The common hall was silent, disturbed only by the faint clinking of shattered porcelain.
Chen Yue knelt on the floor, gathering the scattered fragments of the teacup he had knocked over.
Her slender fingers still trembled from anger and humiliation.
Why?
Why does he treat me like this?
Every shard she picked up reminded her of what had just happened.
His hand gripping her wrist.
Too hard.
Too cold.
I’m not his servant.
I’m not…
As she reached for a particularly sharp piece, a sudden sting sliced across her finger.
A drop of blood splashed onto the floor.
“Ouch…” She jerked her hand back, staring at the thin but deep cut.
Blood slowly trickled down her pale skin, forming a vivid crimson line.
Of course.
As if this day couldn’t possibly get any worse.
Without thinking, she tore a strip from her robe and wrapped it around her finger as a makeshift bandage.
The white fabric was quickly stained red.
She clenched her teeth against the throbbing pain.
With a weary sigh, she finished cleaning the remaining shards and wiped the floor with a damp cloth.
Her knees ached from kneeling for so long.
Her gaze drifted toward the window.
Beyond the garden bathed in sunlight stood an elegant pavilion supported by intricately carved columns.
A thin trail of incense smoke rose from within.
What is that?
A temple?
Curiosity stirred despite herself.
Meanwhile, Wei Ran knelt alone within a secluded sanctuary bathed in golden light.
Sunbeams filtered through openings in the roof, casting intricate patterns across the stone floor.
Before him stood a memorial tablet engraved with a single name.
His mother’s.
The elegant characters had been carved lovingly into white jade.
Incense smoke drifted upward through the still air, creating a sacred atmosphere.
Wei Ran placed one hand against the tablet.
For the first time, the cold mask he always wore disappeared.
“Mother…” His voice was low.
“Why…
why her?” His fingers tightened slightly against the stone.
“Why is her soul bound to mine?” “Why not someone else?
Someone…
worthy?” Frustration seeped into his voice.
“She’s stubborn.
Insolent.
Reckless.” “She understands nothing about my world.
Nothing about my destiny.” He closed his eyes as though the words themselves hurt.
His gaze lingered on the candle flames flickering before him.
“And yet…
the thread remains.” “Is this your will, Mother?” “Or is it a punishment?” For a long moment, he remained motionless while the wind gently stirred the folds of his blue robe.
If only you were still here to guide me…
Outside, Chen Yue had quietly approached the sanctuary.
Curiosity had overcome caution.
I shouldn’t be doing this…
but…
She slipped between the columns as silently as a shadow.
Each careful step avoided loose stones that might reveal her presence.
Her heart pounded inside her chest.
From where she stood, she could see him kneeling before the memorial tablet.
For the first time, his imposing figure seemed…
Vulnerable.
Fragments of his voice drifted toward her.
“…does not suit me…
neither in heart nor spirit…” Chen Yue froze.
Something tightened painfully inside her chest.
A strange ache she didn’t understand.
Is he talking about me?
I’m not suitable for him?
Of course she already knew that.
He had made it perfectly clear.
Yet hearing it again hurt far more than she expected.
Why does it hurt so much…?
She leaned forward slightly, wanting to hear more.
To understand.
But suddenly— “MEEEOOW!” A cat leapt onto the roof above her.
Chen Yue nearly jumped out of her skin.
No!
Stupid cat!
She hurriedly scooped the animal into her arms.
“Shh…
shh…
be quiet, you little idiot…” she whispered frantically.
The cat ignored her completely.
It continued meowing while rubbing affectionately against her legs.
Please, stop!
But when she finally looked back toward the sanctuary— Wei Ran was gone.
She blinked.
“What…?” The sanctuary stood empty.
As though he had never been there at all.
How can he move that fast?!
A voice suddenly sounded behind her.
“What are you doing here?” She spun around so quickly her blood turned cold.
Wei Ran stood beside her.
Perfectly still.
Watching her without expression.
Since when has he been standing there?!
“Ah…
I…
I was just…
well…
I should go back and finish cleaning the common hall!” Her laugh came out painfully awkward.
Her face burned with embarrassment.
She had been caught spying.
Wei Ran merely looked away and resumed walking without another word.
To her own surprise, Chen Yue followed him.
Keeping several paces behind.
Why am I following him?
I should go back…
Yet her feet continued moving.
The stone path wound between flowering trees and decorative rocks.
Leaves rustled softly in the breeze.
Sunlight filtered through the branches, creating shifting patterns across the ground.
Then suddenly— Wei Ran stopped.
Lost in thought, Chen Yue failed to notice.
She walked straight into him.
BAM!
“Ow!” She staggered backward, clutching her nose.
It’s like running into a stone wall!
Tears welled briefly in her eyes from the impact.
Wei Ran slowly turned around.
His gaze fell upon her bandaged finger.
The cloth had become soaked with blood.
The crimson stain had spread considerably.
A flash of irritation crossed his eyes.
This idiot…
She hurt herself cleaning up the pieces…
Without a word, he seized her wrist and led her toward a stone terrace overlooking the garden.
Startled, she stumbled after him.
“What are you doing?!” No answer.
He guided her to a marble bench and sat her down.
Then he vanished back into the manor.
Chen Yue sat frozen.
Confused.
Her heartbeat had begun acting strangely again.
Why did he bring me here?
She looked around.
Butterflies drifted endlessly through the flowers.
The garden looked peaceful.
A few moments later, Wei Ran returned carrying several ceramic jars, rolls of bandages, and bundles of dried herbs.
He carefully arranged everything on the table before sitting across from her.
Then he extended his hand.
“Give me your hand.” “It’s nothing.
I can—” “Hand.” His tone left no room for argument.
Reluctantly, she obeyed.
Their fingers brushed.
A shiver immediately ran through her body.
His hands are warm…
She had expected them to be cold.
Instead, they were warm.
And surprisingly gentle.
Carefully, he removed the blood-soaked cloth.
The cut stretched across her delicate finger.
Blood had already begun to clot around the wound.
Without speaking, he opened a small jar of ointment.
The scent of medicinal herbs filled the air.
Chen Yue clenched her teeth as he applied it.
“Ow!” The pain made her jerk violently.
“Stop!
It stings!” It felt like liquid fire had been poured onto the cut.
“Stop acting like a child.” Yet even as he said it, he gently blew across the wound.
The warm breath against her skin sent another shiver through her body.
Time seemed to stop.
She could not tear her eyes away from him.
He looked so focused.
So attentive.
As though he wasn’t treating a simple cut…
But something precious.
Their eyes met once again.
This time, there was no anger.
No challenge.
Only a fragile silence filled with unexpected tenderness.
Why…
why are you looking at me like that?
Wei Ran picked up a fresh strip of cloth and carefully wrapped her finger.
His movements were precise.
Practiced.
She winced.
“Ow…
a little less tight.” He sighed softly but did not loosen the bandage.
“If it isn’t tight enough, it will come undone.” When he finished, he gently placed her hand back on the table.
Silence settled between them.
The breeze stirred the flowers around them, carrying pink petals through the air.
Several landed between their hands.
Soft as silk.
Chen Yue stared down at her neatly wrapped finger.
The bandage was clean.
Perfectly tied.
He…
took care of me.
At last, she found the courage to speak.
“…Thank you.” The words were simple.
But filled with emotion.
Wei Ran looked away slightly.
And for the first time…
He didn’t answer.
Yet within that silence, something had changed.
The wall of ice separating them had cracked.
Only slightly.
Almost imperceptibly.
But undeniably.
Chen Yue looked at him quietly.
And for the first time since arriving in this strange world…
She felt safe.
Maybe…
maybe he isn’t as terrible as I thought.