The automatic doors of Phoenix International Airport slid open with a soft mechanical hiss, releasing a gust of warm city air into the cool terminal. It carried the smell of expensive perfumes, rolling luggage, and the murmured chatter of travelers.
But the moment she stepped out, everything stilled.
Cheng Xiao walked like she owned the ground beneath her heels. The sound of her stilettos steady, unapologetically confident cut through the noise. Heads turned, conversations halted, and even the security guard forgot to check a boarding pass mid-scan.
She wore a fitted black trench coat, cinched at the waist with a thin belt, her long legs wrapped in sleek, dark stockings. Her hair, once long and soft, was now cut in a sharp, elegant style that grazed her shoulders. The ends curled slightly inward, framing her face in a businesslike aura that screamed:
Not the same woman.
Not the same victim.
Not someone to mess with.
She removed her sunglasses with a graceful flick. The airport lights reflected in her eyes cold, clear, and calculating. Like someone who had died once and returned with vengeance stitched into her bones.
A man in a black suit approached immediately, bowing his head. His physique was intimidating broad shoulders, defined muscles, and an expression that suggested he had absolutely no patience for nonsense.
"Welcome back, Miss Cheng," he greeted. "We've secured your route, the car is waiting, and your luggage is being taken care of."
Cheng Xiao barely spared him a glance. "Everything better be in order, Fang."
"Yes, Miss."
"And what's the situation outside?" she asked, pulling up the collar of her trench coat.
Fang hesitated only a fraction of a second enough for Cheng Xiao to raise an eyebrow.
He cleared his throat. "Your stepsister is outside… giving a press interview."
Cheng Xiao's lips curled, not into a smile, but something far more dangerous.
"Is that so?"
"She is… discussing your disappearance." Fang looked nervous, which was absurd. He could punch through brick walls and had buried men twice his size without blinking, but this Cheng Xiao's soft, amused tone made him sweat.
"Should we reroute?" he asked. "Avoid attention? We can take the private exit"
"No."
The single word was sharp.
Cheng Xiao started walking again, her strides long and elegant. "Let her see me."
Fang let out a silent exhale. He felt bad for whoever crossed Miss Cheng's path today. Especially if that person shared her blood.
As they approached the sliding exit doors, reporters' voices filtered through eager, buzzing like flies around a carcass.
"In your statement last year, you said you believed your sister was guilty"
"Miss Cheng Meilin, do you think Cheng Xiao is alive?"
"What about the rumor that she was involved in the hacking scandal?"
And then
Her stepsister's bright, fake-sweet voice rang out.
"Of course, I'm devastated my sister ran away after committing such a shameful crime"
The doors opened.
The world froze.
Cheng Xiao stepped out into the sunlight like a goddess descending from the heavens but with the aura of a devil who had crawled out of hell on her own terms.
Her sudden appearance created a ripple so violent, the entire crowd inhaled at the same time.
Reporters gawked.
Cameras lifted.
People whispered her name like they weren't sure if she was illusion or flesh.
Cheng Xiao had returned.
Meilin, who had been purposely dressed in soft pastel colors to look pitiful and gentle, turned toward the sound of the commotion. When her eyes met Cheng Xiao's
All color drained from her face.
Her mic slipped from her fingers and hit the pavement with a loud clatter.
"You" Meilin choked. "You… you're supposed to be"
"Dead?" Cheng Xiao finished for her, tilting her head sweetly. "Surprise. I lived."
The reporters exploded into shouts.
"Cheng Xiao! Is it really you?"
"Where have you been these last five years?"
"Is it true you hacked the Ministry servers?"
"Why did you disappear after your sister's accusation?"
"Are you innocent?"
Cameras flashed, microphones were shoved toward her, and people pushed to get closer.
But Cheng Xiao stood calmly, unaffected. She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small, elegant hand mirror. Clicking it open, she inspected her lipstick.
"Meilin," she said lightly without looking up, "your makeup is creasing. You got too nervous talking about me?"
Meilin's face twitched violently. "You you dare show up like this? After everything you"
Cheng Xiao raised a finger.
"Ah. Careful." She smiled slightly. "If you say something stupid on live camera, I will ruin your life before dinner."
The reporters gasped.
Meilin trembled, but she was still too arrogant to back down. "You're acting bold for someone who ran away like a coward! If you think returning suddenly will erase your guilt"
"Sweetie," Cheng Xiao interrupted, finally looking at her with eyes like ice. "If I wanted my guilt erased… I'd erase you first."
Gasps erupted again.
Fang coughed discreetly. "Miss Cheng, the car"
Cheng Xiao waved lazily. "Two minutes."
She took a step closer to Meilin, her heel landing purposely on the girl's expensive dress hem. The tiny tear made Meilin inhale sharply.
Leaning in, Cheng Xiao whispered so only Meilin could hear, "Five years ago, you took everything from me. My name, my reputation, my family… even my freedom."
Meilin swallowed hard.
"And you thought," Cheng Xiao whispered with a soft laugh, "that I would stay gone?"
She straightened, turning her back on Meilin with dismissal so complete, so humiliating, the reporters swallowed in anticipation of a slap or a faint.
Instead of a fight, something else caught everyone's attention.
A sleek, black luxury car custom design, tinted windows, coated with the shine of absurdly expensive wax slid to a stop in front of the crowd. The engine purred like a panther.
Slowly, the driver's-side window rolled down.
A man leaned slightly on the wheel, his features coming into view.
The crowd hushed.
Perfect jawline. Sleepy, deep-set eyes. A faint smirk that suggested he knew far more than he let on. His black shirt hugged his body just enough to hint at muscle beneath the expensive fabric.
His voice was smooth, annoyed, and somehow amused all at once.
"You're causing trouble already," he drawled. "Get in."
Cheng Xiao blinked.
Then frowned.
"…Who the hell are you?"
Ming Hao's smirk widened like a cat who finally found his toy.
"Your ride," he said. "And possibly your future headache."
More gasps.
More camera flashes.
Someone whispered, "Isn't that the Ming family's heir? Why is he picking her up?!"
Meilin nearly choked on air.
Cheng Xiao crossed her arms. "I don't know you."
"Sure you do," Ming Hao replied lazily. "You just forgot my face."
Before she could reply, he tilted his head, eyes dark and amused. "But that's fine. I remember yours perfectly."
Cheng Xiao narrowed her eyes. She hated when people acted familiar. Especially handsome strangers in million-dollar cars.
"Miss Cheng," Fang reminded softly, "our route"
She sighed. "Fine."
With effortless grace, she walked toward the car. The moment she reached for the handle, Ming Hao leaned over and opened the door for her.
Cheng Xiao froze. "I can open my own door."
"I know," he said. "But I'm still opening it."
She clicked her tongue. "I hate him already," she muttered.
Ming Hao heard and smirked like he absolutely loved the sound of her irritation.
The reporters screamed questions as she slid into the leather seat, crossing her legs elegantly.
Ming Hao closed the door behind her, walked around the car, and settled back into the driver's seat. He tapped the steering wheel.
"Seatbelt," he said.
She glared.
He stared back, unimpressed.
She clicked the seatbelt into place with the most aggressive motion possible.
"Good girl," he said.
Cheng Xiao's eye twitched. "I will kill you."
"Not before dinner," he replied. "I have reservations."
The car pulled away, leaving chaos behind.
Meilin stood frozen in front of dozens of cameras, looking like someone had poured ice water over her entire life.
The reporters immediately began typing headlines that would explode across the internet within minutes.
THE REAL CHENG XIAO RETURNS ALIVE!
CHENG XIAO VS CHENG MEILIN AIRPORT DRAMA ERUPTS!
HEIR OF MING CORPORATION PERSONALLY PICKS UP CHENG XIAO? RELATIONSHIP RUMORS BEGIN!
Inside the car, the atmosphere shifted.
Silence settled.
Cheng Xiao stared out the window, the city skyline stretching before her like a battlefield waiting for its general.
Ming Hao drove smoothly, one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on his lap.
He spoke first. "Five years is a long time."
She didn't look at him. "Not long enough."
"Still angry?"
"Angry?" she repeated, smiling faintly. "No. I'm furious."
Ming Hao watched her profile beautiful, unreadable. Nothing like the innocent, soft girl he remembered.
"You came back stronger."
"I came back to bury people."
He chuckled. "Right. Revenge tour. I approve."
She turned to him. "Why are you helping me?"
Ming Hao raised one hand and pointed to his face. "Because of this."
"…Excuse me?"
"I'm extremely handsome," he said seriously. "It would be a crime not to assist a beautiful woman in need."
Cheng Xiao stared at him.
Then slowly raised her hand
And smacked the back of his head lightly.
Ming Hao laughed. "There she is."
"This is the part where you tell me who you are," she said with a cold glare.
Ming Hao tilted his head.
"Let's start with the basics. Ming Hao. Billionaire by day. Something… else by night." His voice dropped just slightly. "We crossed paths once, Cheng Xiao. You saved me."
She frowned. "I did?"
"You did," he said simply, eyes focused on the road. "I've been waiting five years for you to come back."
She paused.
Her heartbeat stirred but only for a fraction of a second.
Not enough for Ming Hao to see.
She turned back to the window. "Well. I'm not here for you."
"I know," he said softly.
"But…" he added with a smirk, "you'll still need me."
"Why? Because you think you're special?"
"No," he said, and for the first time, his voice lost its teasing tone.
"Because the people you want to destroy are not the same as five years ago. They're stronger… darker. And if you go in alone, you'll die."
She clenched her jaw. "I'm not dying."
"I know," he replied. "That's why I'm here."
The car continued down the highway, the city stretching endlessly before them.
Cheng Xiao rested her head against the window, her reflection staring back at her colder, sharper, stronger.
She whispered to herself, so softly only she could hear:
"I'm done running."
Ming Hao glanced at her from the corner of his eye, a slow smile forming.
"Welcome home… Black Rose."
And as they disappeared into the heart of the city, one truth spread like wildfire
THE BLACK ROSE HAS RETURNED, AND THIS TIME, SHE IS UNTOUCHABLE.
TO BE CONTINUED.....