Chen Yue sat straddling the wooden floor, breathing unevenly.
Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the shutters, painting silver shadows across the ground.
Her heart pounded so violently she feared someone might hear it through the walls.
It’s now or never.
I have to find out where I am.
Slowly, she pushed open the door and cautiously peeked into the hallway.
Nothing.
Not a single sound.
Only the suffocating silence of the night.
She slipped outside and quietly closed the door behind her without making a sound.
Her back pressed against the cold wall as she moved forward carefully, holding her breath.
Every creak of the floor echoed through the silent manor like thunder.
Don’t make noise… not now.
Her hair, much longer than she remembered, cascaded over her shoulders.
A simple pink ribbon barely held it together.
What happened to my hair?
Why has it grown so much?
Carefully, she descended the staircase while remaining alert, finally reaching the manor’s entrance hall.
Every step felt endless.
Every shadow felt dangerous.
The entire estate was surrounded by towering walls so high they disappeared into darkness.
I can’t escape.
I’m trapped.
The manor itself seemed asleep.
The corridors, drowned in darkness, were lit only by a few flickering lanterns whose dim light danced across the polished floor.
Outside, the night glowed with an unreal beauty.
The sky was filled with countless stars, while long auroras drifted slowly between them, painting the heavens in green and pearl-colored light.
It was breathtaking.
She froze for a moment, mesmerized.
She had never seen a sky like this before.
So vast.
So alive.
This is definitely not England… But hunger dragged her back to reality.
Her stomach growled painfully.
I can’t even remember the last time I ate… I’m starving.
Carefully making her way through the dark, she headed toward the small building attached to the manor.
The door was unlocked.
Perfect.
She stepped inside and lit the candle resting on the table.
Golden light flooded the room.
It was a kitchen.
Covered dishes still rested upon the tables.
The aroma was exquisite.
Divine, even.
Her stomach growled louder.
She lifted the first lid.
Steamed dumplings.
Still warm.
Oh my God… they smell so good… She grabbed one carefully and brought it to her lips.
The flavor overwhelmed her instantly — soft, savory, melting in her mouth.
It was delicious.
So delicious she nearly cried.
She devoured them one after another, unable to stop herself.
This is incredible!
It’s heavenly!
Then she noticed a plate of lotus-shaped pastries.
They carried a sweet, enchanting fragrance.
Delicately sculpted, they looked like tiny works of art.
She tasted one.
A shiver of pleasure ran through her body.
It was sweet and soft, carrying the subtle flavor of lotus flower and honey.
She took another.
Then another.
Just one more… one more… Suddenly— A breath behind her.
Warm.
Close.
Almost brushing against the back of her neck.
She froze instantly, blood turning ice-cold.
The door had opened.
A gust of cool wind swept into the room, causing the candle flame to flicker violently.
Someone’s here!
Heart racing, she quickly placed the pastry down and hurried toward the door to close it.
At that exact moment, the candle went out.
Darkness swallowed the room completely.
No, no, no!
Her pulse skyrocketed.
With trembling fingers, she relit the candle, this time holding it tightly in her hand.
Golden light pushed back the darkness.
And when she turned around— She saw him.
Wei Ran.
Wei Ran stood only a few steps away, silently watching her.
Moonlight reflected in his eyes, deep and unsettling.
How long has he been standing there?!
Startled, she stepped backward and lost her balance.
The candle slipped from her fingers and crashed to the floor, extinguishing instantly.
Wei Ran moved immediately.
His right hand gently caught her wrist while his other arm wrapped around her waist as she nearly fell.
Moonlight streaming through the window cast their silhouettes onto the wall.
Two shadows standing far too close together.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
It became electric.
Body against body.
What is he doing?!
Their breaths intertwined.
Chen Yue’s heart hammered wildly, and she could feel Wei Ran’s heartbeat answering hers — powerful, steady, relentless.
She could feel his warmth.
His scent.
Sandalwood mixed with something dark and impossible to describe.
Moonlight danced across them like a shifting veil.
Time itself seemed to slow.
The outside world disappeared.
There was only him.
Only her.
Only this dangerous closeness.
Then slowly, he released her hand.
Leaning closer, he brushed the corner of her lips with his fingers.
He wiped away a trace of cream left on her mouth.
“You had something here,” he whispered softly.
The touch of his fingers against her lips sent an electric shock through her entire body.
Flushed with embarrassment and confusion, she quickly looked away.
What’s happening to me…?
Why is my heart beating so fast?
Time seemed to stop.
They remained there in silence, suspended in a tension so overwhelming she forgot how to breathe.
The world no longer existed.
Only the two of them inside that moonlit kitchen.
But suddenly, reason returned.
No.
What am I doing?
I need to stay away from him.
She pulled herself free, panic flooding her chest.
Wei Ran slowly straightened.
Even in darkness, his beauty looked unreal.
Calm down, Chen Yue!
“What are you doing here in the middle of the night?” he asked in a low voice.
She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.
“I… I just wanted… something to eat.” Her voice trembled despite herself.
He stared at her silently for a long moment, the faintest smile touching the corner of his lips.
“Something to eat?” he repeated, amused.
“You certainly picked the perfect time to get caught.” Is he mocking me?!
She tried to escape.
But he caught her instantly.
With one swift movement, he pinned her back against the door, their faces only inches apart.
His hands seized her wrists again.
“You think you can escape?” he murmured coldly, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
She struggled, but he only tightened his grip slightly.
Not enough to hurt her.
Just enough to keep her still.
Their eyes locked once more, blazing with challenge.
“Let me go!” she snapped.
At that moment, a soft knock echoed at the door.
“Young Master, is that you?” Madame Yang’s voice called gently.
“I heard noise.
Is everything alright?” Wei Ran did not release her immediately.
He continued staring directly into her eyes, his face dangerously close to hers.
As though he wanted to memorize her.
Or challenge her.
Finally, he opened the door and stepped into the hallway, closing it behind him.
Then he answered calmly: “A rat.
There was a rat in the kitchen.” “Oh… a rat!
It certainly sounded noisy,” Madame Yang replied while walking away, amusement lingering in her voice.
Wei Ran disappeared shortly after, leaving Chen Yue alone, trembling violently, her heart still racing uncontrollably.
Chen Yue quietly slipped back toward her room.
But the moment she arrived, she nearly jumped in shock.
Wei Ran stood there waiting for her in front of the door, arms crossed.
“What are you doing here?” Chen Yue demanded.
Without answering, he opened the door and motioned for her to enter first.
He followed her inside and shut the door behind them.
Then he immediately stepped closer.
She instinctively backed away.
Around her waist, she could still feel the pressure of his arms.
The sensation lingered on her skin like an invisible mark.
Why… why do I feel like this?
The closer he came, the more she retreated.
Why am I reacting like this?
Each step echoed inside the silent room.
Suddenly, Wei Ran grabbed her arm and threw her onto the bed.
“What the—” She wanted to protest, but he moved even closer, completely destabilizing her.
She no longer knew what to do.
No… stay where you are… “I still don’t know why my mother bound you to me,” he continued.
“But as long as our spiritual bond exists, I cannot stray far from you.
No matter where you go… I will feel your presence.” Spiritual bond?
What is he talking about?
Without stepping back, he slowly placed his hands over hers, pinning them against the sheets.
“Whether you want it or not,” he said coldly, “you are staying here.” “Don’t even think about escaping.
Because no matter where you run… I will find you.” Their eyes met once more.
Burning.
Overwhelming.
She could no longer move.
Could no longer breathe.
And then she saw it.
A golden glow pulsed briefly between their chests.
Then a thread of light appeared.
Thin.
Alive.
Connecting her heart directly to Wei Ran’s.
What… what is that?!
A freezing shiver ran through her body.
What he said was true.
A bond existed between them.
Real.
Impossible to deny.
She tried to grab the glowing thread, but her fingers passed straight through it.
Why?
How is this possible?
They barely knew each other.
They came from completely different worlds.
And yet something far stronger had already tied them together.
“What did you do to me?” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Wei Ran stared at her intensely.
“It wasn’t me.
You were the one who freed me.
You activated the ritual.” “But I didn’t know!
I didn’t want this!” she replied desperately.
He leaned closer, his breath brushing softly against her face.
“It doesn’t matter what you wanted,” he whispered.
“Destiny decided otherwise.”