Chapter 34: Her Dose of Reality

As the door clicked shut behind them, Jiang Meilin's apartment transformed from a cozy haven into an arena of unspoken tension. Li Jimin, usually the picture of carefree charm, now stood rigid by the entrance, his eyes stormy with a cocktail of emotions that threatened to spill over at any moment.

"We need to talk," he declared, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

Meilin sank into her favorite armchair, a steaming cup of jasmine tea cradled in her hands. The familiar scent, usually comforting, now seemed to mock the turmoil brewing within her. Without a word, she gestured for Jimin to take the cup she'd prepared for him. The ticking of the clock on the wall punctuated the heavy silence, each second stretching into eternity.

Li Jimin took a deep breath, the fragrant steam from his cup momentarily fogging his glasses. He removed them, polishing the lenses with the edge of his shirt – a nervous habit he'd never quite shaken. "Rosie," he began, using her true name now that they were alone, "what in the name of all that's holy is going on?"

Meilin's eyebrow arched, a practiced move that could have been interpreted as either amusement or warning. "About?" Her tone was deliberately nonchalant, a reminder of the delicate dance they'd been performing for years – friends, confidants, but always with the weight of duty and family expectations hanging over them.

Li Jimin let out a laugh that was more exasperation than humor. "Where do I even begin? You get shot, end up playing sleeping beauty in the hospital for a week, and I have to hear about it from the dragon lady herself. Then you've got me running around like a headless chicken, investigating the Zhao and Lian families. And now?" He spread his arms wide, as if encompassing the absurdity of the situation. "Now Zhao Jingshen is your boyfriend? It's like I've stumbled into some bizarre parallel universe!"

To Li Jimin's surprise, Jiang Meilin's laughter rang out, genuine and unbridled. It was a sound he hadn't heard in far too long, and it caught him off guard, making his heart skip a traitorous beat.

"I actually like him, you know," Jiang Meilin said, her eyes dancing with an emotion Li Jimin had rarely seen in her – something dangerously close to happiness.

Li Jimin sprang from his chair, unable to contain the whirlwind of feelings threatening to overwhelm him. "Rosie..." he began, but she silenced him with a raised hand, her expression softening.

"Calm down, Jimin," she said, setting her tea aside and leaning forward. "I know I owe you an explanation. It's been... well, let's just say these past few weeks have been a rollercoaster that would put Disneyland to shame."

And so, Meilin began to unravel the tangled web of events that had led to this moment. She spoke of her careless misstep that resulted in the shooting, the unexpected hospital reunion with her family, and the intricate power plays she'd found herself ensnared in. As she talked, her hands moved animatedly, painting vivid pictures in the air.

Li Jimin listened, enraptured, as Jiang Meilin detailed Zhao Jingshen's grandfather's surprise visit, Lian Fei's sinister involvement in her "accident," and her audacious plans to aid the beleaguered Lin Yue. With each revelation, Li Jimin felt as though he were watching a master chess player explain a particularly intricate game – equal parts awed and terrified.

"So, let me get this straight," Li Jimin said, pacing the small living room like a caged tiger. "Zhao Jingshen's grandfather knows your true identity, and he's... what? Giving you his blessing?"

Meilin nodded, a small smile playing at her lips. "He sees potential in our relationship. An alliance of sorts."

Li Jimin felt a pang in his chest at the word 'relationship,' but he pushed it aside, focusing on the bigger picture. "And Lian Fei? You're certain she was behind the shooting?"

"As certain as I am that the sun will rise tomorrow," Meilin's eyes hardened, a glint of steel beneath the warm brown. "And believe me, she'll rue the day she decided to make an enemy of me. But not yet though, Zhao Jingshen is currently going toe to toe with the Lian family. I'll just let her make and next move and then..."

As Meilin outlined her plans – to visit the young master she promised to help Lin Yue with, to assist Zhao Jingshen in the dark, and to achieve Jiang Meilin's dream faster, Li Jimin found himself both in awe and deeply concerned. This was Rosie as he remembered her from their youth – brilliant, ruthless, a force of nature barely contained in human form.

"Rosie," Jimin asked, his voice barely above a whisper, "do you truly know what you're doing?"

Jiang Meilin's response came without hesitation, her voice filled with a conviction that sent shivers down Jimin's spine. "Honestly? I don't care. I love him, Jimin. I'm actually in love with Zhao Jingshen... Ha." She was surprised at her own feelings

The words hung in the air, electric and dangerous. Li Jimin felt as though the ground beneath his feet had suddenly shifted, leaving him unsteady. But he pressed on, determined to be the voice of reason in this maelstrom of emotion.

"You can't be with him, Rosie," he argued, his voice gentle but firm. "Our world... it's not something you can just walk away from. What happens when we inevitably have to return home?"

"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," Jiang Meilin snapped, frustration coloring her tone. But beneath the bravado, Li Jimin could sense the tremor of uncertainty.

"Does he even know?" Li Jimin pressed, taking a step closer. "About our family? About the life you left behind?"

"It doesn't matter," Jiang Meilin insisted, but her voice wavered. "He loves me for who I am."

"But it does matter, Rosie," Jimin countered, his voice soft with compassion. "Love... it's powerful, yes. But is it enough to bridge the chasm between your two worlds? Can he truly understand and accept the weight of the Blackwood legacy? Does he love the you who is Jiang Meilin or Rosie Eliza Blackwood?"