In her heart, she truly hoped that Lu Huaijin would grow tired of her soon, so she could have a chance to leave this place that confined her freedom.
Once entangled with Lu Huaijin, it was like being tightly bound by invisible ropes, difficult to break free.
She really didn’t want to stay in the capital anymore. She still intended to leave, even if she were caught again and locked in that pitch-dark room, she wasn’t afraid.
Su Yao, you will eventually leave these four-cornered high walls.
Unconsciously, dawn broke.
Chun Tao brought in water to help Su Yao wash up and dress.
“Miss, today you’ll wear new clothes.”
Su Yao gently stroked the soft brocade silk, feeling its delicate texture. The quality was indeed superior.
“Where did this come from?”
As soon as she asked, she realized it was a redundant question. Everything here was undoubtedly prepared by that man.
“This dress was specially set aside by the master some days ago, saying it was to celebrate your birthday today. It’s just a pity that the master has been busy with official duties lately and probably won’t be able to come personally to accompany you. Miss, what would you like to eat today?”
A strange bitterness welled up in Su Yao’s heart, and for a moment, many thoughts flooded her mind.
She thought of her late mother. If her mother were still alive, she would surely have prepared new clothes for her and personally made a steaming bowl of longevity noodles, wishing her peace and safety year after year.
Thinking of these past memories, Su Yao’s eyes couldn’t help but moisten.
She took a deep breath to calm her emotions and said softly, “Let’s have noodles today.”
Chun Tao smiled and replied, “Alright, I’ll make them for you in a moment.”
Snow began to fall outside, its chill brushing against her face.
Su Yao stared fixedly at the vast courtyard. This year, her birthday would be spent alone. This loneliness made her chest feel tight, leaving her depressed and unsettled.
After her birthday, it would be the New Year. For other families, it was a time of reunion. She wondered if her father and elder brother were doing well.
Bang, bang, bang—the main gate outside the residence was knocked on.
Su Yao instinctively frowned. No one knew she lived here.
“Miss, it must be the master.”
She hurried to open the door but suddenly halted her steps.
Su Yao couldn’t see the situation outside the gate and could only wait anxiously for Chun Tao’s response.
A moment later, Chun Tao returned to her side and spoke hesitantly, “Miss, the visitor… the visitor is the young master.”
“Him?” Upon hearing this, Su Yao’s heart trembled slightly.
“Tell him I’m unwell and cannot receive guests. Please decline on my behalf.”
However, Chun Tao looked troubled. “Miss, I already said that earlier, but the young master insisted on waiting for you in the snow. He said he wouldn’t leave until he saw you.”
“If he wants to wait, let him wait.” Su Yao sighed helplessly, gave the order, and turned back to her room.
After an unknown amount of time, Su Yao gazed at the increasingly fierce snowstorm outside the window, her heart filled with worry. She called softly, “Chun Tao.”
“Miss, what do you need?” Chun Tao responded promptly.
“Has that person left?”
Chun Tao shook her head gently, her expression somewhat complicated. “I went to check just now. He’s still waiting there.”
Hearing this, Su Yao furrowed her brows, her heart unable to bear it. She stood up and draped her cloak over her shoulders. “This person, why is he still as stubborn as before!”
Su Yao muttered to herself as she walked.
The door slowly opened, revealing Lu Chuyao’s solitary figure.
The heavy snow had long since soaked his clothes, and water droplets dripped from his jet-black hair, soaking his collar.
Su Yao felt a pang in her heart. She quickly took the umbrella from Chun Tao and hurried forward.
Lu Chuyao was much taller than her, so she had to stand on tiptoe, struggling to hold the umbrella over his head.
“Brother Chuyao, why aren’t you using an umbrella?” Her voice carried a hint of reproach, but it couldn’t hide her concern.
Lu Chuyao lowered his head, his gaze gentle. “Sister Ayao, why are you avoiding me?”
Su Yao’s heart trembled. She didn’t dare meet his eyes, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum. “I… I’m not… It’s just, Brother Chuyao, you shouldn’t have come to find me. I’m not the same Su Yao I used to be. We… we shouldn’t see each other anymore.”
Before she could finish speaking, the paper umbrella in her hand suddenly slipped and fell onto the snow, making a rustling sound.
She quickly bent down to pick it up. Just as she tightly gripped the handle, she suddenly felt her vision go dark. Her body lost balance, and she uncontrollably stumbled forward.
She heard a familiar, anxious voice repeatedly calling in her ear, “Su Yao, Su Yao… are you alright?”
The sound of the snow was too loud, and gradually, the voice became indistinct.
Lu Chuyao anxiously crouched down, scooping her up in his arms, calling her name over and over. Fortunately, Su Yao had only fainted briefly and soon slowly opened her eyes.
“Put me down, quickly.” Su Yao looked toward the gate in the distance, where Chun Tao was watching with a shocked expression. She knew today’s incident would inevitably reach Lu Huaijin’s ears.
“Ah—!”
Only then did Lu Chuyao notice the blood seeping from Su Yao’s hand. “Ayao, you’re hurt!”
Su Yao now felt the sharp pain in her palm. It must have been scraped when she fell earlier, a few drops of bright red blood staining her new clothes.
Bleeding on one’s birthday is an ominous sign.
Su Yao picked up the oil-paper umbrella from the ground and handed it to Lu Chuyao. “Brother Chuyao, you should go back. Your father… he doesn’t want you to come see me.”
“Sister Ayao, did my father say something to you that day?”
Su Yao pursed her lips lightly, her gaze lowered, remaining silent.
Seeing this, Lu Chuyao grew even more anxious. He tightly grasped Su Yao’s wrist, his tone softening further. “Ayao, my father is my father, and I am me. Don’t you understand me?”
Su Yao knew, of course, how gentle the person before her was—how could he be anything like the sinister and domineering Lu Huaijin?
It was just fate playing tricks.
She sighed softly and turned to leave. But Lu Chuyao refused to let go of her wrist. “Ayao, look at your wound—it’s still bleeding. How can I let you leave alone like this?”
Su Yao smiled. “It’s nothing, just a little scrape.”
“Ayao, you’re lying! You’ve always been delicate, unable to bear even the slightest bump or bruise.” Lu Chuyao looked at her worriedly.
“People change. I’ve endured a lot of hardship these years. This really isn’t much.”
Lu Chuyao guessed that Su Yao’s life these past years must have been difficult. She had always been timid, and the drastic changes in her family were undoubtedly unbearable for her. Now, because of his father’s opposition, she had no choice but to avoid him.
He felt a lump in his throat. In the end, he could only take a small box from his pocket and press it into Su Yao’s hand, forcing out a few difficult words. “Sister Ayao… happy birthday.”
Su Yao gave a slight bow, performing a blessing bow to express her thanks. Then she turned and left.
The heavy snow mercilessly struck Su Yao’s face; she could no longer tell whether what flowed down her cheeks were tears or melted snowflakes.
The gate slammed shut heavily. Chun Tao hurried over to Su Yao’s side and asked with concern, “Miss, are you really all right? Should we call a doctor to take a look?”
Su Yao shook her head gently, forcing a faint smile. “It’s nothing serious—just a slip on the icy road in the snow.”
As she spoke, she turned to look at the swirling snow outside the window. “I wonder when this snow will stop.”
Chun Tao looked at Su Yao with heartache. “Miss, your new dress is all wet. I’ll go prepare a change of clothes for you right away. If you keep wearing this, you’ll catch a cold.”
Su Yao nodded slightly, her voice sounding somewhat weak. “Alright, go ahead. But my head feels a bit dizzy now—maybe I was dazed from that fall earlier. Just leave the clothes in my room. I’ll rest for a while; perhaps I’ll feel better after waking up.”
It was just a pity that, in the end, Su Yao never got to eat that bowl of longevity noodles…