[Bao Lai Inn – Xiao Feng's POV]
The warm scent of tea wafted through the room, but I wasn't tasting any of it. My fingers idly circled the rim of the porcelain cup. My thoughts weren't here.
> Liyu… where are you?
She was strong—resilient, even—but the silence from her end was gnawing at my chest. I stared at the rain-streaked window, lips pressed tightly.
> Please be safe. Come back soon…
Yilin entered quietly, noticing my expression. Her footsteps were soft, hesitant.
> "Miss Liu… are you all right?"
I nodded slowly, not trusting my voice. She came closer, concern etched across her face.
> "Miss Liyu… she didn't return last night. Do you… do you know where she is?"
I inhaled sharply, forcing calm into my tone.
> "No. But she'll be fine. She must be."
Yilin nodded, though her worry hadn't vanished.
Then, she hesitated.
> "Miss Liu… may I ask something?"
I gestured gently—go on.
> "I heard a noise… from the storage room earlier. When I checked, there was a man inside. Tied up. He asked me to free him."
My heart dropped. My grip on the teacup tightened.
> "What?!" I stood, alarm shooting through me. "Why did you go in there?! Did you… free him?"
Yilin shook her head quickly.
> "No, I—I ran away."
A breath of relief escaped me. I placed a hand on her shoulder.
> "Good. Never go there again. Understand?"
She nodded, eyes wide.
> "But… who is he? Why is he locked in our storeroom?"
I looked away, jaw tightening.
> "It's none of your concern."
I left before she could ask more.
[Moments Later – Storeroom]
The door creaked softly as I entered.
There he was—Lei Zi. Still bound, slumped against the wall, his breathing faint. His hair clung to his forehead, skin pale.
His eyes fluttered open when he heard my footsteps.
Without a word, I turned to Yilin, who had followed me halfway, and quietly said—
> "Bring some food. Exactly what I say. Then leave."
She nodded and disappeared down the hall.
When she returned, I took the tray from her hands.
> I can't involve her in this. Not with him.
I knelt beside him, placing the tray down. The scent of rice and herbal broth filled the cramped space.
He didn't move.
> "Eat," I said curtly. "You'll collapse like this."
He blinked at me, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
> "What if it's poisoned?"
I arched a brow.
> "Then you'll die a slow death. So eat at your own risk."
His smirk deepened, weak but genuine.
> "You wouldn't do that, Princess Fengxi. You don't trust me—but you don't want to kill me either."
His words caught me off-guard.
> "Why do you say that?" I asked, sharper than I intended. "Why do you put that kind of faith in me?"
He leaned his head back, eyes softening.
> "Because… I just do. Because you're you."
The silence stretched.
I stood abruptly, voice quieter this time.
> "Eat. And don't talk nonsense."
I turned and walked out, refusing to look back.
Behind me, I heard him whisper faintly to himself:
> "So this is what Grand Master meant…
'Forgetting someone always hurts.
But being forgotten… while you remember everything—
That hurts more.'"
I returned to my room. But even surrounded by cushions and silk and firelight, I couldn't feel warm.
> Liyu… where are you?
And why… why do I feel something is terribly wrong?
-Liyu's POV
I picked at my lunch, barely tasting the food.
> "I'll be leaving after this," I said, voice cool.
Han Rui didn't even look up from his bowl.
> "Not until you promise to help me get closer to Yilin."
I stared at him in disbelief, chopsticks frozen mid-air.
> "Seriously? After everything—now you bring up Yilin?"
"You're unbelievable."
He stood up slowly, walked to me, and without warning, tilted my chin up, his gaze locking onto mine.
> "What's wrong?" he murmured. "Getting jealous, are we?"
> "Of course not!" I snapped, pulling away. "Why would I be jealous of you?"
His smirk didn't fade.
> "You act like I'm the villain here. But whatever happened between us—wasn't just my fault. You were part of it too."
I stood abruptly.
> "I was drunk! You took advantage—"
> "Advantage?" He let out a bitter laugh. "You were all over me, Liyu. I was drunk too. You think I planned it?"
> "You're shameless!" I hissed, turning to go. "I'm leaving."
> "Wait—what about helping me?"
> "Forget it!" I snapped. "And forget about the shop too. My master won't save it under this condition."
He stepped closer, just as I was reaching the door.
Then—
CRACK!
The window shattered with a sharp sound. I turned instinctively, heart skipping.
An arrow sliced through the air.
I had no time to move.
I shut my eyes.
But no pain came.
I opened them slowly—Han Rui was standing in front of me, his back arched in pain. The arrow had hit him.
> "Han Rui…?"
His face twisted, blood beginning to stain the back of his robe.
Before I could reach for him, two masked men vaulted through the broken window, swords gleaming under the light.
I pulled Han Rui aside and stepped in front of him, heart racing.
> "Who are you?" I demanded. "Why are you here?"
One of them stepped forward.
> "Hand him over. Do that… and maybe we'll let you live."
I narrowed my eyes.
> "Wait—"
But I didn't wait. I moved first.
Their swords came at me fast—I dodged, blocked, countered. They were skilled, but not invincible.
With a sharp spin and a strike, I took one down.
The second was tougher. He landed a cut on my shoulder before I slammed him into the wall, knocking him out cold.
Breathless, I shouted,
> "Zijun!"
He burst through the door, eyes widening at the mess.
> "Call a doctor—NOW!"
He rushed to Han Rui, lifting him carefully. I barked orders to the maids to clean up the wreckage, and had the living attacker tied up.
The second was already dead.
Zijun took charge. The doctor arrived soon after—and spent two long, agonizing hours treating Han Rui.
Zijun and I waited outside in silence.
Finally, the doctor emerged, his hands stained with blood.
> "His injury is serious," he said quietly. "The arrow pierced deep. He's lost a lot of blood. He'll be weak for a while—but he'll live, if you take care of him."
Zijun nodded and went to escort the doctor out.
I slipped into Han Rui's room, heart still thudding.
The curtains were drawn. The scent of herbs hung in the air. He lay on the bed, shirtless, bandages wrapped tightly around his torso, his skin pale.
His eyes fluttered open at the sound of my footsteps.
And I froze.