Nothing is within one's own control

The scene rewinds to two days earlier—

Ji Family Mansion.

Master Bedroom.

The room housed a grand redwood bed, its headboard and footboard adorned with intricate carvings and patterns, a testament to the noble status of its occupant.

Seated at the edge of the bed was a young woman.

She wore a plain white nightgown, her jet-black hair cascading over her shoulders like smooth satin. Her face was porcelain-pale, her eyes deep and still as stagnant water, devoid of any discernible emotion—almost lifeless.

Even in stillness, her aura was extraordinary—elegant, noble, and aloof.

An innate, bone-deep grace radiated from her, so intimidating it kept others at bay.

Yet what was most striking was the cold detachment in her brow, an unapproachable air that seemed to push the world away.

But the tear mole at the corner of her eye added a touch of tragic beauty and allure, making her all the more mesmerizing—stunning to the point of heartache.

Outside the window, dawn had arrived, the stars long faded from the sky. A cool morning breeze drifted through the curtains, teasing loose strands of her hair.

For some reason, upon waking today, she had been assaulted by a wave of inexplicable emotions—palpitations, loneliness, emptiness, melancholy, anxiety—all swirling chaotically within her.

It felt as though a gaping hole had been torn open in her chest.

"What’s wrong with me? Why am I so unsettled…?"

Ji Qingyi frowned, pressing a hand to her chest. The sensation was both foreign and eerily familiar, unsettling her in a way she couldn’t articulate. She forced herself to ignore it.

Then, in the next moment, she noticed an odd texture beneath her fingers.

Glancing down, she froze.

A ring adorned her finger.

For a moment, she wondered if she was hallucinating. After a dazed pause, she tentatively touched it with her other hand—only to confirm its tangible existence.

Her usually impassive face finally betrayed shock and bewilderment. She stared blankly for a long moment—

Utter disbelief.

In this world, there was no one who could slip a ring onto her finger without her notice.

So where had it come from?

Had it simply materialized on her ring finger out of thin air?

Baffled, Ji Qingyi instinctively reached to remove the unsightly ring, intending to have her subordinates analyze its origin and composition—hoping for swift answers.

But the moment she tried to take it off, the torrent of emotions from earlier surged back, crashing over her with overwhelming force, drowning her rationality.

Alarmed, she hastily slid the ring back onto her finger. The instant it settled into place, the strange agitation and hollowness vanished.

Ji Qingyi closed her eyes, then reopened them, scrutinizing the ring anew—this time with wariness.

She understood now: this ring was no mere anomaly. Her instincts warned her it held deeper significance, demanding caution.

Moreover, she couldn’t entrust it to anyone else. The ring had already forged a profound connection with her—body and mind. Any mishandling could have dire consequences.

"Young Mistress." A voice sounded from beyond the door—her personal maid. "Shall I begin preparing your attire?"

Ji Qingyi swiftly suppressed her turbulent thoughts, her tone reverting to its usual frosty calm. "Enter."

The door creaked open.

A short-haired maid stepped inside, her features delicate, her demeanor icy and expressionless. Spotting her mistress, she bowed respectfully. "Good morning, Young Mistress."

Ji Qingyi acknowledged her with a faint hum.

The maid then picked up the jewelry box from the vanity, meticulously arranging its contents with practiced ease, as though this morning ritual were second nature.

Meanwhile, Ji Qingyi remained seated on the bed, gaze fixed on the ring, lost in thought.

In the past, she would have immediately informed this very maid about the ring. But since starting high school, she’d grown vaguely averse to her.

The reason?

This maid had become obsessed with electronic devices, clinging to them outside of work, even spouting obscure jargon and bizarre remarks, creating an invisible rift between them.

Of course, that wasn’t the main issue.

What truly irked Ji Qingyi was how, despite her repeated—and unmistakable—disapproval, the maid remained defiant, dismissing her concerns with an attitude of "my private life is none of your business." It infuriated her, yet there was little she could do.

"Young Mistress, if you please."

Having prepared the tools, the maid stepped aside, gesturing for her to freshen up before the final touches.

Ji Qingyi rose, exiting the bedroom. Soon, she returned, freshly washed, and took her seat before the vanity.

The maid stood behind her, gently combing through her silken hair.

Ji Qingyi stared into the mirror, her expression pensive, her mind still circling the mystery of the ring.

She suspected the maid might be behind it.

Abruptly, the maid paused and turned to her, puzzled. "Young Mistress, your mood seems off today. Is it because—"

Ji Qingyi snapped back to the present, cutting her off with a sharp glare. "Focus on your duties. The rest is none of your concern."

The maid fell silent at once, resuming her task with dutiful precision. Yet, having been rebuked so abruptly, her eyes flickered downward in quiet resentment—

Only to land on the black-and-gold ring gleaming ominously on her mistress’s ring finger.

The maid blinked. Her hands stilled.

This ring…

Where did the Young Mistress get it?

And why is it on her ring finger?!

This earth-shattering discovery ignited her long-dormant curiosity, eclipsing even her earlier indignation. Shock and confusion gave way to exhilaration.

Sensing the sudden silence, Ji Qingyi frowned. "What is it?"

"Nothing…" The maid shook her head quickly, pretending to resume combing. But then, feigning nonchalance, she ventured, "Young Mistress, do you intend to wear this… accessory to school?"

Ji Qingyi stiffened imperceptibly before replying with deliberate indifference, "I’ll handle it. This doesn’t concern you."

"But as a representative of the Ji Family, I must advise against it."

The maid’s tone turned grave. "Though you are the Young Mistress, wearing this publicly could tarnish both your reputation and the family’s image. Please reconsider."

The moment those words left her lips, the air turned glacial—oppressive, suffocating.

"It seems this ring is your doing?"

Ji Qingyi turned around, her stunning face calm and composed, her dark pupils glinting with a cold light. Her lips parted slightly as she spoke with crisp clarity: "I never permitted you to take such liberties."

"Though I don’t understand why you're upset, Young Mistress, I believe there must be some misunderstanding."

The short-haired maid bowed her head, her tone earnest as she hurried to explain: "I meant no harm—I was only concerned it might affect your reputation, which is why I spoke up. Wearing a ring on the ring finger signifies marriage or engagement. Since the Young Mistress is yet to be betrothed, I feared gossip might spread to the Ji Family."

Hearing this, Ji Qingyi paused briefly, but soon regained her composure. "I would never do anything to disgrace the Ji Family," she replied indifferently.

"That’s a relief. If you truly went to school like this, who knows how many hearts would be broken." The maid nodded quickly in agreement before resuming her task of combing Ji Qingyi’s long hair. Then, shifting the topic, she added, "Judging by your reaction earlier, Young Mistress, it seems you don’t know where this ring came from?"

At this point, Ji Qingyi saw no reason to hide the truth. "Indeed," she admitted plainly. "I have no idea how it ended up on my finger. It wasn’t there before I went to bed."

"What?"

The short-haired maid gasped, her head snapping up in alarm as she stared at Ji Qingyi, her expression tense. "Young Mistress, please remove it at once! This ring is of unknown origin—it’s far too strange to wear carelessly!"

Ji Qingyi, however, remained unruffled. She scoffed dismissively. "It’s just an ugly ring. Why the fuss?"

Frowning, the maid persisted. "Young Mistress, this ring’s appearance is far too suspicious. Please take it off immediately. I’ll investigate right away to see if I can uncover any clues."

With that, she turned to leave.

But Ji Qingyi stopped her. "Wait."

"What is it?" The maid glanced back.

"Handle this matter personally."

"But, Young Mistress—"

"That’s an order!"

Ji Qingyi’s voice was sharp, her gaze piercing.

"Understood! Please wait just a moment, Young Mistress."

She rushed out, her footsteps hurried and anxious.

About ten minutes later, the short-haired maid returned and presented her findings.

"Young Mistress, no suspicious individuals have entered the Ji Family Mansion," she reported. "Moreover, it’s impossible for anyone in this world to slip into your room undetected, let alone without you noticing."

Seated gracefully, Ji Qingyi slowly ran her slender fingers over the ring, her expression icy as if deep in thought. After a while, she finally spoke. "So it truly did appear out of nowhere on my hand."

Then, contemplatively, she asked, "What do you make of this?"

The maid hesitated briefly before answering cautiously. "Young Mistress, please remove the ring. I’ll have it analyzed immediately to ensure it poses no danger before returning it to you."

"No," Ji Qingyi refused firmly.

"Why not?"

"Because this ring has formed some kind of connection with me. Removing it could harm me—physically or mentally. I dare not take that risk. I trust you understand." Her tone was grave, as though this were a matter of utmost importance.

The maid’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if she had just heard the most absurd thing in the world. She stared at Ji Qingyi, momentarily speechless, before finally blurting out, "Y-Young Mistress… that’s impossible… Are you certain?"

"I do not jest about such matters." Ji Qingyi’s expression was resolute, leaving no room for doubt.

"But—" The maid still couldn’t accept it.

Ji Qingyi arched a brow. "You doubt me?"

Pressing her lips together, the maid seemed torn, but seeing Ji Qingyi’s unwavering stance, she reluctantly conceded. "If that’s the case, there might be a way to test the ring’s effects without removing it. Perhaps we can uncover its purpose."

Her tone carried a hint of excitement.

"Oh? Do tell," Ji Qingyi replied, intrigued.

"We could try using blood."

After a brief pause, the maid added hesitantly, "The reasoning is simple—if the ring has bonded with you, it should respond to your summons."

"Is there any basis for this?"

However, the maid’s bizarre suggestion visibly displeased Ji Qingyi, a flicker of anger crossing her features.

"Ah… no concrete basis, just something I came across in ancient texts," the maid quickly amended.

Ji Qingyi studied her in silence for two seconds before demanding sternly, "Then name the text."

"Well… it was called The Record of a Supporting Female Cultivator."