A Childhood Friend’s Rejection

Bai Lingyi also found the Second Young Miss’s words entirely reasonable.

Indeed, the Second Young Miss and Miss Yixiya were childhood friends, having grown up together. However, such a close bond often sparked romantic speculation, leading people to assume that all childhood sweethearts were destined to become lovers.

Therefore, Miss Yixiya, who had grown up reading stories of childhood sweethearts, naturally developed a vague romantic affection for the Second Young Miss. She believed they were a match made in heaven, inseparable.

Upon learning of the Second Young Miss’s clandestine plan to gather beauties from across the land, Yixiya could no longer stand idly by. She could not control her yearning for love, nor her indignation at the Second Young Miss’s wayward and indulgent behavior.

Thus, a few days prior, she seized an opportunity, dragged the Second Young Miss to a secluded corner, and confessed her feelings.

Regrettably, she was mercilessly rejected.

Though Bai Lingyi served as a steward, she was barely twenty years old. She had inherited her mother’s position, serving only the Second Young Miss. Her title of “steward” was largely ceremonial, merely ensuring the Second Young Miss didn’t wander off—a grand name for a simple duty.

Bai Lingyi was only three years older than the Second Young Miss, Bai Muya, and had practically watched her grow up, making her more akin to an elder sister. Therefore, she understood the Second Young Miss’s temperament and why she would forsake a beautiful childhood friend to seek wives and concubines elsewhere.

It was difficult for people who knew each other too well to become partners; even rabbits don’t eat the grass near their own burrows. For the Second Young Miss, taking her childhood friend as a partner would be the truly unusual act.

Bai Lingyi saw through it all but kept her silence. She felt pity for Miss Yixiya, but pity was useless; she would never hinder the Second Young Miss’s plans for an outsider.

“Second Young Miss, would you like me to reject Miss Yixiya and send her home?” Bai Lingyi inquired.

“Is that even a question? Get rid of her quickly! Don’t let her cause a ruckus outside my gate and tarnish my good name. Be swift and don’t be gentle with her. In fact, use a harsh tone to ensure she doesn’t come bothering me again.”

Bai Lingyi acknowledged the command and withdrew.

Yu Lian, seeing her depart, asked curiously, “Second Young Miss, may I ask something?”

Bai Muya took Yu Lian’s hand and led her down the corridor. She casually hung her ceremonial sword on the wall, then turned her head to Yu Lian. “Ask what?”

“Is that Miss Yixiya beautiful?”

Bai Muya scrutinized Yu Lian’s face for a moment before answering, “She’s not as beautiful as my concubine.”

“Not as beautiful as your concubine… Wait, you’re not referring to me, are you?” Yu Lian belatedly realized.

“Do I have a second concubine?” Bai Muya countered.

‘How would I know if you do? I’m not even familiar with you,’ Yu Lian grumbled internally. Of course, she dared not show her displeasure in front of this madwoman. She composed herself and said in a low voice, “I’m not your concubine yet. What you say isn’t set in stone.”

“What, having entered my Bai Manor, having entered my inner court, do you still wish to escape?”

A dangerous glint flickered in Bai Muya’s eyes. Yu Lian’s nerves tightened, and cold sweat trickled down her back. ‘Does this madwoman’s intuition have to be so accurate?’

“How could I dare? Once I’ve entered your gate, Second Young Miss, I will only be yours. It’s just that I haven’t been formally married into your household yet. Even if I am to be a concubine, we must at least perform the marriage rites to formalize our relationship, mustn’t we?”

“Consider yourself sensible. From your expression, it seems you’re quite eager to marry me. Weren’t you quite resistant not long ago? Have you come to your senses so quickly?”

‘Would it matter if I hadn’t?’

If there were any other choice, Yu Lian would have left this Bai Manor without a second thought.

“Second Young Miss is as beautiful as a celestial fairy. To marry you as a concubine would be my greatest honor. How could I possibly harbor any thoughts of disobedience?”

“Your words are pleasing, but I don’t care for them. You’re laying it on too thick. I know exactly what kind of person you are. Though we’ve only just met and spent a short time together, I know you’re not someone who settles easily, nor one who compromises so readily.”

A chill ran through Yu Lian’s heart.

‘This madwoman’s mind is truly sharp.’

“Of course, precisely because of your stubborn nature, I find myself even more interested in you. After all, isn’t it more exciting to tame a wild horse?” Bai Muya said with a beaming smile, her eyes revealing a strange, unsettling gleam that made Yu Lian’s heart tremble.

This woman’s outward madness might conceal a very different inner self.

They arrived before a certain room. Just as Bai Muya was about to push open the door, she heard footsteps approaching rapidly from a distance, accompanied by a stream of grumbling. Her heart sank, for she knew who was coming.

She intended to usher Yu Lian into the room first, but the person arrived faster than Bai Muya anticipated. The door was only slightly ajar when a porcelain-white hand pressed against it, stopping it from opening further.

Yu Lian looked at the hand and realized another stranger had arrived. She turned her head, secretly startled. ‘How did this person approach so silently?’

Behind them stood a tall figure. Although the person was smiling, Yu Lian inexplicably felt a chill throughout her body, sensing a dark, predatory aura emanating from this unknown woman.

“My Ya’er, why are you hiding from me? Have you done something shameful that you dare not face me?”

Bai Muya turned around expressionlessly. “Yixiya, please don’t falsely accuse me. My actions are always open and honorable. What I’ve done, I’ve done, and I have no fear of admitting it. The word ‘shameful’ would never apply to me, nor would I ever hide.”

‘This is Miss Yixiya?’ Yu Lian took the opportunity of their confrontation to subtly observe Yixiya. Her first impression, besides fear, was that Yixiya was incredibly beautiful, not at all as unattractive as the Second Young Miss had claimed. She was tall, fair-skinned, and lovely, with long golden hair tied into a neat, high ponytail.

‘Why would the Second Young Miss reject such a beauty?’ Yu Lian couldn’t understand. As a former man with a normal sexual orientation, she felt quite drawn to her, even wanting to bite that rosy cheek to see if it would leave a red mark.

“If you weren’t hiding, then why send Lingyi out to chase me away? If I hadn’t been clever and snuck in through the back door, I wouldn’t have seen you, nor this adorable little sister.”

Yu Lian’s lips twitched. ‘No, you two talk amongst yourselves. Don’t drag me into it. Just pretend I’m invisible.’

However, regrettably, Yixiya was clearly focused on Yu Lian. Her gaze repeatedly scrutinized the latter, sweeping up and down. The more she looked, the colder her heart grew. ‘How can this woman be so beautiful? Where did Ya’er abduct her from?’

Bai Muya instinctively stepped in front of Yu Lian, blocking Yixiya’s view. This protective gesture only fueled Yixiya’s resentment and jealousy.

“It’s you, you vixen, who seduced my Ya’er, making her reject my confession, isn’t it?”

Yixiya suddenly attacked, her figure flashing as she appeared on the other side, raising her hand to grab Yu Lian’s arm.

‘Wait, I’m the victim here! Why are you attacking me instead of the main culprit? Do you really think I came here willingly?’

A sharp pain shot through Yu Lian’s arm, and tears welled up in her eyes.

‘Why was she always the one getting bullied?’