Everyday was the same day. The same routine, the same people and the same atmosphere but I am not complaining. I rather have this than the one that we had before, a life and death situation. The only change would be that Lady Chen has been more affectionate and touchy, if I might say so. She always wants me by her side and did not want to let go of my hand when we are alone.
I like this side of Lady Chen too, it was superbly adorable.
I wake up from my slumber and took my time examining Lady Chen's celestial-like features. Not a day passes that I do not thank them for bestowing me such a beautiful and strong woman.
"I might melt,"
My signature surfaced as I hear her melodic voice. I am a pervert and my pride as one is hurt when I did not take advantage of this woman every night but my pride as her lover overpowers the other side more. Master Zhao must be disappointed if he knew that Lady Chen and I still haven't done it yet.
"That would be nice."
"Mhmm," she moans as she snuggles closer to my chest, seeking warmth in this cold weather.
I poke her cheek, wanting to wake her up thoroughly as we were to brief everyone today. Everyone is getting ready for their winter break and I musty say, I am anxious.
"Wake up, Lady Chen. The morning will not wait for you."
"And so shall I."
I laughed to myself. Her cheeks were smooth. Her skin was white. Her lashes were long. She was glowing. And, she is mine.
"Then I shall take my leave."
"You dare?"
I laughed again, amused at how stubborn Lady Chen could be. She was being childish and my, oh my, I just wanted to squeeze her so hard that her eyes would gush out- that's messed up.
"Everyone is waiting for me. I hate entrances, Lady Chen."
"Then why did you make such an entrance when you came to my life?"
My voice got stuck on my throat. I stopped breathing. Only the beat of my heart was making a sound and move. My stomach did a flip as my cheeks heat up.
"Mhm, warm," she was oblivious to her statement.
Such words can she make? Goodness. I better keep my heart in check.
"Let's get up, Lady Chen. Or I will leave you here in bed."
Lady Chen shifts which made me happy. She sits up and looks down at me. For a moment, I was happy because we were not gonna be late, but the joke was on me. She looks down at me, her night gown slipping from her shoulder. She was showing her white skin and I had drooled over it.
"You're going to leave a woman such as myself alone? In bed?"
I couldn't utter anything. She has me under her spell. She knew how to play the right cards at the moment and I am beginning to doubt if this is a blessing or a curse. She is being so bold this early in the morning! I never thought that an attack can come this soon?
"I thought so,"
She snuggles again on my chest and moaned before loosening herself and went to sleep. I have no choice. I summoned a clone and let the clone do the deed. I stroke Lady Chen's beautiful silver hair.
"You seem distracted these past days."
"I thought you were asleep."
"What are you worried about, Shen?"
"I could still not understand how you fell for me."
"I did not even tell you."
"I create reasons, and even traced everything that has happened, yet I did not find such possibilities for you to fall."
"I do not even know myself. You are stubborn, you are a pervert," she said the pervert with such disdain that it sent shivers down my spine.
"You do not take anything seriously, you're laidback, you don't care, you are not serious yet somehow, that smile of yours made its way to.."
"To? Your heart?" I grin, finishing her sentence.
Without notice, she pinches my back. I yelped in pain and fell from the bed.
"Lady Chen is such a bully."
"Do not assume things,"
There was a hint of redness on her face as she looks down on me. I just smiled and stood up.
"Well, now that you're right. Let us finish preparing."
"Master Zhao said yesterday that we wants to talk to you before he leaves today."
"Oh, is that so. Then I shall."
"Shen, come here."
"Hmm?" I do as she told and again, without warning, she kisses me on the cheek.
My cheeks heat up again. Oh gods! What did this woman dream about that she's like this?
"I will follow you when I am finished changing."
I can only nod. She has, again, caught me by surprise. I small smile escaped my lips as I make my way to Master Zhao.
"Ho, ho, did something good happen, Master Shen?"
I cleared my throat. GOODNESS. I should keep it together.
"Nothing, nothing. What did you want to talk to me about, Master Zhao?"
"Ah, we are to reunite this winter."
"Reunite? Do you not have any special missions that my mother gav-"
"Ah, missions that you were supposed to complete. Yes, yes, I have."
"Hehe,"
"I will finish those in time to make a visit. The Chen Family will be glad when they see me at their front door."
"Are you not going to inform them?"
"I do not know when I will finish YOUR missions so I will just come without any warning."
"Then that is settled then."
I ignored his tone at the mention of the missions that were sent to me by my mother. Nonetheless, Master Zhao does not have any choice as I am free to order him around.
He sighs.
"Do your best to satisfy the Chen Family, Master Shen."
"That goes without saying."
The three of us ate our breakfast, mostly me and Master Zhao. He kept joking about us having multiple children and every time he jokes about that, Lady Chen's face reddens. She would sometimes scold Master Zhao for being so vulgar but Master Zhao just laughs it out.
"I shall excuse myself a little early."
"Eh? Did something happen?"
"No, but I will be back before dark."
"Well, okay, be safe."
"Excuse me,"
We watch as Lady Chen disappears from our view. I continued eating when Lady Chen was no longer in sight.
"Disciple Chen is so collected."
"I can't imagine her if her expression changes."
"Well, you are with her everyday. Does she not portray other expressions?"
Suddenly, the image of this morning came, making me spew my drink. Master Zhao smirked when he saw my reaction.
"I will not ask for the sake of privacy."
I had also excused myself. I roam around the Island of Grounds, not knowing what to do. Lady Chen has matters to attend to and I do not have anything to amuse me. Hmm, I should have made friends with a few people.
"Martial Sister Shen?"
"Huh?"
I turn around and see someone that I do not know. I put on a friendly smile to not scare her away.
"Yes?"
"Uh-uhm, I am a very big fan of y-yours!"
She was still a little girl. Her words slurred as she pronounces my name. She was adorable. Her cheeks were red, she was probably embarrassed. She was hugging her toy so hard that if it was a human, it would've already screamed by now. I get on my knees so that she won't look up anymore.
"Is that so?"
I pat her head.
"I-I-I will become strong like you someday!"
"Come find me by then and we will have a match on who's stronger."
Her eyes gleamed with happiness and nodded vigorously.
"Do you know Lady Chen?"
"Lady Chen?" her cute voice echoed through the spacious area.
"Yes. You know, the silver haired woman."
"Ah! The beautiful woman Martial Sister Shen is always with?"
"Yes, yes, that woman! She is very beautiful, isn't she?"
Her smile grew bigger. Her eyes shine like the sun and her grip on her toy lessened.
"She is very very beautiful!"
"She is. Do you want to be like her?"
"No, uhm, yes, no?"
I laughed at her innocence. If only I was innocent back then.
"Why the contemplation?"
"B-because I want to be strong like Martial Sister Shen and beautiful like Martial Sister Chen."
Now that I think about it, she uses 'martial sister' instead of 'sister' only. Aside from that, such a young child is here, at the Island of Grounds. Is she perhaps training? At such a young age?
"Oh, why not be both then?"
"E-even Martial Sister Shen is not beautiful and Martial Sister Chen is not that powerful."
Somehow, this kid had insulted me while complimenting me. My smile then turned sinister and pinched the child's cheek a little.
"It turns out that you are not qualified to be this strong, eh?"
"B-b-b-b-b-b-b-" it was endless. She started crying out of nowhere, making me panic.
Crap. I made a child cry. If Lady Chen knows of this, off with my head, I know. She would insult me and punish me all night! The thought of that made me gulp and took back what I said.
"But you can be beautiful like Lady Chen."
"Boys will be kissing your feet and you will be the most gorgeous girl."
"W-will that be enough?"
Look at this kid, even though her snot was forming under he nose, she was still asking for more. Even Lady Chen is humble even though she's powerful and rich among her peers.
"That will surely be enough. Too much of everything is bad, that's why I am not that beautiful."
Even now, I am insulting myself for the likes of this child.
"O-okay then."
She sniffs her snot one last time before wiping her eyes with the same sleeve she wiped her snot with. I shivered quite obviously. Goodness.
"Anyway, are you lost? Why are you here alone?"
"M-my martial brothers told me to stay here as they acquire some forbidden fruit from the-"
"Sister Jian! What are you saying?"
Out of nowhere, two boys came rushing to us with something that's wrapped around the cloth. Oh? They saw me staring at the cloth and hid it behind their backs. I sigh.
A forbidden fruit, huh? The only forbidden fruit inside the grounds is the forbidden fruit spice. It is not actually a spice but it is edible enough to eat. It does not have any benefits at all. It only sets your butt on fire.
"You told me it was not stealing? So why is it wrong?"
Good grief. This child is but innocent. Even her insults are innocent.
"I-it's not. But this is still a secret." one boy speaks up from the right.
"I don't mind. But, this young lady over here is not allowed to eat any of that."
The boys' face lit up when I gave them my consent. I smile mischievously. They do not know what they are about to get.
"R-really?" both of them exclaimed.
"Why not me?"
"Ah, because you are a girl and girls do not eat that. It will ruin your elegance." it was not a lie though. It will surely ruin a woman's elegance when a woman's butt is on fire. Literally.
"You promise?"
"Yes, I promise. Now, go and be safe. If someone catches you, tell them that I gave you consent."
"Thank you, Martial Sister Shen! Goodbye!"
They ran away happily. When they were out of sight, I finally let out my laughter. Those boys. Gosh. If they were told, they would surely not steal some.
I flew back to the manor and found Lady Chen sipping on her tea elegantly on a chair. She looks at me, her eyes half-open and then closes them again, still sipping on her hot tea.
"Where have you been?"
"I did not realize that it was this dark already."
"That is not the answer that I am asking."
Damn.
"I met a kid and talked to her for a bit. That's all. She says you're very beautiful."
"Flattery won't get you anywhere." I take a seat opposite of her and lump down, relaxing.
"Hmm? But you are. The most beautiful woman, that is."