“Login successful… Welcome back to Minor World No. 0714.”
The default female voice of the system was warm and kind, and had it not been for the faint crackle of static and lag, it truly would have been indistinguishable from a living person.
In late autumn, the sky grew light late. At this moment, all was dead silence, and not even the sound of servants sweeping the grounds could be heard.
The doors and windows of the small kitchen were tightly closed, yet they faintly diffused the glow of lamplight.
Inside the room, a young man held up a lamp stand, but his gaze pierced straight through the candlelight to look at a patch of nothingness. The firelight reflected in the hollow of his eyes, casting a very gentle, amber hue.
He spoke to that patch of void, “Query physical stats.”
“Host: Xie Xuanyi; Current physical stat: sixty-two points; Status: healthy and well.”
Even though the other party was merely a stack of data, driven by habit, he still softly expressed his gratitude, “Troubled you.”
“You are welcome, Host.”
Xie Xuanyi closed the system interface, his gaze falling upon the pastries placed before him. The pastries had been cut into neat, uniform squares, their color snow-white, dotted with deep and shallow fragments of osmanthus flowers that looked exceptionally appetizing. One could tell that the person who made them had put extraordinary care into the process.
It was precisely for this plate of pastries that he had used up his single, brief opportunity to temporarily leave the minor world.
He had spent a full three days recovering in the main system space just to bring his physical stat up from forty points to sixty-two points.
Had it not been for catching a cold last month while copying lines as punishment on Shen Shixin’s behalf, and then carelessly dragging it out instead of caring, how could his physical stat, once at eighty points, have dropped all the way to forty?
Or perhaps he had simply been too careless. If things continued like this, he wondered whether he would even live to see the day the mission was completed.
If he were to die of illness due to poor health and fail the mission, it would sound rather absurdly laughable.
Despite staying in the main space for three days, everything remained unchanged upon re-entering the minor world, and even the pastries he had prepared earlier had not gone cold.
Looking at that plate of pastries, Xie Xuanyi let out a breath of relief, and the joy welling up in his heart was completely genuine.
He had stayed up for several consecutive nights learning how to make the pastries Shen Shixin liked. Would it make Shen Shixin like him even just a little bit?
Taking advantage of the fact that it was not yet dawn, Xie Xuanyi handed the pastries over to the maid, A’jian, and returned to his bedroom to catch up on sleep.
Even with the previous three nights included, he had slept for less than four hours in total. Now, the moment his head touched the pillow, he sank heavily into a groggy slumber.
Sleeping until the sky was broad daylight, he was shaken awake by A’jian.
Before his consciousness had fully returned, Xie Xuanyi vaguely heard the little maid urging him anxiously, “Master, please wake up quickly. You just said you were going out to enjoy the garden party with the young masters and misses… You also have to deliver the snacks to Young Master Shen!”
A thunderbolt seemed to flash across Xie Xuanyi’s mind. He abruptly sat up from the couch, saying, “I overslept! Quick, quick, help me get the snacks.”
A’jian could no longer care about formalities and hurriedly ran off to the small kitchen.
The clothes he had worn the day before were wrinkled and unpresentable, so Xie Xuanyi rapidly changed into a fresh set and bound his hair, yet A’jian had still not returned.
Xie Xuanyi frowned and walked briskly out of the courtyard.
As soon as he turned the corner, he saw A’jian surrounded by several footmen, kneeling on the ground with her cheeks red and swollen, while desperately protecting the basket of flower pastries in her arms.
“A’jian.”
His heart sank. He immediately rushed over to pull the little maid up, inspecting her carefully and ensuring her injuries were not severe before finally breathing a sigh of relief.
Xie Xuanyi pulled A’jian behind him, shifting his gaze from her to the opposite side. Standing before them was his half-brother, Xie Qiuzhi.
Xie Qiuzhi’s biological mother had been a concubine elevated to the status of a legal wife, and she had always looked down on Xie Xuanyi. Having been dotingly raised since childhood and absorbing malicious traits by osmosis, Xie Qiuzhi hardly ever concealed his disdain and jealousy toward Xie Xuanyi.
Yet this was the first time he had ever been this audacious.
Seeing that Xie Xuanyi was still shielding the maid, Xie Qiuzhi let out an impatient click of his tongue, playing the victim and shifting the blame first: “Xie Xuanyi, I just wanted to eat one of your pastries, but this maid of yours lacks all manners and hierarchy, insisting on saying something like ‘My master ordered me to guard this well.’ Look at how unteachable she is.”
Glaring at the lavishly dressed Xie Qiuzhi, Xie Xuanyi wore a cold expression as he stood in front of A’jian: “I am the one who told A’jian to guard it. As for you, lacking respect for an elder brother. I’d say the one lacking manners is someone else entirely.”
Xie Qiuzhi was used to being pampered, and his temper was easily ignited at the slightest touch. His complexion rapidly flushed red.
Seeing the other party clench his fists, Xie Xuanyi felt a flicker of unease within, his fingertips tightening involuntarily.
Just as Xie Xuanyi was preparing for a physical altercation, he saw Xie Qiuzhi deflate like a leaking ball, swiftly lowering his head to call out, “Father.”
Before he could react, Xie Xuanyi was immediately dealt a fierce, heavy slap across the face.
“What, are you going to hit your brother next? I see you’ve truly turned rebellious. The woman who bore you would have been better off dying sooner rather than giving birth to such a thing…”
The person who had arrived was none his father.
Xie Father had spoken without thinking carefully, but suddenly realizing he had said too much, he hastily cut himself off.
The footmen who had previously threatened A’jian had long since scattered in all directions, leaving only the lowered-headed Xie Qiuzhi, who wore the smug look of a petty villain having achieved his way.
Having been in poor health recently and now suffering this unprovoked disaster, Xie Xuanyi felt the world spin dizzily before his eyes.
He leaned unsteadily against the courtyard wall to steady himself. Still wanting to argue, his lips moved, but ultimately he weakly lowered his head, cupped his hands together, and murmured in a low voice, “This son was in the wrong.”
Forget it. Just endure a little longer. His time in this minor world was running short; it would pass eventually.
Having swallowed a bellyful of frustration at court and needing a place to vent, Xie Father saw Xie Xuanyi’s weak appearance. Clenching his fists before finally releasing them, he merely glared fiercely at him.
“A piece of rotten wood that cannot be carved! You should learn more from your brother instead of hanging around outside every day, squandering time without learning a single useful thing.”
Seeing Xie Xuanyi show no reaction whatsoever, Xie Father’s anger surged anew. Suppressing his temper, he flicked his sleeve and strode away toward the concubine’s courtyard.
Xie Xuanyi remained hunched over until Xie Father had departed.
The swelling on his cheek throbbed with pain, and his ears were still ringing faintly. He had barely caught any of Xie Father’s reprimands.
Xie Qiuzhi’s expression twisted into a triumphant sneer. Spitting viciously onto the ground near Xie Xuanyi’s feet, he too hurried away.
“Master, A’jian has let you down…” The little maid knelt by his side, her voice choking with tears.
Xie Xuanyi still couldn’t clearly hear A’jian’s words, so he could only pat her shoulder and gently say, “There is anti-swelling medicine in the small cabinet by my headboard. Boil some hot water and apply a compress for half an hour.”
He felt a pang of guilt for letting A’jian suffer alongside such a cowardly master. As for the medicinal items brought from the system, they were some of the few small compensations he could offer.
When… when the day he successfully completed his mission arrived, he would return her deed of indenture.
Seated inside the carriage, he summoned the system interface, “Query external injury recovery medications.”
The female voice immediately replied: “Medication: Yuzhen Powder, requires five points; Shengji Powder, requires ten points; Jinchuang Ointment, requires twenty points.”
Xie Xuanyi looked at his dwindling balance of points and lowered his eyes.
“Exchange for Yuzhen… Exchange for a dose of Shengji Powder, use immediately, thank you.”
Xie Xuanyi was accustomed to buying the cheapest medications, but right as the words reached his lips, he caught himself short. He thought to himself that since he was going to see Shen Shixin, he could not look too unsightly.
After applying the medicine, the swelling on his face receded significantly, though he could still feel a lingering soreness. Yet he had no alternative, as he possessed no surplus points. Recovering his physical stats back in the main system space had already consumed the vast majority of his savings.
By the time he arrived at the garden party, the young masters and misses had already gathered to chat and laugh together, and no one paid him any mind.
Xie Xuanyi spotted Shen Shixin amidst the crowd at a single glance.
The other party was engaged in a lively conversation with a noble young lady, smiling with curved eyes in a manner that closely mirrored the image in his dreams.
Seeing Shen Shixin, Shen Shixin likewise noticed him.
As if afraid he wouldn’t be heard, the other party raised his volume mid-conversation: “Indeed, who could compare to our esteemed eldest Young Master Xie in terms of grandeur? I suppose he slept until mid-morning at home before getting up, completely shameless about becoming the butt of everyone’s jokes.”
Shen Shixin’s father held the rank of Prime Minister, and Shen Shixin himself possessed a romantic and dashing disposition, meaning he was never short of followers. Upon hearing this, the young lords and ladies immediately burst into a chorus of uproarious laughter.
The chilling words crashed straight into his ears. Xie Xuanyi lowered his head, his grip tightening relentlessly around the basket, his knuckles turning white beneath his emaciated flesh.
It had already been six years; in truth, he should have long since grown accustomed to it, seeing as he had always survived this exact way.
Displaying no reaction whatsoever just as everyone expected—Xie Xuanyi quietly took a seat in the most secluded corner.
The tables of the others were all adorned with exquisite glazed flower vases, the fresh flowers within them still blooming radiantly in the late autumn chill as though completely fearless of the biting wind.
Only his own desktop remained completely empty, lacking even a single set of utensils.
When the people gathered around Shen Shixin dispersed to admire the scenery in small groups, Xie Xuanyi finally mustered his courage, walked up to him, and carefully lifted the flower pastries out of the basket.
“A-Xin, have a taste and see if they suit your palate.”
Shen Shixin cast a profound, deep gaze over, wearing a half-smile: “What did you just call this lord?”
Xie Xuanyi immediately dropped his gaze, stammering a correction: “The… Young Master Shen.”
“That’s more like it,” Shen Shixin tilted his head slightly, leaning against the tree behind him and looking down at the youth who was half a head shorter than him. “You, the son of a mere eighth-rank minor official, what are you different from a lowly outcast? How could you possibly be worthy of addressing this lord by his given name? You truly are a crow delusional about blending into a flock of phoenixes.”
Xie Xuanyi’s voice was muffled, devoid of any discernible emotion: “This commoner… this commoner knows his wrong.”
Seeing that Shen Shixin was finally no longer picking faults with his phrasing, Xie Xuanyi cautiously asked, “Young Master Shen, these are the osmanthus pastries you wanted to eat a few days ago. Please taste them to see if they meet your liking.”
Yet, Shen Shixin frowned, his expression of disgust entirely devoid of pretense: “When did I ever say I liked eating osmanthus pastries? I ordinarily loathe eating such cloyingly sweet things. Take them away at once.”
Xie Xuanyi panicked, “But, but you said a few days ago…”
The next second, he was kicked over by the other party, colliding heavily against a small table as dull pains simultaneously struck his abdomen and lower back.
Enduring the pain, he listened as Shen Shixin delivered every single word filled to the brim with mockery: “Just because this lord said he liked them, does it mean he genuinely did? Today, when the mood strikes me, I say I like osmanthus pastries; tomorrow, when the mood fades, I’ll fancy peach blossom pastries or apricot blossom pastries instead. Could it be that you intend to test me one by one?”
“Xie Xuanyi, stop giving yourself unrequited importance. Everything you make is utterly repulsive to this lord.”
Shen Shixin tilted his head to look down at him, the disgust in his eyes completely undisguised.
Yet Xie Xuanyi said nothing, simply pulling himself up from the ground in silence. He righted the small table he had knocked over, restored the glazed flower vase and fresh flowers to their original places just as they were, acting as though he were thoroughly accustomed to performing such tasks.
Hearing the commotion coming from their direction, the young lords and ladies who had just dispersed returned. Without inquiring about the cause, many immediately began showering Shen Shixin with solicitous concerns.
“Such a loud commotion did it frighten Young Master Shen? Oh dear, truly lacking any peace.”
“Indeed, Little Sister Xin and I were truly given a terrible scare just now. Who knows which blind fool went crashing into the table.”
The elegantly and fashionably dressed young ladies and young lords chattered away, casting sideways glances at the silent Xie Xuanyi standing nearby, every single sentence pointedly loaded with implication.
Finally, someone could not hold back any longer, grabbing a spray of flowers from the nearest table and fiercely hurling it straight into Xie Xuanyi’s face.
The flower branch carried no real force, but Shen Shixin imperceptibly frowned before speaking in a leisurely tone to that person: “Young Master Qian the Second is quite magnanimous indeed.”
Seeing Shen Shixin’s half-smiling expression, Qian Er hurriedly nodded, bowed, and curried favor: “A temporary lapse in judgment, Young Master Shen, please don’t take offense.”
Noticing that Shen Shixin had no intention of pursuing the matter and having struck a grand pose, Qian Er lifted his chin and raised his eyebrows toward Xie Xuanyi.
“Did you not hear? Hurry up and apologize to Young Master Shen, and beg him to lift his hand and spare you!”
“Exactly! In my opinion, this lowly person shouldn’t have been allowed to set foot in the garden party in the first place. What a fine autumn outing ruined into this state.”
Xie Xuanyi’s eyes turned red at some point, yet terrified that shedding tears would invite ridicule, he could only lower his head and widen his eyes slowly until his eye sockets ached and the corners of his eyes felt as though they were splitting apart from pain.
Clearly… clearly Shen Shixin was the one who had asked him to come, and clearly Shen Shixin was the one who had made him do this.
Clearly he should have already grown used to such verbal cross-examinations.
Before the ringing in his ears had even faded, he received another violent kick, causing his precarious physical stats to plummet back below the passing threshold.
Seemingly triggered by a self-protective mechanism of his consciousness, Xie Xuanyi felt as though the criticisms surrounding him were situated far away, sounding faint and indistinct as if separated by a sheet of glass.
In a daze, he instinctively still raised his head to look at Shen Shixin.
He saw that the other party was brimming with radiant smiles, his eyes even seeming to be studded with stars, sparkling brightly.
A flash of bitter clarity crossed Xie Xuanyi’s mind, and with a sudden realization, his tears finally fell at this exact moment, landing with a light patter onto the soil beneath his feet. Basking in the late autumn sun, not even a trace of moisture remained behind.
Actually, Shen Shixin had never been stingy with his smiles; he had simply never been willing to bestow even a fraction of them upon himself.
Even if it were merely a fleeting, momentary glimpse.