Tianyu's expression shuttered. "I see."
"But I spent the whole dinner wanting to come back here. To you." Yifan crossed the distance between them, taking Tianyu's cold hands. "He can offer me the world, but you offer me home. And that matters more."
"You're certain? You don't want to explore—"
"Tianyu. Stop trying to talk me out of choosing you." Yifan pulled him down into a kiss. "I'm certain. I was certain before tonight. I'll probably still be certain after meeting the other Alphas. My choice is made. Everything else is just politics."
When they went to bed that night, Tianyu held him differently—less carefully, more closely, like he was finally beginning to believe this was real. That Yifan was choosing him not from obligation or past life bonds, but from genuine present-moment desire.
And Yifan felt certain, settled in his choice in a way that made the month of courtship ahead seem less daunting. He knew where he'd end up. Now he just had to navigate the political theater of getting there.
But with Tianyu beside him, that seemed manageable. Even easy.
He fell asleep thinking about ice sculptures and preserved rooms and a love so deep it survived a millennium of waiting.
And knowing he wanted to be part of that story.