Chapter 10: A Dangerous Dance

The moon hung high in the ink-black sky, its silver glow illuminating the Bai estate with an eerie serenity. Bai Yue sat at her wooden desk, staring down at the scattered pieces of parchment filled with notes and observations. Her fingers traced the delicate strokes of ink as her mind raced with possibilities.

The mysterious man's words from earlier echoed in her head: "You won't like what happens if you don't stay out of this."

His warning had been clear, but Bai Yue wasn't one to be deterred so easily. If anything, his presence only deepened her resolve. Who was he? What did he want? And more importantly—why did he seem so fixated on her?

A soft breeze filtered through the cracked window, ruffling the papers on her desk. She sighed and leaned back, closing her eyes for a brief moment.

I have to stay focused, she reminded herself.

But no matter how much she tried to push him from her thoughts, the weight of his lingering touch on her wrist refused to fade.

The next morning, Bai Yue walked through the outer courtyard with a calculated grace, her head held high despite the scrutinizing gazes of passing servants and nobles. Every step she took was purposeful; she refused to let them see weakness.

As she made her way toward the herbal storeroom, a familiar voice sliced through the morning air.

"Look who decided to crawl out of her hole."

Bai Rong.

Bai Yue didn't pause, didn't even glance in her cousin's direction as she continued walking. But Bai Rong wasn't the type to let things go. She stepped directly into Bai Yue's path, forcing her to stop.

"Did you think you could just avoid me forever, little orphan?" Bai Rong sneered, her eyes glinting with malice. "You may be playing with herbs now, but don't forget—you're still just a forgotten nobody in this family."

Bai Yue met her cousin's gaze calmly, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "And yet, here you are, wasting your time on that nobody."

Bai Rong's expression darkened, her fingers twitching at her sides.

Before she could retort, a cold voice cut through the tension.

"Step aside."

Bai Yue's heart stilled for a moment. That voice—deep, commanding, and laced with an unmistakable edge of possessiveness. She turned her head slightly, and there he was.

The mysterious man from the previous night stood just a few steps away, his dark robes flowing like shadows around him. His eyes were locked onto Bai Rong with a chilling intensity, and for the first time, Bai Yue saw something unfamiliar flicker in her cousin's expression—fear.

Bai Rong took an involuntary step back, but quickly masked it with a scoff. "And who are you to—"

Before she could finish, the man took a single step forward, and the air around them seemed to tighten.

"Step. Aside." His voice was calm, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.

Bai Rong paled, her mouth opening and closing before she finally huffed and stormed off, her entourage hurrying after her.

Bai Yue watched her cousin retreat, then turned her gaze back to the man. "You didn't have to do that."

He tilted his head slightly, a slow smile curving his lips. "I did."

Bai Yue's brows furrowed. "Why?"

He took another step toward her, and suddenly the space between them felt far too small. "Because you're mine to protect," he said simply, his voice carrying a weight that made her breath hitch.

Bai Yue stared at him, stunned by his audacity. "I don't belong to anyone."

The man's smile didn't falter. If anything, it deepened, dark and possessive. "Not yet."

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there with a whirlwind of emotions she couldn't quite name.

Later that day, as she busied herself in the storeroom, Bai Yue found herself distracted. Her hands moved on autopilot, grinding herbs and preparing mixtures, but her mind was elsewhere.

Because you're mine to protect.

His words haunted her, leaving behind a strange warmth that refused to dissipate. She had never encountered someone so bold, so utterly sure of himself. And despite her better judgment, a part of her was intrigued.

"Miss Bai Yue?"

Ah-Liang's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see the young servant boy watching her curiously. "You've been staring at that empty bowl for five minutes."

Bai Yue blinked and set down the pestle with a sigh. "Just thinking."

"About him?" Ah-Liang asked hesitantly.

Bai Yue's gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?"

Ah-Liang shifted uncomfortably. "That man… the one who showed up earlier. The guards say he's been seen near the estate before. No one knows who he is, but some say he's dangerous."

Bai Yue pursed her lips. Dangerous? That much was obvious. But the question remained—dangerous to whom?

"I'll handle it," she said, pushing aside the thoughts threatening to consume her. "Focus on your work."

Ah-Liang nodded and went back to organizing the shelves, but Bai Yue couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she was being drawn into something far bigger than herself.

That evening, as Bai Yue walked back to her quarters under the cover of darkness, she felt it again—that unmistakable presence. She stopped in her tracks, her senses on high alert.

"I know you're there," she called out softly.

A low chuckle came from the shadows.

Moments later, he emerged, his dark figure leaning casually against a nearby pillar. "You're getting better at sensing me."

Bai Yue crossed her arms, her heart pounding in her chest. "Why are you following me?"

He took a slow step forward, his eyes holding hers in an unrelenting gaze. "Because you're walking a dangerous path. And I don't intend to let anyone else get to you first."

She swallowed hard, but kept her expression neutral. "I can take care of myself."

His gaze softened, but there was an undeniable edge of dominance beneath it. "I don't doubt that. But just because you can… doesn't mean I'll let you."

Bai Yue's pulse quickened. There was something dangerously alluring about the way he spoke, as if his words were a silent vow.

"You don't even know me," she whispered.

He stepped closer, so close that she could feel the heat radiating from him. "I know enough."

For the first time in a long while, Bai Yue felt something other than fear or suspicion. It was something dangerous, thrilling, and completely out of her control.

And that terrified her more than anything.

As she finally slipped into her quarters, she leaned against the closed door, pressing a hand to her chest where her heart hammered relentlessly.

What have I gotten myself into?

Outside, under the cover of night, the man watched her window for a long moment before disappearing into the darkness once more.

And somewhere deep inside, Bai Yue knew—this was only the beginning.