Chapter 9: A Shadow’s Warning

The next morning, Bai Yue sat by the window of her small quarters, staring at the rising sun with narrowed eyes. The events of the previous night replayed in her mind—the exchange at the south gate, the cloaked figure, and most of all, the mysterious man who had stopped her.

His presence was troubling. His strength was undeniable, his demeanor authoritative, and yet there had been something else—a possessiveness in the way he had held her wrist, an underlying protectiveness that she couldn't quite decipher.

Who is he?

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. "Miss Bai Yue?"

"Come in."

Ah-Liang stepped inside hesitantly, clutching a small bundle of cloth in his hands. His expression was tight with unease. "Miss Bai Yue… I did as you asked. I asked around about last night's meeting."

Xinya raised an eyebrow. "And?"

The boy shifted nervously. "No one saw anything… but I heard whispers. They say the second mistress is working with someone outside the Bai estate. Someone dangerous."

Xinya's grip on the porcelain teacup in her hands tightened slightly. "Do they know who?"

Ah-Liang shook his head. "No… but they say he's someone with powerful connections in the capital. They say… people who cross him disappear."

Xinya's lips pressed into a thin line. This was no petty theft scheme—this was bigger, far more dangerous than she had anticipated. If the second mistress was involved with someone of that caliber, it meant her grip on the Bai family's resources was even stronger than she thought.

"Miss Bai Yue… should we stop?" Ah-Liang asked, his voice laced with fear.

Xinya exhaled slowly, setting her cup down. "No. But we need to be more cautious. I won't act until I know exactly who we're dealing with."

Ah-Liang nodded, relief evident in his expression. "I'll keep watching."

As he left, Xinya leaned back against her chair, lost in thought. The situation was growing more complicated by the day, but retreating wasn't an option. She had come too far to back down now.

Later that afternoon, Xinya decided to take a walk through the estate, seeking fresh air and a clearer mind. The winding stone paths of the Bai estate were lined with flourishing plum trees, their delicate blossoms falling like whispers in the wind.

She moved carefully, her steps deliberate, avoiding the scrutinizing gazes of the other household members. Though she was no longer confined to her room, the stigma of her weakness still followed her like a ghost.

As she rounded a corner, she felt it—an unmistakable presence lurking nearby. Her instincts sharpened, and she subtly glanced around, searching for the source of the unease prickling at her spine.

And then she saw him.

Leaning casually against a nearby tree, dressed in dark robes that contrasted sharply with the soft beauty of the plum blossoms, was the man from last night.

Xinya's breath hitched for a fraction of a second before she composed herself. She walked toward him with measured steps, stopping just a few feet away. "Following me now?"

The man's lips curved into a smirk, his dark eyes scanning her lazily. "I prefer to call it… keeping an eye on you."

Xinya folded her arms across her chest. "I don't recall asking for your concern."

"You didn't," he replied smoothly, his voice deep and rich. "But you seem to have a habit of walking into trouble. Someone has to watch your back."

Xinya narrowed her eyes. "And why would that someone be you?"

His gaze darkened slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his expression. "Let's just say… I have my reasons."

Xinya felt a strange tension settle between them, an unspoken challenge hanging in the air. She wasn't sure whether he was a threat or an ally, but one thing was clear—he was dangerous in more ways than one.

"You never told me your name," she said, tilting her head slightly.

The man chuckled, stepping closer, his towering figure casting a shadow over her. "Names hold power. And I don't trust you with mine yet."

Xinya's heart pounded against her ribs, but she refused to step back. Instead, she met his gaze head-on, a defiant spark in her eyes. "Then I suppose I should call you 'trouble,' since that's all you seem to bring."

His smirk widened, and for the first time, something akin to amusement softened the edges of his otherwise imposing demeanor. "Call me whatever you like, little one. But remember, trouble has a way of finding you whether you want it or not."

Before she could retort, he reached out suddenly, his fingers grazing her wrist in the same possessive manner as before.

Xinya froze. The touch was light, almost fleeting, yet it sent a jolt of awareness through her entire body.

"Stay out of things you don't understand," he murmured, his voice dangerously low. "You won't like what happens if you don't."

And just like that, he was gone, melting into the shadows of the courtyard before she could react.

Xinya stared at the empty space he had occupied moments ago, her heart pounding in her chest.

Who was he? And why did his touch feel like both a warning and a promise?

As the day wore on, Xinya couldn't shake the feeling that she was now playing a far more dangerous game than she had anticipated. The second mistress, the stolen herbs, and now this mysterious figure lurking in the shadows—each piece was part of a larger puzzle, one she was determined to solve.

Later that night, as she lay in bed, her fingers unconsciously traced the spot where he had touched her wrist. The lingering warmth was unsettling, a reminder that she was no longer alone in this fight.

And for the first time in a long time, she wondered if that was a good thing… or a terrible mistake.

Meanwhile, hidden in the depths of the estate, the man leaned against a stone pillar, watching the flickering light from Xinya's room.

A slow, predatory smile crossed his lips.

"So stubborn," he murmured. "But that fire in her eyes… it's going to get her into a lot of trouble."

His hand clenched slightly as he remembered the feel of her delicate wrist beneath his touch. A possessive gleam darkened his gaze.

"She doesn't know it yet," he whispered to himself. "But she's mine to protect now."

And in the depths of the silent night, a storm was brewing—one that neither Bai Yue nor her enemies were prepared for.