Back in her room, Su Yao finally remembered the small brocade box on her dressing table. She stared at it blankly, hesitating for a long time before deciding to open it.
Inside were three small clay figurines, charmingly shaped, bearing her likeness.
For a moment, a flood of emotions overwhelmed her. She used to have five such figurines—starting from her tenth birthday, Lu Chuyao would personally make one for her each year.
At first, she had found them ugly, but later she treasured them like precious gems. However, when her family was raided, she couldn’t keep a single one.
These three figurines now were likely meant to make up for the gifts of the past three years.
“So he still remembers,” Su Yao buried her face in the brocade quilt, crying until she could hardly catch her breath.
Hearing the commotion in the room, Chun Tao hurried inside. “Miss, what’s wrong?”
Su Yao sobbed, waving her hand. “I was just missing my family.”
Chun Tao held her tightly, gently patting her back. “Miss, I don’t know how to comfort you, but I miss home too.”
Mistress and maid embraced each other and wept.
Exhausted from crying, Su Yao suddenly paused.
“Chun Tao, do you hear something?”
Chun Tao listened carefully after being asked. “What sound are you talking about, Miss?”
Su Yao stood up, pondering the source of the sound.
Finally, she looked down at the tip of her shoe.
She abruptly lifted her skirt and was startled to find a string of red-gold anklets around her ankle, with a golden bell hanging from it.
When had this been put on? Su Yao was utterly stunned.
“Did the master come yesterday?”
Chun Tao nodded. “The master took care of you all night and left just before dawn.”
Su Yao frowned slightly, knowing this was his doing.
No wonder she had heard a jingling sound earlier and thought it was a stray cat. Little did she expect it was coming from herself.
She tried to pull it off forcefully, but the red-gold anklet was tight, and she couldn’t remove it.
She kicked her feet frantically, causing the bell to ring incessantly.
Chun Tao was also surprised. “Miss… don’t force it. You might hurt yourself.”
“Forget it! Even if I take it off today, who knows what he’ll tie on tomorrow.”
Su Yao thought to herself that this golden bell was somewhat prettier than the previous copper one. She had naively believed that when Lu Huaijin removed the copper bell last time, he was letting her go. Little did she expect…
Only a few days later, he had replaced it with a new one.
In a daze, she vaguely remembered hearing the sound of bells accompanied by the shaking of the bed last night. Now, she wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or if it had really happened.
Tonight, it began to snow again outside.
Lu Huaijin arrived.
Su Yao recognized his footsteps as soon as she heard them. But she didn’t want to acknowledge him and continued calmly reading her picture book.
Lu Huaijin cleared his throat twice. Seeing that she still hadn’t moved, he frowned and walked over.
“What are you reading?” Lu Huaijin took the picture book from her hand.
“Give it back,” Su Yao reached for it, but Lu Huaijin sidestepped, and she missed.
Lu Huaijin glanced at the picture book. It told the story of childhood sweethearts torn apart. His brow furrowed.
“Yao’er, is this what you usually read?”
“It’s just something to pass the time when I’m bored. You’re not going to control this too, are you?”
“This one isn’t good. I’ll keep it for you for now. If you want to read, I’ll send over a few more books from my collection tomorrow.”
“Your books are boring. I don’t like them.”
Lu Huaijin scoffed, “Su Yao! If you have too much free time, why not copy the ‘Admonitions for Women’ ten times. It might help you remember better.”
Su Yao bit her lower lip, not understanding why this man was acting crazy again. She had only read a picture book—how could that have angered him?
Su Yao slowly stood up, her slender fingers lightly brushing over the rice paper on the desk, her gaze falling on the copy of ‘Admonitions for Women’ on the bookshelf.
Lu Huaijin sat nearby, his brow slightly furrowed as he watched her retrieve the book from the shelf.
Su Yao picked up the Wolf Hair Brush, dipped the tip in ink, and began writing on the rice paper. Her delicate, flowing script was elegant and graceful, like drifting clouds and flowing water.
Lu Huaijin’s gaze never left her. Seeing her so focused, an inexplicable irritation rose within him. He reached out and pressed down on her brush, his grip neither too light nor too heavy, but enough to make her stop.
Su Yao’s wrist was held firmly by him, and with a gentle tug, she was pulled entirely into his embrace.
“Wasn’t it you who told me to copy it?” Su Yao looked up. “Now that I’m doing it, why are you stopping me?”
Lu Huaijin looked down at her, his eyes dark and deep. “Why are you throwing a tantrum?”
“I’m not throwing a tantrum,” Su Yao turned her head away.
“Are you upset that I haven’t come to see you these past few days?” Lu Huaijin’s voice remained cold, but there was a hint of probing beneath the surface.
Su Yao didn’t answer. Instead, she broke free from his grip, picked up the Wolf Hair Brush again, and continued copying.
Lu Huaijin’s temperament was cold. He watched her stubbornly continue writing with an indifferent expression, his emotions hidden. To outsiders who didn’t know him well, he might even seem gentle and mild-mannered.
“Do you like the gift I gave you?” he suddenly asked, his voice low and carrying a sense of pressure.
Su Yao’s hand trembled slightly, and a drop of ink fell from the brush onto the rice paper, instantly spreading into a dark blotch.
She frowned, crumpled the paper into a ball, and tossed it aside.
Spreading out a fresh sheet, she picked up the brush again, but another drop of ink fell, ruining the characters once more.
She simply set the brush down and stopped writing.
Seeing this, Lu Huaijin scoffed and teased, “Finished already?”
Su Yao looked up, giving him a cold glance. Her voice was calm. “My hand is tired. I’ll write more later.”
“You still haven’t answered me,” Lu Huaijin’s voice was low and deliberate. “Do you like the golden bell I gave you?”
So it was him who sent it!
Su Yao inwardly sneered, though her expression remained composed. She looked directly at him, her voice cool and clear. “No, I don’t like it.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Huaijin raised an eyebrow, his tone casual. “Then tomorrow I’ll have someone make you a silver one instead.”
From gold to silver—how generous of him.
She looked directly at him, her voice cool and clear. “Lu Huaijin.”
“Hmm?” he responded, his gaze still fixed on her face.
“Am I your pet?” Su Yao’s eyes held suppressed emotions.
Lu Huaijin’s expression darkened at her words, his voice turning cold. “What’s wrong with being a pet? You get good food, a comfortable home, and someone to pamper you.”
There was no point in arguing with someone who couldn’t understand. Su Yao pursed her lips, her voice calm. “I see.”
Lu Huaijin pulled her over and sat her on his lap.
Su Yao reluctantly tried to push away the large hand he had placed on her waist.
As she struggled, the bells on her feet jingled softly.
If Su Yao’s initiative yesterday was an irresistible poison to him, her resistance now was the medicine that stirred his bloodlust.
Beneath a pair of thick, long lashes, his eyes were tinged with desire.
The words she had yet to speak were all crushed into silence.
Deep and shallow river waters, floating and sinking people of the world.
…
When Su Yao woke, Lu Huaijin was already fully dressed.
Immaculately attired and dignified in appearance, he resembled a flower atop a high peak, untouchable and untainted. It was as if the one who had just devoured him whole was not him at all.
Seeing her open her eyes, his beautiful face still carried a shy flush of lingering desire.
He gently pressed a kiss to her brow, but Su Yao frowned, clearly displeased with such intimacy. Unbothered, Lu Huaijin used his long, strong fingers to forcefully part her fingers, intertwining them with his own in a firm clasp.
Su Yao knew she shouldn’t provoke him now, so she simply ignored him, closed her eyes, and drifted back to sleep.
By the time the sun was high in the sky, Chun Tao pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Su Yao already awake, she asked, “Miss, will you still take that medicine today?”