A Flushed Encounter and a Lingering Loneliness

“What’s wrong?” Yixiya asked, her brow furrowed in confusion as she looked at Yu Lian, who had retreated some distance away. “Why are your ears so red? Wait, it’s not just your ears—your face, your neck, even your shoulders are all flushed.”

As if she had discovered an amusing toy, she slowly approached Yu Lian. Reaching her, Yixiya’s fingertip traced a path from Yu Lian’s chin, gliding down her snow-white neck, before veering right and settling gently on her left shoulder.

“Such rosy shoulders, how adorable~”

After delivering her teasing remark, Yixiya’s fingertip left Yu Lian’s shoulder, returning to the center of her chest and resting in the suprasternal notch. Yu Lian watched Yixiya with palpable tension, utterly bewildered as to what possessed her to flirt so brazenly.

Even if this was a simulated romance, the ‘feeding’ portion was long over; there was no reason to continue this charade.

Under Yu Lian’s wide-eyed gaze, Yixiya’s lips curved into a mischievous smile, like a playful imp. She gently pulled open Yu Lian’s collar. Though not a wide opening, it was enough to reveal what lay hidden beneath.

“Ah, what a shame, I can’t see if it’s all rosy inside too. I really wanted to know what your skin would look like on your chest.”

Yixiya released her hold with a sigh of regret.

Her brief glimpse had only revealed a white bra and a taut, flat stomach with faint hints of pink. Further down, however, was the red mark that signified Ya’er’s private ownership, and seeing it instantly soured her mood.

“Stop… stop toying with me, Yixiya. This is going beyond the scope of our simulated romance.”

Yu Lian clutched her collar tightly with one hand, her voice barely a whisper.

‘Beyond? Ha, you’re quite the actress. We even practiced kissing last night.’ Yixiya carefully maintained her expression, then chuckled. “Oh, has it gone beyond already? I thought we were still rehearsing.”

“Even if it’s a rehearsal, we shouldn’t act like this.”

“But haven’t we already been completely frank with each other? Compared to our rehearsal last night, this doesn’t seem like such a big deal, does it?”

“It’s different,” Yu Lian insisted, biting her lip. “I can’t explain exactly why, but I just have this feeling. We shouldn’t go too far. This is only a simulated romance, not real love.”

Yixiya scoffed. With a slight twist of her right foot, she turned her back to Yu Lian. Her voice drifted back, its tone indistinct, making her feelings unclear: “This is no fun. I’m going back now. I won’t be coming for dinner or a bath tonight. Don’t bother waiting for me.”

Yu Lian reached out, wanting to grasp Yixiya’s hand as she walked towards the door, but her strength faltered, and her arm dropped. Her hand curled inward, clenching into a tight, forceful fist.

‘Why did I suddenly want to stop her? It’s only dinner and a bath she’s skipping, not a permanent separation. Wasn’t it the same yesterday? Though she came during my bath, I still ate dinner alone.’

She stared blankly at her clenched fist, unable to comprehend her own feelings. Why was there a sharp, stinging pain in her heart? Yixiya had left quite normally, yet her tone held a hint of detached aloofness, as if their relationship had diminished slightly in an instant due to her unnecessary justifications.

***

Yixiya gently closed the room door. Outside, a maid, seeing her emerge, quickly bowed respectfully and greeted her. Inwardly, the maid wondered if she should go in to clean up after dinner, considering how much longer Miss Yu and her guest had taken to eat today.

She dared not rush them. Even if lunch had taken significantly longer, the maid would never have burst in rashly, disturbing the two women’s meal.

Yixiya walked along the corridor, her gaze fixed on her tiptoes as she pondered trivial matters.

‘Was I too cold just now?’

‘I should have said goodbye to her.’

‘Although I was momentarily piqued and wanted to see her flustered, when I turned away, I didn’t hear her say anything—not even a word to make me stay. Did I go too far? Instead of getting angry, did she feel guilty, or even sad? No, that can’t be right.’

Yixiya stopped, momentarily intending to return and check. But then she remembered her earlier words; going back now would be a loss of face, so she forcefully suppressed the thought.

‘Never mind, never mind.’

‘Why am I worrying so much about her? She and I are only fake lovers. She’s not Ya’er, so why should I care so much?’

As she muttered these words, she continued walking, a relaxed expression on her face, yet her hands unconsciously clenched. Perhaps even she was unaware of this gesture.

***

“Is it raining?”

Yu Lian, who had slept through the entire afternoon due to her agitation, sat up in bed. Rubbing her eyes and yawning, she stood by the window. Watching the fine raindrops, like broken strings of pearls, continuously drift down outside, her mood sank a few notches.

‘Rainy days are perfect for sleeping.’

‘But they also make one’s mood worse.’

Sitting at the table under a dimly lit lamp, Yu Lian ate the dinner the maid had brought. Just as Yixiya had said, she hadn’t come. Yu Lian silently lifted her bowl and chopsticks, eating in the solitary room. Aside from the clinking of her utensils, no other sound broke the silence.

Loneliness…

Such was Yu Lian’s current state.

‘Without Lingyi, without Yixiya, and even without Second Miss, how many days could I last in this solitary environment? No one to talk to, no one to amuse me, no one to play with. I’d probably go crazy in less than a day.’

Yu Lian held her chopsticks, her eyelids slightly lowered.

This gilded cage existence could easily drive a person mad, and it was terrifying. Waking, eating, sleeping, waking, eating, sleeping—who could endure such a regular, suffocating oppression? Her range of activity was limited to this small room, plus the fixed route to the bathroom at night, and she was constantly watched by maids. Was she some heinous murderer?

No, she was just an ordinary commoner. She hadn’t committed any crime, yet simply because of her beautiful face, she was forcibly taken, brought home, and confined in this oppressive room. Why?

Yu Lian clenched her fist and slammed it hard onto the table, making the dinner plates rattle with a loud crash.

“Hiss, that hurts. I used too much force.” She blew repeatedly on her reddened fist. Striking a cool pose always came with a price.

‘Perhaps… tomorrow I’ll find Yixiya and ask her to help me get out. I really can’t stand this overly routine life for another moment. But then again, I haven’t even conquered Lingyi yet. It feels so unsatisfying to leave like this.’

‘What should I do? Ah, this is so confusing.’

Yu Lian was lost in her bewilderment.

****

“Second Miss, aren’t we staying a bit longer? It’s late at night, and there’s a continuous drizzle. It might not be safe to return to the Bai Manor on the crane.”

Bai Lingyi held a red oil-paper umbrella, shielding Bai Muya from the rain. She extended her hand from beneath the umbrella, catching some raindrops in her palm. The town streets were almost deserted due to the late hour and the rain as they walked together towards the town’s edge.

“Returning first thing tomorrow morning or returning tonight under the cover of darkness amounts to the same thing. With you here, what danger could there be? I want to give Yu Lian a surprise now,” Bai Muya said, turning to the side with an enchanting smile.