It was just another ordinary day in the border town—ordinary, yet thrilling.
An out-of-town rich playboy had challenged Su Yu right in the middle of the street. And of all things, he had challenged her to touhu—the pitch-pot game.
Three years ago, Su Yu had blindfolded herself and tossed ten arrows in a row, landing every single one. That exquisite display of skill had humbled every arrogant dandy in town and given the men and women of the borderland a taste of what true play was. Was she just playing pitch-pot? No. She was playing with heartbeats.
What made Su Yu the ultimate playgirl—and what earned her the most thunderous applause—was her unflinching confidence in taking on impossible challenges. She had never lost. She spent her days wandering the streets with her breathtakingly refined face, exuding a lazy, nonchalant allure with every gesture. It was a charm no one else could replicate: unique, magnetic, and completely effortless.
Women swooned over her daring spirit, mesmerized by a girl bold enough to swing a hammock off the edge of a cliff; men burned with jealousy over her endless wealth, her looks, and her sheer talent.
So, when this ultimate heiress—who spent her fortunes purely for entertainment—was blocked and challenged by a clueless outsider, the crowd’s excitement was beyond words.
Yet, the match never happened.
Over a single insult—”little blind girl”—Su Yu landed a punch so hard it left Young Master Jin seeing stars. Threatening him right there in public, she made it clear: she was determined to protect the girl and give her a firm standing in this border town where strength was everything.
Even more astonishingly, onlookers witnessed an unheard-of sight: the notorious playgirl gently pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from the young girl’s brow.
Rumors spread like the wind, morphing into various wildly colorful tales.
By the time the news reached the General’s Manor, it had twisted into the initial version: The playgirl and the young maiden flirting intimately in public. Ning Xi listened with an icy expression before smashing her teacup to the ground in a fit of rage. Tea splashed everywhere, leaving the servants standing in terrified silence.
“What’s the big deal that warrants my elder sister flying into such a rage?”
A clear, bright young man’s voice rang out as the only legitimate son of the General’s Manor strolled through the door with a smile. “If Ayu likes her, just let her play around. It’s only a blind girl—it’s not like she’s actually going to marry her. Since when did you become so easily rattled, Sister?”
He bowed respectfully to his elder sister. Ning Xi, regaining her elegant composure, gracefully wiped her fingers with a silk cloth without looking up. “This time is different. I don’t care what Ayu plays with, but aside from those of us who grew up with her, when have you ever seen her get this close to anyone?”
How could a blind girl steal the tender treatment that even she had never received?
“Ah, I get it now. Sister is jealous.”
Ning Zhou was always keen on romantic gossip among women. He mused, “You and I both know Ayu’s temper. She’s only willing to toss a toy aside once she’s tired of it. If you try to stop her, she’ll only cling to it tighter.”
“Her nineteenth birthday is coming up in two months,” he added, raising an eyebrow with a playboy flair. “Right at the age where one starts taking a keen interest in beauty. Does that mean the little girl is an absolute stunner?”
At this, Ning Xi felt the gloom in her chest deepen. She gave her younger brother a harsh look. “Are you asking your sister to admit her rival is beautiful?”
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare!” He smirked. “It’s just that your high standards make me want to see her for myself.”
“You can go see her if you want.”
The siblings exchanged a knowing look before Ning Zhou asked in surprise, “Are you saying the little girl is living with Ayu?”
“Correct.”
“This. So many of us have had our eyes on Ayu since we were kids, dreaming of abduction—either kidnapping her home or letting ourselves be kidnapped by her. And we actually lost to a little girl?” He straightened up, putting on a serious expression. “Since you’re standing your ground, Sister, your brother will definitely back you up.”
Thinking of the person in her heart, Ning Xi’s expression softened. “I’ll teach the little girl to know her place and back off.”
“Just don’t go crushing the flower too ruthlessly, Sister. At least, not before Ayu gets bored of her.”
He spoke with utmost gravity. Ning Xi nodded slowly, a memory flashing through her mind—four years ago, when she had whipped a songstress in a fit of rage.
That room door had become her nightmare ever since. The door had been kicked open violently, and Ayu had burst in. In just a few breaths, the look in Ayu’s eyes had turned impossibly cold and complex.
Ning Xi sighed. “One foolish mistake is enough.”
If there ever were a next time, she would still raise her whip. She refused to spare anyone who dared to lay eyes on Ayu.
The only difference was that she would no longer be foolish enough to think that sending Ayu away beforehand would make it seamless. She would never let Ayu face her ruthless, cruel side ever again.
Ayu loved gentle sweetness. She loved delicate little creatures—soft as clouds, charming as flowers. Ning Xi, being two years her senior, believed she understood this completely.
“First Miss, Miss Su has arrived.”
“Ayu is here?” Ning Zhou looked quickly at his elder sister.
Ning Xi instructed softly, “Go on. Leave through the back door. Don’t let Ayu run into you.”
She stood up, straightening her dress, and stepped forward with graceful, deliberate strides. Watching his sister leave, Ning Zhou clicked his tongue in wonder: Ah, women. Once they fall in love, they really do change in a flash.
Sentimental thoughts aside, he didn’t dare linger. He was eager to go see the little burden who had managed to gain entry into Su Yu’s home.
In the Rusong Hall, Su Yu accepted the fragrant tea brewed personally by the eldest Ning daughter and smiled her thanks.
Ning Xi gave her a gentle, scolding look. “We haven’t seen each other for a few days, why are you being so formal? We didn’t get to talk properly at the night market the other evening. Did you come today because you missed me?”
“I’m alright. I came to tell you something.”
They were childhood playmates who used to run around barefoot by the moat together. Su Yu didn’t want to sour their relationship. She knew her own temper, so she needed to lay down her ground rules before Ning Xi pushed her too far.
It was her way of respecting their long friendship.
Disliking Ning Xi’s hostility toward the “little kitten” at her house, Su Yu stated her request bluntly: “A-Xi, spare her. Stop targeting her.”
“I knew you wouldn’t come to the General’s Manor without a reason.” Ning Xi looked closely at Su Yu’s slender fingers gripping the teacup, pondering what style of thumb ring to craft for her, though her lips refused to yield.
“She’s blind, she’s a burden, and she’s dangerously attractive. Keeping her by your side will only bring trouble. Is what I did really so bad? Everyone in town knows how breathtaking she is now. If she wants to live in the border town long-term, marriage is her best option. Now that her reputation is out there, hundreds of eligible suitors will come. Finding someone who doesn’t mind her blindness and truly cares for her will be much easier. Do you really call that targeting her?”
Her tone was gentle, but the meaning behind her words felt sharp. Su Yu set her teacup down.
“What right do we have to arrange someone else’s life? Just because we can see, and because we look stronger than her?”
Over the past nineteen years, most of the few times Su Yu had ever bothered to reason with anyone were spent on the eldest Ning daughter. Because she was willing to reason, Ning Xi looked at her with eyes full of doting affection. “Ayu, you’re not related to her. Taking care of her for the rest of her life isn’t appropriate.”
“I am the only one who decides what is appropriate. I don’t want a repeat of the tragedy at Jiaoyue Tower from four years ago!”
“It won’t happen. I won’t hurt her.”
“She is fragile, and she is very sensitive. Ning Xi, you cannot hurt her.”
“Let’s not talk about this, Ayu. I want to custom-make a special thumb ring for you.”
Ning Xi took a soft measuring tape from her maid and insisted on looking at Su Yu. “For the sake of our ten-plus years of friendship? Whether you keep it is up to you, but making it is my choice. Come, give me your index finger.”
Su Yu’s face pulled into a stern line. “You’re always like this. Careful, or you’ll ruin our friendship of over ten years.”
“It won’t be ruined,” Ning Xi coaxed softly. “Friendship in youth is one thing, friendship in old age is another. My heart for you will never change.”
“Please don’t. That sounds scarier than a nightmare.” Su Yu reluctantly held out her index finger. “Even if you make it, I won’t wear it. Why waste energy on something completely meaningless?”
“How is it meaningless? You are my meaning.”
“Ah, I see. Trying to use a ring to tie me down?” Su Yu snorted, then her tone shifted, growing cold. “Don’t ignore what I said. You cannot touch her. You know my temper—if you touch my things, paying me back tenfold won’t settle the score.”
“Yours? She’s yours?”
“Yeah, mine. The little kitten I’m keeping is soft and cute.”
Ning Xi’s sinking heart slowly settled back into place as she offered earnest advice, “Ayu, playing around is fine, but don’t take it too seriously.”
“Heh! Teaching me how to live my life again?”
Seeing that Su Yu was on the verge of losing her temper, Ning Xi quickly changed the subject, feeling a sense of helplessness. She had spoiled and coaxed this person for over a decade, yet she still couldn’t control her. Trying to make Su Yu go against her own will was harder than reaching the heavens.
It explained why Prime Minister Su could dominate the imperial court, yet remain utterly powerless when dealing with his own niece.
Ning Xi smiled bitterly to herself. If even the great Prime Minister—a master strategist who held the state in his hands—couldn’t manage Ayu, then she was already doing much better. At least Ayu, despite saying she wouldn’t wear the ring, was willing to cooperate with the measurement. That was giving her a bit of face.
“Are you done yet?”
“Almost.” Ning Xi pulled back the tape, recorded the measurement, and offered a radiant smile. “Ayu, stay for dinner tonight. It’s been a while since I last saw you, and I have so much to tell you.”
As the sun gradually drifted west, Lingmiao, accompanied by her little maid, carried bought fruits and pastries to visit Auntie Su’s house.
Rumors about the Su family were flying all over the border town. Seeing Lingmiao in person, Auntie Su’s gaze carried a subtle shift. Upon learning that the young girl had indeed moved into the Su Residence, Auntie Su asked with concern, “Ayu, what did she say?”
Lingmiao weighed her thoughts carefully. Even when shared, her words wouldn’t cause any unnecessary trouble for Ayu. The young girl offered a sweet, bright smile. “Ayu said I must follow her rules, or she’ll kick me out.”
The moment she smiled, all of Auntie Su’s doubts melted away. Truly, who could bear to reject such a rare, grateful, and sweet young girl?
After a few brief pleasantries and ensuring her gratitude was conveyed, Lingmiao won Auntie Su’s full goodwill. The girl stood to take her leave, her eyes curving into soft arcs. “Auntie, I’ll come back to chat with you whenever I have time.”
Warmed by her genuine smile, Auntie Su readily agreed, expressing equal sincerity in looking forward to it.
A quarter of an hour later, the young mistress and her maid returned to the Su Residence. The spring sunlight was warm and gentle; goldfishes flicked their tails cheerfully in the water basin.
Untying the white silk band wrapped around her eyes, Lingmiao felt a wave of mild disappointment. She slumped against the table, resting her chin on her thin, delicate arms. Looking for someone to act spoiled with but finding no one around, she looked entirely spiritless.
“Why isn’t Ayu back yet? Did she forget what she promised me?”