Moon

Li Xue did not understand Chen Yi's words. What did he mean by "You'll do"? She kept replaying those words in her mind as she made her way back to the manor.

Come to think of it, she had yet to find Li Yanyu. How could I forget her? Li Xue sighed, looking up at the night sky. It was dark, the moon hanging in the lonely expanse, with only the drifting clouds for company.

She smiled faintly, barely noticeable, as she continued toward her room.

"Did you hear? The second young master rejected the proposal sent by the king," a maid whispered.

The word proposal caught Li Xue's attention. She quickly hid behind a pillar to listen.

"My, my, isn't the princess the empress's daughter?" the other maid replied. "Others would die for such luck, but our young master…" She trailed off.

Li Xue recognized one of the maids, finally stepping out of her hiding spot, facing the two maids.

"Long time no see, Gu Yixin!"

"We pass by each other every morning," Gu Yixin replied flatly. "And we sleep in the same bedroom."

Li Xue let out a nervous laugh, then casually slung an arm around Gu Yixin's shoulder as the other maid walked away.

Gu Yixin, like her, was a slave. She came from the renowned Gu family but was born out of wedlock—a child of the Gu family's head and a maid. After her birth, the Gu family fell into ruin, and her stepbrothers sold her into this household.

Because of her status as a slave rather than a maid, Li Xue had met her early on, and they had clicked instantly. Gu Yixin was talkative with people she liked and loved gossip. If someone needed news, they would go straight to her.

That was why she was so popular among the maids and slaves.

But what confused Li Xue the most was Gu Yixin's beauty. If she called Li Yanyu a piece of the moon, then Gu Yixin was like the crescent moon—sharp and elusive, revealing just enough to dazzle but never enough to be fully grasped. Even Madam Chen had once offered her the role of a study companion for her son, but Gu Yixin declined.

"I haven't been paying attention to you lately, and now you go off finding someone else to gossip with? I feel betrayed," Li Xue teased.

Gu Yixin snorted. "As if. You're the one who comes and goes unannounced."

Li Xue grinned. "Ah! That reminds me. Have you seen Li Yanyu?"

"Li Yanyu? She left the household today," Gu Yixin replied casually. "What? She didn't tell you?"

She knew how close Li Xue and Li Yanyu were. In fact, when Li Xue first arrived, she didn't even have a name—it was Li Yanyu who named her, giving her the same surname.

They were always together, so it was surprising that Li Xue hadn't known about this.

The atmosphere grew quiet.

Li Xue's eyes widened. How could Jiejie not tell me?

"So… she just ran away?" she asked after a moment.

"Not ran away," Gu Yixin corrected. "Her family is financially stable now, so there was no need for her to work anymore."

Gu Yixin turned her face toward Li Xue, but there was no sadness or betrayal in her expression. Her face was unreadable, almost empty.

"Ahem! I heard that she'll be marrying into a very good household. You needn't worry about her," Gu Yixin said, attempting to lighten the mood.

However, Li Xue only shot her a cold glance. "Not helping," she replied flatly.

Gu Yixin sighed. "I have work to do. We can catch up later." With that, she left, leaving Li Xue alone in the empty hallway.

Li Xue had always known that one day Li Yanyu would leave. She had mentally prepared herself for this moment.

But it still hurt.

And what hurt the most was finding out from someone else.

She couldn't even describe what she was feeling. Betrayal? Sadness? Hatred? None of them seemed quite right. Instead, it was just... emptiness.

She was alone now. Just like always.

But there was no point in dwelling on the past. She forced a smile—after all, that was the best way to keep others from worrying.

Not that there's anyone left to worry, she thought bitterly, chuckling as she gazed at the moon.

"The moon looks..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

She hesitated.

"Like his eyes."

Silver and radiant. Full of youth.

"Whose eyes?"

A hoarse voice came from behind her, making Li Xue jump in fear. On instinct, she turned and slapped the intruder before she could even think.

Chen Yi, caught off guard, had no time to dodge. The slap landed squarely on his cheek, leaving behind red marks from her fingertips.

Li Xue froze. Her heart dropped.

Realizing who it was, she quickly bowed at a full ninety-degree angle. "I am so sorry!"

Chen Yi remained silent, quietly watching her as if studying something. His gaze lingered for what felt like forever.

"Get up," he finally said.

Li Xue hesitated before slowly straightening, lifting her head—only to meet a pair of cold, silver eyes.

Not like the moon.

They were the moon.

For a moment, she could only stare.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Chen Yi held out a piece of paper. "What's this?" Li Xue asked.

"Slave contract."

Li Xue blinked, still caught in her daze. "My... slave contract?"

"Yes."

"You belong to me now," Chen Yi stated tonelessly. "MY slave."

Li Xue nearly choked. WHAT?!

If he put it like that, it sounded way too weird! But, of course, she didn't dare say that out loud.

Forcing herself to stay composed, she cleared her throat. "What does young master need this servant for?"

Chen Yi glanced at her before looking away. "I'm going to a sect to meet my brother. I need a maid to accompany me."

Then, he turned back to her and smiled.

The kind of smile that could make the world stop. It was bright, ethereal—so effortlessly beautiful that it made him look almost untouchable, like an immortal too divine for this world.

"The less, the lovelier. Don't you think?"

Li Xue's heart skipped a beat.

She felt warmth creep up her neck but quickly pushed it down. Get a hold of yourself, Li Xue!

"Uh-huh," she muttered, barely managing to respond.

If Chen Yi noticed anything strange about her reaction, he didn't show it.

Of course, he didn't.

Because to him, she was just a servant.

But Li Xue?

She wasn't so sure anymore.

"Great, we leave tomorrow, at dawn!" With that he left as quietly as he came.