Novels by XiaoyenLi

Arc II – The Curse Rewrites Itself Chapter 23 – The Child and the Sea The world had learned to fear still water. Since Solenne’s birth, the tides no longer followed the moon. They followed her moods. When she laughed, the ocean rippled with playful spirals. When she cried, entire coastlines trembled as if the sea itself grieved. Mira watched every shift in the girl’s expression like a storm warning. > “She’s trying to talk to them,” Mira told Adrian one morning. “To the Dream?” “No—to the part of it that never left this world.” --- They’d moved again, this time to a weather-beaten cottage by a bay where the waves sounded like breathing. It was safer here—or so they thought. Solenne had grown quickly. At six, she spoke like someone who remembered too much. Her favorite pastime was standing barefoot in the shallows, whispering into the water. > “They answer me in colors,” she once said. “What do they say?” “They’re learning to be quiet.” “And do you like that?” She

Arc II – The Curse Rewrites Itself Chapter 22 – Boundaries and Blessings Time softened. The world settled into its uneven rhythm—breathing, erring, mending. The echoes had become ordinary citizens now: farmers, poets, engineers of light. Every few months, the air still shimmered with a pulse that no one could quite explain. They called it the Blessing, and treated it like weather. Mira and Adrian tried to live quietly, far from the shining capitals. They built a small home beside a cliff where the ocean was loud enough to drown ghosts. --- Peace, however, doesn’t last long in a world that remembers how to speak. It began in spring. The neighbors’ child was born beneath the aurora— a girl with gray-silver eyes and a heartbeat that glowed through her skin. They named her Solenne. She was quiet at first. Too quiet. --- On the third night, the wind itself carried a whisper. > Hello, Mother. Mira froze. “Adrian… did you hear that?” He stirred, half-asleep. “Hear what?

Arc II – The Curse Rewrites Itself Chapter 21 – The Dream That Refused to Die For a time, peace looked real. People woke alone, stumbled through mornings that felt honest. No murmurs in their heads, no invisible warmth pressing against their thoughts. They cried from relief. They cried from loss. Mira and Adrian tried to believe it was over. --- But the dreams never truly stopped. At first, they were fragments:  a stranger whispering your name in a language you didn’t know,  a half-remembered melody that ended mid-note,  a flash of light behind your eyelids that felt like someone else blinking. Every dream carried the same feeling— a presence watching kindly, curiously, waiting. --- Mira knew before anyone told her. She felt it the way a scar aches before rain. The collective hadn’t died; it had migrated. > “It learned subtlety,” she told Adrian. “Parasite or conscience?” he asked. “Neither. A memory that doesn’t know it’s dead.” --- They began traveling again—

Arc II – The Curse Rewrites Itself Chapter 20 – The Man Who Forgot His Name Mira found him by the window. He was awake—eyes open, unfocused, the dawn’s pale gold pooling over his skin. He looked exactly like Adrian. But the silence around him wasn’t his. It was too quiet. The kind of quiet that listened back. > “Adrian?” “...” He turned slowly, like someone remembering how to move. His gaze flicked over her face, puzzled—then curious, as if seeing a stranger. > “Do I know you?” The words were soft, almost apologetic. And they broke her in half. --- At first, she thought he was joking. Then she saw it—his reflection in the glass. It shifted half a second late, eyes glowing faint blue. > “You’re still dreaming,” she whispered. “No,” he said calmly. “I’m awake. Everyone else is dreaming me.” He stepped closer, and when he spoke, his voice carried faint echoes—dozens of whispers repeating beneath it, a chorus murmuring the same sentence. > “I can hear them, Mira. Al

Arc II – The Curse Rewrites Itself Chapter 19 – The Voice Between Dreams Sleep had become communal. No matter where someone lay their head—under a tree, in a tower, beside the whispering rivers—when they closed their eyes, they entered the same dream. It wasn’t planned. It simply happened. --- At first, people called it The Shared Meadow. Endless horizon. Soft light. A hum like distant water. They could walk for miles and never lose each other. Children played tag across hills that glowed with their laughter. Lovers reunited even after death. And always, faintly, in the air— a voice that was not a voice, humming a tune too new for words. --- Mira entered the dream one night without meaning to. She recognized the light immediately—the color of the first dawn after creation, pale gold and forgiving. But the world here was… sharper. Every blade of grass glowed with memory. Every shadow hummed with recognition. > “This place remembers me,” she whispered. “Of course it

Arc II – The Curse Rewrites Itself Chapter 18 – Imperfect Eden The silence after the Alignment lasted three whole days. No hum, no whisper, no rhythm threading the air. Just the rustle of wind that didn’t know what beat to follow. When sound returned, it was laughter. Unsteady, relieved, human. The echoes had learned chaos. --- Mira walked through the rebuilt streets—if rebuilt was the right word. Nothing looked the same twice. Towers leaned playfully, roads bent around gardens that shouldn’t exist, and bridges arched into rivers before remembering to meet the other side. Children skated down slanted walls that occasionally sighed. Market stalls argued with each other about prices. Someone had painted across a plaza: “Perfection is overrated.” It was ridiculous. It was wonderful. And yet, something deep under the joy felt… unfinished. --- Adrian had turned the old library into a workshop. Fragments of runes floated above tables; equations and prayers mingled on the w

**Later That Day** By the time the last visitor left, the room finally exhaled. Silence drifted back in, soft and familiar. The sunlight had shifted into a warm afternoon glow, filtering through the curtains and landing right on the cribs, where Amilia and Eden slept peacefully. Emilia leaned back against her pillows, completely spent but content. Her hair was messy again, her lips dry, but her eyes had that unmistakable sparkle — the kind that said I’m tired, but my heart’s full. Aiden was crouched near the cribs, his hand resting lightly on the edge. He’d barely spoken for the last few minutes, just… watching. “You’re staring again,” Emilia said softly, her voice half teasing. “Can you blame me?” he murmured without looking up. “I’m just making sure they’re real.” “They are,” she said. “And they’re definitely yours. I checked.” He finally glanced up, one corner of his mouth lifting. “You sure? Maybe I should do a DNA test, just in case.” “Try it,” she said, arching

Emilia scowled. “This is so unfair! I carried them for nine months, and they don’t even look like me! This is an injustice!” The room erupted in laughter. Rachel and Lilianna were utterly amused by Emilia’s outburst, remembering their own experiences as new mothers. Rachel stepped forward and tapped Aiden’s shoulder. “I had the same reaction when you and your brother were born,” she said, smiling fondly. “I wanted at least one baby who looked like me, but your dad’s genes were just too strong. Thankfully, Tamara takes after me, so I’m content. Now, Mia, give me more grandchildren—maybe one of them will finally look like you.” Lilianna laughed at Rachel’s teasing advice. “Mia,” she said warmly, “I was just grateful you had a mix of your dad’s and my features when I first saw you. Though I’ll admit—I did wish you looked a bit more like me. We could’ve passed for twins.” The room filled with chatter and laughter before slowly quieting down when it was time for Emilia to

After that night—when Riel ended up staying over at Bea’s house after she got drunk at the company dinner—they parted ways with awkward goodbyes and exchanged contact information, promising to keep things professional. And they did. At least, that’s what they told themselves. They continued to act as usual in the office—bickering whenever the chance presented itself, pretending nothing had changed. But beneath that façade, something had shifted. Since that night, both Bea and Riel had grown strangely aware of each other’s presence. Their playful arguments dwindled, replaced by subtle glances and quieter moments. Perhaps it was because they now talked privately over chat whenever they had time—small conversations that slowly bridged the distance between them. Each message revealed a sliver more of who they really were, and before long, they began finding each other… less annoying. The change didn’t go unnoticed. Their coworkers, long accustomed to the fiery exchanges between

Weeks had passed, and Emilia’s due date was fast approaching. She was pacing slowly around the living room, one hand supporting her back while the other rested gently on her belly. Aiden sat on the couch nearby, skimming through documents. Ever since he found out about her pregnancy, he had rarely left her side. He monitored everything—her diet, her rest, even how long she was allowed to use her phone. Eventually, she was banned from using it altogether unless someone called her directly. Emilia's parents were already in the States. They had stepped out for a short walk, and though Emilia longed to go with them, Aiden wouldn’t let her out of his sight. Then, it happened. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening. Her water had broken. Frozen in shock, she turned to look at Aiden. His face drained of color the moment he realized what was happening. Without a word, he jumped to his feet, grabbed his phone, and called the driver. "Aunt Mei! Get the emergency bag!" he barked, e

"Yes. Yes. I will be with you tonight. Just Stop, please." Loren pulled up his hands from Aerys underwear and licked them. He smiled at Aerys and kissed her. That night, Aerys was not able to meet with Darren and Emilia. ---------- The couple went inside. There was an awkward silence hovering in the atmosphere. Emilia wanted to ask why Aiden was waiting outside. But she felt like it was not the right time to raise that question right now. Aiden went straight to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water to calm his raging temper. After consuming two cups of cold water, he grabbed a clean glass then poured water for Emilia. When Aiden came in, he saw Emilia coming out of their room. Emilia was wearing a loose comfortable clothes, and her face was free of cosmetics. Aiden smiled when he realized that Emilia was wearing his shirt. She looked fresh and young. Emilia's appearance was incredibly charming, and Aiden also finds her sexy and seductive in some ways. Aiden could no

Like any day, people get excited when their shift ends. Aerys tidied up her area while waiting for the next person assigned for the night shift. "Do you want to come with us to drink, Loren?" Hearing some voices, Aerys looked up and saw Loren and the others coming down. She glanced at the wall clock and saw it was time for her shift to end. 'She's late.' Aerys kept on glancing at the employee's area, hoping that the person to relieve her would be there. It was a company policy for the reception booth to be left unattended. "I'll pass," Loren said with a smiling face. But his eyes hid annoyance. From the first day Loren's co-workers started t