Chapter 14: A Tension That Binds

The Bai estate felt unusually quiet as Bai Yue walked along the stone pathways toward the herbal storeroom. The morning sun had barely risen, casting long shadows across the courtyard, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.

Ever since Ah-Liang mentioned the mysterious figure lurking around the storeroom, a sense of unease had settled in her chest. She had hoped to work quietly, to stay under the radar, but it seemed that trouble followed her no matter how much she tried to avoid it.

As she reached the storeroom doors, she paused. Her gaze swept over the surrounding area, searching for any sign of the intruder Ah-Liang had mentioned.

Nothing.

But that didn't mean no one was there.

With a quiet sigh, she pushed the doors open and stepped inside, letting the familiar scent of dried herbs and parchment wash over her. She moved to the shelves, her fingers trailing over the jars as she began her morning inventory, trying to calm the restless thoughts swirling in her mind.

Just as she reached for a bundle of ginseng, a deep voice shattered the silence.

"You're far too careless."

Bai Yue whirled around, her heart leaping to her throat. Weishan stood just inside the doorway, his dark robes blending with the shadows. His arms were crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable, but his eyes—those dark, piercing eyes—were locked onto her with an intensity that made her skin prickle.

She exhaled sharply. "Must you always sneak up on me?"

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "You make it too easy."

Bai Yue crossed her arms, glaring at him. "What do you want now?"

Weishan stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator circling its prey. "I want to know why you're so determined to play a game you don't understand."

She narrowed her eyes. "I don't play games."

He tilted his head slightly, considering her words. "No, you're too serious for that." His gaze swept over the room before settling back on her. "But you're in over your head, Bai Yue."

Bai Yue bristled, her spine straightening. "I can take care of myself."

Weishan let out a low chuckle, the sound sending an unsettling shiver down her spine. "You keep saying that," he murmured, stepping even closer, until the space between them was almost nonexistent. "Yet you keep getting yourself into trouble."

Bai Yue swallowed hard, refusing to let him intimidate her. "And what exactly are you suggesting? That I should rely on you?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, his hand reached out, fingers grazing lightly over the sleeve of her robe, a touch so fleeting yet undeniably possessive. "I'm suggesting," he said, his voice dangerously soft, "that I keep you safe… whether you like it or not."

Her breath hitched. There it was again—that unwavering protectiveness that both unnerved and intrigued her.

She stepped back, putting much-needed distance between them. "I don't need your protection, Weishan."

His smirk remained, but something darker lurked beneath the surface. "That's where you're wrong, little one."

Before she could respond, he turned and strode toward the door. "Stay out of trouble," he called over his shoulder. "I'd hate to be forced to intervene again."

Bai Yue watched him leave, her fists clenched at her sides.

He was infuriating. Arrogant. Overbearing.

And yet, deep down, she couldn't deny the unsettling warmth that lingered in his absence.

That evening, Bai Yue found herself sitting in her room, staring absently at the flickering candle on her desk. She had spent the rest of the day trying to focus on her duties, but Weishan's words continued to echo in her mind.

"I keep you safe… whether you like it or not."

Her fingers trailed along the sleeve of her robe, remembering the way he had touched her earlier. It had been so brief, yet it lingered, making her pulse quicken in a way she wasn't entirely comfortable with.

Was it protection he was offering… or control?

A soft knock at the door startled her.

"Miss Bai Yue?" Ah-Liang's voice called hesitantly.

She quickly composed herself. "Come in."

Ah-Liang entered, his face troubled. "I heard some of the guards talking. They said someone's been asking questions about you in the marketplace."

Bai Yue's stomach twisted. "What kind of questions?"

"They're asking about your past… your parents."

Bai Yue's grip tightened on the edge of the table. Her past was something she had spent years trying to bury, and now it seemed that someone was intent on digging it back up.

Ah-Liang looked at her worriedly. "What do we do?"

Bai Yue inhaled deeply, forcing herself to remain calm. "We do nothing. For now."

But deep down, she knew this was only the beginning.

Later that night, Bai Yue slipped out of her quarters and made her way to the secluded garden behind the estate. The moonlight cast long shadows across the stone paths, and the quiet hum of the wind through the trees was the only sound that accompanied her footsteps.

She needed to think. To plan.

But she wasn't alone.

A familiar presence made itself known before she even had to turn around.

"You're following me again," she said, without looking back.

Weishan's voice was low and amused. "You're too predictable."

Bai Yue sighed, rubbing her temples. "Do you have nothing better to do?"

He stepped beside her, close enough that their shoulders almost touched. "Nothing more important."

She turned to face him, her eyes searching his face. "Why? Why do you care so much?"

Weishan's expression grew serious, and for a moment, the teasing arrogance faded, replaced by something far more intense. "Because you remind me of someone I once failed to protect."

Bai Yue's breath caught. She hadn't expected an answer like that.

Before she could respond, he reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his touch lingering against her cheek. "I won't let that happen again," he murmured.

She stared up at him, unsure of how to respond. Her heart pounded in her chest, and for once, she had no sharp retort, no clever defense.

Weishan took a step back, his usual smirk returning. "Get some rest, Bai Yue. Tomorrow will be… interesting."

And with that, he disappeared into the night, leaving her standing there with far too many thoughts and an undeniable sense that, despite her resistance, she was falling deeper into his grasp.