Run, Lily, Run!

The stables weren't far, but the estate was massive, and Yao Yao had no proper memories of its layout as she followed her instincts. And soon she found the stables, the smell of hay and horses filled the air.

The grand Shang estate stables were well-maintained, built for the noble horses used for both travel and prestige.

And within them, she saw a familiar figure. 

Su Mi.

Su Mi was brushing down a chestnut-colored horse, her sleeves rolled up, her long hair tied messily back. Her once neat and refined appearance was replaced with dusty clothes and a light sheen of sweat.

Yao Yao slowed down, her grip loosening on Lily. For a brief moment, she hesitated.

Would Su Mi be angry at her? After all, this situation was her fault. She had played along with Shang Qing Ye's rules, temporarily accepting the punishment.

But still, would Su Mi resent her? The thought made her chest tighten, but before she could think too deeply, Su Mi looked up and their eyes met. 

Her eyes widened, lips parting slightly as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"…Yao Yao?" Her voice cracked just a little.

Yao Yao's throat suddenly felt tight.

She beamed.

"Su Mi!"

Before Su Mi could react, Yao Yao ran forward, throwing herself at her. Su Mi stumbled back slightly, catching her just in time.

"You brat," she muttered, her voice unsteady, hands tightening around Yao Yao.

"You're not supposed to be here."

Yao Yao buried her face into Su Mi's shoulder, mumbling.

"I wanted to see you."

Su Mi let out a sharp exhale, as if she had been holding something in.

"Do you know how much trouble you're causing me?"

Yao Yao lifted her head slightly, lips tugging into a mischievous pout.

"I missed you," she said dramatically. "I couldn't sleep. I was lonely. I thought I might cry myself to—"

"Enough with your nonsense." Su Mi tapped her forehead lightly, but her fingers lingered for just a second too long. As if she was reassuring herself that Yao Yao was real.

Lily, who had been silent the whole time, shifted awkwardly. She clearly felt out of place between their reunion.

Just then, a loud cough came from behind.

Yao Yao turned to see Nanny Fang standing stiffly at the entrance of the stables, her face like carved stone.

"You have overstepped, Young Miss."

Her tone was sharp, but controlled, "Return now."

"But we just got here!"

"You should not linger in dirty places."

Yao Yao pouted. "Su Mi isn't dirty."

Su Mi sighed, "Enough, Yao Yao. You'll only make things worse for yourself." 

Yao Yao crossed her arms.

I know that.

She hated being controlled, she hated the fact Shang Qing Ye is dictating who she could and couldn't see, and hated that Su Mi was here because of her.

Most of all, she hated how powerless she was. 

She inhaled, then let out a tiny, exaggerated sigh.

"Fiiine," she relented, turning toward Lily and giving her big, innocent eyes.

"Lily, did you have fun playing with me?"

"U-Um…" Lily, who had done nothing but be dragged around against her will, looked completely lost.

Nanny Fang narrowed her eyes.

Yao Yao beamed, "Let's play again tomorrow!"

Before Nanny Fang could lecture her further, Yao Yao turned on her heels and skipped away. Her voice carried back as she called over her shoulder, "Bye-bye, Su Mi! Don't forget me!"

Su Mi rolled her eyes but smirked slightly, as her vision blurred she softly whispered, "You're impossible."

...

....

As they made their way back, Nanny Fang didn't waste a single moment as she started her lecture immediately. 

"The third daughter of the Shang family should uphold grace—"

Yao Yao tuned out.

"The public perception of noble daughters is vital—"

Still tuned out.

"A proper lady does not run wildly through estates like a common child—"

Yao Yao entered her room, walked straight to the sofa, and flopped down without even putting up a front.

Lily hesitated at the entrance while Nanny Fang followed her in, her words continuing like an unrelenting storm.

But Yao Yao, already facedown in the cushions, had only one thought.

Shang Qing Ye didn't assign her a nanny to watch her.

She assigned this old naggy woman to kill her with words.

Death by endless lectures.

Yao Yao sighed dramatically into the pillow. She couldn't even muster up the energy to pretend to listen, it was all too much effort.

So instead—she decided to closed her eyes.

Nanny Fang paused, noticing the lack of response.

"You must—"

Silence.

"…Young Miss?"

Yao Yao's breathing had evened out.

Lily's eyes widened.

"…She fell asleep?"

Nanny Fang's face twitched.

"How insolent—"

Yao Yao stirred slightly, mumbling nonsense. Then, as if adding insult to injury, she curled up like a cat.

Nanny Fang's mouth pressed into a tight line.

Lily bit her lip, looking away quickly, her shoulders trembled as she suppressed her laughter. She knows she should not laugh, but she could not control herself. 

For the next few days, it became a pattern.

Nanny Fang nagged.

Yao Yao ignored.

And every single day without fail, she grabbed Lily's hand and bolted for the stables. 

"Young Miss, STOP—!"

"Run, Lily!"

"But—but I—!"

Ignoring Nanny Fang's furious voice behind them, Yao Yao dragged Lily through the winding estate halls, straight toward the stables without fail.

Every. Single. Day.

Lily, at first, protested. She was soft-spoken, obedient, and didn't want to go against the lady of the house or Nanny Fang.

But with each passing day, Yao Yao's relentless cuteness chipped away at her. 

Little by little...

"Lily, hurry!"

"I—Young Miss, please, not again—!"

Yao Yao yanked Lily's hand as they bolted toward the stables for the fifth day in a row.

Behind them, Nanny Fang's enraged voice rang out.

"YOUNG MISS, STOP—!"

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" Yao Yao called over her shoulder.

Lily whimpered, her poor legs struggling to keep up.

"Why… is this happening… every day…?"

"Because it's fun, Lily!"

"This is not fun!"

Yao Yao grinned, eyes shining mischievously.

"Then why are you still following me?"

Lily opened her mouth to argue, only to realised she had no answer. Because every day, she could have resisted, but she never did.

She always ran after Yao Yao.

And today, she held Yao Yao's hand just a little tighter.

Ahead of them, the stables came into view.

And waiting there was Su Mi with her arms crossed and eyebrow raised.

"You again."

Yao Yao beamed, "Me again!"

Su Mi sighed, looking past her.

"And the little maid, too?"

Lily flushed bright red, ""I—I tried to stop her, I really did—!"

Su Mi smirked.

"Sure you did."